Elopements are a beautifully intentional way to celebrate your marriage, centered on what truly matters to you. Knowing how to plan an elopement wedding ensures that every detail aligns with your vision, creating an experience that is just as meaningful as any large-scale celebration. Whether you’re exchanging vows at a private elopement ceremony, celebrating in an elegant rental home, or gathering in a boutique event space, thoughtful planning allows you to craft a stress-free and unforgettable elopement wedding experience.
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1. Choose a Location That Works in Any Weather
Because weather is always unpredictable, it’s important to choose a location that allows your elopement wedding to happen seamlessly, rain or shine. If you’re planning for an outdoor elopement ceremony, consider what your alternative would be if conditions changed.
Backup Options for an Outdoor Elopement Ceremony
A strong backup location should:
- Be a space where you’d feel comfortable exchanging vows.
- Be a setting where you’d be happy with how your portraits look.
- Align with your overall vision for the day.
For this reason, securing a private venue, an elegant rental space, or an event venue is often the best choice when planning an elopement wedding ceremony with family or guests. Having a dedicated space ensures your plans remain intact, no matter the circumstances.
2. How to Plan an Elopement Wedding on a Smart Budget & Timeline
When planning your elopement wedding, the time of year, day of the week, and length of coverage you need will directly impact pricing. Just like with any professionally booked service, understanding these factors allows you to make informed decisions that align with your vision while ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience.
Choosing the Right Day for Your Small Elopement Wedding
- Weekdays (Monday-Thursday) may offer more flexibility. Demand for events tends to be lower on weekdays (Monday – Thursday), which can result in cost savings. If you’re looking for a more budget-conscious approach to your small elopement wedding, opting for a weekday may be a practical way to secure premium services at a more competitive rate.
- Weekends (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) are premium event dates. These high-demand dates are reserved for premium services at higher rates. While an intimate elopement ceremony can certainly take place on a weekend, pricing will typically reflect the value of these dates.
How Much Photography Coverage Do You Need for an Elopement Ceremony?
The amount of time you book for photography will directly affect pricing. Your timeline should reflect what’s most important to you:
- A 4-hour session generally works well if you want getting-ready moments, your elopement ceremony, portraits, and some brief reception coverage. However, depending on your plans—such as multiple locations, a larger guest list, or additional elements—coverage time may need to be extended.
- A 2-hour session can be a great fit if your focus is on the elopement wedding ceremony and portraits, though additional time may be needed if you have specific requests.
- Just portraits? A 30–60-minute session may be all you need for stunning photos of you and your partner, but if you’re incorporating outfit changes, multiple backdrops, or creative elements, a longer session may be beneficial.
Since every couple’s vision is different, these are general recommendations, and coverage time can be adjusted based on what’s important to you. Choosing a weekday or tailoring your photography coverage to exactly what you need can help create an exceptional elopement wedding experience while maximizing your investment.
3. Schedule Your Ceremony & Photos at the Best Time of Day
Lighting plays a critical role in how your elopement wedding photos turn out, especially for outdoor elopements. The time of day you schedule your elopement ceremony and portraits can significantly impact the look and feel of your images.
Understanding Natural Light for Stunning Outdoor Elopement Wedding Photos
- Late morning or late afternoon/evening offers lighting that creates a more flattering look on the human face. When the sun is lower in the sky, it casts light at an angle that enhances dimension, highlights natural contours, and minimizes harsh shadows. This soft, directional lighting works beautifully for elopement wedding portraits.
- Avoid solar noon if possible. When the sun is at its highest point in the sky, shadows fall directly under the brows, eyes, nose, and mouth, creating unflattering contrast and deep-set shadows. If a midday elopement ceremony is necessary, choosing a shaded location or adding supplemental lighting can help balance the light.
How to Overcome Harsh Midday Lighting in an Elopement Ceremony
In bright midday conditions, additional equipment—such as reflectors or professional lighting—may be required to counteract harsh shadows. This often necessitates a lighting assistant, which can increase the cost of coverage. If you’re planning a small elopement wedding outdoors and want to ensure the best lighting, it’s worth discussing an optimal schedule with your photographer.
Why Indoor Elopements Offer More Flexibility
For indoor elopements, natural light is less of a concern since we bring professional lighting. This means you have complete flexibility in scheduling—whether you prefer a relaxed morning timeline or an evening ceremony, we can create beautiful images at any time of day.
4. Secure a Private Venue or Event Space for a Stress-Free Experience
While public locations may seem like a simple choice for an elopement ceremony, they often come with challenges—unwanted crowds, unpredictable weather conditions, and a lack of privacy. Instead, securing a private venue, elegant rental home, or boutique event space ensures a seamless and stress-free experience.
Why a Private Venue Is the Best Choice for an Intimate Elopement
A dedicated event space provides:
- A reliable, visually stunning backdrop for both your elopement wedding ceremony and portraits.
- A private, intimate atmosphere where you can focus on the moment without distractions.
- A seamless experience with no unexpected interruptions, giving you full confidence in your plans.
When planning a small elopement wedding, choosing a private venue also helps ensure that every detail—lighting, accessibility, and comfort—aligns with your vision. Having a secure, booked location eliminates uncertainty and allows you to fully enjoy your day without worrying about outside factors.
5. Look & Feel Your Best with Professional Makeup & Photo-Ready Details
Your elopement wedding photos will capture one of the most meaningful days of your life, so it’s important to ensure you look and feel your best. From professional makeup to small touch-ups, these details make all the difference in how your images turn out.
Must-Have Beauty Tips for Flawless Elopement Wedding Portraits
- Schedule a makeup trial before your elopement ceremony. Whether you’re hiring a professional or doing your own, testing your makeup at least a month before your elopement wedding ensures it photographs beautifully.
- Use transfer-proof lipstick. Kissing photos are a natural part of wedding imagery, and a non-transfer lipstick will prevent smudging and transferring onto your partner’s face. [View our top transfer-proof lipstick recommendations here.]
- Apply a translucent powder to reduce facial shine. This applies to everyone—brides, grooms, and even children in the photos. Shine cannot be removed in post-production and can make skin appear greasy in photographs. A polished, matte finish is ideal for elopement wedding portraits. [See our go-to translucent powder picks here.]
- Bring a hairbrush or comb. Wind, humidity, or even traveling to the location can affect your hair. Anyone with longer hair should keep a brush on hand for quick touch-ups before elopement wedding portraits.
These small but impactful details ensure that you look polished and confident in every image, creating timeless elopement wedding photos that you’ll cherish for years to come.
6. Plan a Timeline That Feels Relaxed & Stress-Free
The way your elopement wedding timeline is structured plays a significant role in ensuring a relaxed and enjoyable experience. Thoughtful planning allows you to be fully present and make the most of every moment.
When to Take Couples’ Portraits for the Best Experience
One key consideration is the timing of couples’ portraits in relation to guest arrival. Many couples choose to take their portraits before guests arrive, which:
- Creates a more relaxed atmosphere without feeling rushed.
- Allows couples to fully engage with their guests once the ceremony begins.
- Ensures dedicated portrait time without interruptions.
For small elopement weddings, this approach helps maintain an intimate feel, as couples don’t have to step away from guests after the ceremony for portraits. However, every couple is different, and we’ll help create a timeline that best suits your vision—whether that means pre-ceremony portraits, golden-hour photos, or a unique schedule tailored to your day.
7. Work with Trusted Vendors to Enhance Your Day
When planning for an intimate elopement wedding, the right vendors can make a world of difference in ensuring a seamless and beautifully curated experience. Carefully selecting professionals who specialize in elopement wedding ceremonies and portraits will enhance both the aesthetic and emotional aspects of your day.
Essential Vendors for a Small Elopement Wedding
- A professional photographer (that’s us!) to document the most meaningful moments and create stunning elopement wedding photos.
- A florist for elegant bouquets and small floral details that enhance your ceremony and portraits.
- A hair & makeup artist to ensure you look polished and photo-ready for your elopement wedding portraits.
- An officiant to conduct the elopement ceremony.
Booking experienced vendors ensures your day is stress-free, visually beautiful, and exactly as you envision it. With the right team in place, you can fully focus on enjoying your elopement wedding while knowing that every detail is taken care of.
8. Celebrate in a Way That Feels Meaningful to You
Your elopement wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and many couples choose to continue the celebration after the elopement ceremony. Whether you prefer an intimate gathering or a special getaway, taking the time to honor this milestone makes the experience even more meaningful.
Ideas for a Post-Elopement Celebration
- A private dinner at an elegant restaurant for a romantic, stress-free meal.
- A beautifully set-up champagne toast to mark the occasion with a touch of sophistication.
- A weekend getaway to fully soak in the experience and make lasting memories.
Whatever feels right for you, celebrating in a way that aligns with your vision ensures that your elopement wedding is not just about the ceremony but about the full experience of starting your next chapter together.
9. Make Your Elopement Wedding Uniquely Yours
Personalizing Your Elopement Ceremony & Portraits
At its heart, your elopement wedding is about the two of you—your love, your commitment, and celebrating in a way that feels authentic. Whether that means a private elopement ceremony, a thoughtfully planned intimate event, or a refined elopement wedding portrait session in a stunning location, your elopement should be a reflection of what matters most to you.
By planning intentionally and choosing details that align with your vision, your elopement wedding becomes a deeply personal and unforgettable experience.
We’d Love to Be Part of Your Elopement Wedding
If you’re looking for a photography team that will guide you through the process and ensure your elopement wedding is beautifully documented, we’d love to chat! Whether you’re just starting to explore how to plan an elopement wedding or finalizing the last details, we’re here to help you create stunning, meaningful images that tell your love story. Reach out here to start planning your perfect day.
