Over the last several years, it seems like elopements have taken the wedding industry by storm. Between the economy and lasting impacts of the pandemic, couples are far more willing to plan an intimate affair rather than a grandiose, traditional wedding. As a Northwest Montana elopement photographer and planner, it’s been incredibly inspiring to witness just how couples infuse their personalities on their best day ever to make the experience even more memorable. From special momentos to adventurous activities, there’s no shortage of ways to make an elopement perfectly “you”. If you’ve been searching for the secret to planning a unique elopement, keep on reading.

Planning a Unique Elopement | Free Elopement Planning Tips

Before I share with you all that goes into planning an elopement that is uniquely you, we have to start at the beginning. Whether you opted to elope because you wanted less stress, want to save some money, or you have always just imagined something super intimate, eloping is a beautiful opportunity to customize each aspect of your day. When planning my own elopement in the North Cascades, my husband and I knew exactly what we wanted to incorporate into our elopement to make it feel the most authentic to us.

But often times, it can feel overwhelming when faced with so many possibilities. To help with that decision fatigue, start small. I have an entire blog (and podcast) on Planning Your Dream Elopement if you want to check that out (and then come back here). But the big idea is the same: you and your partner need to make a list of your non-negotiables. When my husband and I started planning our elopement, here’s what our lists looked like:

His Non-Negotiables:

1. Having his family there
2. Having alone time as a couple
3. An awesome location
4. Doing our favorite activities
5. Having all the family stay in one place

My Non-Negotiables:

1. Having an awesome, unforgettable adventure
2. Dream photo/video team
3. Having a wedding weekend
4. Location must be new to us
5. Aesthetic or vibey lodging

Once we had our non-negotiables listed out, we were able to really fine-tune our plan (which allowed us to add unique elements to our elopement weekend). Looking at our list, a few details already stuck out for us to be able to customize. We wanted an awesome location, a wedding weekend, aesthetic lodging, and to do our favorite activities. From there, we began brainstorming locations and got into the nitty gritty of planning our unique elopement. 

Planning an Unforgettable Elopement | Elopement Planner

Choose a Breathtaking Elopement Location

Location, location, location. By far, the most impactful way to make your elopement unique is by choosing a location that fits your vision and personality. If you and your honey are more likely to be found hiking through the mountains than sunbathing on the beach, choose a location in the mountains. By choosing a location that feels authentic to who you are as a couple, each additional detail will fall into place. Choosing a location that is “just right” for you and your honey will help you choose your wedding dress, your florals, a theme for your invitations, etc.

I might be biased, but it’s definitely worth investing in an epic location, rather than forcing a subpar location into feeling ‘special’. While this absolutely doesn’t mean that you need to jet-set to the Swiss Alps for some epic mountain views, don’t be afraid to take your time finding an elopement location that is within your budget and fits your vision. Once you nail down your location, you will feel such a sense of relief knowing that now you get to focus on the really fun parts of elopement planning.

Include Elopement Activities

A common misconception that I’ve seen creep up over the last several years I’ve spent as a Glacier National Park elopement photographer is that couples need to go on a crazy hike, embark on a whitewater rafting excursion, or go skydiving to make their elopement truly unique. And while I’m all for tackling all the above alongside my incredible couples, there isn’t anything you need to do during your elopement (other than marry the love of your life).

However, if you are searching for ways to make your elopement more authentic, and unique to you as a couple, try to incorporate something into your day. I have an entire list of 50 activities to include during your elopement, but here are just a few of my favorite ideas:

• Go for a leisurely hike
• Have a picnic
• Go out for coffee before getting ready
• Go swimming with your dogs
• Rent a kayak
• Have a cozy bonfire
• Enjoy dinner beneath the stars

Focus on the Experience

It seems like everyone is an era of romanticizing their life (which I am 100% here for, FYI). But what better time to romanticize your life than during your elopement?! The best way to really focus on making your elopement an experience is by prioritizing the senses. Hear me out, I promise I’m going somewhere with this. Close your eyes and imagine your elopement, walking through each sense.

• What sounds do you hear? Do you hear the joyful laughter from your friends and family? Do you hear the quiet babble of a creek or the sweet sounds of songbirds?
• What do you smell? Do you smell crisp mountain air or a campfire on a cool summer’s evening? Do you smell an incredible meal prepared by a private chef?
• What do you taste? Do you taste the salty air as it blows across the ocean? Do you taste the tart zing of lemon frosting while you share a bite of cake?
• What do you feel? To me, this is probably the most important “sense” to focus on when imagining your elopement. Rather than focusing on what you can touch, focus on what emotions you are feeling. Do you feel calm and relaxed? Do you feel giddy and full of adrenaline?
• What do you see? Do you see waves crashing to shore? Do you see towering pines overhead while you say “I do” to your person?

Each sense plays a huge part in bringing your dream elopement to life. Once you and your partner allow yourselves the time to truly envision each aspect of your elopement, it will be much easier to infuse your personalities into your day. Knowing that you envision hearing laughter from your loved ones makes it a no-brainer to include them in some way. Or knowing that you want to feel a rush of adrenaline means that you’d probably enjoy embarking on some kind of adventure.

Opt for an Elopement Weekend

Another way to focus on the overall experience of your elopement is by opting for a weekend or multi-day event. My husband and I planned a multi-day elopement experience which allowed us to be fully present in each moment. One full day was dedicated to just us as a couple, another was dedicated to spending time with our people, and another was our ceremony day. Because we chose a destination that required our loved ones to travel, it felt so easy to divvy up our days to allow everyone time to explore on their own, while still prioritizing Ethan and my overall elopement experience.

Customize Your Elopement Details

If location is everything, details are a close runner-up. Your elopement details are what fully ties everything together and tells your story. From your invitational suite to your grandmother’s broach, each detail can make a huge impact on adding sentimentality to your elopement. I have an entire blog dedicated to what to include in your elopement details, but here are just a few fun inclusions:

• Old love letters
• A map for your elopement location
• Photo booth strips
• Seashells or rocks
• Vow books

Include Your Friends or Family in Your Elopement

Including your family or friends in your elopement is such a special, impactful way to make your elopement memorable. Whether this means having them physically present for your ceremony, include them in an activities, reading letters from them, or FaceTiming them while getting ready. Some couples choose to have a separate celebration alongside their loved ones following their elopement, which gives them the best of both worlds.

While my husband and I had our closest people with us during our destination elopement, we still ended up having a wedding reception back home. To make our wedding reception that much more special for each guest, we even held a “premiere” of our elopement video. It was such a fun way to keep our celebration going, and have the elopement of our dreams.

Hire an Elopement Planner

As a Northwest Montana elopement photographer and planner, I understand firsthand just how overwhelming it can be to plan an elopement – especially one that feels perfectly “you”. One of the quickest ways to mitigate the overwhelm that comes with elopement planning is by hiring a professional planner. I offer elopement planning services for my photography clients to allow my couples to wander without stress. By offering photography and planning services, couples are allowed the freedom to dream while having the extra assistance to make it a reality. 

Whether you envision an enchanting dinner under string lights and the stars with your loved ones or you’re not quite sure how to pull off a luxury picnic in the mountains, I’m your gal. I approach each wedding and elopement with you as the priority. You deserve to have a day that is all encompassing and truly represents your love story. And you also deserve to just enjoy the moment without worrying about logistics, a timeline, setting up your tablescape, or finding the perfect lodging. I’ve gotchu covered; let’s dream.

Montana Elopement Planner | Sydney Breann Photography

With the secret to planning a unique elopement in tow, you’re ready to make your dream elopement a reality. By prioritizing your relationship, enlisting the help of an elopement planning professional, and utilizing elopement planning resources, you can create the day that you have always dreamed of. If you still are in need of additional elopement inspiration or planning tips, head over to the blog. Be sure to follow me over on the ‘Gram (@sydneybreannphoto) to keep up with my latest adventures as a Montana elopement photographer and planner. But until next time, are you ready to wander?