If you and your partner are considering eloping, let me be the first to say—heck yes! As a photographer, I’ve seen firsthand how magical elopements can be (yes even hanging here in the midwest), and I’m all about helping couples craft a day that feels authentic, stress-free, and completely tailored to your love story.
Why Eloping Might Be Right for You
Let’s be honest: wedding days can be a lot. If you’ve ever attended a big wedding or been part of planning one, you know the pressure that comes with it. Guest lists spiral out of control, budgets skyrocket, and suddenly, you’re making decisions based on what will make other people happy instead of focusing on what you and your partner truly want.
Eloping flips that script. Instead of a traditional wedding where you might feel like a host catering to dozens (or hundreds!) of people, an elopement is about you two. It gives you the freedom to create a day that’s focused entirely on your love, your connection, and what makes your relationship unique.
Crafting a Personal Elopement That Feels Like You
Eloping doesn’t mean sacrificing meaning, beauty, or excitement. In fact, it can be even more special because every detail is intentional. So, how do you plan an elopement that truly reflects you and your love story? Let’s dive in.
1. Pick a Location That Speaks to Your Soul
Where do you and your partner feel most alive? Is it deep in the woods on a hiking trail? By the shores of a secluded lake? In the middle of the mountains, standing on a cliff with the wind in your hair? Maybe it’s a city rooftop at sunset, overlooking a skyline you both adore.
Your elopement location should be somewhere that makes you feel connected—to nature, to your journey together, and to the moment. It should be a place where you can truly be together without distractions. If you’re struggling to decide, think about places that hold significance in your relationship or locations that align with your shared interests and passions.
2. Plan Activities You Actually Enjoy
Since you’re ditching the traditional wedding formalities, you have complete freedom to do whatever you want on your elopement day. So, ask yourselves—what do you love doing together?
Maybe it’s starting the day with coffee at your favorite café, then taking a sunrise hike to exchange vows. Maybe you want to rent a vintage camper van and road trip to a stunning location, stopping to take photos along the way. Or perhaps your perfect day involves kayaking, skiing, or even skydiving—why not?! The beauty of eloping is that the day can unfold however you want it to.
3. Incorporate Personal Touches
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you can’t include meaningful traditions or sentimental elements. Write handwritten vows, bring a family heirloom, wear a dress that makes you feel like you, or include your favorite flowers in your bouquet. If you have a pet, bring them along! If you love music, create a playlist that tells your love story and play it as you say your vows.
Eloping gives you permission to toss out anything that doesn’t feel right and replace it with something that genuinely matters to you.
4. Choose the Right People to Be There (or No One at All!)
One of the biggest stressors of a traditional wedding is the guest list. Who do you invite? Who do you have to invite? Will your second cousin be offended if they don’t get an invite?
With an elopement, you can choose to have just the two of you, or you can invite a handful of people who truly support and uplift your relationship. It’s not about cutting people out—it’s about making sure that the energy around you is positive, loving, and aligned with your vision for the day.
5. Capture the Moments (Because They Matter!)
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean your day isn’t worth documenting. In fact, because the day is so personal and intimate, having photos to look back on is even more important. A great elopement photographer (hi, that’s me!) will not only capture the beauty of your location but also the raw emotions, the little in-between moments, and the unique details that make your love story special.
Your elopement photos should tell a story—the story of your love, your adventure, and your perfect day.
Let Go of the “Shoulds” and Enjoy Your Wedding Day
If there’s one thing I hope every couple takes away from this, it’s this: your wedding day should be about you. Not about impressing guests, not about fulfilling expectations, and definitely not about stressing over things that don’t truly matter in the grand scheme of your relationship.
Eloping allows you to strip away all the noise and focus on what actually counts: celebrating your love, your way. Whether that means reading vows at sunrise on a mountaintop, exchanging rings in a cozy cabin, or saying “I do” barefoot on the beach at sunset—it’s your day. Make it something you’ll look back on with joy, knowing it was completely and utterly you.
So, if you’re leaning toward an elopement, take this as your sign to go for it. Dream big, plan a day that feels right, and embrace the adventure of crafting a wedding experience that is truly your own. And if you need someone to capture it all? You know where to find me. 😉
This styled shoot hosted by Chasing Sunset LLC was absolutely phenomenal and truly made me wish I had eloped!
Hosts: Chasing Sunsets LLC @chasingsunsetsllc
Florals: @bx.bouquets
Dress: @rawgoldenrentals
Models: Sheryl and Michael @michaelgegrman @sherylo.leary
Makeup: @kcharlesbeauty
Hair: @thpweddings
