A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO HELP YOU ON YOUR ELOPEMENT JOURNEY
You did it – you’re here. We are so proud! Let’s get you two married! This step by step guide will help you figure out how to elope. Keep reading… this is some pretty good stuff.
Chances are if you’re reading this, you’ve found yourself in the mix of wedding planning. And instead of it feeling exciting, and fun, it’s feeling forced and stressful. The exact opposite of what your engagement should be about. Friend, take a deep breath, because you are not alone. Four years ago, we were in the same boat. When we were in this dilemma, we had no answers, no blog posts titled, “How to Elope” to find all the secrets. We knew we didn’t want a traditional wedding day, but didn’t know what else to do. How do you get married, and forget the social obligations of throwing a huge party for all your friends and family? We had no one encouraging us to do what felt right to us… actually we had the exact opposite, and it was frustrating, and exhausting. We just wanted to get married our way!
Due to not knowing what to do, we just took it day by day, and eventually we said it out loud, “let’s elope”. And just like that, it got exciting! The spontaneity of it felt way more like us than anything we’ve encountered with the wedding planning so far. Instead of feeling bogged down with details that didn’t matter to us, our focus shifted to what mattered the most, us getting married. So if you’re still reading…. You need to figure out how to elope, and fast!
CONTACT US NOW TO START PLANNING YOUR DREAM ELOPEMENT
STEP 1: MAKE THE CHOICE TO ELOPE
For some couples, choosing to elope is a no brainer. For other couples, it’s a big decision. If you’re one of the couples that are on the fence, ask yourself why. Chances are, the reasons why you’re on the fence can be resolved by just tweaking what you’re envisioning your day to be like.
For example: Is it because you’re afraid of what your family might think? Then consider including your family on your elopement day! Or maybe you’re on the fence because you kind of do want that big party to celebrate with friends and family. Easy fix would be, have the adventure elopement you’re dreaming of, and then on another day, throw a reception! All elopements are not the same. Don’t think of this as your traditional wedding where there are events to be had, and a timeline of sorts… think of elopments as a blank canvas. The best part about elopements is that you make the rules.
STEP 2: GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE
Each state’s rules are different, and each state will vary with exactly where to go/what to do to obtain a marriage license. Usually all it takes is a bit of paperwork, some proof to say you are who you say you are (license, birth certificate), and a small chunk of your time. If you’re feeling even a bit stressed out about this step, that’s where we can help. We can give you a step-by-step guide on how to obtain a marriage license for the state you’ll be eloping!
STEP 3: PICK A DATE
There are a few things you’ll want to consider when picking a date for your elopement day. Consider your photographer’s schedule. Some photographers already have their travel schedules planned out in advance, so if you know *where* you want to elope, and know *who* you want your photographer to be, the dates might already be picked for you! Another thing to consider is the seasons of where you’re choosing to elope. If you want to elope somewhere in the southern hemisphere, remember the seasons there are the opposite of the northern hemisphere. A summer elopement in New Zealand would be between December and March.
STEP 4: PICK YOUR ELOPEMENT LOCATION
In our opinion, this is the best part about planning an elopement. Most of our couples come to us knowing the general area they want to elope, but don’t know the exact locations. That’s where we come in. This is where we will work together to come up with a customized location list for you. Maybe you have a scenery in mind, but don’t know the best spot, or even where that scenery exists? We are here to do the research for you. To find the perfect spot to satisfy your wildest dreams of your adventure elopement. Whether you’re dreaming of a ceremony by a waterfall, a sandy beach, or a hike through an evergreen forest, as your elopement photographers and guides, we pride ourselves in making your dreams a reality with the location of your wedding day.
STEP 5: GET OFFICIAL
Find an officiant (or don’t). Did you know that depending on the state you’re in, you might not even need an officiant, or witnesses? Know where you want to get married? Don’t know what to do next to make things official? Well lucky you! as your guides, this is another area where we will help you. We’ll tell you exactly what you need to do, step by step to make your marriage official! For us we needed two witnesses and one officiant. Those are the rules for North Carolina! Each of them had their own signature line on the marriage certificate.
STEP 6: GET READY FOR YOUR ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT
Hiking boots, day packs, bug spray, wool socks… these are all things you might be forgetting for your adventure elopement. When you book In Love & Adventure, we will send you a check list of all things you’ll need specific for your elopement day. And don’t worry… we are your life saver if you forget something. f you forget anything, we got you covered. We always bring extra headlamps, water, and more to make sure your big day is comfortable, and safe. Our couples are our #1 priority.
So so useful! i will now definitely consider eloping 🙂
Very helpful, thanks for sharing all of this info!
I loooooove this, and think it’s so helpful for couples choosing to elope! What an awesome resource, and it’s the perfect starting point for anyone looking to elope!
Yessss loving all of this information!I am all about elopements. Great post!
Great step by step guide! So many questions answered by reading this!
Thanks for putting together such a great guide on how to elope! This is jam packed full of great information! That first picture with the leaf if stunning!