Adventure elopements often conjure up amazing images of couples in the wild decked out in stunning wedding attire.

Even after years of being an elopement photographer, I, too, am often in total awe of some of the images I see of couples on their wedding day out in nature. 

There are so many reasons that I think couples should consider eloping. But how exactly do we make those elopements happen? What goes into the logistics of it all? How do we get from the concept to the actual day itself?

There are tons of questions surrounding the elopement thing–I totally get that!

Before I became an elopement photographer, I had plenty, too. But now, I’m here to help. I’ve laid out some of the most frequently asked questions I get about adventure elopements with helpful answers below! 

Don’t see your specific questions here? That’s OK!

I know there’s plenty more where these come from. And I have even more answers for you. If you don’t see your question here, reach out–let’s talk about how to create your perfect-for-you elopement day! 

The Top Adventure Elopement FAQs All Couples Should Know 

What is an Adventure Elopement? 

There are so many definitions of adventure elopement floating around out there, but I’ll just give you my favorite way to describe it.

An adventure elopement is the act of a couple getting married in the way that speaks to them–it’s intentional, it’s adventurous, and it is tailored to what they value the most.

For some, adventure elopements focus on the wild beauty of the outdoors–and that’s usually a big element of an adventure elopement.

But ultimately, an adventure elopement is the bold act of choosing an intentional, meaningful, and authentic wedding day that unfolds exactly the way you want. In short, an adventure elopement is about slowing down and focusing on the small, beautiful moments of your day that you’ll remember forever.

What’s the Difference Between an Elopement and an Adventure Elopement? 

In the past, eloping had sort of a negative connotation–it was something people did in secret or as a surprise. But eloping, thankfully, has evolved into a beautiful reflection of a couple’s love for one another. Eloping and adventure eloping aren’t technically in different categories, but they do tend to have a specific focus.

Adventure eloping often includes elements like gorgeous outdoor locations, activities a couple loves to do, travel, excursions, and explorations.

It’s important to remember that adventure elopements don’t always look the same, though.

A 10-mile hiking elopement is just as much an adventure elopement as renting a 4×4 vehicle and zipping through the mountains in your wedding attire.

That’s the beautiful thing about adventure elopements; they can be whatever you want them to be! 

How Many People Can Come to an Adventure Elopement?

It’s really up to you!

Though it’s much easier to focus on the intention of your day with fewer people (because, good and bad, people do come with their own thoughts, feelings, and concerns), you can still have an adventure elopement that includes your friends, family, and other loved ones.

Typically, couples I work with keep their elopements pretty small–they range from guest lists up to 10-15 people all the way back down to just the couple.

And you know what? Both can be incredibly meaningful and intimate experiences. It all depends on what’s important to you and your partner. 

We Know We Want to Elope, But We Don’t Know Where. Can You Help Us Find an Elopement Location? 

I love getting this question. Forever to the Moon is all about helping you pick the perfect elopement location for you and your partner’s big day.

A big part of my job is helping you document your one-of-a-kind love story, but the other part of my job is sharing my expertise and advice with you.

As an elopement photographer, I’ve got a lot of beautiful location ideas up my sleeve that I’m happy to share with you.

We’ll start by discussing what’s important to you both, what sort of scenery speaks to you, and what landscape you like best–then, we’ll work together to choose the best location for your elopement. 

Are Elopement Photographers Wedding Planners? 

Yes and no. To some degree, I am a wedding planner. I help you determine what’s important for your day, help you choose an amazing location, create a timeline that makes sense for you, and of course, capture your day as authentically as possible.

That being said, elopement photographers don’t always plan out all the details for you–myself included! If you have a vision of your day that requires some nitty-gritty details, that’s great–hiring a wedding coordinator might be the perfect fit for what you’re after.

The good news is that this doesn’t have to be confusing. When it comes to how I work with couples, we’ll talk very transparently about what they want and need; then, I can help them figure out the best way to make that happen. 

Are Adventure Elopements Just Hiking Elopements?

No way! Adventure elopements are whatever you want them to be. Seriously!

Sure, you can hike, and that’s a blast if that’s your thing. But you can also 4×4 explore, kayak, canoe, have a picnic by a lake, jump out of a plane, go zip-lining, take a helicopter tour, hop on a float plane, go paddle-boarding, try mountain biking, ski down a snowy mountaintop.

Do you get what I’m saying here? An adventure elopement isn’t about someone else’s definition of adventure–it’s about yours. 

Can Anyone Elope? 

Eloping is for everyone.

This is a question that I love getting–because the answer is true, no matter how you phrase it.

Eloping is 100% for every couple out there who’s seeking adventure, intentionality, and a meaningful day that is true to who they are. 

What Are the Benefits of an Adventure Elopement?

This is an entire soapbox speech all in itself, but I’ll be brief just to give you a little insight. Elopements are beneficial for people who are seeking a day that’s tailor-made for them, their interests, and the things that matter most to them. There’s an unending list of advantages elopements have to offer, but here are a few of my favorites: 

• Elopements are smaller, which means there’s more opportunity for privacy and intimacy if that’s what a couple is after
• Adventure elopements open the door for a pressure-free, stress-free day where you’re not responsible for pleasing other people
• You can pair your love for the outdoors with your love for your partner
• It’s a bucket-list opportunity–you can tailor the experience to your personal preferences
• You can be more in the moment, focused on you, your partner, and your unique love
• It’s an intimate celebration of your authentic love without traditional strings attached  

Is Eloping Legal? And, If So, Is the Paperwork Complicated for an Elopement? 

Eloping is totally legal! Just as with a traditional wedding ceremony, as long as you have the necessary paperwork all taken care of, your elopement is totally recognized in the eyes of the law.

Not sure how to go about that paperwork? I’ve got you covered. We can chat all about that.

Another important thing to note is that your actual elopement ceremony doesn’t have to be legal necessarily–you can always take care of the paperwork parts before or after your elopement and focus solely on your day. Think about it this way.

Let’s say you want to elope in Iceland (which, BTW, big fan of that idea). Obviously, there are ways that American couples can elope in Iceland and be legally married on the day of their ceremony. But international stuff can be complicated–if you wanted to bypass the intricacies of that, you could always tackle your paperwork at home before or after and be fully present and focused on your elopement in Iceland.

Remember, paperwork is just paperwork–it doesn’t define your wedding day! 

What All Happens During an Elopement Ceremony–What Do We Do During Our Elopement Ceremony?

Most traditional wedding ceremonies include some kind of formal vows led by an officiant of some kind.

All of that is awesome and a perfect fit for a lot of people. But if that’s not really your thing–or it is, but you don’t want to do that in a traditional setting–elopement ceremonies are an amazing option.

Elopement ceremonies, just like elopements themselves, are all about doing things your way. Want to blend sand for an epic image of blending your life with your new partner?

Do it. Want to do a unity puzzle or play a board game because it’s super meaningful to you and your partner? Good, that’s a great way to tie the knot. Want to read your own handwritten vows in total privacy solely for your significant other? You can do that.

Write music, play songs, do a dance, burn sage, braid a cord of three–whatever you want to do during your elopement ceremony is totally up to you! And that’s exactly the way it should be. 

Do We Need Witnesses and Officiants For Our Elopement Ceremony? 

That all depends on where you elope. So, let’s say that you want to get married in Colorado.

Luckily for you, Colorado is big on self-solemnization–that means you don’t need an officiant or witnesses to be present when you get hitched. All you need is yourself and your partner to get things done. (Bonus note, CO is cool with dog paws in ink on your paperwork if you really want a woof-ness).

Other places might require a witness, an officiant, or both. If you’re not planning on having guests at your wedding, the witness thing can be worked out with no problem–you’d be shocked how many hikers are happy to sign your papers as your witnesses on your wedding day.

And as for officiants, I’m ordained–if you need someone to legally sign your papers, I’m happy to do it! 

Have More Questions? I Have the Answers: Let’s Plan Your Elopement 

I know these questions are probably just some of the things you’re wondering about.

These are really common questions, but they’re by no means the end of the list for most people.

The good news? You don’t have to go on a mad Google search to figure it all out on your own. That’s why I’m here. If you have more questions, I have more answers.

Sure, I can help you figure out the perfect-for-you elopement day for you and your partner. But more than that, I can help you figure out if eloping is right for you in the first place. Want to know more? Let’s chat!