Can you guess the biggest question you’ll come across while planning your elopement?
Here, let me help you.
…it’s not your guest list.
…it’s not your wedding dress.
…and it’s not even how you’ll get your rings across airport security.
Did you guess? Ready?
Well, since you’ve probably already planned the Who? What? When? and Why?…
…all that’s left to answer is the Where?
And that’s no small task. But it’s probably easier than you think.
So, I’m giving you my top 5 questions you NEED to ask yourselves to come up with the dream location for your elopement.
Make sure to have a pen and paper – and your special someone – ready to answer these questions. So by the end of this article, you’ll know EXACTLY where you want to go.
1. Do you know your limits?
Don’t ever stop dreaming…
…but at some point, your dreams will have to meet your reality.
And I really don’t mean to be the party pooper here.
But you have to know your limits. In fact, you have to start planning your romantic getaway by acknowledging your limitations. Otherwise your elopement won’t ever turn into reality, and it will always remain a dream…
So ask yourself: how much money are you willing to spend on your elopement?
And how much time can you take for your magical adventure?
As I’ve mentioned in my other article, eloping costs only a small fraction of having a traditional wedding. All you need is a plane ticket, a hotel, me (your photographer), and a bit of extra to spend.
But it still costs money.
So, if your main reason for eloping is to cut back on costs, you should keep your budget in mind all throughout your planning process. And this will affect everything from your means of travel & your accommodation all the way to your planned activities and the length of your adventure.
The other big factor here is time. The further you go, the longer it will take to get there. You might even cross a few time-zones and have to account for some jetlag. So it may not be worth going too far away if you can’t stay at least 5-7 days.
It’s better to stay closer and embrace your experience fully than to go further away and risk rushing through your once-in-a-lifetime experience. On the other hand, if you can manage to take enough time off for your elopement, then what better time to discover the world than now? Don’t let going “too far away” scare you into compromising your dreams.
But find your limits. Set a budget. And set a maximum timeframe for your elopement.
This will help you set realistic expectations for your romantic getaway.
2. What’s your theme?
Close your eyes and imagine your elopement…
Where do you see yourselves?
You can literally go anywhere.
You just have to decide where.
So, ask yourselves: would a beautiful natural scenery or a romantic city setting be more magical for you?
If you’ve opted to explore nature, then start fantasizing about where you’d picture yourselves. Are you at a mountain-range with creeks, and waterfalls? Do you see bare cliffs, or maybe forests? Do you see yourselves in a desert, on the beach, or at a country villa?
And if you’ve chosen to elope to a city, start imagining what kinds of buildings you see. What’s the architecture and culture like? What about the people? Do you see any famous monuments, buildings, or landmarks? What’s the vibe, atmosphere and style of the place?
Answering these questions will help you narrow your search even further. It will also help you start planning some of the more practical aspects of your elopement. Like what clothes to pack, what accommodations to check, and what kinds of activities to plan.
It also helps me, as your photographer. By giving me a general idea of what you’re expecting from your elopement, I can start researching the most romantic spots to do your photoshoots at, and the best styles of photos that will match your dream destination perfectly.
3. Sunshine or Rain?
Okay, so weather ties in closely with my previous point.
But still, it’s worth considering separately.
I’ve had some couples who opted for a “white wedding” with ice, snow, and just a glimpse of the northern lights. I’ve had others who chose to get a natural tan while walking on the beach as husband and wife for the first time. I’ve even met a couple who wanted nothing but to sing, dance, and kiss in the rain.
You see, weather is kind of location specific. And seasonal. Sure, you might get an occasional shower even in the summer desert – and you might see a few sunny days even in Scotland’s harsh winters.
But you have to know what you want to know where to find it.
So… Hot or cold? Sunshine, rain, or snow? Dry or humid?
Once you’ve figured that out, search for locations that match your taste.
And if you think you have no preference…
…think about what you’ll be wearing on your big day.
…think about what types of photos you’d like.
…or think about what you’ll be doing – speaking of which…
4. What are you must-do dream activities?
Okay, time to get crazy.
Is there anything you absolutely want to do on your elopement? Like, really-really?
It could be something simple like hiking, stargazing, dancing around a bonfire, or visiting a special restaurant. But you could also go more extreme – if you want. You can decide to say your vows on a hot air balloon, or go skydiving or whitewater rafting right after your big moment. Or you might want to visit a specific landmark, gallery, or museum.
It’s totally up to you.
But your dream activities will play a key role in your choice of where to go.
While brainstorming ideas, keep in mind that some locations are obviously better or worse than others for certain activities. And some places make some activities physically impossible.
Like, sunbathing in Scotland isn’t the best idea…
Or do you know anyone – and I mean anyone – who has tried whitewater rafting in Amsterdam?
On the other hand, there’s only one real Eiffel tower – and a bunch of fakes – in the world. So, The City of Love is the place to be if you want to stand on top of it on your romantic getaway.
And there’s no better place to enjoy the stunning views from your hot air balloon than in Cappadocia, Turkey.
So, whatever location you end up choosing, make sure it’s aligned with whatever you want to do while you’re there. Don’t just go and see what happens – make your dreams happen.
5. Anyone else you want there?
How many people do you want to be there for you at your elopement?
If you’re planning to invite all your friends, relatives, and family members, then you can’t go too far away. It just wouldn’t be fair to ask them to take a week off and spend thousands of dollars to travel halfway across the globe. No, not even for your elopement…
But it works the other way around too. The further away you go, the more understanding people become of why they’re not invited. And while this shouldn’t be your main priority, not having to explain yourself to your semi-close circles will definitely help keep your stress-levels in check.
So, if you want more than just maybe a few guests, make sure to limit yourselves to locations that are reasonably close to you. But if you’ve always imagined your special day to be a romantic adventure, then it’s time to dream big!
And there you have it, the top 5 questions that you need to ask yourself before you plan your elopement. Answer these, and you’ll be well on the right track to experiencing your ultimate dream elopement – stress-free.
And hey, don’t forget about capturing your magical moments together. Imagine how you want your first shots of the two of you having fun as husband and wife to turn out?
Hiring a professional elopement photographer who you genuinely vibe with is one of the best investments you can make to crown your elopement.
So, if you’re still looking for “The One” (I mean… you know what I mean) – I’m here for you. Feel free to reach out to have a quick chat about how I can help you plan, experience, and remember the best adventure of your lives.
