Having trouble getting started with wedding planning? First, I want you to know that you’re not alone. SO many of my couples have confessed to putting off wedding planning for months (or even years), and it’s not because they don’t want to get married, but because the stress of planning, financing, or just being responsible for hosting a wedding is extremely overwhelming.

Thankfully, there’s another way! ELOPING.

Yep. It’s not the secretive or shameful thing it used to be, and eloping is completely customizable. You have the option to do it on the cheap or go all out, invite guests or not, travel to a new destination, or celebrate by partaking in a wild activity.

Eloping is all about creating your ideal day. It changes the focus of your wedding day from being a performance and entertaining others to a day that’s all about celebrating your love for one another.

Feeling relieved yet?

It gets better.

You don’t have to plan your elopement all on your own. Many experienced adventure elopement photographers, like myself, love helping you nail down the logistics. They’ll suggest locations, guide you through the permit process to get married on public lands (national park elopement anyone!?), and suggest other vendors that specialize in elopements as well (hello, hiking hair and makeup artists!).

HOW DO YOU BEGIN PLANNING AN ELOPEMENT?

Start by imagining your ideal day.

Not necessarily your elopement day, just a wonderful day that you and your partner share. Would you be close to home, exploring somewhere new, or partaking in an activity you both love?

Ask yourself who you’d want to spend quality time with during that day.
Remember, you don’t have to include anyone but your partner if you don’t want to. If you do want to include others, know that they could be a part of your whole day, just help you get ready, or simply celebrate with you afterward.

START TO TIE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

Narrow down your ideas to the region you want to get married in and find an adventure elopement photographer next so they can do the leg work for you. Rough ideas are great — you don’t need concrete plans.

RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR ENGAGEMENT!

Once you’ve found your adventure elopement photographer, just sit back, enjoy sifting through ceremony location suggestions, recommendations for adventures (like rock climbing or hiking elopements), and watch your dream day come to life!

I hope reading all of this takes some pressure off you. Planning how you want to get married should be fun and exciting — something to look forward to and cherish, not dread or stress about. Cheers to modern times and untraditional weddings!

Let's start planning your adventure elopement