What is an elopement?

Our definition? Simple. Whatever you want it to be.

There are no rules in the elopement book, because there’s no elopement book—well, maybe except for this one. But that’s the beauty of it! Whether a simple ceremony in your backyard or an epic multi-day adventure full of hiking and sight-seeing and horseback-riding at a destination you've always dreamed of visiting, it's about treating yourselves to a day that is completely yours.

How long do we need to plan?

Thankfully, elopements are much easier to plan and less involved than big, traditional weddings. You’re looking at a small number of concrete bookings and decisions to make: travel/lodging, your photographer, attire, rings, maybe a few other vendors like a hair and makeup artist and a florist. All together, I find that the sweet spot for planning an elopement is anywhere from 6-12 months out.

Whatever your timeline, I recommend booking your photographer as soon as possible—for two reasons! One, dates are limited and our calendars can book up quickly, especially in the busy season (May-October). Two, a great elopement photographer is also an elopement planner, and can help you through the whole process from picking a date and location to helping you come up with ideas and logistics.

If you want to elope on a tighter schedule, that’s totally possible as well! I’ve planned entire elopements in less than a week—like this couple from Ireland who, while traveling in the states for work, decided on a spontaneous elopement—they got in touch with us when they were there and we coordinated their entire elopement over WhatsApp, within just a matter of days!

On the other hand, some couples like to save up and plan for the adventure of a lifetime, pulling out all the stops, planning a year or more in advance.

How much does eloping cost?

Adventure elopement budgets typically range anywhere from $5,000-$15,000. A wide range, but that's another great thing about eloping: you get to do what suits your budget! Check out this blog post which also includes a cost calculator to help you figure out how much to budget.

elopement cost breakdown & calculator

Is eloping legal? How do we find witnesses?

Eloping is absolutely legal, EVEN IF you aren’t inviting anyone along for the ride.

Whether you hold a formal ceremony with an officiant, or you opt to fill out the paperwork on another day and go out for an intimate adventure to celebrate, eloping is a totally legal and legit way to get hitched.

Often when I’m out and about on an elopement day, we’ll run into passersby who are willing to sign the marriage certificate as witnesses—and yes, this is totally legal. They don’t need to be present for the ceremony, just the signing of the documents!

Check out this blog post for more info about the legal aspects of an elopement ceremony, including how to find an officiant and/or witnesses:

marriage law for elopements

Can we invite guests?

Heck yes! It’s a myth that elopements can't have any guests—that’s so not true! Many of the elopements we photograph involve guests. It isn’t about the numbers, but rather the intention you take in deciding who is invited, and the kind of intimate day you want to have. If it's important to you that certain people stand by your side on your wedding day, then include them! If you know you want to elope just the two of you, that's awesome too.

At Wilderpines, we photograph elopements and intimate weddings with up to 10 guests.

Check out this blog post for ideas on how to involve your loved ones in your elopement day, even if you aren’t inviting them!

HOW SHOULD we tell our loved ones we’re eloping? (SHOULD WE AT ALL?)

Whether you’re eloping just the two of you or inviting some friends and family but not others, it’s important to think through how you want to communicate your decision to elope.

You might choose to tell everyone in advance and even send out an announcement beforehand, or you can tell a select few people only or keep your plans entirely secret and announce it after.

Some couples like to plan a celebratory reception at a later date, or even a second ceremony. This is really the best of both worlds: you get the intimate elopement adventure of your dreams, plus a chance to party with all your favorite people. Another plus, these post-elopement 'after-parties' are often way less stressful than a traditional wedding reception since all the formalities are already over and they can be a bit more casual.

Whatever you decide, let it be whatever feels most empowering to the two of you, and whatever will allow you to fully relax and enjoy your day, without anyone else’s opinions or expectations.

You could also consider sending out an announcement after the fact! Here at Wilderpines, we create custom elopement postcard designs with just this in mind. Commemorate and announce your adventurous wedding day in style!

What if we don't want to hike?

You absolutely don’t have to! Your elopement is supposed to be about you two, and the things that matter to you and that you love to do. If hiking isn’t on that list, that doesn’t mean you’re excluded from being able to have an awesome, epic adventure elopement. Eloping is for everyone.

Honestly, only about half of the elopements we photograph involve any hiking at all, and the ones that do are usually short, easy-moderate hikes under 4-5 miles round trip.

There are also so many wonderful outdoor locations and activities that don’t require a grueling hike or getting sweaty: overlooks or scenic vistas, outings at the beach or on the water, Airbnb elopements, or maybe hiring a 4x4 or a helicopter to take you into the wilderness!

Whatever you want your day to look and feel like, we’re here to help you find a spot and a plan that’s perfect for you, taking into consideration the ability level and preferences of you and anyone you want to invite.

What about weather? What if it rains?

As Pacific Northwesterners, we’re well-equipped to photograph and adventure in a lot of different, weird weather conditions: rain, clouds, fog, snow, ice, you name it. We shoot rain or shine, and honestly LOVE shooting in the weird moody weather! It can make your day feel romantic and intimate, especially since it’s the kind of weather that keeps most crowds home, and draws more of the attention toward the connection you two share.

(That being said, safety and comfort always come first. If the weather is too extreme or if there’s there’s a closure, it’s important to have contingency plans in place. We'll talk about and craft these back-up plans during our planning meetings: alternate locations, spots that would be easier to access, alternate timelines in case we need to pivot. If nothing else, we might consider rescheduling to a later date.)

awesome! I’m IN! Where do we begin?

STEP 1: DO SOME RESEARCH

Hey look at that, you’re already ahead of the game! The first step in planning an elopement is the research phase, and that usually starts with browsing the internet for elopement ideas and locations. And if you know you want to elope in the Pacific Northwest, you’re already ahead of the game!

You might also start to find and gather inspiration for what your adventure may entail: general locations, day-of activities, ceremony ideas, travel/honeymoon ideas, and so on. No need to make any big decisions yet—this is purely time to brainstorm and explore!

STEP 2: CONNECT WITH A PLANNER & PHOTOGRAPHER WHO KNOWS THE AREA

I recommend booking your photographer as soon as possible—for two reasons! One, dates are limited and our calendars can book up quickly, especially in the busy season (May-October).

Two, a great elopement photographer is more than just a photographer—they’re also a wealth of knowledge. You want someone who knows the area (psst, that’s us!) and who can help you find the perfect location, craft your timeline, connect you with vendors.

We’re here to help answer the questions you don’t even know to ask, like whether or not you need a permit, which locations will be accessible during which seasons, how to make good contingency plans—and we can offer tips and inspiration for what else to do and see, not just on your elopement day but your entire trip!

STEP 3: NARROW DOWN THE DETAILS

After you’ve got a date, a location, and a photographer, it’s time to get down to the details! With your photographer’s help, you can start booking your travel and accommodations, craft your day’s timeline, line up your officiant, hire your other vendors (e.g. hair & makeup artist, florist, private chef, etc.), apply for your permit and your marriage license, get a packing list going, and make sure you have everything you need to make sure your elopement day goes off without a hitch.

If this sounds like a lot—worry not! We’re here to help you navigate the ins and outs of elopement logistics and provide you with personalized recommendations for vendors and more so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed with all the planning.

STEP 4: GET OUT THERE AND HAVE THE BEST ELOPEMENT DAY EVER!

Ready to get started?

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HEY THERE, WE’RE

WILDERPINES ELOPEMENTS

Creating wildly intentional & intimate adventure elopements for rad couples in the PNW

We’re here to inspire you and help you create a unique, intentional, unforgettable wedding experience that reflects who you are, then to capture it all so you can relive those moments forever.

If you’re looking for more information on how to elope in the Pacific Northwest or beyond, get in touch and let’s start planning your dream elopement!

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