Elopement Definition
What does "Elope" Mean? Busting Elopement Myths
LOVE, LORRAINE Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographers
Defining your Elopement
Busting elopement myths so we can change the way elopements are perceived and create an alternative wedding day experience unique to you!
Exploring the evolution of elopements, what they mean, and busting the most common myths associated with eloping! An elopement doesn’t have to fit a mold, it can exist with or without tradition. What makes an elopement special is that it is planned with you and your partner’s values top of mind. Ask yourself, what do you really want your wedding day to look like?
What does it mean to Elope?
Traditionally, eloping means “to run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent.” The definition of an “Elopement” has evolved over time, and exponentially over the past few years.
So, what does it mean to Elope? It simply means to seek alternative experiences when planning your wedding day, with unlimited options and opportunities.
Shout out to all of our couples. You are paving the way to normalizing elopements!
It’s becoming more popular to elope and we are here for it. We are here to encourage all of you that want to do away with the wedding day traditions and redefine the word elopement, to plan a wedding day that feels like YOU!
When you hear the word Elope, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
Do you think of waking up at 3:00 a.m. on the morning of your wedding day, preparing your hiking packs with snacks, water, hiking essentials, your wedding rings, and vows, but most importantly your wedding attire?
Do you think of flying to a destination that’s been on your bucket list? Maybe you book an epic helicopter tour that takes you to a remote location on top of a glacier. Or, maybe you want to hike your favorite trail and share handwritten vows at the summit.
These scenarios most likely never crossed your mind, because elopements are thought of as a rushed, unplanned, and cheap way to get married.
As professional photographers, we have experienced the pressure that traditional weddings cause couples right before our eyes. We’ve seen couples hide away from their guests because they just want one second to themselves on THEIR wedding day.
Far too often we hear couples say things like,
“We don’t remember our wedding day that well.”
“We didn’t even get a moment to ourselves. We had too many guests to chat with.”
“We wish we just eloped. It would have been way more fun and memorable.”
You spend months dreaming and planning your wedding day - wouldn’t you want to remember it? Rather than spending your entire day getting ready, being rushed through strict timelines and “all eyes on us” situations, what if you had a day that was focused around your values, time well spent together, and the most important factor - the two of you making a commitment to each other?
Eloping allows you the freedom to plan a day that feels like YOU, celebrating the two of you in the best way possible.
Doesn’t that sound like an awesome day?!
As Colorado Adventure Wedding and Elopement Photographers, we have helped many couples dive deep into why they want to elope, where they want to elope and guide them to create an authentic experience.
We believe your day should be exactly how you envision it. If that means planning a big wedding, awesome! But, if a more intimate setting without the production and fluff that a traditional wedding day brings - that should be okay, too. Create your very own “just-us” wedding day, or invite your family and closest friends. There are no limits!
We aren’t here to knock down the traditional wedding day “norm”, we are here to empower couples to plan a day that they want, instead of focusing on what others want.
It’s a brave choice to elope and we are here to cheer you on for making that brave decision!
The 5 most common Elopement Myths
Let’s debunk those common elopement myths, and shift our mindset about elopements!
Myth #1: Eloping is shameful and selfish.
It’s 2022. Having a big traditional wedding is slowly fading, and more couples are opting to have smaller, more intimate weddings.
Traditionally, you would host a big party catered to your friends and family, ensuring that they are having a good time. This repetition of wedding tradition stems from the assumption that if you aren’t hosting a big party with all of your friends and family, you’re making a selfish decision.
The reality is: no one has the right to be at your wedding.
No one HAS to be at your wedding. It is entirely up to you who should be present for your celebration. And eloping doesn’t mean that you can’t include others, we will get into this a bit more in Myth #4!
It’s not selfish if you want to plan a wedding that is about YOU, and only you! This is your greatest adventure yet, and it should be planned the way you want it, not the way it is assumed to occur. Eloping is brave, not selfish and shameful. Eloping has become a more powerful declaration of love. What’s better than sharing your handwritten vows with your favorite person, all the while enjoying a breathtaking view?
Myth #2: Elopements are rushed and unplanned.
You can spend just as much time dreaming and planning your elopement as you do a traditional wedding, and you’ll have way more fun planning it. Far too often we hear couples expressing how stressed they are throughout the planning process, and how they can’t wait till it’s all over.
This doesn’t sound fun…
Why would anyone choose to take on a stressful, wild rollercoaster of a planning process with vendors of all kinds if they don’t want that?! Planning an Elopement can happen as fast or as slow as you choose, and you can be in control of the entire process. It doesn’t mean that you don’t need a wedding planner, there are great elopement planners out there that can help you dial in your dream wedding day! And vendors can’t be overlooked either, look for vendors that specialize in elopements and will work with you on your dream day.
Instead of planning the most rushed, overplanned day of your entire life, leave yourself some flexibility to enjoy your day and plan epic experiences. You can leave the more strategic planning for the more important parts of your day, like getting married at the most gorgeous location during sunrise or sunset!
Myth #3: Elopements are a cheap, quick & easy alternative way to get married.
The average cost of a wedding in 2021 was $22,500.
The largest part of most wedding investments is the wedding venue, averaging around $10,000. And of course, the venue and the environment to host your wedding is incredibly important. But what if you booked a mountain mansion in Colorado instead of the ballroom venue? Have your closest friends and family come for a ski weekend in the winter, or go on a hiking adventure in the summertime. Don’t limit your wedding venue research to traditional venues! Look for opportunities on VRBO, Airbnb and other rental property sites to host your unique wedding experience!
Just because you are choosing to elope doesn’t mean that your wedding has to be cheap, quick, or easy. Eloping should receive the same amount of attention and even more intention that traditional weddings do. Spend the budget you have, and create an unforgettable life experience for you and your partner. You have endless opportunities when it comes to planning an elopement, and this freedom should be taken advantage of!
Myth #4: Eloping means it can only be the two of you. No one else can be present.
This is entirely not true.
We’ve photographed elopements with no guests. Some with just the couple and their dog. We’ve also photographed elopements with the couple’s children present. We’ve photographed elopements with 10 guests, sometimes a few more. No matter who you choose to invite, that decision is completely up to you!
All of these elopements are unique, and the important part lies within their intention. These elopements are all focused on the only thing that matters - the commitment you and your partner are making to each other.
But I have too many friends, and my family is huge!
Do you really want to spend your entire wedding day giving all of your time and attending to 200 plus people? Is the best use of your time on the greatest day of your life hearing “congratulations” over and over again, only getting a glimpse of each guest, the food, and the dessert you invested in?
Picture this; you choose to elope in the mountains instead of hosting a large traditional wedding. You invite your closest family and friends and host them to stay with you in a mountain house for a long weekend. Now, instead of having one day, you have multiple days! You can plan a hiking excursion or an outdoor adventure tour for the group one day, and get married the next! Bringing this close group of people together is all a part of the celebration.
Picturing yourself with just your partner? That’s great, too! You get to choose exactly what your elopement looks like. And no matter what you choose, we’ll be there to help you plan and execute the perfect day.
Myth #5: Elopements aren’t “real” weddings.
This just ain’t true.
If anyone tells you that your elopement isn’t real because it’s not the “traditional” way to get married, kindly ask them to find the door and leave. Your wedding day can exist with or without the traditions of weddings past. The important part is that you choose what you do and do not want to include as a part of your wedding day.
Don’t let anyone tell you how YOUR wedding day should be. As long as your day is 100% authentic and the way that YOU want it to be, nothing else matters. Your adventure elopement, intimate wedding, or traditional wedding all are created equal when it comes to being “real”.
Defining your Elopement
The best part about choosing to elope is that you get to create your own day, your experiences. That is what defining an elopement is really all about. What are your values, what do you see for your special day? How will you choose to celebrate the love that you and your partner share? Defining an elopement isn’t something to learn from the dictionary and follow some set of rules. Quite the opposite, it's about following your heart and your wildest dreams. Your journey to eloping starts right now.
Contact us to learn more about our elopement photography experience packages!
Let’s recap!
YOUR WEDDING DAY MATTERS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE CHOOSING TO ELOPE!
Elopements aren’t a second option, and they don’t deserve less attention. Elopements aren’t just a quick and easy ceremony, a few portraits, and the signing of your marriage license.
Elopements are for the brave and adventurous. They are for couples that want to celebrate their commitment in the best way possible. They are for couples that want to throw the “wedding rule book” out the window and plan a day with intention.
Let’s change the way elopements are perceived and show that they are just as important as a traditional wedding day!
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Meet Your Colorado Adventure Wedding & Elopement Photographers
We spent three years living on the road full-time, exploring and adventuring throughout the United States. Colorado quickly became one of our favorite states, and we knew it was a place that we always wanted to come back to. Over the course of three years, we found ourselves back in Colorado time and time again. After selling our van in 2020 in response to the pandemic, we packed up all of our things back east and moved to Colorado. We quickly realized that house life wasn’t our thing, so we bought an Airstream and are now converting it into our second tiny home on wheels.
You can find us all over Colorado exploring and finding the next best elopement location for our couples. We have spent so much time in the beautiful states that we know it like the back of our hand. If you are ready to plan your epic Colorado Elopement, you’ve come to the right place! Inquire with us to start planning your dream Colorado Elopement!
Randi and Patrick reached out to us last year about eloping in Colorado. Their dream was to get married in Rocky Mountain National Park. Lucky for them, there was a cancellation at Sprague Lake in October of 2022. We jumped at the opportunity to create their dream elopement day in Rocky Mountain National Park with their family and friends present!