How to Leave No Trace When You’re Eloping
SUSTAINABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY, RESPECTFUL PRACTICES FOR WEDDING CEREMONIES AND PHOTOSHOOTS ON PUBLIC LANDS
What is Leave No Trace?
Before we begin, if you’ve never heard of Leave No Trace (LNT) or are confused about what it means, here’s the definition straight from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics website.
Leave No Trace is an international movement, nonprofit organization and educational program dedicated to protecting the outdoors by teaching people to enjoy it responsibly. The organization, The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, accomplishes this mission by delivering cutting-edge education and research to millions of people across the country every year.
(© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.)
So… Why bother? Why is this important?
Simple: If people want to keep eloping out in public lands, we MUST start following these principles.
Elopements are becoming more popular every year, and more couples are considering eloping than ever before. In the past 5-10 years, adventure elopements have had a bit of a boom, and especially since COVID-19, more and more couples are making the switch from big, traditional weddings at venues and discovering the wonderful joy that is eloping on public lands. (Which we’re SO thrilled about!)
But… with this big new wave of couples interested in eloping, there’s a bit of an information gap.
See, when it comes to leaving no trace, a lot of avid hikers and backpackers and long-time parkgoers have known and practiced these principles for years. And yet, in the wedding and photography industries, the level of familiarity and education simply hasn’t kept up. LNT has not become ubiquitous in the world of elopements. And that’s a big problem.
Elopements can easily be low-to-no-impact activities if done right, but without taking these principles into consideration, they can be a detriment to our great public lands. Folks who come in unprepared and unknowing about LNT leave their messes behind, and park staff find themselves overwhelmed by the impact. Guests notice the trash, and then people start giving photography clients and photographers a bad rep. (Do you want to be the couple blamed and jailed for the destruction of 22,000 acres of California land and several deaths/injuries after a simple gender-reveal party gone wrong? Didn’t think so.)
Consequently, some highly popular locations (like Rocky Mountain National Park) have severely limited the number of elopements allowed each year, or have implemented increasingly stringent policies on elopements and photography, which makes it more difficult and more expensive to elope. Some locations end up being closed off for restoration, or have prohibited elopements entirely.
Here’s the simple truth: If we want to continue to have the privilege of eloping on public lands (and it is a privilege, not a right), we MUST follow Leave No Trace principles every time we go out and adventure in them.
This is why I am COMMITTED to sharing and following these principles the best I can, and ensuring that every couple I take out into the outdoors comes away with even more knowledge than before about how to Leave No Trace.
So… how do we do that? How do we elope without leaving a trace?
THE LNT PRINCIPLES & YOUR ELOPEMENT (OR PHOTOSHOOT)
In this section, I’m going to walk you through each of the Seven Principles with a basic overview of each principle, what it means for photographing and eloping in the outdoors, and how to implement each one on your elopement day.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
On a day that’s supposed to be one of the best days of your lives, you don’t want to be caught unprepared out in the great, unpredictable outdoors. So much can go wrong really quickly if you’re in out of your depths out in the wilderness. Especially if you’re traveling into the backcountry, you need to make sure you’re adequately prepared and ready for the rugged outdoors. Have a plan, and a backup plan, too. Your elopement day is supposed to be fun, relaxed, safe, and memorable—and you don’t want it to become memorable in the wrong direction.
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
Have a plan.
Have a contingency plan, too.
Familiarize yourself with the area. Even if you’ve never been to this location before, prepare yourself by looking at maps and knowing exactly where you’re going, what trail you’re hiking, etc. It’s even better if you have a photographer who knows the area well, who’s done the hike before, and who is adequately prepared for your adventure.
If you’re hiking, bring a map and familiarize yourself with it. AllTrails has an awesome offline map feature, but don’t forget to bring paper trail maps and a compass as well.
Give yourself more time than you think you need for your hike. (Plus, you’ll want to stop for photos along the way!)
Don’t overestimate your hiking abilities or your comfort level. Don’t sign up for a strenuous 12-mile hike for your elopement day if you’ve never hiked anything more than a moderate 4-mile hike, and don’t forget to account for the fact that you’ll have a big heavy backpack on your back with all your stuff, too. If you’re new to backpacking, practice hiking with a full backpack before your elopement trip.
Make an actual written packing list, and check things off as you go. (Here’s a blog post I wrote about how and what to pack for an adventure elopement.) Then, double-check your list. Triple-check it.
Pack and dress for the temperature and weather conditions. Bring hiking boots if you’re going hiking, and make sure they’re broken in before your trip.
Especially for backcountry adventures, pack everything you need and more: pack extra water, extra food, extra layers, emergency supplies, first aid kit, any important medications, compass, trail maps, GPS, and any weather/activity-specific gear you might need.
Don’t forget your permit, park entrance pass/parking permit, marriage license, and any other documents you need for your elopement day specifically.
Research the wildlife of the area, and know what to do in the event of an encounter. (Is it bear country? Pack bear spray.)
BRING MORE WATER THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED—or, pack a water filtration system if there’s a reliable water source along your hike. A good rule of thumb is to pack 1 liter of water per person per hour of hiking.
Before you head out for your adventure, check the weather, wildfire status/fire danger, and the status of any seasonal/road closures of where you’re going. Have a backup plan in case things go awry.
(P.S. I know this list is long and probably seems a little overwhelming. But as your elopement photographer and guide, all of this is the kind of stuff I’m here to help you with!)
2. Travel and Camp on Durable surfaces
On elopement days, this one is HUGE for couples AND photographers alike, and might be one of the most important specifically to photographing in the outdoors. Way too many photographers tell their couples it’s okay to go out and trample on precious wildflowers, brushes, grasses, mosses, and the like to get some epic photo—and these delicate ecosystems suffer because of it.
There are so many ways to get incredible, jaw-dropping photos without straying from the trails or disrupting the wilderness. No matter what, that photo op is NOT worth the reckless destruction of the precious lands you’re visiting.
If you ask me, to do so is incredibly selfish, and the mindset of entitlement needs to stop. These lands aren’t going to be around forever if we don’t change the way we treat it and interact with it. It’s about coexistence and symbiosis, not “getting the best photo no matter what”. Your elopement is not more important than the preservation of our beautiful planet.
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
Stay on the trail. Follow the directions of your (LNT-aware) photographer and make sure where you’re standing for photos isn’t hurting any of the flora or earth below you.
Travel on rocks on mountaintops and overlooks, and avoid stepping on bushes, grasses, mosses, lichens, and flowers.
Don’t lay on or sit in or trample through wildflower meadows. Don’t pick or take any flora.
Don’t go past any fences, locked gates, or other protected/blocked off areas.
If you’re going to set up camp, do so on durable surfaces like rocks or dirt.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
This principle is quite simple… in principle. I refer back to the Scout rule:
LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT.
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
Pack it in, pack it out. Carry a trash bag with you for any garbage you create, and only dispose of your trash in an actual trash can or dumpster.
If you’re going to pop some champagne, keep an eye on where the cork flies and pick it up when you’re done.
If you’re going to bring live or dried flowers, be mindful of any “droppings” it might leave. Don’t bring any non-local (invasive) flowers into any public lands—check out local florists and ask specifically for plants that grow in the area you’re eloping. There are also some really cool alternatives to live bouquets, too, like paper/wood bouquets, fabric flowers, or even a bundle of feathers. Or, if you want, you could skip the bouquet altogether!
Don’t throw confetti, even paper confetti or “biodegradable” confetti. Don’t throw flower petals, even locally grown ones. Don’t throw rice. Don’t throw birdseed. Don’t throw herbs. Basically, don’t throw anything you don’t want to painstakingly pick up every piece of. (Want an alternate to the confetti shot? Pop champagne! Blow non-toxic/eco-friendly bubbles! Get in the water and splash around! Collect a pile of leaves or pine needles off the ground near you and throw that!)
If you’ve gotta go #2, it’s best to either bury it underground or pack it out with you in a disposable waste bag. Bring some waste bags and some TP, and a small spade for a cat hole if you’re going on an all-day hike or overnight trip. Here’s a great article with more information and tips on how to sh*t in the woods.
Don’t ever leave any feminine hygiene products out in nature—pack them out with you.
Don’t leave any food waste. This includes things like fruit peels, cores, and pistachio shells. This is especially important when you’re in bear country!
4. Leave What You Find
Just like we don’t want to leave anything when we’re out in nature, we don’t want to take or tamper with anything either. The preservation of these beautiful wilderness places, with all their flora and fauna and delicate ecosystems, depends on it remaining as pristine as can be. It IS possible for thousands and millions of people to visit these places each year and still let them exist as they are!
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
DON’T STACK ROCKS. The construction of cairns is detrimental to the environment and the ecosystems that live underneath rocks. Stacking rocks can even create potentially life-threatening situations, when important trail-marking cairns are tampered with. If you see a trail-marking cairn, leave it, and never ever create any others.
Don’t pick up rocks/fossils, shells, flowers, pinecones, arrowheads, or anything else when you’re out adventuring. We know, it’s cool, it’s tiny, and it would make a great memento to remember your wedding day, but just think—what if everyone who visited that park did the same? Let others enjoy these precious finds too!
Don’t write or carve your names into trees or any other structures. Don’t hammer nails into trees or anything else.
Minimize site alterations. Whenever possible, avoid clearing areas for your elopement-day setups, like ceremony areas, picnic areas, or campsites. Try to use existing spots if possible.
Be an extra-good Samaritan and pick up litter if you find it! I like to hike with an extra plastic bag to pick up trash I find along the path.
As they say,
Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints!
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
Now more than ever, fire safety is crucial. The risk of wildfire is a deadly serious thing, especially out in the western US with its arid, dry landscapes—and global warming is only making conditions hotter and dryer. There are far too many stories in the news each year of folks accidentally causing wildfires, whether from willful negligence or ignorance about fire safety, like not extinguishing their fires well enough or ignoring mandated fire bans.
Only you can prevent wildfires.
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
Stay updated on any wildfires in the region/area, and respect any and all fire bans. Check the fire danger status on the day of your elopement or photoshoot, and if the risk is high, consider changing up your plans to avoid starting any fires at all.
Consider cooking with a camp stove versus a campfire—this is also an absolute must if there is a fire ban.
If you do set up a campfire, try to use an existing fire pit or circle if you can. Never leave your fire unattended, especially if there is significant wind or significant fire danger that day. Then, you MUST extinguish it completely before leaving—douse the whole firepit with water, and don’t leave until the pit is doused and cool enough for you to (safely) stick your hand into.
If you are building a campfire, ONLY use firewood sourced locally from that park or forest. Do not bring in any invasive woods. You can almost always buy firewood in or around the park or campground, or use downed dry wood from around your campsite area if the wood there is plentiful.
If you’re going to involve any decor that includes lanterns or candles, make sure you supervise them the whole time, and extinguish completely before moving on. Better yet, use fake candles and lanterns with fake flames! They’re so much easier to work with, anyway.
If you’re going to smoke a cigarette or cigar, extinguish it completely and dispose of it properly (don’t litter, extinguish it then take it with you).
DO NOT SET OFF FIREWORKS IN PUBLIC LANDS, EVER. (So many wildfires are started this way every single year.) Don’t use sparklers.
6. Respect Wildlife
It can be exciting seeing wildlife when you’re out in the wilderness—especially when it isn’t a life-threatening encounter, it can be really cool. But this principle is not only for the safety of you and all of your crew, but the safety of the wildlife as well. For example, when people feed animals, it only serves to teach those animals that they can continuously and reliably get food from us humans, and only encourages more animals to come up to us. It messes with the entire ecosystem, and creates more potential for dangerous wildlife encounters. Basically, it’s bad news bears for everyone involved.
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
Respect wildlife from a distance. Don’t encroach on their space. Leave them be. It’s their home, after all.
Don’t try to take photos with wildlife. (No selfies with bears. Don’t be an idiot.) If it isn’t a dangerous animal and you want to take a photo, stay far away and use a long lens.
Don’t feed or pet any animals you find, including the little ones that might come up to you begging for food, like chipmunks. Watch out for critters in your trash, too, and only dispose of your trash in approved containers, or take it with you.
Don’t leave any trash or food that might attract wildlife. If you’re able to, leave food in your car until you’re going to eat it.
If you’re camping in the backcountry and it’s bear country, make sure you’re securing your food and other smellable items in bearproof bags and containers.
Be knowledgeable about the wildlife in the area, and know what to do in case of an encounter.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
This one’s huge for elopements, and not one that all couples or photographers think of.
Consider: Although your wedding day is one of the most special and memorable days of your lives, there are other folks who deserve just as much as you to enjoy the public lands you are eloping on!
Be respectful, and keep in mind how your ceremony or other activities might affect any other park guests or hikers. It’s their land, too! Let others enjoy the great views and quiet scenery, and keep in mind that a lot of people come to these wilderness areas and outdoor locations to get away from it all for a while, and spend some quiet time out in nature.
How do we implement this principle on our elopement day?
Pick a ceremony spot that’s out of the way of other visitors. Call the ranger office to ask about where specifically you are and aren’t allowed to hold ceremonies. Avoid elaborate setups. Be respectful if anyone wishes to be in the same area as you, or ask politely if someone is in a spot you want to take a photo. Don’t assume you have full rights to your location—you’re eloping on public lands, after all.
A few final thoughts:
This isn’t supposed to feel like a list of all the things you aren’t allowed to do on your elopement day, restrictions and barriers you have to follow, or hassles you have to work around.
The Leave No Trace Principles are called principles for a reason. If you mess up, that’s alright—just do your best, forgive yourself, and try to do better next time. They’re principles to work on and foster over a lifetime.
Ultimately, Leave No Trace is about the relationship between you and nature, and how to interact with the land in a way that’s sustainable, so we can keep enjoying and loving these incredible lands for years and years to come. ☼
SOME MORE RESOURCES:
LNT.org: for more reading & resources about the Seven Principles and the LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics
REI’s blog: chock full of great resources on sustainable practices and preparedness for outdoor adventures!
FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:
How to Leave No Trace for Wedding & Elopement Photographers Course
by Adventure Instead Academy (Anni Graham, Maddie Mae, Gabi & Brandon Fox) + LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics
This incredible course was designed specifically for wedding and elopement photographers! Even if you aren’t a full-time elopement photographer, this is a fantastic resources with principles to carry with you no matter where you are, whether you’re photographing a photoshoot in a state park or a big wedding at an outdoor venue. And as elopements on public lands become more popular, more and more photographers are going to get asked to photograph outdoor elopements. Become a certified Leave No Trace photographer, and your clients will rest easy knowing that their wedding or photoshoot will be eco-friendly, safe, and sustainable, and that you are prepared for whatever adventure they have in mind. We’re all in this together: be prepared, be smart, be respectful, and Leave No Trace!
(Plus, 100% of proceeds go directly to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics!)
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WILDERPINES ELOPEMENTS
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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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