How to Pull Off the Perfect Adventure Elopement
As elopement planners, we get asked incredible questions by couples who are looking to elope — to venture into the woods and do the darn thing in their own way. A lot of our discussions happen with couples who are introverts, who feel connected to nature in their hobbies and passions, and who want to create a day where their focus can joyfully be on making a forever memory with their partner. If that sounds like you, then chances are you’re on the internet reading this article (hi!) because you’re looking for a little bit of guidance on how to make this day memorable while keeping it intimate. Let’s talk about how to make that happen. :D
LOCATION.
The first thing to think about is location. If you are a couple who is inspired by or spends time in the outdoors then you will want to choose a location that reflects your passion. Truly, there is no day more magical than one spent in the wild with fellow humans who love and respect Mother Nature just as much as you do. Some of our favorite elopements are the ones where we share the day with a couple and photographers who swap travel stories and delight in our knowledge about the area. Choosing a trail and a guide that can help you pick this location and match your desired level of hike or physical exertion on this day is always a bonus. Having ceremony and portrait photos taken at an off-the-beaten-track location where you can maintain intimacy and deep connection is #goals. Choosing a location that inspires you or reflects your passions and upholds the intimacy of the day is key. Once you’ve found it, get those permits!
TIMING.
The next thing to think about is timing. Timing your day so that you’re catching the right kind of light for the amount of time and activities you want to include will make the best of your photography investment. Are you a morning or an evening person? In general, you will want to save the hour after sunrise or before sunset (“golden hour”) for portraits with your bae. This light is the cozy, soft, summer glow that touches everything on the planet with a little bit of magic fairy dust. We recommend not scheduling anything during this time — just be with each other, enjoy nature, let your photographers guide and cue you as needed, and watch the world slowly turn.
Once you’ve picked your golden hour you can begin to schedule the rest of your day around it. If you spend lots of time outdoors, give yourself about 1.5-2x the amount of time you’d normally take to and from your destination for your elopement adventure schedule. If you are a more intermittent outdoor enthusiast, sift through trail reports to create an estimate of average hike time, then double it. Hiking can be slower going in a suit, dress, or when gabbing the trail away with your companions. Set aside small time blocks throughout the day to serve as a buffer: packing up the car, double-checking all your wedding supplies, touching up make-up, switching shoes, eating snacks, and soaking in small moments with big sighs. We recommend starting at your golden hour portraits and building backwards with lots of buffer time to discover how and when your day begins.
VENDORS.
The services you value are the ones you should hire! Every elopement vendor team looks different and you shouldn’t feel pressured to replicate what you’ve seen at other weddings, or even what you’ve seen on other elopement blog posts. The most common hires we see our clients make are accommodations, photography, beauty services, floral, food, and dessert. The best approach is to decide as a couple what you’ll value as part of your day, then hire in that order. When hiring and coordinating vendor, there are a few things to consider when deciding if they are a good fit for your needs:
Personality:
Do you get along with them? Are they easy to talk to? Do you have things in common? Your elopement day is a very personal, intimate experience, so be mindful of who you invite to be a part of it and how they can impact your day.
Professionalism:
What is the quality of their work or portfolio? Do they communicate regularly and well? What do they do in order to prepare and show up as their best selves for your special day? Trusting in your vendor’s professionalism can eliminate any doubts, lead-up jitters, and impulses to micro-manage that you may experience as the day approaches.
Accessibility to location:
Are they local to the area? What do they charge for their time and expenses to travel? What do they and don’t they offer when it comes to coordinating their services to a more remote location? Some vendors participate regularly in the elopement community, while others may not. It’s important to get clear on how they coordinate and bill for their services when traveling further afield for your elopement day.
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Another thing to account for is weather and seasonal conditions. When embarking on any outdoor adventure, there are nuances to trip planning that impact your excursion. Mother Nature simply cannot be controlled and there is beauty in that, but you also have to do the work to ensure you and your fellow adventurers stay safe. When selecting your location, you will want to consider trip reports from years prior in the month of your elopement to see what the reported conditions were like. That can help you pick the best time of year to visit weather-wise. If you can get out for a hike or visit the year prior, even better!
If you want to visit a high altitude place, choose a VERY late spring, summer, or early fall month to avoid icy conditions. If you want less people to share nature with, choose a weekday over a weekend. In the month leading up to your elopement, continue to monitor trail conditions for any annual variance in conditions or use, road closures, and changes to local services. Be sure to share updates with your team and adjust the game plan as needed. If all signs point to go, check in with the weather the week prior to your date. Use a reputable weather forecasting system like NOAA to break down the day’s projected weather conditions. Don’t obsess, but do check once daily to watch weather trends develop. Whether all goes to plan or you need to adapt to the weather, it’s going to be a great day. Your team is there to support you. Better to know and communicate expectations clearly so that everyone can show up with the right gear and the right attitude, as well as flex the game plan to work with Mother Nature instead of against her.
Photos courtesy of More Van Anything.
PACKING.
And the last key piece of the puzzle is packing. What to wear? What to bring? What to eat?! All very important questions — we’re so glad you asked. ;) Your packing list leans heavily on the kinds of activities you schedule for your day and your trip. While we can’t provide you a perfect list without getting to know you first, we did compile an entire list of packing ideas for an adventure elopement here [link to article] and our favorite gear recommendations here [link to article].
What are our key takeaways when it comes to packing for an adventure elopement? Bring lots of layers for big temperature swings as the sun goes down, especially at high altitudes and locations by the water. Bring lots of water and snacks because, while the morning adrenaline before your “I do’s” may turn your stomach signals off, they will come back to find you later in the day… no one wants to be hangry on their elopement day. Bring the appropriate gear, especially footwear, for your outdoor adventure to keep your body safe. And bring your ceremonial keepsakes and gifts to share with one another when you reach your destination.
Location + Timing + Conditions + Packing = A Perfect Adventure Elopement. While we can summarize this advice in a simple formula, there are a lot of small steps and choices you make within each of those buckets to stamp your signature on a day that only happens once. Remember that each twist and turn in the planning process only adds to the uniqueness of your experience. Taking those shifts in stride and full awareness only creates more ownership over the day. So if you’re ready to dive in, grab your partner and start planning!
Feeling a little overwhelmed by all the pieces? Looking for a local to help you navigate all these nuances? Want to chat with a guide who LOVES building adventure elopement experiences tailor-made for you?