Are you thinking, “a traditional wedding doesn’t feel right for us”? Do you and your partner enjoy the peace and quiet of the great outdoors over the hustle bustle of a city? Does planning your wedding give you anxiety and hives? Do you wish that you can just go into the woods (or desert) and get married in an environment that you enjoy? Well, my friend, adventure elopements are for you! Let me show you how to plan an adventure elopment!
First lets define an adventure elopement. It is anything outside of a traditional wedding that is held outdoors. The “adventure” part is the wild journey to get to the epic place where you will say “I do”. If you are screaming “yes, this is ME”, well, I’m here to help you plan your epic and wild adventure elopement.
Your wedding is supposed to be all about you. How you start your lives together is important. And what better way than with nature, your boo, and maybe a few friends and family members.
Where and When to go
The first and most important thing to decide is where you want to do this thang. There is a whole world out there worth exploring, so you’ll want to research a lot of options before you settle on a location. A location that speaks to you both. The rest of your planning will revolve around the location you choose.
Once you have chosen your location, now it’s time to pick your when. Seasonality plays a huge role in this decision. Are you looking for a winter wonderland in the mountains or a summer beach elopement? Summer months tend to be harder to plan and more expensive, due to the tourism industry.
How to Plan an Adventure Elopment
Lets start by answering a few questions that may help you get a better understanding of what you want.
- What do you imagine your day to look like? Will it be just the two of you? Do you anticipate others playing a part in your day?
- What does the scenery look like? Are you in the mountains, in the middle of the desert, on a beach, in a forest?
- How much time are you able to spend on your elopement? Is this a part of a longer trip that includes your honeymoon? Do you have to get back home for any reason?
- How many people to you anticipate being witness? This will help with permits.
- Are there any religious or cultural traditions that you wish to incorporate into your ceremony?
- What do you want to wear? A dress or a suit? Heels or hiking boots? Will you need extra layers?
- What activities do you want to do? Think of activities that you two enjoy, hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, etc.
Logistics
First thing’s first, BUDGET. Come up with a budget you are comfortable with, one that will allow you to have the perfect day (or days). Adventure elopements allow you to splurge on other things though since you will not be using catering or venues. Your photographer is probably going to use up a good chunk of your budget. So, make sure to book them ASAP.
Next, you need to decide how involved in the planning process you want to be. Like wedding planners, there are elopement planners who know the area well and are experienced in what you want. Another option is a day of coordinator, they will help make your day go smoothy and help set up any details for your event. And some elopement photographers offer limited planning services for adventure elopements.
Like any other adventure, you will need to make your travel arrangements, such as, hotels, flights, rental cars, passport, etc. In addition, make sure to research how to get your marriage license and laws associated.
Lastly, book all of your vendors and purchase (or rent) your wedding attire. And plan and book your honeymoon accommodations.
Dream Adventrue Elopment Locations
Great Smoky Mountains National Park– Check out amazing locations for photos here.
Glacier National Park, Montana
Ireland
Iceland
Arch Cape, Oregon
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Moro Bay, California
Moab, Utah
Arches National Park, Utah
Big Sky, Montana
White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Name your dream destination adventure elopment in the comments below!
