What Makes Elopement the Best Way to Get Married?
I was born in the late 80s. When I was little, it seemed like all women wanted a big wedding, with lots of guests, beautiful flowers, and a two-day celebration. As I grew up, I saw that people started to think differently about weddings. I was amazed to hear about a wedding held at a burger joint, with no guests, fancy food, or a two-day party.
As more exciting activities became available, I noticed more couples rejecting traditional weddings. Some said they would rather spend money on a romantic adventure trip than a traditional reception and ceremony. Others felt that getting married was so special that it was better to spend the day alone together. Today, everyone seems to recognize that what matters is how you choose to spend your first day as a family, not what your relatives think.
When I learned about elopements, I had already accepted that it was okay not to have a big celebration with all my relatives and friends. This is the reality of modern life; our plans may be different or circumstances may interfere. I couldn’t celebrate my own wedding due to the pandemic.
I'm now an adventure elopement photographer, and I can offer insight into when an elopement would work and when it wouldn't.
Let’s start.
Why eloping is better than a traditional wedding
Even if you always wanted a large wedding with all your loved ones, eloping has some pros that you can’t ignore.
It’s cheaper
Whether you choose to get married in your backyard or on a Greek island, eloping can be cheaper than having a traditional wedding in the same location. You can skip many traditional wedding expenses, such as a fancy dinner, flowers, rings, and musicians. Elopements are more about your emotions than impressing others, so there is no need for a big party with a cake.
It’s more relaxed
Organizing and managing a big wedding is hard. Elope instead and focus on what matters to you. You don't have to waste time finding the perfect wedding outfit if you don't want to. Wear your favorite comfortable clothes or choose a traditional dress or a fun costume. It's all your choice! And no guests means no stress.
It's more memorable
You may disagree with me here, but you can trust me. As an adventure elopement photographer, my goal is to give you a unique and unforgettable experience that a traditional wedding can't match. My best help in this work are mountains, sea, waterfalls, and other natural miracles which take your breath away. The experience of walking to a forest pond or mountain hiking can provide you with endless impressions you'll never forget.
Why eloping can be a bad idea
If I were to say that eloping is the perfect way to celebrate a big event in your life, such as a wedding, then I would be lying. It’s not ideal.
It can be exhausting
People who practice fitness know that the more challenging the workout, the more fun you get. The same with an elopement. To get more memories, you need to sweat a bit, which means you’ll be tired by the end of the day. My work includes timeline planning, so I always give advice to my couples on how to make a day full of interesting activities that won’t exhaust them.
It can be not enough for your friends and family
Your grandma might be sad if you don’t invite her to your wedding. Your best friend can be offended. Choosing between a boring traditional wedding and adventure elopement you should choose… a two days elopement because you can do it with elements of a usual wedding. For those who can’t celebrate without family and friends, I offer two days' elopements, when the first day is for only you two and the second day to spend with guests. Planning it, I help to find a place with perfect accessibility. If your grandma is dreaming about seeing you exchanging vows with your partner and she can’t climb a mountain, I’ll find a spectacular place that she can get to.
It can be addictive
Once you try it, you might want to do it again and again. Today you two stand on a volcano slope, holding hands, and looking into each other's eyes. You’re exchanging vows while a light breeze ruffles your hair… It’s exciting. When you are back home, you might feel you want to repeat this experience, maybe somewhere on the ocean beach. Many of my couples feel the same and many of them have come back for a repeat. It’s called a “vow renewal”.
Why elope in Washington state
It’s fortunate to live in Washington state, where it’s easy access to amazing natural attractions. If you live here, you can make them a part of your family story, capturing your first kiss as a wife and husband with Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park in the background. Mountains and volcanoes, lakes and ocean, forest paths, hot springs… If I make a list of our natural treasures where you can elope, it would be huge! Planning an elopement in Washington is hard just because there are so many gorgeous places to choose from.
We have many opportunities to make an elopement memorable. Forest hotels and cabins are good places for a fairy story about how your family was started. Activities such as paddleboarding, skiing, air ballooning, and horseback riding can be fun additions to your elopement too. Moreover, a unique experience like a romantic dinner in a secluded location or a private wine tasting will help you remember this day as one of your best.
Last but not least, I live here and my services cost less for those who want to elope in Washington state. Look at my portfolio and fill out the contact form.
HERE IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ELOPEMENTS
I’M VALERIE, YOUR ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
My style is called “candid photography.” The idea is to preserve moments as they were, not as we wish they looked.
Before we speak, I ask you to fill out the contact form. It helps me better understand what you want to get from your elopement. Knowing precisely what you want, I can offer you the best locations, activities, and vendors. Don’t worry if you don’t have a concept for your event. Together we’ll find the best solution. What I really won’t do is force you to accept something that I suggested. This is your day, and I just help you to turn your thoughts, ideas, and dreams into reality.
Friendship is not something you can buy, but here you will get a real friend. Yes, I’ll be pretty much invisible during the elopement, but as with any intimate event, the elopement goes better when you are surrounded by people you trust. I’ll try to become that kind of person for your couple. I’ll help you to spend this day in a relaxed atmosphere. One of the most popular reasons why people choose to elope is the desire to spend the wedding day without haste and fuss. Your elopement will be adventurous but stress-free! I'll be your rock, your shoulder to lean on.
Finally, when we discuss all the details, and you choose everything from location and date to clothes and champagne, I’ll get my camera. At that moment, my purpose will be to capture your real feelings and emotions. I’m not going to tell you what to do and how to pose. Our common goal is to save these brilliant moments of your love story, not to do posed photography.
If you love mountains peeking out of the fog, whimsical driftwood, layers of rock, formed over millions of years, and black volcanic sand, this is the place to be!