How to Find the Best Adventure Elopement Dress

Jun 18

There are so many untraditional things to consider when choosing an elopement dress. Unlike a traditional wedding, you’ll be doing much more than dancing on your wedding day! The right elopement dress will be comfortable enough to hike and adventure in all day, but it will also need to pack well, hold up to mother nature’s plans, and look great in the landscape.

It’s not your average list of wants in a wedding dress, but this guide will help you navigate the differences between fabric, fit, and style to help you find the perfect elopement dress in any style.

Just here to see the dresses? – Click here to jump to my favorite elopement dresses.

Disclosure: I’ve included affiliate links to elopement dresses and accessories in this post. If you click through and end up buying something, I might receive a small portion of that sale. You won’t be charged more as a result, and I wasn’t paid by any of these retailers to share their information. These are all my genuine preferences.

Wedding dress fabrics

When you begin dress shopping, keep in mind what activities you have planned for your day, as well as the season you’ll be eloping and potential weather. Just because you’ll be adventuring, hiking, climbing, and twirling on mountain tops doesn’t mean you need to limit your choice of styles, but choosing the right fabric will help you stay comfortable all day no matter what you have planned.

Lightweight fabrics

Organza, damask, batiste, charmeuse, chiffon, tulle, and georgette are all lightweight and breathable fabrics that are perfect for warmer weather and hiking. These fabrics will show off your natural movement beautifully and move with the wind easily, making for incredibly romantic photos.

You’ll often see these fabrics in the layers of ball gowns and it’s easy for designers to add or take away layers to make a dress fit your vision.

Tulle and lace do tend to catch more twigs and leaves than other fabrics, but they’re easy to pick out or leave in to add to that adventure feel.

The one lightweight fabric that I’d recommend avoiding is rayon since it wrinkles easily.

Medium-weight fabrics

Shantung, brocade, and taffeta fabrics are all perfect for shoulder season elopements. Shantung is woven cotton, drapes nicely, and still holds volume. Brocade is great for more structured dresses, and taffeta can look and feel like silk.

Heavier fabrics

Satin, silk, moire, polyester, and velvet are all heavier materials. A heavier dress may be nice for colder weather, but it will be less breathable than lighter weight fabrics. Heavier fabrics won’t show as much natural movement, but they make up for it in elegance. Choose a dress with a long train to ramp up the dramatics.

If you love the look of these polished fabrics but want a lighter dress, try looking for dresses made of charmeuse instead of satin. It’s lighter and will show more movement but will still drape beautifully around your figure.

If you’re worried about being cold, wear nude colored leggings underneath your dress, like Zoe did in the photo below.

Lace and embroidery

Lace, embroidery, and fabrics like pique or point d’esprit all tend to be lighter weight and pack well, which is great for travel. They’re comfortable to hike in and often come in unique or less traditional styles.

Hiking in your elopement dress

Hiking in your wedding dress is totally possible! Depending on the length and difficulty of a hike, couples often choose to hike in or pack their wedding attire and change when we’ve reached the destination. Sometimes one option is better than the other, and your photographer should be able to help you make the right decision for yourself.

How hike-able your wedding dress is will depend on the material, and, to an extent, the style. Ball gowns and A-line dresses are some of the easier dresses to hike in since there’s enough loose material to grab and pick up to keep yourself from tripping.

It’s possible to hike in a mermaid dress as well, but the tighter the dress hugs your thighs, the harder it will be to hike in. A slit going up your leg will make a mermaid dress much easier to hike in.

If you’ll be climbing, kayaking or scrambling over large rocks, be conscious of your arm mobility when you’re trying on dresses as well. If you have straps that wrap around your arms, rather than over your shoulders, your movement could be restricted.

Don’t stress if you’ve fallen in love with a “less-than-ideal elopement dress”, either. The most important thing is that you feel confident and amazing in your dress. This advice is only here to help guide your decisions and help you know what to expect.

With a little determination, any dress can be adventured in!

How to hike in your dress

Hiking in your dress is easier than it sounds. Simply bunch up as much fabric as you can and carry it to one side so you aren’t stepping on the dress. If you have a train, drape it over your forearm, or let your dress drag if you don’t mind it getting dirty!

These options leave you with at least one hand free to help balance, climb, or hold hands with your fiancé. If you get tired of holding your dress up, ask your partner to take a turn.

Pro tip: When you’re trying on dresses, practice these motions and walk around to see how it would feel to be hiking in each dress.

When to wear it and when to pack it

If you’ll be on a shorter hike (1-4 miles roundtrip) that has beautiful views along the trail, I suggest hiking in your dress. You can stop for photos along the way, and you’ll get more photos while you’re wearing your dress!

For longer hikes (5+ miles), I suggest changing into your outfits when you’ve reached your destination. How do you change? Find a big tree or rock to hide behind and have your partner keep a lookout! There are also portable changing stations you can buy, but they’re more of a hassle than they’re worth. If you’re hiking to a busy and barren place, I think it’s easier to have one or two people make a “changing room” by holding up blankets or towels around you.

How to pack your dress and accessories

If you do end up packing your dress, putting it in a foldable garment bag and strapping it to your backpack is the best way to prevent wrinkles.

When hiking long distances with a bouquet, I suggest stuffing the stems in a small dry sack with wet paper towels to keep them fresh. Then put the stems and dry sack in the top or side of your bag, zipped around it with the flowers sticking out.

If you have other accessories, like heels or “we just eloped!” celebratory signs, consider strapping them on with compression straps, carabiners, or bungees.

You’ll want to test out your packing methods and weight distribution prior to eloping as well. How much weight you can comfortably carry will depend on what you’re used to and how long the trail is. If you don’t have a hiking backpack already, these packs by Gregory are my favorite (men’s/women’s). They’re so comfortable I’ve been told it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a backpack at all.

You’ll want most of the weight of your backpack to be on your hips, not your shoulders, so finding a pack with a hip belt is key. Packing the heaviest items in the bottom of your bag will help too (watch this video for more packing advice). If you’re trying to cut down on weight, look for a dress made of lighter fabrics.

Wondering what else you’ll be needing to pack for a hiking elopement? Check out this list.

Choosing a dress and accessories

Everyone’s budget and priorities for what’s most important on their elopement day varies. Do determine a realistic budget for yourself before you start shopping, but don’t settle for an outfit that makes you feel less than incredible.

Everyone deserves to feel confident and beautiful on their wedding day and choosing a dress you love will only emphasize this!

Adding color

Choosing a colorful dress is a great way to make sure you pop against the landscape of your elopement. If you’re thinking of wearing a colorful dress, consider choosing one that is ombré or has layers of colorful fabric that add depth and dimension rather one solid color. Choosing a light colored or off-white dress such as blush, grey, or champagne is a great way to add a little flare and subtle amounts of color as well.

Shop colorful dresses on Etsy

Fashion accessories

Hair clips, belts, jewelry, veils, and capes are all great ways to personalize your outfit. You don’t have to wear them the entire, and most brides (for elopements and weddings alike) only wear their veils for part of their day.

Shop fashion accessories on Etsy

Accessories for weather

In the wilderness, especially in the mountains and at the beach, weather changes quickly. Plus, you’ll likely be out at golden hour for sunrise or sunset when temperatures drop quickly. Ensure you’re comfortable no matter what unpredictable weather you see on your elopement day by packing the right gear.

You’ll want to bring clothing that is easily layered so you can take it on and off as need be. I always suggest packing a rain jacket and puffy coat, but there are other accessories like blankets, shawls, and wraps to consider as well. If you are expecting rain, packing an umbrella is smart, too. When choosing accessories, just stay away from loud patterns which tend to be distracting.

Shop accessories for weather on Etsy

Find a dress within your budget

One thing everyone can agree on is wanting to get the most value for their money. Whatever your price range is, I highly recommend purchasing second-hand designer dresses from Nearly Newlyweds.

While some of the gowns for sale have been altered and worn, many have not (it’s always specified). My younger sister, Shae (see her dress here), had a great experience buying from this site, and I love that you don’t have to wait months for your gown to be made, just shipped!

However, be aware that If you’re buying online, be sure to check out real reviews and understand the return policy before purchasing.