Your wedding style is… Elopement!

Your lifestyle is just as unique as you ARE, friend!

You march to the beat of your own drum and don't let opinions or negativity stand in your way... or you try not to let them, at least. A wedding with a bunch of guests just wouldn't be your thing. You prefer to do things your way, which might upset people sometimes— but remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with living your truth!

For you, the most important thing is being true to yourself. The thought of a room full of people watching you get married makes you uncomfortable, and foregoing a big wedding reception sounds ideal. Your idea of a "celebration of your relationship" means spending 1-on-1 time with your partner, not being surrounded by people all day.

You've been around long enough to know that people who defy tradition and expectations always encounter naysayers and doubters along the way... and even though that's scary to confront, you're still driven to do your wedding in a way that really feels true to *you*. That isn't easy, and it's something you should be proud of!

When planning your wedding, the first thing you and your partner should do is sit down and figure out what we like to call your "Wedding Why". Why do you want to have a non-traditional wedding? (more on this below). There are so many moving pieces involved in wedding planning so it's easy to get confused by it all, which is totally understandable! But once you've figured out the "why" for your wedding, keep it at the front of your minds and use it as a guiding principle in the rest of your wedding decisions.

Tips to help you overcome wedding planning fatigue? Read on…

If the thought of planning your wedding causes a whirlpool of stress and self-doubt, you’re not alone, friend. The decisions you make about your wedding are a big investment and commitment.

At this point you might be worrying…

What if I don't feel excited about the thought of a traditional wedding?

What if I don't want to do all the traditional wedding stuff everyone expects me to do?

What if the idea of wedding guests stresses me out, and I just want to spend my wedding day with my partner and nobody else?

But what if I tell my loved ones that we're eloping and they get upset with me?

Talk about tough questions. And on top of that, you’ve got a sea of websites, blogs, videos, podcasts, books, and influencers to sort through. No wonder planning your wedding feels a little overwhelming.

But luckily there are steps you can take to make it a whole lot easier. The first being...

1. Find Your "Wedding Why"

As we mentioned above, you should begin your wedding planning process by finding your "Wedding Why". When planning your wedding, the first thing you and your partner should do is sit down and figure out what we like to call your "Wedding Why". Why do you want to have a non-traditional wedding? Think about things that guide you (individually and as a couple). What brings you happiness? Where do you find peace? What do you do when you need a break? Why are those places or things meaningful to you?

Keep in mind that you and your partner probably won't know the answers to these questions the first time you go through them. We suggest reading the prompts together and then thinking about them for a week. Once a week has passed, sit down with each other and have a discussion about your thoughts and any conclusions you may have made. This also helps to ensure you two are on the same page about why you're doing this and what you want from the elopement.

Use your "Wedding Why" as a guiding compass to help you navigate the maze of choices you'll need to make.

2. Narrow Down the "Where"

You don't have to figure out an exact location yet. In fact, most couples who elope don't know exactly where they want to elope before booking their photographer (the next step).

We suggest figuring out a general area or type of landscape that you want to elope in before you start looking for a photographer. Think about what kind of activities you two like to do together (or activities you'd like to try), your favorite places to spend time outside, and your dream travel locations.

Many elopement photographers travel, however not all do, so having a general area in mind will help you not be so overwhelmed by options when you start looking. There are great elopement photographers all around the world, so instead of saying "we want to elope somewhere in the US", narrowing it down to something like "we want to elope in Utah" will make it SO much easier to find a photographer!

3. Find Your Photographer

For eloping couples, your photographer should be the first vendor you book! The most important thing is to make sure you find one that has experience both photographing AND planning elopements.

There are many photographers who take beautiful pictures, but if you elope you need a photographer who understands things like permitting systems, Leave No Trace principles, and logistical planning. Finding an experienced elopement photographer who also does planning will be invaluable to you, because they will be able to guide you through the entire process in ways that an inexperienced/traditional photographer or wedding planner can't.

Hey friend! Thanks for joining us.

We work with couples to help them have the unique wedding experience that their story deserves.

With three years of experience specifically in the elopement industry and six years of experience in the wedding industry, we're well-suited to provide guidance on your wedding planning. We want to point you down the path towards the wedding of your dreams, that is a perfect celebration of the love you and your partner share.

Looking for a little extra guidance? Check out these resources...

1. Download our e-book for extensive pro tips on how to plan an adventure wedding or elopement. We provide knowledge we've gained from our years of experience, so you're sure to find something useful even if you've read other blogs or watched videos on the subject.

2. Read this blog post where we go over more about what the process of having an adventure wedding or elopement looks like.

3. Book a consultation call with yours truly. We’ll get to the bottom of whatever concerns might be holding you back from your dream wedding.

P.S. Don’t forget to check your email! We’ll be in there with more wedding planning tips.

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