If you ask someone to sit down and write the first things that come to their mind when they think about an adventure elopement, what do you think you’d get?
Vegas?
Secrecy and judgement?
Selfishness?
Someone super fit who can easily hike 20 miles?
Look, I get it. There have been stereotypes surrounding elopements for years, and if any of those preconceived notions pop into your head when you think about eloping, you aren’t alone. People often think of elopements as last-minute, no-frills affairs that are surrounded by secrets and shame. I’m here to let you know:
YOUR ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE.
It doesn’t matter why you’re eloping, where you’re doing it, or who’s there to witness the moment.
An adventure elopement is about removing all the obligation, pressure, and anxiety that’s ever held you back. An adventure elopement gives you the permission to make a commitment to your best friend however and wherever you want.
As an adventure elopement photographer and guide who has helped so many couples choose the trailhead over tradition, I’m passionate about what I do and why I do it – but I’m also passionate about helping others understand the misconceptions about elopements that have held couples back from removing the production and performance of a big, traditional wedding.
Elopement Myth #1:
People who elope are in a relationship surrounded by shame or disapproval
While this may have been true in the past, it simply isn’t in 2020. Sure, I’ve had couples choose to hold surprise elopements where they don’t tell anyone what they’re doing, but the surprise isn’t that they got married, it’s how they got married.
Choosing an adventure elopement does not mean that you’re setting yourself up for disapproval and shame, it means that you’ve made the brave choice to have a truly intimate wedding experience without the pressure or expectations that are often found in large, traditional weddings.
Your adventure elopement means you decided you weren’t going to compromise. You chose a day filled with intention and meaningful moments, and I don’t think there’s anything to be ashamed of for that.
Elopement Myth #2:
Elopements are selfish
This one really gets me. If you can’t make decisions for yourself on your wedding day, when can you? While you may get a few messages from family members that they’re sad or disappointed that they won’t be able to see you exchange vows, they will support you if an adventure elopement is truly what your heart wants.
The big key here is communication. While you shouldn’t look at this as having to defend your choice to elope, clearly communicating to your friends and family why you’ve made the choices you have will help them understand your perspective. It’s also a great way to set boundaries with people who think your wedding day is about them!
At the end of the day you’ll have to accept that some people may not be cool with your decision to elope, but you must remember that you and your partner are the only two people who should be making decisions about your wedding day.
Elopement Myth #3:
You have to be in really great shape for an adventure elopement
Again – no! Other than the fact that there are a ton of hikes with epic views that require hardly any walking at all, there are plenty of places that allow you to rent 4x4s or helicopters to get you right to your destination.
Remember, the whole point of choosing a nontraditional elopement is that you get to do whatever you want! Your adventure doesn’t have to fit anyone else’s mold, and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Elopement Myth 4:
Elopements can only be the two of you
If you want your close friends and family to be there at your adventure elopement, invite them! A common misconception is that an elopement means no one else can be there, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Being able to choose exactly what your wedding day looks like means you get to choose who attends. You can even bring your pets if you want – it’s entirely up to you.
There is no defined number of guests that make a wedding as an elopement. You know what does define an elopement? The intentions you set for your wedding day and how your guests respect that.
You may choose to only have your parents, siblings, and best friends present, or you may decide to have a separate, intimate ceremony with just your partner and then meet up with your friends and family after. Some couples even choose to make their elopement two-days!
Just because you don’t want a big, traditional wedding with your extended relatives and people you’ve only met once in your life doesn’t mean that you have to exclude people you really love.
Elopements aren’t for everyone, but they are for the brave few who love so deeply that they’re willing to take the radical step away from the normal and choose something else, something genuinely intentional.
