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The beautiful thing about eloping–especially in a wild and adventurous place–is that you get the chance to make your own rules.
Don’t want a fancy reception? A picnic by the river could be perfect. Aren’t interested in a huge guest list? An intimate ceremony with your most cherished people there to cheer you on sounds great. Can’t stand the idea of saying your vows in front of anyone but your partner? Eloping is all about what you want– so, have a private ceremony.
But you know what sometimes does happen with elopements that overlap with more traditional weddings?
In an effort to avoid compromising, some couples try to plan too much into a single day.
Two-day elopement packages give you something that a single-day wedding of any kind can’t give you – more time, more space, and more freedom.
And some couples, like Lindsay and Alexander, value those things over all else.
L & A turned their Grand Teton elopement vision into a two-day, epic adventure that checked every single box on their list of a “perfect-for-us” wedding. Here’s a little snapshot of what they’re days looked and felt like.
The Perfect Elopement Day Sometimes Means Having Two
L & A are the first to admit that the way their relationship started was anything but traditional.
They’d known each other – at a distance for years – and had a few missed opportunities for dates and meetups sprinkled throughout that time. When fate finally intervened in the form of a real estate showing, A & L figured it was finally time to cash in on that date they’d talked about for years.
Their first date was the fanciest dinner that L had ever been to, but both of them felt a connection. A second date two weeks later also left them feeling it.
At the end of the date, A announced he was flying to Jackson, Wyoming for the next week – and it wasn’t too late for L to join him.
Totally against her norm – and her loved ones’ advice– she hopped a plane, flew to Wyoming, and they’ve been head over heels in love (like, doing everything together non-stop) ever since.
To them, It made perfect sense that their wedding day would unravel in the Tetons, in the spot where they really fell for each other.
It also made perfect sense to avoid the semblance of tradition tugging at them, telling them to plan everything they wanted in a single day.
Instead, they sat down, figured out what mattered most to them, and let the plan unfold from there.
Over the course of two days, they’d experience every important feeling and moment they wanted to, all without rush or concern that they were running out of time.
Exploring, Hiking, & Savoring the Moment: L & A’s Two-Day Elopement
The first day of L&A’s elopement was all about intentional time before, during, and after their ceremony.
They didn’t want to sacrifice how any of these things felt for an epic hiking adventure–but they didn’t want to miss out on that hiking adventure, either.
Splitting their elopement in two gifted them the chance to take each element slowly, savoring every second and focusing on the present.
L spent the first few hours of the day getting ready with her hair and makeup artist. They both wanted to spend some alone time during this window so that they could have a real, authentic first-look moment in exactly the right spot.
When they were ready, we piled into separate vehicles and drove to a favorite spot in the Tetons so they could experience that first look among the peaks.
After their first looks, we embarked on the journey to their ceremony spot–a short hike up to a stunning view of the mountains. L did a quick change out of her wedding dress for the trek up, wanting to save her dress a little relief from the potential dirt of the journey up.
Their officiant–a friend from the area–helped them carry everything up the mountain. When we arrived a their spot by the lake, L changed back into her wedding dress.
They found their perfect spot, reading their vows to each other in total solace.
I’ll be the first to admit I cry a lot – but this ceremony really got me. (I may or may not have cried really hard at this one).
They spent time soaking it all in–from the ceremony to the hike back down. We all stayed out until sunset, drinking in the views of the Tetons and their alpenglow while L & A embraced a slow, laughter-filled wedding day.
After a quick drive back to their Airbnb, L & A enjoyed a delicious dinner made just for them by a talented private chef.
And that was all on the first day.
If Day One was about intentional time for their ceremony and vows, Day Two was all about chasing outdoor adventure.
They started out at sunrise on an intense–but stunning– hike. At the top of the mountain, the views thet were chasing delivered.
After they changed back into their wedding attire, they spent the rest of their time in the mountains, breathing in the freedom and fresh air.
They never felt the need to rush, hurry it along, or move on for fear of missing out on the next thing they’d planned for their wedding.
Both L & A knew they wanted a simple elopement that was for them and by them – an elopement that would press a permanent smile onto their lips whenever they thought about it, five years later, ten years later, twenty.
Watching them experience every little detail they wanted to during their elopement, I think it’s safe to say they got everything they were searching for.
Discover the Freedom of Two-Day Elopements
If you’re sure that an elopement is the right path for you and your partner but aren’t sure how to fit everything you want into your day, let me be the first to tell you that two-day elopements can be the perfect fit.
With more time, more freedom, and more opportunity, a two-day elopement package can ensure that you never have to sacrifice a thing, feel rushed, or leave anything out. If you’re ready to talk about your elopement, I’m ready to listen (and help plan).
Reach out to me anytime to chat about two-day elopements–I’m here to help plan and capture every moment, whether your wedding spans one day or two.
