Whether you’re on the fence about eloping or you’re just hearing this term for the first time, this blog was made for you. Often, I get the question, “why should my partner and I elope?”

I’m not exaggerating when I say I have so many answers to that question.

But mostly, eloping is a beautiful, intimate, and memorable way to start the adventure of a lifetime. And importantly, eloping can be the perfect fit for couples who feel like the traditional wedding day simply doesn’t fit.

I’m going to take all my limitless reasons for considering eloping and narrow them down to the top five on my list.

Here’s a disclaimer to kick things off.

A quick google search will show you that there are hundreds of reasons to elope–and they’re all valid considerations.

But this list comes specifically from my experience–not just as an elopement photographer who captures couples’ days, but as a bride who eloped herself.

There’s nothing quite like taking one of the most meaningful, important days of your life into your own hands.

Choosing an intentional day that perfectly mirrors what you and your partner want is powerful.

Only you and your partner can decide what’s best for you–this list is just here to guide you on your path toward figuring that out.

The Top 5 Reasons to Elope–Why Every Couple Should Consider Eloping  

Here are my top five reasons to elope – these are my go-to reasons that I think every couple should consider when it comes to eloping.

For every couple who’s ever asked me directly or even just wondered, “why should we even consider eloping?” these are my immediate answers. 

1. It’s a Day All About You

The day you get married should be one of the most special moments of your life.

When you look back on it with your partner, the memories that come flooding in should be marked with nothing but 100% happiness. You should think back on the day and wish you could relive it time and time again.

The best way to experience a wedding day like this? Make the intentional choice to plan a day that’s entirely about the two of you.

In my opinion, elopements are the best way to do this.

By design, elopements are entirely focused on the couple.

Why is the focus different than a traditional wedding, exactly?

For starters, it’s usually a much smaller event. Whether it’s just you and your partner or a few additional guests, the small size automatically wipes out the need to accommodate the needs or wants of a huge group of people.

Your elopement day can revolve around you­ because that’s what’s at the center of it.

With a traditional wedding, the focal point is often the party, the reception, and the guest list.

Sometimes, couples are stuck dealing with the concerns of family members, accommodating picky requests, and forced into making choices that don’t align with what they actually want.

When the day is designed to focus solely on the couple, it’s an entirely different experience from the start.

2. Elopements are a More Environmentally Conscious Choice

Barring any outliers, elopements are typically way more eco-friendly than a traditional, larger wedding.

Because you’re likely not planning an enormous party for hundreds of people, the amount of stuff and single-use materials are substantially decreased.

I know this sounds like minimal impact–so minimal it might not matter. But traditional weddings actually accumulate a lot more trash than you might think.

In fact, the average US wedding piles up about 400 pounds of garbage.

That also equates to about 63 tons of CO2. Most of the time, that garbage is anything but biodegradable.

That definitely adds up. With a small elopement–whether it’s just you and your partner or a few extra guests–you’re automatically eliminating a good portion of that trash. But that’s not all. Elopements tend to be a more seamless process when sustainability is in mind.

When you elope, you’ll likely: 

• Use less paper or go completely paperless. Likely, you won’t be sending out hundreds of invites, and that’s an automatic win for eco-friendly practices.
• Cut down on carbon emissions–even if a few guests are traveling to be a part of your ceremony.
• Skirt the toxic chemicals and synthetic fertilizers that often go hand-in-hand with a ton of mass-produced florals. (As a side note, I’m definitely not anti-blooms or anti-bouquets! This is just an important note many often might not consider).
• Work with a photographer who abides by the 7 Leave No Trace Principles (like me!), ensuring the environment’s well-being is always a factor. When we plan your elopement, I’ll be sure to guide you so we can make the most minimal impact possible.

3. You Can Do Whatever You Want on Your Elopement Day

An elopement day is all about designing a day that aligns with everything you and your partner love.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not down on traditional weddings and think they can definitely be beautiful events. They’re just not for everyone.

For couples who may not subscribe to traditions, aren’t interested in the normal wedding stuff, or just don’t feel aligned with a regular wedding day, elopements are a perfect choice. Why?

Because you can do whatever you want.

Adventure elopements, at their core, are non-traditional.

If you have a non-traditional wedding in mind, if you want to hike to your favorite spot, if you want to go on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, all of these things align with adventure elopements. In other words, whatever in the world you want to do on your day is possible.

Typically, elopements unlock a degree of freedom that traditional weddings just can’t.

There’s less family pressure, less cultural expectation, and no need to invite everyone you’ve ever met to avoid hurting feelings.

Elopements release the pressure to include things you don’t want–but it also empowers them to include things you do want. If you and your partner want to take a mid-afternoon paddle on your favorite lake, go for it.

If you want to drive your 4×4 vehicle up a rocky road for the perfect afternoon view, then that’s the move. No matter what you’re after, an elopement can give you the confidence and surety that your day is all about doing what you want.

4. Elopements Minimize Wedding Stress

An elopement is a day that doesn’t come tied-up with a ton of expectations. Inherently, it’s a different approach to getting married. That means all the normal planning, stress, and pressure that goes into a tradition wedding is not a guaranteed part of your elopement. Let that sink in for a moment.

Imagine a wedding day that’s free of family pressure. Imagine a day where you and your partner can soak in every single moment exactly the way you want to. Imagine picking your own bouquet without anyone’s opinion or choosing your favorite dessert to indulge in with your partner (no one said you had to pick wedding cake).

And best of all, imagine the entire skipping the entire process of “walking down the aisle” only to head straight to a giant party you had to plan for other people. While this might be a perfect fit for some people (and that’s great), not everyone loves these elements of traditional weddings–and it’s no secret they can be incredibly stressful even for people who do want these types of things.

The last thing I ever want for a couple on their wedding day is to say they just wanted it to be over, but I’ve heard that a lot working in this industry. Often, couples start out planning a big, traditional wedding and then realize that, for them, it just doesn’t fit.

The stress of putting on a show or planning the perfect party doesn’t need to overwhelm you–and it doesn’t need to become the focal point of one of the most beautiful days of your life.

Eloping is all about throwing out that pressure–it’s about doing what you want and planning what you want, whatever that might be.

5. Elopements Empower Couples to Be Themselves

Let’s face it; there are a lot of introverted people out there who might not want a ton of people staring them down on a beautiful, memorable, and emotional day. Introversion or extroversion aside, though, there are a lot of people who want their wedding days–and their declarations of love–to be private.

They want to be free to say and do whatever they want, express their love for their partner, and be emotional–all without the pressure of a crowd watching them.

That’s not to say that this kind of emotion and connection can’t go hand-in-hand with a traditional wedding.

But in my experience, most couples say they would never have read the vows they read to their partners in a traditional wedding setting. Think about that for a moment. Let it sink in.

On your wedding day, you should be free to say what you feel, express your love how you want, and make sure your partner feels the depth of your vows. If having a traditional wedding keeps you from doing that, why do it?

For many, eloping is a far better fit in terms of priorities. Some people prefer to splurge on unique experiences and memorable moments in place of things or stuff they’ll never use again.

Remember, your wedding is about you and your partner–that’s it.

I keep coming back to this concept, but it’s intentional. If there’s any one thing I could accomplish being an adventure elopement photographer, I’d want it to be that I got this message across to as many people as possible.

Yep, I care about this more than capturing the most epic shots ever.

Why? Because it’s something everyone should know.

Your wedding day is about you, your love for your partner, and how you want to express that. Elopements empower couples to make sure every decision on their day reflects exactly that.

Your Perfect-For-You Wedding Day is Possible

The only rule about eloping? You’re doing it your way. If you’re on the hunt for an elopement photographer who’s here for you, sees you, and is ready to make your day happen exactly the way you want, I’m your girl.

Together, we can create a perfect-fit day for you and your partner. And no matter what you need to make this happen–help with the nitty-gritty details, paperwork advice, location suggestions, or just someone to hype you both up about the best day ever–I’ve got your back.

If you’ve got questions, or you’re ready to chat about planning your dream elopement day, let’s connect!