5 Steps to Planning Your Adventure Elopement
(Originally published in 2020, newly updated for 2024)
You’ve decided to make your big day an adventure! Heck yes.
Forgoing the “norm” and saying no to the pressure of planning a huge wedding feels pretty amazing, right?
The adventurous elopement has taken off in recent years for a reason. This day is truly about you two - it’s about celebrating your love and saying yes to a lifetime of adventures together. If the stress of traditional wedding planning starts to ruin the entire experience, enter: the adventure elopement.
With an elopement, you get the chance to fully embrace your day together in a relaxed and completely personalized way. And the best part? You can have your adventure elopement absolutely anywhere.
I am so thrilled that you’ve landed on this page, because that means you’re probably looking for help with the next steps. Don’t worry - as an elopement photographer, I’ve got you covered!
Here are my top tips for planning your adventure elopement day. Let’s dive in.
How to choose your location
Choosing a location is probably the most important (and exciting) part of adventure elopement planning. Start with this:
Is there a location somewhere in the world that is super meaningful to you and/or your relationship?
Or, is there a location that you’ve been dying to get to, and can envision yourself getting married at?
Don’t limit yourself! If you’ve been saving photos of the Isle of Skye in Scotland to your travel Pinterest board for the last 5 years, chances are that would be the most incredible place for you to tie the knot.
Start thinking of what type of vibe you want - whether that’s craggy mountain peaks, a sunny coastal setting, etc. Remember to consider ideal temperature, weather, season and even location popularity as you start to narrow the list down!
My favorite tools for “location scouting” in places you’ve never been are:
Google Earth (not Google maps. I’m talking about the 3D version)
Apps like AllTrails
Searching location-specific hashtags on Instagram (i.e. #italiandolomites, #adirondackmountains)
Pinterest searches, which lead to travel blogs
PS. If you’re thinking of getting married in a National Park within the US, you’ll need a permit. Each park’s requirements are listed on the National Park Service website.
How to choose the right photographer
You’ll be spending a lot of time with your elopement photographer, so they should be someone you feel comfortable and confident around. You want to “click.” I promise, it will make your day and your experience a million times better.
Aside from personalities matching, make sure that you find an adventure elopement photographer whose approach to photography and editing style you love. Pick someone whose work really, truly speaks to you - don’t simply price shop! These photos are what you’ll have to remember the day once it’s over (and for years and years to come), so make sure it’s documented in exactly the way you envision.
Plus, if other adventure elopement photographers are like myself, they’ll also act as a partial planner to help you piece together the details of your elopement day. Everything from timeline creation to location scouting and more is completely included when we work together.
Completing the legal details
Do you want to sign the marriage license on the elopement day? Or are you planning to elope overseas, and want to take care of the legal paperwork in your own country before you leave? (Helpful hint: most couples eloping in another country choose to sign the legal papers before they leave).
There are many factors to consider when it comes to the actual act of getting married on paper, but it’s ultimately up to you and the process you’re willing to commit to!
For adventure elopements where you legally want to do the paperwork in another country, check out this article. If you are planning on doing the actual ceremony and paperwork on your elopement day, also look into witness requirements for the area you’ve chosen.
Aside from your officiant being present, many places require at least one witness (which can be your photographer). Here’s a super helpful article on WeddingWire that breaks down all of the requirements by state.
What to wear & what to bring
In true adventure elopement form, chances are, you’ll probably be hiking over rough terrain for a portion of the day! Most importantly: have the right footwear. This means boots with great traction for those mountaintop elopements, or maybe something like a pair of hiking sandals for warm weather locations.
Depending on your chosen spot, pack for all weather possibilities! Rain coats, winter hats and gloves, warm leggings to wear under your dress, etc. Otherwise, opt for whatever wedding attire you want - this is your day.
Things to bring for your adventure elopement celebration might include custom vow books, beers to toast with or champagne to pop, or maybe even a sweet treat to devour in place of the traditional cake cutting!
You can check out my recommended packing list for warm weather hiking elopements, linked here.
Who to invite
Do you want to have a guest list? Yes, you can absolutely bring family and friends (and your pups!) along on your adventure elopement if you want.
Many consider up to 20 guests an “elopement.” After that, it leans towards an intimate wedding.
Or in classic elopement style, you can keep it a secret / keep the day just to yourselves. There’s no wrong answer when it comes to your elopement day.
But first think of it this way:
Will having other guests there add or subtract from your experience?
Will it bring you more joy, or take you away from the moment?
More often than not, couples will have their adventure elopement on their own, and then plan a celebration either later that day, the following day, or back home at a much later date with family and friends.
If you want the day to truly just be about you two as a couple - don’t feel pressured to invite others to your elopement! Those who love you will understand that you want this day to be a true adventure.
This is going to be the most incredible experience! Embrace the elements, relax, enjoy and explore endlessly…
Ready to get this party started?
Let’s chat all about your dream elopement day 🎉
Freebie bonus:
To help you through the entire process, I’ve created an
Ultimate Elopement Planning Checklist
for you to save and reference as you plan this adventure!
