What a full day elopement looks like

Jun 29

Elopements have been gaining in popularity and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are skyrocketing to popularity! But even with the increase in popularity, I’m seeing a lot of couples overwhelmed because they’re unsure of what an elopement exactly is and how to even start going about planning one. We grow up knowing exactly what a traditional wedding looks like. We know what traditions we want to forego and which ones to highlight. We know who to invite and our hosting obligations to provide food and entertainment. But what about elopements?

Well, that’s what I’m here for! I’m here to explain what an elopement is, bust a few myths, and what an elopement can look like for you during COVID-19 and beyond.

What is an elopement?

An elopement is a wedding that is intentionally intimate, meaningful, and unique to reflect a couple’s relationship and focus the day on their connection to one another. It allows a couple the freedom to get married the way they truly want to and create the ultimate experience that expresses their connection to each other. In the end, an elopement brings weddings back to what they truly should be about, the couple, and their commitment to each other.

Head on over to my post What is an elopement to learn more!

Myth-busting!

I can’t include my friends and family.

You can totally include your friends and family in your elopement! There are many different ways couples do this including but not limited to:

Invite them along! It doesn’t have to be just you two. You can invite as many people as you want to. But keeping it to less than 30 guests helps keep the focus on you and your partner.
Invite them to a portion of your elopement. Maybe you want to say your vows privately, have an adventure, and meet your guests later for a small reception? Or vice versa. The rules are yours to make!
Photos and video! Many couples choose to have their entire experience documented and/or filmed so that they can share every second of their day with their loved ones later.

It’s only a 2-hour photo shoot.

I mean it can be… but this is your wedding day! And it deserves to be just as special as any other wedding. For the rest of your life, as a married couple, you will look back to reminisce and celebrate this day every year. You deserve to have a full day experience with the love of your life! Not just a few hours to read some vows and take a few portraits.

I only need a photographer for 1-2 hours.

Again, this is your wedding day! It deserves just as much documentation as any other type of wedding. Trust me, memories fade fast, you’re going to want photos to look at to remember all the small details, your expressions throughout the day, the scenery around you, and everything else.

But I hate hiking!

Not all elopements have to be grand adventurous hikes up a mountain or in a foreign land. It’s tailored to you and what you want your day to look like. That could mean getting married in your backyard, at the courthouse, or climbing up a big mountain! There is no cookie-cutter shape for elopements. That’s what makes them so magical.

Here’s an example of a full day elopement in Alberta:

Getting Ready Location: Airbnb or hotel in Banff

Ceremony Location: Tunnel Mountain

Additional Portrait Location: Bow River & Falls

Meal/Celebration Location: Park Distillery

10:00 am - Get ready

Get ready in separate rooms to build some anticipation!
This is a great time to get individual portraits and those detail shots you will treasure forever.

11:00 am - First look

The beauty of Banff is that anywhere you go, the setting is gorgeous! You can have your first look anywhere.
It’s hard to believe that a first look is anything worth documenting. But the expressions on your faces when you first see each other dressed up and knowing that is the person I will spend the rest of my life with is seriously worth capturing!

12:00 pm - Ceremony around Tunnel Mountain

Have a private ceremony or invite a few loved ones. Whichever calls to you.

1:00 pm - Picnic, exploring and photos around Tunnel Mountain

Take some time to really let it soak in that you are married! You did it and married your best friend! Soak up the views around you and just take time to be present, in the moment with each other.

3:00 pm - Exploring and photos around Bow River & Bow Falls

Fewer guests, less stress, and less production allows you the freedom to explore and truly enjoy the day the way you want to!

5:00 pm - Freshen up at Airbnb

6:00 pm - Dinner and celebration with friends & family at Park Distillery

Or have a quiet dinner between the two of you. Truly, an elopement allows for total control and freedom!

Sunset - sneak out for some Golden Hour photos

It’s truly worth getting your portraits taken during Golden Hour. It’s not only flattering but creates a dramatic and romantic aura. You get to hold each other closely, enjoying the views, while I snap away and make sure your day has been fully documented and you had the wedding experience you always deserved!

Eloping allows you to make your own rules and schedule the day however you choose to. If you’re thinking about eloping but are feeling overwhelmed or don’t know where to start, feel free to reach out. I love helping couples create their dream wedding experience because it’s your wedding, you deserve to spend it the way you want to!

Email me at hello@kaitlynhill.ca or visit my contact page to connect.