Virginia Adventure Elopements: Essentials and other Frequently Asked Questions
Are you and your partner on the fence about having a traditional wedding? Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed with the amount people you feel pressured to invite. Or maybe you don’t want to spend too much money on the food, the venue, and all the little things expected at a wedding. Maybe you don’t want to be the center of attention for all the guests.
You want something more intimate, something that’s less pressure. You want the focus to be on the two of you and the experiences you can create for yourselves. Not being pulled in so many different directions on your wedding day.
If you’re on the fence about it then, just jump. I can promise you that elopements are so worth it.
Okay, now that you’ve jumped… did you feel the weight of all that pressure come off. Doesn’t that feel good?
But now where do you go from here? Start here with me. I’ve compiled a list of elopement essentials and other frequently asked questions to help you through and get you started. Take a look below and if you need more clarification or just someone to talk through all your amazing elopement ideas with, reach out. I’m here for you.
What is an elopement?
Elopements are a more intimate, intentional, stress-free way to get married. I started out photographing big, traditional weddings, but I was feeling like something was missing. Connection, intentionality, serenity, and freedom were missing. I found all those things with elopements. Not just one hour courthouse elopements. Amazing, all day adventure elopements. The elopements that you have in an incredible National Park. The elopements that take you to stunning places. The elopements that feel true to you.
The truth is some people want the elopement experience but feel obligated to have a traditional wedding because that’s what their mom, cousins, siblings, aunts, uncles, et. cetera did. You don’t have to do that. Elopements are so special and unique. They’re truly different from big, traditional weddings with quiet, intentional, meaningful moments. Eloping is what I did when my husband and I got married and now I’ve helped so many couples plan out their amazing, all day adventure elopements. I’m here for you too.
Why should we elope?
If anything I’ve written so far brings a smile to your face or just makes sense in any way, eloping is for you. Once you ditch the obligations, there’s so much freedom to just be yourselves and plan a day that’s true to you as a couple. Elope for the freedom and the quiet, fun, spontaneous moments together. Elope for the experience and photos that you can look back on and say “We did that”. Elope for yourselves.
Why should we elope in Virginia?
Virginia is perfect for your adventure elopement. It has all four seasons, quaint towns, endless opportunities for adventure. Not to mention fantastically gorgeous locations like Shenandoah National Park, Grayson Highlands State Park and Hungry Mother State Park. I’ve spent years exploring and photographing all over Virginia so I’m just the expert you need. Check out more on why you should choose to elope in Virginia on my blog post here.
Elopement Essentials
Prepare for family and friend’s feelings on your elopement.
Not everyone is going to love that you’re eloping. And that’s okay. You have to do what’s right for you and your partner. Otherwise, you’re going to look back on your wedding day with mixed feelings instead of warm, proud memories. Be prepared for their feelings and address them as you need.
Legality comes first.
Make sure you take care of the paperwork needed to get your license and make your marriage legal. I’ve had some couples get officially married first and do a symbolic ceremony where ever they want. And I’ve had some couples obtain their license and officially get married on the side of a mountain. It’s totally up to you.
Hire a planner/photographer that fits you.
Use the experience and knowledge that I have to help you plan out your day because let’s be honest, it’s hard to do it by yourself. The bonus is that I plan out and photograph your elopement so you’ll get all the stunning photos too. But make sure that you’re a good fit with your elopement planner and photographer to get the best experience possible. I highly recommend doing a video consultation to talk through your ideas so you can get a feel for your elopement planner and photographer.
Think about guests carefully.
This number can snowball quickly, make a list and stick to it. Keep your boundaries, it’s okay to do that. All of my elopements are 15 guests or less and I’m upfront about this number so my couple’s can plan accordingly. Make sure you check with your elopement planner and photographer. It’s also okay for it to be just the two of you in Virginia as long as you have an authorized individual to celebrate the rites of marriage.
Stay flexible.
You can always (and should) put back ups in place for your elopement just in case you have to change plans quickly because of weather or other factors. But you can’t control those things. So it’s important to just breathe, let go, stay flexible, and know that a little spontaneity can turn into beautiful things.
Don’t minimize your elopement.
This one is huge. Elopements are just as paramount as traditional weddings, it’s just a different way of getting married. And that’s okay. So don’t minimize your wedding day just because your elopement may not have everyone’s approval. Your wedding day should be a true representation of the two of you and your continuation of this amazing, incredible journey. Don’t let anyone, including yourselves, take that from you or make you feel that it’s less in any way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are elopements just short ceremonies at the courthouse?
Nope! There are many, many ways to elope today. Elopements are no longer one hour courthouse ceremonies. The truth is that not everyone wants a large, traditional wedding. And that’s okay! There are so many couples just like you who want quiet, small, and intentional moments. Moments that still last all day or even multiple days! Moments that are extravagant but spontaneous. Moments that feel true to you because you decided to ditch the heavy expectations of what everyone else thinks your wedding day should be.
Does the official ceremony have to be on my elopement day?
Not at all! I’ve had many couples completed their official ceremony weeks or months prior to their elopement day. They do what I call a symbolic ceremony on their elopement day where they’re able to exchange their personal vows in a stunning location like Shenandoah National Park or Grayson Highlands State Park.
Can my elopement be more than one day?
Yes! You can do a full day elopement or you can choose to split your elopement up over two (or even three!) days. I’ve had couples do a very intimate day of just them and a few close people where they take their time getting ready, exchange vows, do a small activity (beautiful hike, first dance in a scenic place, intimate dinner out, etc.). And then on a separate day, they plan a bigger celebration with a few more friends and family. This a great way to incorporate others into your celebration but still have your small, private ceremony.
Can I hike in my wedding clothes?
Absolutely! Or not. Totally up to you and your comfort level. I’ve had couples hike in their hiking clothes and change at the waterfall or summit using changing tents and I’ve also had couples hike up in their wedding clothes.
What are some activities I can do on my elopement?
There’s no limit and there’s no pressure. Imagine doing something simple where you and your partner can laugh and have sweet moments together. Is it horseback riding along the East Coast? Is it cooking a special meal and making drinks in your own kitchen? Is it hiking up the side of mountain? Maybe it’s running around an arcade like little kids. Or sharing a slice of pizza at your favorite pizzeria. Whatever feels most like you is what you should do.
How far out do I need to book?
I’ve had some couples book up to a week before their elopement date and some couples book over a year away from their elopement date. Elopements can be super spontaneous or they can be carefully planned out over the course of a few months, both ways are right as long as it’s right for you. And remember, without a bigger wedding to account for, all the pressure is off so you can remain as flexible as you want.
Is it cheaper to elope?
There’s no right answer to this question because everyone is different and it depends on what you want for your wedding day. Some weddings can cost up to $50,000 and elopements can be half that. It really depends on your location, how far you’ll need to travel, how much you want to spend on your attire, et. cetera. I would say that you can cut wedding day expenses by about 50%-80% by choosing an elopement adventure instead of a traditional wedding but, again, that depends on your specific choices and other various aspects.
What’s the difference between a small wedding and an elopement?
The main difference between a small wedding and an elopement for me is the guest count. My elopements are all 15 guests and under for the ceremony. Whereas my small weddings are 80 guests and under. The other key difference is planning services involved. With my elopements, I’m there with you every step of the way to plan out all the details, vendors, accommodations, timeline, locations, et. cetera. However, with small weddings, my services are limited to photography only.
How do we start with the elopement process?
Brainstorm some thoughts. Just jot down some ideas, think of it as an outline. The hardest step was jumping in and choosing this amazing experience. Everything from here on out is simple. If you’re feeling stuck, check out my blog post on how to get started. This post is specific to Shenandoah National Park but, the same rules apply. And, of course, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help.
Final Thoughts
The truth about eloping is that it’s such a unique experience that there’s truly not a single right way to do this. And it’s such a personal decision for you and your partner so, don’t be afraid to be the revolutionaries that you are and go against tradition. It’ll be worth it, I can promise you that.
