Planning an Adventure Elopement
ADVENTURE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER // HIKING ELOPEMENT // MONTANA ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
If you’re thinking about eloping in a beautiful place somewhere in the world you’ve undoubtedly come across the term “adventure elopement”. Despite being certain you want to do something out of the box for your wedding day, once again you’re being boxed in by this new term. Now you’re trying to navigate where you fall into the spectrum of outdoorsy-ness and getting lost in a sea of options. Enter ME. Your little beacon of light. Guiding you through the bullshit and confusion towards a day that is simply defined by: “doing-whatever-you-want-to-do elopement” (…I’ll work on a less wordy definition later)!
Let’s talk about what kind of experience will leave you daydreaming about this day months before and a lifetime after it happens. And how to make that happen.
The truth is…eloping is an adventure.
Planning an unconventional wedding is an adventure.
Doing something that excites you is an adventure.
Starting your life together is an adventure
So what we need to figure out first is: How adventurous do you want your elopement to be?
How Adventurous Do You Want Your Elopement To Be?
WOULD YOU RATHER…
kayak together
hike to a summit
only celebrate just you two
go through a puddle
travel to a nature-centric location
have a day full of experiences
keep things simple
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
OR
charter a boat
jeep to a scenic overlook
celebrate with your besties
go around a puddle
travel to a beautiful, historic destination
go through your day slowly
hire a team of vendors
If you find yourself getting excited about the first options, stay right here, friend!
| If you find yourself leaning towards the second options, maybe you’re more adventure-ish! Read this instead. → | Planning an Adventure (ish) Elopement (coming soon) |
Reasons couples are drawn to adventure elopements
Maybe you’re on the fence and need that final push OR you know this is what you want to do and this is a “hell yes” reminder – either way, let’s talk about it!
- You have space to focus on each other and what really matters.
- You are investing in an incredible experience instead of a party.
- You get to travel and explore somewhere amazing.
- You feel grounded in the outdoors and the world around you.
- Your day can be as intimate as just the two of you or shared with a handful of loved ones.
(Bonus #6: the photos will be like…really really REALLY cool.)
Epic Elopement Experiences
Now into the FUN STUFF! There are countless experiences out there for the taking when it comes to your wedding day. Here are some of my favorites that range from adrenaline rushes to once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Kayaking
Alpine cold plunge
Skydiving
Rent ATV’s
Heli-hike
Stay in a fire-lookout
Get tattoos
Dog-sledding
Make a bonfire & stargaze
Explore a cenote
Horseback riding
Go on safari
4 Things To Remember When Planning An Adventure Elopement
1. The experts you hire will have a huge impact on your day.
Of course you want to recruit talented vendors that align with your vision! But it’s just as important to look for people who have the experience in what you’re trying to do and knowledge about the area you’re exploring so they can guide you. Whether you’re looking for a guide or wedding vendor, make sure they: have good reviews, are willing to talk on the phone with you, have good communication from the jump, and are happy to answer any of your questions.
2. Your elopement experience doesn’t have to be epic to anyone else, but you.
Do you love sharing a cup of coffee together in the morning? Is there a trail you’ve made memories on over the years? Is there a location that’s not overseas, but just hours away, that you’ve always wanted to visit? That all sounds amazing. It’s epic that you get to do what you love and make meaningful memories on your wedding day!
3. Focus on experiences that truly light you up, not how it looks.
You can be in love with how something looks, but really think about whether or not YOU would truly enjoy that experience for yourself. For example: kayaking through icy blue glaciers sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience worth having, however if you’re scared of water because you aren’t a good swimmer, then you’ll be anxious the entire time. Think about what gives you butterflies, your bucket list items, and the things you already know you love to do!
4. You can’t do it all, don’t overschedule yourselves.
The good news is, y’all literally have the rest of your lives to do everything under the sun together. Give yourself the time to truly be with one another without time-constrictive, back-to-back plans being queued up. Pick 1-2 activities for your day and if that doesn’t feel like enough time, consider extending the festivities by having a two day elopement!
My Number One Tip For Adventure Elopement Couples: Hire A Planner
If you are traveling out of state or the country, and are planning to have your ceremony in a more remote location that requires an additional leg of travel, AND you want to do a handful of epic activities, aaaand you have a specific vision in mind that requires multiple vendors — hire a planner!! They will save you so much time and stress helping you: book travel, find accommodations, create an itinerary, connect with local vendors, and prepare for your trip. Trust me, it is worth the investment.
Where To Go For Your Adventure Elopement
Woof, what a loaded topic! Honestly, adventure can be found anywhere, even your own backyard – so don’t feel pressured to travel hundreds, or thousands, of miles for your elopement. First, think about: who’s coming, how do you want to spend your day, what setting gives you butterflies, what senses do you want to experience throughout your day. Then start researching locations that align with your vision: are the experiences you want feasible there, what is the travel time/cost, how’s the weather, is it accessible, do you love how the area looks.
But… if you want some suggestions for locations around the globe that scream adventure, I have some ideas…
Austria
Faroe Islands
New Zealand
Thailand
Alaska
Chile
Oman
Colorado
Need An Adventure Elopement Photographer? I Know A Gal.
Spoiler alert, it’s me! But hey, I am incredibly passionate about couples creating a wedding experience that lights them up. Couples who are thinking out of the box and leading with their hearts when it comes to planning their wedding day. If you’re here, you sound like one of those couples! Welcome :).
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