AN ELOPEMENT MIGHT BE THE WEDDING YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU WANTED

Waaaaay back when, elopements were for those whose families didn’t approve of their relationship or those who were looking for something dumb to do, a la Bruno Mars. Nowadays, elopements are so much more than a secret runaway wedding.

So, what is an elopement?

First and foremost, an elopement is a wedding. Unfortunately, society has skewed the idea of what a wedding is for a lot of us. At its core, a wedding is a celebration of marriage. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be grand, it doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be anything you don’t want it to be. An elopement is a celebration of a couple joining in marriage that is focused on the couple and their interests.

I love the idea of eloping, but i also want family and friends to attend

And I’m sure they’d be happy to be there!  Guests at elopements look forward to sharing an experience with the couple instead of how the food will be or what the crowd is like.  Because it’s more about being true to yourselves as a couple and not throwing an elaborate party, elopements usually involve less than 25 people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t elope with more guests! Elopements can involve just two people, but it’s more common than you may think for couples to invite their family and friends to enjoy their wedding and join in the unique experience.

we’re eloping, so we only need 2 hours of photography coverage

I don’t think anyone would stop you if you only wanted two hours of photography coverage, but remember the first point I made about elopements: an elopement is a wedding. If you had a big wedding with a bridal prep, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, etc. you would probably want a full day of coverage to make sure nothing was missed. Why should an elopement be any different? In fact, I would argue that full-day coverage for an elopement is even more important than the typical wedding. Everyone knows what happens at a wedding: you get ready, you get married, you take photos with your family and bridal party, you have some drinks and snacks, you dance, there are toasts, and then you dance some more. There’s no framework for what an elopement is, so your story will just be that much more detailed and unique.

As a wedding photographer, my main goal is to tell the story of your wedding day. Being able to revisit that day and have your memories come rushing back to you is one of the greatest experiences. Having full-day coverage also allows you to share the story of your day with people who were not in attendance, including future generations of your family.

People only elope because they don’t have the money for a big wedding

No! People elope because they want their wedding to reflect who they are as a couple. Maybe they’re turned off by the idea of having a big wedding. Or maybe they have a location in mind that means a lot to them that isn’t a typical wedding venue. My wife and I eloped for all three of these reasons. We really enjoy spending time with our closest friends and family instead of hanging out in big groups. We also love to adventure outdoors. We had 29 people including us and our photographers and got married near a waterfall we discovered when we were going through a transitional period in our lives. We had dinner at a nearby winery and used a playlist on an iPod as our DJ. We have absolutely no regrets about it, and we wouldn’t change a thing if we had to do it again!

Yeah, but I hate hiking

So don’t hike! Your wedding is your wedding. You don’t have to follow any rules or guidelines. You can elope at a courthouse, in an arcade, on the beach, at a bookstore, on a mountain, in the heart of the city, at a brewery, on a baseball diamond, in your backyard, or wherever you think is right!

Who would perform our ceremony?

Anyone. Literally, anyone. You can become ordained to perform wedding ceremony services in minutes online. A lot of people have a best friend or family member officiate their ceremony.

You don’t even need to have an “officiant.” Picture this: you and your spouse-to-be exchange vows and rings in a place that is near and dear to your hearts. The photos show just the two of you surrounded by nothing but your environment. No one else is there with you.

This is possible, too! All you need is for someone who is ordained to sign your wedding license (and witnesses to the signing of the license.) With me as your photographer, this is a piece of cake because I am already ordained!

But we already paid a deposit for OUR wedding venue

No problem! If you really want to elope, nothing should stop you. Honestly, if money is what’s holding you back, losing your venue deposit would probably be an easier financial blow than going forward with a big wedding, anyway. You have fewer decorations to worry about (centerpieces, lighting, floral arrangements, signage, etc.,) fewer mouths to feed, and fewer favors (which usually end up being tossed anyway) to provide. Many of your vendors will still work with you if you change your plans, and if not, it’s not impossible to find new ones. As long as your heart is in the right place, don’t let a deposit keep you from doing what you really want to do.

Okay, so what would our ELOPEMENT look like?

I could look any which way you want. Here’s an example of what an elopement timeline could look like:

If you’ve made it this far, bravo. Thanks for having an open mind when it comes to weddings and elopements! If you’d like to chat more about how to make your dream elopement happen, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Here’s a form to make it easier for you: