Have You Ever Considered Eloping?
In our society, we have built a wedding industry that is more focused on the guests’ experience than happy couples. Between planning seating charts and navigating family dynamics, there are more than enough things to stress about when planning a large wedding. And while it normally turns out to be an unforgettable event, sometimes couples find themselves lying in bed at the end of the night with aching feet wishing they could have skipped over certain parts of the day and hit pause forever on others. While stopping time is impossible, it shouldn’t feel wrong to prioritize you and your partner on the biggest day of your lives. This is my reminder for the simpler, more adventurous couples that there are other options.
Eloping is becoming a more popular option among couples these days. For many reasons, but especially during these uncertain times.
For those that are looking to avoid the stress of big-wedding planning but not miss out on all the special details that make your big day, eloping allows you two to experience your commitment of love without distraction. You and your partner can authentically express your love for one another every moment without the pressure of an audience. Elopements have appeal to those that don’t want to deal with even a hint of anxiety on the day they commit to forever.
Not only can big weddings be anxiety-inducing, but they can be expensive. Elopements allow you to either help you avoid excessive spending on material items on guests and/or reallocate those savings to the experience you two will have the day of. Imagine instead of picking floral centerpieces, you are planning a trip to one of the wonders of the world and where you’ll be swigging back beers afterward. Start the biggest adventure of your life (marriage) off with a bang or a sizzle, whatever feels right to you - that’s the whole point!
Elopements allow you two to spend your day however you would like. For some couples, that is hiking to a spectacular view, dancing as the sun sets, and ending the evening with fish ‘n’ chips - for others, it’s an intimate backyard ceremony with their closest friends and family. An elopement guest list can include just the two of you or it can include your immediate family and best friends for life. There are no strict rules to any of this, as you’ve probably figured out by now. Whether it’s just the two of you or a handful of those closest to you, elopements allow you to focus on the most important things. They give you time to enjoy each other’s company and catch the small moments that would otherwise go by unnoticed.
My husband and I chose to elope at the beginning of 2020 in our hometown Sedona, AZ. Even though there are countless beautiful locations surrounding us in Northern Arizona, my husband was raised in Sedona and it is the home we shared while growing up together so we felt it was the perfect place to tie the knot.
We spent a total of a month getting all the details together. We were most passionate about keeping it simple and light. We wanted to support only local vendors, mainly creative friends that had beautiful skills to show off on our special day. From the wedding cake made by my first boss to our photographer being one of our dearest friends, we wanted to keep the small-town feel through it all.
The most expensive part of our day was dinner for six and my bouquet. My dress was less than $100. I grinned ear-to-ear knowing the red dirt would dye the light sage chiffon, as it had with most my clothing over the years of living in the high desert. While I pride myself in being a bargain queen, my main point is you don’t have to be rich to have a smile on your face on your wedding day. - Instead of worrying about the $8,000 gown you want to keep pristine forever, you’ll embrace the genuine moments with delight and reflect upon them often.
While I may be a bit biased, it is a joy eloping and being an elopement photographer in the southwest! Eloping in Northern Arizona offers a plethora of breathtaking places to say “I do”. This natural world that surrounds us is a glorious cathedral for your vows to be witnessed by the open skies. Whether you are at the edge of the Grand Canyon, wandering the Ponderosa pines, or adventuring on the red rocks, if you are standing by your partner’s side and feeling the sweet Arizona sunshine on your face, it will be the perfect place to be. Pick an adventure, fine-tune the agenda to focus on the two of you, & let me take care of the rest - nothing makes more beautiful photographs than genuine smiles! Enjoy yourself - don’t get lost in the rest of it!
If you’re planning on committing for forever with your soulmate and unsure as to how the plans are going to play out at this point, reach out to me. I'd love to help you prepare for the perfect day for you and your sweetheart - let's forget about all the unnecessary noise and focus on you two! Eloping may be the answer for you, and even if not, you two deserve to enjoy the whole process without stress and with as much enjoyment as possible.
Featured below are a few of my favorite local spots you should consider eloping at - and yes, they are all in Northern Arizona…
