Answering All Your Elopement Questions

I’m here to answer all your questions about eloping and help you decide if it’s the right fit for you!

I’m sure you’ve seen it all over social media over the past few years, friends, family, and people you’ve never met are traveling far and wide, all over the world, to elope. The dictionary definition of elope means to “run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent”. What an outdated interpretation on something that can be so beautiful and intimate, amirite?

So many people now-a-days are skipping traditions and spending their time crafting a wedding day that really suits their wants. They are making time for things that they enjoy as a couple and focusing on the intentionality behind them saying vows to each other and being bonded for the rest of their lives. Not to say that big weddings aren’t amazing, if you wanna throw a party with 150 people then hell yes baby let’s do it! But if something smaller is on your mind, then I’m here to shed some light on myths around eloping and how you can make it happen, even if you don’t like……*hiking*, yes I said it. You don’t have to wanna hike or even like the outdoors to elope, I know, groundbreaking.

For starters, what does eloping really mean?

Not that silly definition of running away in secret to hide your love. It can mean a lot of things for a lot of different people. When I think of elopements I think of intentionality. Being very present and deliberate on your wedding day about bonding your soul to this other human that you love endlessly. Spending your day doing activities that you enjoy with the people who love and support you the most. Your elopement is all about you and what you envision for the two of you. It can be so many different things but at it’s core it’s being authentically and unapologetically your true selves.

Don’t you have to be super outdoorsy to elope?

Frick no dawg. You can absolutely be an indoor person and still elope! Eloping doesn’t mean you have to go hike to the top of a mountain or go on an insanely adventurous day in the outdoors. As long as you are doing things that are important and fun for you, that’s all you need. It can be sleeping in in an AirBnB and ordering a take out breakfast, then visiting some breweries around town, checking out local sights and just enjoying your time together. Eloping can still be a small ceremony in a church with 10 people or a backyard wedding with an intimate group of friends and family. It’s your special day boo boo, we’re gonna do what you want!

Here are some examples of more urban or backyard elopements I’ve photographed before.

Do I really need a photographer all day?

Not necessarily, but I would highly recommend it! I know it seems excessive, but think about it, you might only have 10-15 guests there or absolutely no guests at all. Don’t you want someone to be there solely to document everything so you, your boo, friends, and family can be fully present to enjoy the day?

Also a full day seems like a lot but it’s not all just photographs! There is always down time, nap times, eating, just sitting and talking and getting to know each other better and having a beer. By the time your elopement day comes around we’ll have talked so much on the phone and through email that I’ll just sneak into your friend group and blend in! I will help capture the little in between moments you don’t think about as well as help you craft a timeline that fits your needs impeccably. As well as your photographer I am also a very detail oriented planner. So if you tell me what things you like to do I can work alongside you to make an amazing day that you’ll remember forever.

Below are two different timelines I’ve put together that can give you an idea of what a full day elopement can look like. They are specific to the Spokane area but Google Maps is one of my best friends so finding things in your city is just a click away! One of these timelines is for the more adventurous soul and the other is more laid back.

Do I have to invite friends or family if I want it to just be the two of us?

Nope, again. If you want your wedding day to be just the two of you (plus me) then do it! Don’t let family or friends make you feel guilty for not holding a big ceremony with all the frills. If you want to spend your day intentionally with your significant other than you should definitely do that. You can always throw a reception later or hold another ceremony with family and friends if you really feel like it. But your wedding day is solely about what the two of you want. If you’d like to hike to a secluded beach, say your vows, and shove cake in your face then you should definitely do that. Just don’t forget to invite me so I can document it, kay?

What if I want people there?

On the flip side, if you want your people to be there, let’s make it happen! Elopements/intimate weddings are usually best when kept to no more than 20 people, especially if you’re doing the ceremony in a place like a national park or state park. More than 20 and you can start to clog up parking and space for other people who are just out to enjoy the park. And if you decide to invite a group, a key component is making sure they’re all there to make sure YOU have an amazing day. You don’t need people who will come in and make it about themselves, tell your people ahead of time that this day is about you and your significant other and that they are there because you love them and you want them to help you celebrate this important day in your life.

What about the weather?

Mother Nature can be a bit of a bitch, we all know this. As much as we can plan and plan for whatever she might throw at us, sometimes it doesn’t always workout. I’m usually keeping a close eye on the weather app a full week out from an elopement. Things can still always change last minute but it can still give you some sort of idea of what you’re in for. Depending on what the plan is for the day sometimes rescheduling can be accommodated but with busy adult schedules that’s not always the case.

I am a big fan of just embracing the messiness of whatever the weather throws. Snow, rain, wind, can all make photos magical in their own way and plus it makes for a great story to tell for years. There are obvious situations though where rescheduling or switching locations might be better for the safety of everyone involved i.e. wildfires, flood, windstorm, etc. These photos below are from a small elopement I shot on Mt Spokane in a torrential downpour with winds that were blowing the rain completely sideways. We decided to go on with the ceremony and kept is short but for safety purposes we did reschedule bridal portraits for a different day.

When is the best time to elope?

That can be based on a lot of different factors and most of them really have to do with your personal preference! Do you want snow involved, do you wanna go swimming, do you want wildflowers to be in bloom? All of these things happen at a different time of year so definitely make that the first thing you think about when planning what time of year you want to elope. Once you have the season picked out, ask yourself if you have a day that is special to you. An anniversary of your first date, anniversary of when they proposed, or any other date that might be special to you. If you don’t have a particular day in mind chat with your vendors! See when they are available so you can make sure to snag your top picks.

My personal bit of advice for anyone who is going to elope, pick a weekday. I know it seems weird but think about it, you can take a few days or a week off work, if you invite people they get to take time off work, and also you have a much better chance of booking your dream vendors! Especially in the summer, when most weekends book up up to a year in advance. So when you’re thinking of picking a day, don’t forget about those weekdays, they can really come in clutch!

All in all, I hope you found this blog post helpful! Biggest takeaway from all of this is that you don’t have to do anything “the old fashioned way” unless you really want to. If you feel like throwing tradition out the door is more your style then do it! Plan your wedding day around you and your spouse and enjoy it all! Have more questions? You can fill out my contact form and get in touch and we can always talk more specific details. I am always available to help!

Cheers!