10 Must Haves for Your Elopement

It is no secret that the holidays from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day is prime time to pop the question. Snuggling is in the air and feelings of love fill our hearts. If you got engaged and are still planning on an elopement or micro-wedding – I’m bringing you 10 must haves for your wedding day!

LOCATION – Where do you want to elope? Are you a simple go to the courthouse kind of couple? I’ve always loved this because it is truly saying – “I don’t care where we do it, I just want to be with you.” Or do you want to exchange vows in front of a spanning mountain range? What speaks to you most as a couple, are there any important details that you can incorporate? My husband and I eloped on December 23, 2017. We wanted to be married so we chose a beautiful lake spot walking distance from where we started our lives, hired a friend to officiate, and did the deed. I personally loved that more than the wedding reception we planned two years later. It was just us, in one of our favorite spots. Pure perfection.

PERMITS – Depending on where you are planning to say “I Do” some places require permits, or purchase of a package/day pass to have a small ceremony. Check in with your option(s) and see what is required to legally be there. It would be awful to be interrupted mid set up/vows just to be kicked out. Cover your bases beforehand!

PHOTOGRAPHY – How do you want to remember the occasion? The one thing I wish I had done before our elopement was to have someone photograph the union. At the time, it wasn’t important but now, I wish I had some photos to look back on or hang in our house as a sweet momento. There are some super talented photographers (including me) out there that will hike with you, travel with you, or do whatever it takes to get those epic, special photos.

OUTFITS – Again, from experience, putting some thought into what you want to wear when you elope is a great thing! I threw on some jeans and a sweater (as did my husband) and we were out the door. Definitely no regrets about the day but the selfies I got weren’t very bridal ha! But we were happy nonetheless. All up to you how you choose to celebrate!

DON’T FORGET THE RINGS! – Self explanatory here – my husband actually bought a real ring for our ceremony but now only wears the rubber rings for more comfort. Whatever you decide – don’t forget them 🙂

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE – Important! You will need to make sure you check with your individual county/state on their specifications. Some states you can apply and get married on the same day! Others there is a waiting period. Check out Georgia’s Marriage specifications HERE.

BLUE OR BLACK INK PEN – This is to sign your marriage certificate. If your officiant was like ours, he was a professional. He brought everything needed, mailed our certificates into the state etc. Check with your local probate court as to their requirements for filing.

CHANGE OF SHOES – This is important if you are planning an adventurous elopement which involves a little bit of hiking or walking to get to. If you have put a lot of thought into your outfit, a quick change of shoes from comfortable to stylish will make all the difference in your wedding day ease.

WI-FI OR CELL PHONE SERVICE – If you are planning to live stream your elopement to your friends and family – make sure you have a reliable connection for less interruptions. There are companies who specialize in this or bring along a trusted, tech savvy friend to help out.

DECOR – If you are looking for a styled wedding arbor or set up, think about the ease of set up and take down. Many times, you are limited in the amount of time you have so make it as easy as possible on yourself when planning decor outside your bouquet.

Thanks to Covid, a lot of couples are going the elopement route over a larger wedding. This is why I got into this industry and being an elopee myself, smaller weddings have a special place in my heart. Check out my website for more information on my elopement photography packages. Happy New Year! -Jess