Elopement planning tips
Elopements and intimate weddings will always hold a special place in my heart. I just love how close and personal these types of weddings are and how intentional they can be. This week I wanted to make a list of some tips for planning your elopement and give you some things to keep in mind about eloping.
Know your states laws
There are some rules when it comes to getting married in different states. So you will need to do some research and know what you can and cannot do when eloping. You need to know if you need witnesses, who can sign the marriage certificate and what you all need to make sure you are legally married. And the tricky part is, every state is a little bit different.
Research your location
There are many factors to think about when planning to elope at certain locations. You’ll want to take into account when picking a location things like accessibility, popularity, and restrictions. Being able to get to your location is important, if you have hiked your entire life and a difficult trail is something you are used to, perfect. However if you are an average human like me who didn’t grow up in the mountains, make sure you consider if you can actually make it to your location. Picking a spot that is both beautiful, secluded, and easy to get to is possible. You will just have to do some research. You might also want to keep in mind how popular a location will be. If you do not care about how many strangers are around you, then no big deal but if you want a more private elopement. Finding a spot that isn’t super popular would probably be best. Or at least go to the more popular spots at unpopular times like sunrise. Lastly you will want to research if your location requires permits or if it has any restrictions. I know as a photographer, I help with this one as well to make sure that it is okay to photograph at certain locations. However you will want to also make sure that it is allowed for you to be there to elope. National Parks for example require permits to elope there and to photographer there. So when you are planning your location for your elopement don’t forget to do your research on if you need permits, getting kicked out of a location is one way to ruin your elopement plan.
Decide who you want to include
You’ll want to decide pretty early on who you are going to include in your elopement. Because this can factor where your location can be and how accessible it will need to be. Often times I see couples include their kids in their elopement if they are becoming a blended family. People also invite their closest friends and family. Or they even bring their dogs. All of these decisions will plan into part where or when you can plan your elopement.
Know your budget
Knowing what your budget will be will also help you be able to plan your elopement better. One of the top reasons I see couples elope instead of doing a traditional wedding is due to budget. Knowing your budget will help you determine where you can go, where you can stay and what details you want to include. What helped me while planning my own intimate wedding was making a listen of priorities and fitting them into my budget first. Then working in the details in what was left. So I knew I wanted a Airbnb that fit my whole family, and I knew I wanted a good photographer. Those were my deal breaking items and the rest I just made work.
Incorporate the things that make YOU BOTH happy
One of the main reasons couples elope is so that they can do things their own way. When you elope you can have more control over how your day is planned and what you can do during your day. So take advantage of that and do the things you love. If you love hiking, go elope at the end of an amazing hike. If you and your partner love to be on the lake. Go on the lake for your elopement. If you love making your own pizza, make your own dang pizza. Eloping is so amazing for the simple reason of that it is truly just about you and your partner and your love. So don’t leave out the parts of the two of you on your big day.
