How do you Elope | Everything We Wish We’d Known

How you get married matters, and how you feel as you plan your elopement day matters. We’re here to support you through the process and document each moment. 

We’re Sam + Kyle, a married photography team based in the PNW and fellow elope-ees! We know exactly how it feels to want a day that’s intentional, but not quite knowing where to start.

TBH, we eloped before adventure elopements were really a thing. When we eloped there weren’t any real resources for couples who didn’t see their values reflected back in the industry.

Since then, we’ve built a business that specializes in adventure elopements, and helped couples plan unique days in beautiful places. 

From choosing the perfect spot to the paperwork, we’re stoked to share everything we wish someone had told us. We want you to be able to focus on what’s really important – planning a day that feels like you. 

• How do you elope? Deciding if you should
  • Questions to help you decide how to elope

• Planning an elopement
  • Define your values 
  • Craft your vision
  • Set your Budget 

• The First 3 Decisions to Make
  • Finding the right photographers
  • Choosing your location
  • Deciding on a date

• Crafting Your Dream Elopement Day | Planning Details 
  • Booking your travel
  • Activities for your day
  • Building your timeline
  • How do you elope if the weather sucks

• Frequently Asked Questions
  • What Qualifies as an elopement
  • How many guests at an elopement
  • Is eloping a legal marriage
  • Do you need an officiant to elope
  • Do you need witnesses if you elope
  • What does an elopement ceremony look like
  • How long does it take to plan an elopement
  • How long does it take to elope

• Making the Most of Your Elopement Day
  • Tips for staying grounded 

• Your Next Steps for Planning Your Elopement

What are your biggest priorities for your day? 

• This question is your anchor for everything else. Whether it’s intimacy, adventure, or a specific atmosphere – this will help you shape your day around what you value. 

How do you want to feel on your wedding day?

• Aside from being happy and stress-free, because duhh. Do you want to feel spontaneous? Do you want to feel inspired? Do you want to feel grounded? Let those emotions guide how you want to celebrate. 

Do you want to say your vows with others there?

• Do you want to share this moment privately with your partner, or in front of others? Is there a large (15+) group of folks that you can’t imagine not being there on your wedding day? 

How will you tell your story years from now?

• When you look back on your wedding day, what kind of story do you want to tell? This can help you decide what’s most important to you – whether it’s the location, the people, the views, or the unique experience. 

How will your day reflect your relationship?

• Your wedding day is a celebration of your relationship and the beginning of a new chapter. Think of what places, experiences, and elements that will resonate. 

Starting to plan your elopement can feel a bit like staring at a blank canvas – exhilarating, and slightly overwhelming.

Here, we’ll guide you through the initial steps and decisions that will give you a strong foundation for your vision.

Ranking these three priorities is crucial to the planning process, and knowing that having all three is hard to come by can help manage expectations. 

For example: If you want epic views that are easy to get to, you’ll want to manage your expectations around privacy. 

If privacy and epic views are important to you, you’ll likely want to opt for a location that is more challenging to get to and sees less foot traffic, or explore during less popular times of the day. 

Some questions to ask yourselves: 

• What type of scenery are you most drawn to and inspired by?

• What landscapes are you excited to explore? 

• What colors light you up? 

• What weather are you hoping for?

• How many folks are with you?

• What type of temperatures and climate are you most comfortable with?

• What adventures do you see yourselves doing? Off-roading? Surfing? Rock Climbing? Picnicking? Floating around in a lake?

• What pace are you drawn to? Chill, yet purposeful, or jam-packed adventure? 

• What are you wearing? How does it contract the landscape? How does the fabric move in the wind? Are you barefoot?

• What foods are you eating?

• Are you catching sunrise, or sunset? Are you star-gazing? 

• What are some things or places you’ve always wanted to experience? 

While it’s 1000% true that elopements are ✨significantly✨ less expensive than traditional weddings, that doesn’t mean that an adventure elopement isn’t something that needs a budget. 

It’s difficult to create a budget that fits across the board, because every couple, their priorities, and their experience are all so different. 

However, what we’ll do here is guide you to designing an intentional budget that feels good for your day. 

How do you elope | Start with your priorities

Ask yourselves: What are the top three things that will make our adventure elopement feel special. What moments, experiences, or aesthetics do we want to remember the most?

This goes back to that first section of defining your values, and defining your vision. You’ll want to get super clear about the top three things that you value the most, and build your budget around them. 

That could look like some of these combinations: 

1. Documenting the day (Photography/videography)
2. Experience (an excursion, or a private chef)
3. Top-notch travel (lodging + travel)

1. Aesthetics + decor (florals, HAMU, attire)
2. Experience (an excursion, or a private chef)
3. Top-notch travel (lodging + travel)

1. Adventure (excursion, planned activity, guided service) 
2. Aesthetics + decor (florals, HAMU, attire)
3. Documenting the day (photography/videography)

Or literally, whatever combo you come up with for your day, based on your own vision and priorities!

From here, you’ll want to direct your budget around those things that excite you the most. 

Top 3 Tips for an Intentional Elopement Budget

1. Invest in your experience: Since you won’t be spending your money on a guest experience, you can splurge on your own! Think about those once in a lifetime moments you want to relive decades from now. This could be:

• Taking a helicopter ride to a glacier
• Having a sunset picnic on top of a mountain
• Traveling to a destination on your bucket list

2. Make travel part of the experience: Consider how travel is an extension of your entire elopement planning experience.

• Whether it be luxe lodging, camping under the stars, or in a cozy cabin with a hot tub, stay in a place that enhances your experience.
• Give yourselves time to explore outside of your elopement day! 

3. Scale back on the things that don’t resonate with you: Remember, you’re crafting a day that is 100000% tailored to your values. NOTHING is mandatory.

#1) Their style: Take a look at their website and socials, do you like the way they document and edit elopements? Is their style one that you’re drawn to? When you reach out, ask to see some full galleries in different lighting scenarios.

If you know the type of location you’re wanting to explore (ie. beach, forest, mountain), ask if they have any full galleries with a similar vibe.

This will help give you a really good idea of what you can expect with your own gallery.

#2) Their vibe: Will you enjoy hanging out with them on your wedding day? We are often the only folks with our couples on their elopement day. We cannot stress the importance of feeling comfortable with the folks that are documenting your day. Having folks that feel more like a friends will make you feel so much more comfortable in front of the camera and be all-around a better experience.

#3) Planning Support: How much planning support is included in their process? Will they suggest locations, recommend vendors, or help you build a timeline?

If the planning process and research feels daunting, or you want guidance to help you craft a unique day, find an adventure elopement photographer that will hold your hand through the planning process.

Location Suggestions + Scouting

We create a location guide that is tailored to your accessibility preferences, desired views, and the experience your after.

Outside of just suggesting epic locations, we also include a ton of info to help you make an informed decision, pick the best spot, and submit any required permits.

We’ll also spend time doing boots on the ground scouting and have plenty of backup locations for just in case.

We do all of this research and curation so that you two can decide on the perfect elopement location and feel confident that your day will be absolutely amazing.

Planning Support

After figuring out how to elope on our own, we’ve created valuable resources that we WISH we would’ve had.

Along with comprehensive planning guides, we have questionnaires crafted to help you dig into your vision, sort out the details, and get mega intentional about your day.

We share these so that you can craft a day that is totally unique to you without missing important details. We hold your hand through the whole process, so you never have to wonder “what’s next”.

Recommendations

We’ll share local vendors, guides, places to check out, etc! This goes beyond just the scope of your day, we want you to be able to really experience the places that we love.

Lodging recommendations, our fave coffee spots are all included in your location guide and shared throughout the planning process, so that you don’t have to spend hours researching.

Timeline Curation

Building an elopement timeline that takes lighting, travel, and all the little logistics that make a huge impact can feel like a big undertaking. We do it for you, so you can finalize it with us and make tweaks knowing that the the hard part is done for ya!

Two Elopement Photographers

We’re a team and have a dialed in process for how we approach planning your day and documenting it. It’s our goal that on your elopement day, it feels like you’re hanging out with two buddies with nice cameras, a ton of knowledge, and a great eye.

We know that beautiful photos come from an incredible experience, so we’ll always prioritize your experience over everything.

Our approach is a mix of journalistic and editorial with a big emphasis on the surrounding landscape. We’ll give gentle direction as needed while also balancing true authenticity.

Mount Rainier

Ideal for couples who:

• Are drawn to the iconic views of Mount Rainier, want to explore stunning glaciers, or see some of the most insanely beautiful alpine meadows. 

• A Mount Rainier Elopement is perfect for couples that want to see waterfalls, old growth forests, and mountain views all in one day

• Are drawn to locations ranging from walkup views to longer adventures in a dramatic and often-times moody landscape.

North Cascades

Ideal for couples who:

• The North Cascades are PERFECT for couples that are drawn to the rugged wilderness, or are wanting to explore locations that are more remote. 

• While there are some incredible walk up locations in the North Cascades,  there are also some amazing options for longer hikes that lead you to THE MOST INCREDIBLE VIEWS. 

• For couples that are seeking privacy, a North Cascades elopement can offer up more privacy than other national parks and forests.

Olympic National Park

Ideal for couples who

• Want to explore multiple landscapes in one day. The Olympics are home to the most stunning rainforests, striking lakes, moody beaches, and stunning mountain views. 

• Want privacy and are down to elope in the shoulder seasons (summer is V popular)

• Want accessibility options and locations that are gorgeous without a ton of effort.

The Oregon Coast

Ideal for couples who: 

• Want a laid back vibe that doesn’t sacrifice epicness 

• Want a ton of incredible lodging options to choose from 

• Want accessible locations that are insanely gorgeous 

• Want multiple locations in one day

• Are eloping on super short notice and don’t have time to get a permit

Many elopement locations on public lands will require a permit for your ceremony to take place, and some locations require a permit for portraits.

Some locations, like the Oregon Coast only require a permit if you have over 50 guests, or are using any kind of structures (like an arch).

Couples are often really intimidated by permits, but we promise you don’t need to stress! This is something that we help all of our couples with after they choose their location.

While each location will vary depending on who manages it, we have some helpful info to share to make this task less stressful.

Elopement Location Permit FAQs

When should we apply for a permit?

• In our process, we recommend that couples apply for their permit AFTER they’ve chosen their location. Permit applications will require an exact location before approval, so it’s best to wait until you have your ceremony location locked in. Some permit applications require a “setup” and “take down” time, which we provide our couples with when we finalize your location.

What type of Permit do we need?

• Usually, couples will need to apply for a special use permit. However, this varies depending on the area. Some locations don’t require a couple to apply for a permit, but instead require the photographer to apply for a commercial use permit. Others require couples to apply for a special use permit and don’t require a photographer to apply for ay permits. Honestly, the permit process has been going through some big changes, so we keep a running spreadsheet to stay up to date!

Are there elopement locations that don’t require permits?

• Yes! If it is just the two of ya, or you’re keeping your guest size pretty small, there are many areas that don’t require you to apply for a special use permit This typically applies to National Forests, the Oregon Coast, and Olympic National Park.

How much does a Special Use Permit Cost?

• This also depends on the location, but it ranges from $0-$500 (on the higher end).

In our process, things start to move pretty quick after you’ve selected your ceremony location.

From there, we’re able to recommend local vendors, activities you may enjoy, other nearby places to explore, and places to stay.

This is the part of the planning process that is focused on more of the details and logistics of the day.

Book Your Travel

Once you have your ceremony location selected, you’ll want to go ahead and book your lodging. It’s important to do this AFTER you’ve selected your ceremony location so your options aren’t limited because of drove times.

Look for lodging that fits your vibe and that you’re excited to stay at. Lodging is often a part of the experience of the day as it’s where you’ll get ready, and the place you’ll come back to after the days adventures.

Find a space that fits the aesthetic you’re drawn to and that has amenities you feel stoked about, like a gorgeous hot tub under the stars, or a fire pit you can curl up by.

Activities for your day

Fill your day with activities that excite you and experiences that you’ll remember forever. Consider leveling up the meals that you’ll share by hiring a private chef, or eating under the stars.

What are activities that you enjoy doing together? If you’re planning the best day ever, what does that look like? Are you surfing at sunrise, or beach combing as the sun sets? Are you exploring somewhere new together or dancing under the stars?

Consider excursions that feel like a once in a life time event, like a helicopter ride on top of a glacier, or a hot air balloon ride.

The sky is the limit.

Build your timeline

This is something we include in all of our packages so we can make sure that you’re able to fit in everything you want without feeling rushed.

We take into account all of the logistics and build in buffer time to make sure things stay on track and you don’t feel stressed.

Elopement timelines look wayyyy different than a traditional wedding timeline, but having one is important if you want a chill, yet purposeful day.

We have a lot to say on this subject, so if you’re interested in learning more or putting your own timeline together you can check out this post we wrote about planning your elopement timeline.

How do you elope if the weather sucks?

Getting married in the outdoors comes with unpredictability! Before deciding if you want to elope, check in with how you feel about that uncertainty. If it’s raining, are you down to roll with it, or will that wreck your experience?

We shoot rain or shine and pivot necessary, but we ALWAYS have multiple backup plans and locations for just in case, because you never know what mother nature is gonna do.

Especially in wildfire season, it’s super important to have a backup location that you can easily pivot to in case things are dangerous, or there’s a ton of smoke.

Road and trail closures can happen with little to no notice, so having some one on your team that can help you put together solid backup plan(s), or knows the area well enough to pivot is important.

When chatting with adventure elopement photographers, ask what their process is for dangerous weather. Do they shoot elopements back to back, meaning they can’t be flexible in an emergency? Do they know the surrounding areas well and know what’s available if a permit can’t be obtained in time?

Peace of mind is so important during the planning process as well as the ability to go with the flow of the day.

What qualifies as an elopement

In a nutshell, an elopement is about ditching the traditional wedding expectations and creating a day that feels authentic to who you are.

Many couples (ourselves included), just don’t align with the expectations of a traditional wedding, where the focus tends to be on traditions and the experience of the guests. 

An elopement is a reflection of the couple, whether that be a quick trip to the courthouse, or crafting an intentional day that celebrates this new chapter. 

I’ll be honest, when we eloped, we didn’t know what was possible. Exchanging vows somewhere meaningful and inspiring never crossed our minds. We eloped at a courthouse, and took a honeymoon that was sooo freaking fun. 

We didn’t have a photographer, we didn’t have someone to help us dream up a day that really aligned with our values. Do we regret how we eloped? Nope! It was still a special day. But, for our 5 year anniversary, we went all out and renewed our vows in a way that felt so intentional, so meaningful, and documented every second of it. 

An elopement isn’t just running down to the courthouse anymore, and as folks that didn’t see themselves reflected in the wedding industry, we’re pretty stoked on that.   

While the legal requirements for a marriage license vary from state to state, we’ll give you a breakdown.

Here’s what you can anticipate:

Marriage license

• You can apply online for your marriage license in the state you’ll be getting married in. Once it’s processed, you’ll either be mailed your marriage license, or you can pick it up.

Waiting period

• Many states have a waiting period that you’ll have to observe after applying for your marriage license before you can actually get married. Some states, like Colorado don’t have a waiting period. Other states, like Oregon, allow you to waive the waiting for a $5 fee. It all depends on where you’re gettin’ hitched.

Fees

• Marriage license fees vary depending on state and sometimes county. All of this info is easy to find!

Do you need an Officiant to elope?

This depends on the states legal requirements. In states like Colorado, you can self-solemnize. This is essentially where you can declare yourselves married and don’t need an officiant to sign off.

In other states, you’ll need to have an officiant sign your marriage license.

But, this isn’t something to worry about as there are PLENTY of options:

• Hire an officiant: there are some incredible officiants out there that are dow to adventure with you and will help you craft a meaningful ceremony.

• Have a guest get ordained: If you have friends or fam joining you, as one of them to get ordained and perform your ceremony. They can get ordained for free, online and it’ll be recognized in most states.

• Ask us: We’re ordained and happy to sign as your officiant!

Do you need witnesses if you elope

This depends on the state! Some, like Colorado, don’t require witness signatures, but many require two witnesses.

We’re always happy to sign as your witnesses, and there will undoubtedly be other human beings that will be thrilled to sign as well.

What does an elopement ceremony look like?

An elopement ceremony typically ranges from 5 minutes to half an hour. But, this is totally dependent on you as a couple and what feels right.

We have a lot to say about what a ceremony could look like and different structures, so we’d recommend reading this piece we wrote on crafting your Elopement Ceremony.

How long does it take to plan an elopement?

To plan an intentional day, without stress or feeling rushed, we recommend giving yourselves a minimum of 6 months.

This will give you time to connect with vendors that align with your vision, get the proper permits without worrying, and truly enjoy the planning process.

While less planning time is absolutely possible (we have helped couples plan their day in less than two weeks), many vendors, like bakers, require at least a month of notice.

How long does it take to elope?

This depends on what you want your day to look like. While, yes, you could just run down to the courthouse real quick and have everything said and done in half an hour, we want more for you.

This is not just any other day and it deserves intention and celebration. Additionally, it deserves the same documentation as a traditional wedding day.

When we eloped, we didn’t have a photographer, and let me tell ya, it is our only regret. Even with a chill day, your emotions are running high, and the day absolutely flies by. I remember a few tidbits, but truly, the day is a blur, and that breaks my heart.

This was the main reason that drove us to renew our vows 5 years later and go all out. So, take it from us, don’t skimp on your wedding day.

Take the day before to just chill

Give yourselves the day before your elopement to just chill and recalibrate before your day. Get your things together rand prepped, explore the area, and get plenty of rest. You will feel so much more at peace on your elopement day!

Give yourselves plenty of time

I beg you, do not have an elopement timeline that is so jam packed that you don’t have time to be present. A well curated timeline is key to having an elopement day that feels balanced between exciting and chill.

Stay nourished and well hydrated

It is so important to take care of yourself day of! Pack plenty of snacks and be sure to bring lots of water. We always bring a small cooler so couples can keep cold waters and snacks on hand throughout the day.

WOOHOO!! You’ve decided that you want to create an intentional and intimate day that is focused on you and your partner.

Here are your next steps:

Make your big decisions first

• Decide on a general location
• Choose your date
• Hire your adventure elopement photographer

Hammer out the details

• Choose your ceremony location
• Buy your attire
• Book your travel and lodging
• Hire additional vendors
• Create your elopement timeline
• Craft your elopement ceremony

Take care of the paperwork

• Get your marriage license
• Obtain your permit

Have the most incredible day

• Give yourselves the day before to chill
• Pack extra snacks and water
• Put all of the small details together the day before
• Stay focused on each other

Our hope is that this guide has brought you clarity, given you some practical advice, and encouraged you to craft a day that is unforgettable and inspiring. 

Let’s get intentional, dig into your vision and curate a day that feels right, feels real, and feels like you. 

Let’s toss out the rulebook and create a day that’s 100% yours. You deserve a wedding day that feels just as incredible as your relationship—and we can’t wait to help you make it happen. 

While planning a day with so much freedom can feel a little overwhelming, we promise that with the right support, it doesn’t have to. Just by deciding to elope and choose a wedding experience that values intention over tradition, you’ve already made the hardest decision. 

You deserve a wedding day that inspires you. You deserve to feel stoked during the planning process, and we can’t wait to help make it happen

N+ N Forest Wedding

A+T Hiking Elopement

Ruby Beach Elopement

J+C Backpacking Wedding

Elopement Ceremony Guide

Elopement Timeline Guide

How to Get Married Without a Wedding

Olympic National Park Elopement Guide

North Cascades Elopement Guide

Mount Rainier Elopement Guide

How to Elope in Washington State

Oregon Coast Elopement Guide