So what is an elopement in 2020? You’ll get a lot of different answers to that question but my take on it is this: Couples are simply stripping their weddings down to the basics and choosing to focus them on celebrating the only thing that matters, their relationship.
Why? Because that’s why I eloped.
And the most wonderful thing about elopements is you can choose to celebrate them however you want! Couples are flying all over the world from sandy beaches to snowy mountain tops to express their vows to each other in ways that could exceed your wildest dreams. The best part is its easier than ever in todays world to make your dream a reality!
Incase you hadn't noticed the days of elopements being considered shameful, secretive, or simply spur of the moment decisions are long gone. It turns out all those couples married in disgrace from days past were actually totally on to something. If you need proof just google it, you'll see that even the trusty Merriam-Webster dictionary is changing its tune.
We had a fire and hot chocolate bar. I got dressed on a tarp in the snow and drank whiskey straight from the bottle, laughing with my girls wearing a vintage fur coat and a borrowed gown. And then I got to marry my bestfriend at sunset looking out over a spectacular view and it was simple and perfect. I'd do it all over again in a heart beat, wouldn't change a damn thing.
After all is said and done, that feeling of knowing that I made the right decision for us makes me so excited to explore ideas and help you figure out precisely what is going to make you happy. Because at the end of the day, when you look back on your memories, that's all that matters, right?
I didn't set out to elope. I started to plan the big wedding and as my guest list grew so to did my anxiety and as more stress creeped in it made less and less sense. So my partner and I sat down one day, examined our feelings and said screw it! We're eloping! And just like that we planned our perfect day in one of our favorite places ( the summit of a local mountain where we often go camping) with our son and nine of our closest people, photographer and officiant included.
She gave enough direction so we didn't feel awkward in front of the camera and gave us enough space to be ourselves and enjoy our day. She knew all the good spots for taking photos so we didn't even have to think about it. She was even willing to get soaked near the waterfall so that we could have a really epic and romantic photo to remember forever. The turnaround for receiving photos was much quicker than I expected and I was so pleased with how natural and authentic the photos looked! She captured some really special moments and emotions, so it felt like we were re-living our wedding day every time we look at them. We would recommend her any of our friends and family in a heartbeat!
a part of our Sunshine Coast elopement, we didn't realize during booking how big we scored! We are over the moon with how our photos turned out. Paige is the perfect mix of incredibly professional and down to earth, which allows you to feel extremely comfortable in front of her camera. She is so helpful with her kind and encouraging advice, and is able to prompt you in different ways that capture really gorgeous, natural looking photos. We can't say enough good things about Paige! We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for a photographer for any special life moment.
Have you ever been a part of planning a large wedding? While beautiful, they can be enormously stressful. From managing people's feelings and expectations of you to seating charts and budget. Big weddings are no joke. But guess what, eloping significantly or completely reduces that stress load. Suddenly you're not planning for 200 anymore; you're planning for just the 2 of you and maybe a few of your closest friends and family! ( Yes, you can elope with your family there!) and fewer people means less planning, less everything. The only thing you won't be short on your elopement day is time to spend focusing on each other and the people you chose to bring along with you!
The beautiful thing about eloping is that you get to plan the day entirely around you. You strip away the extra stuff, stress and Pinterest boards about table settings and permit yourself to plan a day tailored to make you happy. You have the space to focus entirely on your relationship, your partner and most importantly your feelings: because you're going to have some wonderfully big feelings!
There is a common misconception that elopements must be cheap and rushed affairs because otherwise, why wouldn't you just have a wedding? And I am here to tell you to chuck that nonsense out. Yes, elopements can be less expensive because you plan for fewer people, but that doesn't mean it has to be or should. The average wedding in Canada is $29,450. Let that sink in. Now think about what it would look like if you took that budget and spent it on your elopement? And let me tell you, it's going to stretch farther than a one-day event. You could go on a month-long honeymoon, get married in the middle of it in a remote lodge in the dolomites, or take a couple of helicopters and bring your parents and best friends to watch you get married on a mountain top in the Canadian Rockies? That's my favourite thing about elopements; the options suddenly become limitless! Are you excited yet?
I am NOT the photographer you hire if you want that perfectly posed photo. I mean, don't get me wrong HELL YES we are going to get those show stoppers for you!! But prepare to have fun! To let go and experience having your photo taken in a way you never new was possible. You'll be looking at an album of gorgeous photos of you looking like the happiest version of yourself.
Are you ready for it!!?!