YOU GUYS!!! Being shunned for eloping is a thing of the past!! (whaaaat!!!)
WHY YOU SHOULD ELOPE
Now more than ever, elopements & intimate weddings are very much in.
Thanks to COVID (ugh) brides like myself are being forced to really think hard about who is and who isn’t a crucial figure to have present on your wedding day. So, I wanted to provide just a few reasons why you should maybe go ahead and say f*** it and elope!!
1. ELOPING DOESN’T HAVE TO JUST MEAN YOU AND YOUR PARTNER!
You heard me right! Eloping doesn’t have to be just you and your fiance. Granted, when you Google “elope” or “eloping” it’ll say: “run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent.” but Google’s not up to date with the times. Our elopement/intimate wedding packages include coverage for up to 25 guests! So eloping can mean you bring your absolute closest friends and family along for the adventure! Woohoo!!
2. LESS STRESS & WORRYING!
I’m currently in the process of planning my own wedding and it is streeesssssful. There’s so much money involved (like seriously why do I have to invite and pay for my grandma’s friend she hasn’t seen in ten years meal at my wedding!?) PLUS it’s not like planning something this big is something that everyone knows how to do! I think I maybe put on one big party in college? And it was NOT up to par with a wedding hahaha. You dream your whole life about this big, magical, fairytale wedding and then just end up freaking out about making sure you say hi to 200+ people, and that your decorations are sure to garner hundreds of like on instagram (I’m so guilty of this.) Eloping, or having an intimate wedding, involves shaking free of all of those superficial, “this is expected of you” tasks you must undergo for a bigger celebration. Without having to worry about those things, you’re able to slow down, take a deep breath, and create a more meaningful, intimate experience.
3. YOU GET TO EXPLORE SOMEWHERE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL AND MEANINGFUL TO YOU
There’s a certain calming, out of body experience that takes over while exploring places that just seem so out of this world. (e.g. the mountains of Yosemite, and the valleys of Moab.) & The best thing about these places? They’re not going anywhere. How often do you think people make a trip to visit their wedding venue afterwards to relive the memories of their wedding day? Probably not a lot. However, if you choose to get married somewhere like a National Park, you can going back again and again (and it’s fun to make a vacation out of, too!) As if the world’s natural wonders weren’t beautiful enough on their own, now you’ve got a special story to go along with them.
4. COOOOOOOOOOST
Weddings are expensive AF. The average price of a big wedding is $33,000 according to theknot.com. Ouch. & You know what the top expense usually is? FEEDING EVERYONE AT THE RECEPTION. We were quoted $35/plate for our wedding, and with an estimated guest count of over 200 people I about died. That’s like $7,000!! FOR ONE MEAL!!! Plus, you’re always gonna have people complaining about the quality of the meal no matter how good it is (and wedding food doesn’t usually tend to be that good… don’t hate me for that one!) Imagine if you could save that $7,000 and put it towards something else that’s actually meaningful to you (a photographer and videographer, perhaps?) or you and your closest friends and family could instead go to your favorite restaurant or brewery. Even if you decide to have a small celebration, paying $875 for 25 people to eat is waaayyy better than the alternative. Something I’ve had to come to terms with considering everything going on with covid is that there’s a lot of money spent on really superficial, not so meaningful things on wedding days. It’s SOOOO important to remember that this day is supposed to be about the experience and true love, not just stuff!
5. YOU CAN REALLY LET IT ALL LOOSE AND BE YOURSELVES!
Big weddings are a whirlwind of putting your best face forward. You’re constantly having to greet all of your guests, decide how to act when thanking your mom’s boss for coming vs. your grandma’s second cousin once removed, vs. your best friend. More often than not, there’s a lack of authenticity on big wedding days. (Again, no shade to big wedding days, we’ve shot over 100 of ’em!)
BUT it. Is. Exhausting.
Also – sometimes you have to wait until late in the night before you can start playing the raunchy music you want to play because throwin’ it back to most of the music today wouldn’t warrant a great response from Cousin Linda’s kids. When you invite just a handful of your closest friends and family, chances are they’ll know your personalities and quirks already, so you’ll be able to relax and let it all hang out when you tie the knot instead of trying to live up to everyone’s expectations.
6. SUPER FRICKEN RAD PHOTOS AND VIDEOOOOOOS
That’s right! Who else wants to show off a giant framed print in their home of them + their honey in their beautiful wedding attire on top of a mountain!?!! MEEEEE!!! ORRRR who wants to post that Facebook video of them swaying back and forth to their first dance song under the stars and twinkly lights in the desert!!!!! It’s a heckuva whole lot cooler than posing in a parking lot in front of a cornfield (although that has its charms, too!)
7. IT’S MORE INTIMATE AND MEANINGFUL
Okay so first off, there’s no shame in makin’ out in front of us. That’s just a part of our jobs. I can’t say the same for Aunt Sharon though lol. If you’re opting for the extra special elopement that includes just the two of you + Casey and I third wheeling, then there’s so much more room for extra intimacy and emotion. We want you to take the time to quietly look out over the horizon while holding hands, cuddle on the beach, and kiss each other just as the sun kisses the horizon (I’m deep, I know.) When you choose to elope, or get married with just a handful of close family and friends, there’s so much more time for each other.
8. ELOPE NOW. BIG PARTY LATER.
Okay so this is basically the best of both worlds here if you’re really having trouble committing to the idea of eloping!! A lot of couples opt to elope alone or with a few friends/family in a super epic location, and then later (whether it be a few weeks, months, or even a year later) have a big ‘ol party to celebrate! This allows for your extended friends and family list to see you in person with your wedding attire on and give you their best, while still giving you the chance to have an intimate ceremony with epic photos/videos. To cut cost, people will also usually treat this as more of an open house so you don’t have to pay for everyone’s meal. (Think appetizers and alcohol!) You can also still book a DJ to dance the night away!!
9. THERE’S A LOT LESS PLANNING INVOLVED
I want to start off by saying that when you book with us, we’re your go to people for planning. We’re here to help you decide on an amazing location to tie the knot, help secure any of the permits we may need, give vendor recommendations, etc. When you elope, typically you’re looking for only a handful of vendors.
– Photographer/Videographer (lol hi)
– Officiant (although we plan on getting ordained, and in Colorado you can self solemnize without any witness if you so choose!)
– Florist
– Hair & Makeup Artist
– Planner (I only suggest this to those who are having more of an intimate wedding vs. eloping, as planners can help organize lodging and transportation for everyone!)
& That’s basically it! Easy, right?
10. YOU LIVE FOR ADVENTURE
Okay so this one’s a given. BUT eloping is NOT for everyone!! We’re called “Hiking Honeys” and encourage those who book with us to have an adventurous spirit! (I promise we don’t have to hike far if that’s not your cup of tea though!) I’m a BIIIG Disney fan. I’m always using the quote “Adventure is out there” to describe my business. We want you to start this new journey together surrounded by the most epic views in the most epic locations. Life itself is an adventure, so why not start off this new chapter of your life with one!?
Interested in learning more about what we have to offer? Have more questions? Feel free to reach out to us anytime at zoeymariephotography@gmail.com or fill out our contact form! We can’t wait to help create your happily ever after!!! 🙂
