Mary's Guide to Elopements
Elopement Planning Checklist
Planning an elopement can feel overwhelming at first. Here’s some tips to get you started.
Brainstorm your dream wedding day
Make it a date night, and brainstorm your wedding day together.
What do you want your day to feel like?
What would your wedding day look like if you could do anything in the world?
Think about the best days you’ve had together, where were you and what did you do together?
Guest list - Do you want it to just be you, or have your closest friends and family? Follow your gut with this one. Only invite people that make your heart the happiest, and are up for whatever adventure you’re dreaming up. There are a lot of ways to include loved ones who weren’t able to make it, following your ceremony.
2. Choose a general location and date.
Once you have your dream wedding day in mind, make the decisions that will affect your wedding day the most, like where you’ll get married, what time of year, and how long your trip will be. If you’re having trouble picking a place in California to elope, I can help you narrow down some locations. Here is a list of some of my favorite spots to elope in California. Often, your elopement photographer can help you narrow down a location, so it might be a good idea to find your elopement photographer first if you aren’t sure of your location.
Consider a weekday elopement. Weekdays are amazing for elopements because you’ll have much more privacy, less traffic, easier reservations, and more vendors available. Also, it’s a chance for you to make your trip a longer one, and combine your elopement with your honeymoon!
3.Plan out the details
Hire Vendors
Hire a photographer who specialized in elopements. Elopement’s come with a whole different set of considerations that traditional weddings don’t, like permits for locations, dealing with the outdoor elements, and secret location ideas.
Consider hiring a videographer. Your loved ones who can’t attend will appreciate it!
Hire a florist, and hair and makeup, if that’s your thing! Or begin to learn to do your makeup yourself (like I did!) Naomi from Beyond the Literal offers virtual makeup lessons and is absolutely amazing.
I can help with finding other local vendors if we work together!
book your flight and lodging
Flights - I love using google flights to find the best ticket prices. Search with “flexible dates” to see the best prices for flights.
Lodging - I love booking places on here for unique spots to stay, in beautiful locations, off the beaten path.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, rent a RV, or camper van to stay in for your wedding adventure here!
Consider staying in a local, boutique hotel. Just google “boutique hotels in _____”
Elopement Attire
Wedding dress - Choose a dress that you feel comfortable in, and extra bonus if it’s flowy. Flowy dresses look amazing in outdoor elopements, because the wind can pick it up and it adds a whole other element to the photographs. This is your day, and I encourage you to choose whatever attire feels the most like you! You can be funky, or traditional as you want. The most important part, if feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing, because we’ll move around a lot on your elopement day. When you’re trying on dresses, move around a lot, to make sure you feel comfortable.
Suit - Grooms, pick a suit that you feel comfortable in as well! This is your chance to have a suit tailored specifically to you. Choose an outfit that fits well with your fiancé’s wedding dress, with complimentary colors.
Color palette - For color palette inspiration, think about the landscape you’ll be getting married in, and choose colors that blend well with the environment.
Weather - Think about the season you’ll be getting married in. Will it be winter? Will it be hot outside? Make sure you think about these things when planning your outfits. I want you to be comfortable, and relaxed on your wedding day, and be properly prepared will set you up for the best day ever. If you’re getting married in cold weather, consider sizing suits up a little bit for warm layers underneath. I always recommend for my winter brides to wear nude fleece leggings underneath their wedding dresses.
Shoes - Wear something you can move around easily in. Make sure you feel sturdy in your shoes, so that we can capture those epic photos. Feel free to wear hiking boots, and if you want some photos wearing kickass heels, bring those along in your backpack! If you’re getting married on a beach, go barefoot!
4. Ceremony Planning
Will you be hiring an officiant? Or having a self solemnizing ceremony? In California, you need someone ordained to sign your marriage license. (I’m ordained, so I can be your witness if you want to have a self solemnizing ceremony in California.) You only need one witness to sign your marriage license in California, which I’ve done for a number of couples. Every state has different rules. For example, in Colorado, you don’t need a witness on your marriage license.
Write your vows. Make them personal!
5. Apply for a marriage license
Every state has different marriage laws, so make sure to check the rules of each state with enough time before your elopement.
California
- In California, marriage licenses are valid for 90 days after receiving it. There’s no waiting period after applying to get married.
-You and your fiancé must both be physically present when applying for the license.
-You’ll need a valid photo id, ssn, and to pay a fee (fee depends on the county you apply in), to get your marriage license.
-Click https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHSI/Pages/California-Marriage-License-General-Information.aspx for more information about marriage laws in California!
-You only need one witness over 18 to be at your elopement in California. If it’s just you two, I can be your witness! (I’m officially ordained)
-You can apply in a different county than the one you are planning to elope in.
Colorado
-In Colorado, marriage licenses are valid for 35 days after receiving it. You must apply at least one day before your elopement.
-You and your fiancé must both be physically present to apply for the license.
-You don’t need a witness in Colorado to sign your marriage license.
-You’ll need a valid photo id, ssn, and to pay a $35 fee to get your marriage license.
-You can apply in a different county than the one you are planning to elope in.
6. Get married!
After all the planning, now is the time to have the best elopement day ever!
Where I'm Going
Where I'm Going
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Travel is an important part of my practice and I’m happy to share my travel & location knowledge with you. Here’s where I’m going next. Want me to add your elopement or wedding to my travel?
Where I'm Going