From my experience as an elopement wedding photographer, I know that planning can seem stressful! You want your day to be just as you have imagined it and for everything to go as planned. And while some things are just out of our control, there are a few tips to help make your day go as smoothly as possible!

A wedding couple points at the mountains as they stand in front of moraine lake at sunrise in Banff national Park

I love that you’ve decided to have an elopement wedding! To say no thank you to the traditional, for whatever reason. Maybe it’s to lessen the stress, maybe it’s for the love of adventure. It doesn’t matter what led you to this decision, as long as you’re being true to you. After all, your wedding day is about you + your partner, your love for one another and celebrating saying yes to forever! So in order to make this the best day ever for you both, I thought I’d share my top three tips to make your elopement wedding go off without a hitch! These three factors can often make or break your experience, but no worries! I’m here to help you prepare for your elopement day as much as you can.

1. Choose your Date Carefully.

That’s right, timing is everything. It’s important to think about what day of the week, the time of day, the season and events held in the area. With less people around, it’s a much more intimate experience for you two and it makes my job as an elopement photographer a bit easier. I’m able to capture all of those sweet, candid moments without worrying the tourists and onlookers! Some timing factors to consider:

Weekdays versus weekends!

In my experience, getting married on a weekday is ALWAYS the right move. Oftentimes the weekends can be extremely crowded, especially in popular destination locations. Destinations like Banff, Whistler or any national park can be extremely busy at times. One way to avoid crowds is planning your elopement on a weekday. Brooke + Spencer’s Lake Tahoe elopement was the perfect example of this! They chose a winter weekday to get married and we had a popular viewpoint almost entirely to ourselves, one that would have been overcrowded on the weekend in the summer. I promise, it makes such a difference!

Shoulder season versus peak season!

Another timing factor to consider is whether it is peak or shoulder season. Take a dreamy Iceland elopement I photographed for example. Peak times to visit Iceland are July and August, but my couple opted for a late September date. We had beautiful weather and plenty of sunlight in the day, but without crazy amounts of people. Aiming for shoulder season in your location could mean the difference between a lot of traffic, busy viewpoints, crowds everywhere and a quiet, intimate ceremony with some privacy while still in an incredible location. Seasonality also makes a difference when booking vendors and accommodation! Lodging is often cheaper in shoulder season, while things book quickly in peak season! If you’re set on a date for peak season, it’s a good idea to book sooner rather than later!

Annual events in the area!

While we’re on the topic of tourists, it’s also a good idea to look up whether there are any events scheduled for the area and season you’d like to elope. For example, Crankworx Whistler is a huge mountain biking event held in Whistler every year in August. The traffic alone is enough for me to recommend not to plan your elopement in Whistler that week. A little research goes a long way.

Sunrise versus sunset!

And as far as time of day, that decision is up to you! It’s important to take lighting into account when creating your elopement day timeline. Sunrise and sunset are typically what drive the timeline. If privacy is a top priority for you, maybe consider planning a sunrise elopement. Early morning hours generally have less traffic in popular locations. On the other hand, if you have hundreds of wedding inspo images saved to your Pinterest board and they all have that golden hour sunset glow, make sure your timeline allows for capturing that light! If you’re unsure about what time of day is best for your location, don’t panic! You’re hiring a wedding photographer for a reason, I’m here to help you plan the day you’ve envisioned. Looking for some examples of elopements at sunrise? Check out this Moraine Lake Elopement and this Rocky Mountain Vow Renewal!

a couple walks hand in hand on top of a mountain in kananaskis at sunrise

2. Prepare for the climate!

Choosing to say your I Dos in a stunning place surrounded by nature can be so exciting. And while Mother Nature undoubtedly adds some magic to your day, she can also add the elements. Wind, snow, sun, rain. Choosing to elope outdoors is choosing to surrender to the unpredictability of nature. But in my opinion, it’s always worth the risk. Especially because there are some simple ways to ensure you are comfortable and prepared for whatever comes! So let’s talk about...

The weather!

When you choose to have an outdoor elopement, it’s a no brainer that weather will be a big factor. The big thing with weather is that, well, it’s unpredictable. It’s constantly changing. Even when we think we know what a day will be like, there is always a chance of a surprise! It’s important to know your sense of adventure and what you are willing to venture through on your wedding day. A summer elopement will probably require plenty of water, so don’t forget to hydrate! For a winter elopement, layers are most important. Sunscreen is never a bad idea, no matter the season. Inclement weather causes some elopements to require a plan B. Helicopter elopements, for example, are impossible in bad weather, while others like hiking elopements are just less pleasant. Know if you need a backup plan and be realistic with how much you’re willing to go through on your big day!

A groom helps the bride over the rocks by the blue lake louise, showing off her hiking boots on her elopement day

Proper attire!

Bringing along the right outerwear is important for any adventure elopement, but there’s one specific item that I feel very strongly about… SHOES! Make sure you wear shoes that you are comfortable in. Shoes that are worn in and have good grips. I know what you’re thinking, “but they don’t match the wedding attire, Candice!” And to that I have to say that it doesn’t matter. They’ll be covered up by your dress anyway! As for the guys, the same rules apply. If matching the style of your wedding attire is important to you, pack your shoes in a pack and put them on when we get to the destination. The best of both worlds! Josh + Ellen did just that for their hiking elopement with a mountaintop ceremony and it worked out perfectly!

3. Be flexible!

Flexibility on my part!

I do my best to be as flexible as possible. There are options of booking two days for your elopement until we can get a good look at the weather forecast. Once you decide which day will work better, we can move forward with that date! For Morgana + Jonathan’s helicopter elopement, the forecast looked terrible! So bad that the pilot said we wouldn't be able to fly. Instead of choosing to forego the helicopter plan all together, we were able to change it to the day before. It ended up being a beautiful adventure elopement made possible by keeping calm and being flexible!

A wedding couple walks in deep snow up to their knees on top of a mountain with a sunny view in the background

Flexibility on your part!

Of course, you are going to have boxes you want to check off on your dream elopement wedding checklist, but it’s important to keep in check with reality at the same time. Remember that there may be some curveballs thrown your way, but that’s no reason to stress! Factors like weather are out of our control. There may be items forgotten or traffic that makes you late. Your plan might go to plan B or maybe even plan C. And guess what?! That’s okay! Back up plans are made for a reason. Life can be a little wild and unpredictable so we can’t expect your wedding day to be any different. But you can choose how you react to changes or stress! Being flexible and trusting that it will all work out just as it should is so important for an elopement wedding.

a groom picks up his bride and spins her around on top of a snowy mountain on their elopement day, brought by sky helicopters in pitt meadows, bc

There you have it - my top three tips to consider when planning your dream elopement! I adore elopements because they are tailored to what you love and what makes you happiest. If that’s an adventure elopement hiking to a mountaintop, let’s do it! Maybe it’s a sweet, romantic ceremony on a shoreline at sunset. No matter what your elopement wedding vision looks like, it’s sure to be incredible when you remember to consider timing, prepare for the weather and stay flexible. Here’s to stress free elopement planning! I’m ready when you are.