Why you should elope

Couple celebrates the end of their elopement adventure.

THREE GREAT REASONS TO CONSIDER ELOPING

After considering all their options, this couple opted out of the tradtional wedding and instead chose to run through the fields of Grand Teton National Park.

I love weddings; it's why I have photographed them for over ten years. However, they are far from perfect. Half of the day is spent apart, preparing for the ceremony. Then, when you finally get together, you have the reception where hundreds of guests vie for your attention and pull you in a thousand directions. Weddings end up being more about your family and friends than you and your love. But before any of that can even happen, you have to plan it all. A wedding is a big event that requires extensive planning, multiple vendors, and lots of paperwork. Hiring a wedding planner can help a lot, but that's when we conveniently arrive at my final point: weddings can quickly become expensive.

This is a big factor in why they have become so popular lately. The focus of an elopement is on two things; the person you love and want to spend your life with, and having an amazing time. You’ll likely spend the whole day together, hiking, canoeing, or just enjoying the sights doing whatever you want. It's hard to beat that. And that’s the key here, your elopement is all about you and what you want. No stressing about the caterer not being on time or hoping Aunt Sally doesn't drink too much at the reception. It's just the two of you, your love, and creating as many wonderful memories as you can. When it comes to the quality of the experience, you simply can't beat an elopement.
For most this is likely the biggest draw to eloping. According to 13,000 couples over on The Knot, the average wedding in The United States costs $33,391. Ouch. Now to compare, picture if you will your dream honeymoon destination. What does a trip there cost? Now throw on the cost of your wedding attire, officiant and an elopement photographer/videographer to that and you're done. I’m going to wager a guess and say it’s a lot less than $30,000. But the low cost of elopements isn’t just saving you money; it’s allowing you to have a better experience. That amazing honeymoon idea you had that wasn’t affordable with a traditional wedding is suddenly your wedding venue, and the trip is probably cheaper than renting the local country club banquet hall. Compared to feeding a hundred guests at $100 a plate, even the most expensive restaurant in town is affordable. See the pattern? Your elopement is all about you; treat yourself and make memories.
One of the best things about elopements is how flexible they can be. For those with adventurous souls and a spark of wanderlust, this is where elopements become truly magical. Imagine instead of dealing with the mountain of work that goes into coordinating a big traditional wedding, you go on an adventure into actual mountains with the love of your life. Sounds pretty good right?

What exactly is an elopement these days?

Hint: no Elvis impersonator required

After making the decision to elope, neither wind nor rain could stop these two lovebirds from tying the knot in Washingtons Northern Cascades

micro wedding, elopement, intimate wedding

Oftentimes, people hear elopement and think of secret marriages or Vegas drive-thru weddings with Elvis impersonating wedding officiants. But that isn't what it means these days. Elopements are, at their core, two souls madly in love, having an intimate wedding ceremony with a fraction of the work, cost, and planning of a traditional wedding. Now, you can still have the adventure all to yourselves or bring the family along. It’s all up to you. Here’s a couple of ways you can do it.

This is what most people think of when they think of elopement. Since it is just you, the love of your life, and a wedding officiant, your choice of venue is only limited by your imagination. Venture deep into the wilderness and climb high upon the granite peaks of Yosemite, take a short walk from the parking lot to an overlook of the Grand Canyon. Your adventure is only limited by how far your officiant is willing to hike! Haha. Worried about finding an officiant willing to go on the expedition you’re planning? Ask a friend or family member to officiate for you, getting ordained only takes a few minutes online!

Best for: Adventures of all kinds almost anywhere. The lack of guests means you’re free to have exactly the day you want. Stay out till sunset to get the best photos possible without worrying about being late to the family dinner.
This is the most popular type of elopement these days and often what I refer to as the “modern elopement”. Be it your best friends, your parents, or a bit more of the family, bring your loved ones with you on your adventure. Most national parks have ceremony options for guests ranging from 12 to 100. Expect the higher guest count sites to be amphitheaters, overlooks, or other more developed sites. Parking can be an issue depending on the park. After your ceremony and family photos you can still head out to explore the outdoors with your photographer and create some fantastic images. Your guests will have no trouble occupying themselves. While you can get a little bit of both worlds, micro weddings do require a bit more planning and can be a more stressful experience.
Best for: Ceremonies in more accessible locations. You usually can’t get mi-ma to the mountain top. While there are more limitations with the larger group, and you’ll usually be expected to do some kind of reception, you can still have the adventurous elopement you envisioned. Try doing a mid day reception or plan your dinner well after sunset so you don’t have to sacrifice your photoshoot.
Some people think courthouse weddings aren’t real weddings. Because we all know that the method you obtain a signature on your marriage license is what counts, right? Marriage isn’t about legal documents, fancy venues, and excellent catering; it’s about pledging your lives to one another. You can choose to call it a day right there and skip right to the honeymooning or…
Since you are legally married and no longer need a legally ordained officiant, you have even less restrictions for an elopement. Grab a photographer or videographer and helicopter to the mountaintops of the Canadian Rockies and pledge your vows to one another in the most spectacular landscapes you can imagine.

Best for: Hardcore adventures you’ll have trouble finding an officant willing to tag along. Or you simply don’t want to have to deal with the legal paperwork in another state on your wedding day. And you can even still have your best friend perform a ceremony for you, say vows, and have the ceremony of your dreams. Just without all the legal formalities.
Last but certainly not least, we have self uniting marriages. Only a few states allow you to self-solemnize your marriage, but they include Colorado and Pennsylvania. Two beautiful states with numerous options for spectacular elopement destinations. Check your state's regulations and then run away with your love (and a photographer) and have the most intimate wedding ceremony possible.
Best for: Similar to the courthouse weddings, this method allows for incredible backcountry elopements in remote places without needing a minister.

Still not Convinced?

1. Embrace Intimacy: In this age of constant hustle and bustle, an intimate escape to celebrate your love might just be the perfect choice for you. Unlike a big wedding, an elopement is an opportunity to focus solely on your love and commitment to one another. It allows you to create an intimate space where you can truly connect and cherish the moment. With minimal distractions, you can delve into the depth of your emotions, ensuring every word spoken and every glance exchanged holds profound significance.

2. Authenticity Shines: The essence of any elopement lies in its authenticity. Away from the pressure to conform to societal expectations and the need for extravagant displays, you have the freedom to craft an event that reflects your true selves. Whether it's reciting personal vows on a secluded mountaintop or sharing a poetic moment by the crashing waves on a sandy beach, the experience will be a genuine representation of your love story.

3. Indulge in Serenity: Big weddings are known for their chaos, hectic timelines, and logistical challenges. An elopement, on the other hand, offers an escape from these stressors. It grants you the luxury of tranquility, allowing you to fully enjoy each other's company and the beautiful surroundings that you choose as your backdrop. Imagine romantic strolls hand-in-hand through enchanting forests, or starlit picnics on vast open plains.

I’ve worked with couples on their weddings for over a decade and have seen everything from elaborate weddings with hundreds of people to intimate weddings with just the couple in attendance. After observing the planning process of so many weddings there’s one thing I can say for sure, elopements are a hell of a lot more fun. So you made the right choice.

Young couple chose an elopement to the foggy coasts of California's Redwood forests instead of a traditional wedding.

Convinced to do an elopement?

Now the only question is what kind of adventure do you want to have? To help with that, take a look at my elopement guide below. Within you'll find everything you need to have an amazing experience.