16 Ways to Make your Elopement Special
The best thing about eloping is that it can be anything and everything you want it to be! It is literally all about you and the person you love the most. What would make your elopement the best day ever? There are no rules. It’s all up to you! I’ve put together all my favourite ideas on how to make your day the most special.
01
Hire a photo and video team who have experience with elopements and who can help guide you through the process. Most elopements don’t require a wedding planner so having a photographer and videographer who can offer help selecting a location, give vendor recommendations and have tips to create beautiful photos is so helpful! It’s also super important that your photo and video team not only create work you love but that you get along with them well because you’ll be spending a good portion of your elopement day with them!
02
Have a first look together! First looks aren’t only for traditional weddings. If you choose to get ready separately a first look can be such a special and emotional moment to see each other for the first time on your elopement day. Having a first look can add an element of surprise and added excited to the day and can allow you both to spending the morning anticipating the moment you see each other for the first time that day.
03
Get ready together! Spending the morning of your elopement day together can be so calming and relaxing. Sleep in, have a long bath, cook breakfast together or order room service. Drink coffee or champagne while you dream with one an other about your forever!
04
Have a friend or family member officiate for you. If you’re worried about a close friend or family member feeling left out invite them along to be your efficient. Family and friends often know you best and having someone who knows you so well officiate your wedding can make your elopement so much more personal and intimate!
05
Write your own vows. And get pretty vow books. It can be tempting to stick with the traditional vows because they cover the basics but personalizing your vows with add so much intimacy to your ceremony. Writing down your vows in your own hand writing in a pretty vow book is a great keep sake for you to have forever! It’s a great way to always remember the vows you made to each other.
06
Bring your dog with you. Dogs are very important members of the family and they deserve to be there with you on your special day! They are also help make your photos extra cute!! If you’re worried about taking care of your dog during your ceremony and after there are companies who can look after them for you!
07
Dress up! Spare no expense (if you want). Not paying for a big white wedding allows you to have more freedom spending money on things that are important to you. Like Jimmy Choo’s, your wedding dress or a custom suit. Dressing up can help set the stage for your elopement and will help it not to feel like an other ordinary day.
08
Have a first dance together. Just think how magical and romantic it would be to dance to your song amongst the mountains or a glacier lake in Banff National Park! It doesn't matter if the song is playing from a tiny speaker or you’re just singing to each other, having a first dance is moment you can look back on fondly for the rest of your years.
09
Choose an epic location that means something to you. Whether it’s your own home, a beautiful national park, Paris, a fancy hotel or a unique air bnb. Hike to a beautiful lookout, take a helicopter to a mountain top or choose a French chateau. The options are truly endless!
10
Have your closest friends and family there. You are not limited to only having two witnesses with you when you elope! The difference between a micro wedding and an elopement is not huge! You could also provide loved ones with a link to a live stream of your ceremony or meet up with them for a meal after your ceremony.
11
Celebrate after the ceremony by doing an activity you love to do together, going to your favourite restaurant together or with loved ones or hire a personal chef to serve you at your Air Bnb, pop some bubbly, eat cake or do whatever your heart desires! The celebration doesn’t have to end after your ceremony!! As well I always recommend scheduling in some time to be just the two of you together after the ceremony to soak it all in!
12
Eat cake. Even if it’s just the two of you. Instead of a three tier cake you could just get a one tier cake but dress it up! Because you don’t have a massive guest list a cake is an other area you can go all out on without breaking your budget!
13
Have a large floral instal! In addition to your bouquet and boutonnière having a floral instal is a huge way to add your personality to your elopement as well as an opportunity for stunning photos! If you’re looking for a florist in Alberta check out; Flowers by Janie, Fall for Florals, Hue Florals, Calgary Floral Design, Pine for Cedar.
14
Rent your dream getaway car and do a whole photoshoot with it! With a classic Rolls Royce or a 1957 Porsche Speedster 356 you can’t go wrong!
15
Elope on your honeymoon. What I mean by that is choose a destination location to elope and then stay there for your honeymoon. It removes the stress of traveling the day after your wedding and you’ll get beautiful photos in a stunning location!
16
Give your partner a thoughtful gift. It could be a hand written letter, a boudoir album of yourself, jewelry they can wear for your elopement, an activity you can do together or something meaningful to them! This gift giving moment is great for photos and is something tangible you can have to remember the day besides the photos and video.
However you decide to elope, I hope these suggestions inspire you and help make your elopement extra special!
If you’re thinking of eloping in Alberta or the Canadian Rocky Mountains, I want to be your photographer! Reach out to start planning your dream elopement.