Wedding Planning in the Age of Coronavirus: Consider an Adventure Elopement
2020 is a bittersweet year for those of you who are recently engaged. The honeymoon phase of your engagement has likely been cut short due to COVID-19, and having to navigate social restrictions in the process of planning your 2020 wedding stinks. We understand how challenging this is, and we know you have to consider all your options at this point. If you haven’t considered an adventure elopement before we hope this article will help!There are so many reasons why we love adventure elopements! For one—it’s a completely couple-focused experience. The two of you deciding to spend the rest of your lives together is a big deal! It shouldn’t be about who is sitting at what table, or what songs will offend which relative—it should be about the two of you, and celebrating your love for each other.
We could go on and on about why we love elopements, but especially from a videographer’s perspective we love getting to spend that precious time with you capturing your stunning selves in a way that makes it easy to play back for years to come. You could slow dance in a mountain meadow or beside a cliffside that opens up to a beautiful valley floor below. We could have a moment together without the stress of hosting a party immediately after.
Additionally, planning and designing an elopement is much simpler than a full blown wedding. Elopement planning which includes scheduling, acquiring proper permits, and scouting for locations are services that photographers and videographers provide for their clients! That’s the first thing on your to-do list that you don’t even have to do!
Designing an elopement can be as simple or detailed as you’d like it to be. One of the great perks of eloping is getting married surrounded by nature. This in itself is all the decoration you really need. But of course it doesn’t hurt to bring a few of your own pieces to make your elopement feel cozy and personalized.
Here’s What You Could Do
An Arch: This does not have to be an a-frame or circular arch (although we love those) It can be a simple macrame tied between trees. Or a rug with a few lanterns. Or even just a few vases of pampas grass.
Rugs: The easiest way to create a designated space in nature is with a rug... or two or three. Layered rugs look great and are very on theme with a boho elopement. What’s also great about a throw rug is how versatile it is. You can use a rug for your ceremony site to stand on as you recite your vows, and you can reuse it to sit on afterwards to celebrate with a bottle of champagne, enjoy a picnic, or just use it as a simple photo shoot set.
Decor: Decorating your space is the fun part. The sky’s the limit, but here are a few of our favorite go-tos. Vintage glasses, pampas grass, candlesticks with vintage brass holders, animal skulls, animal hide, and faux fur everything.
Seating: If you’re planning your elopement to include a “reception” you and your love are going to need a place to sit. The simplest easiest option is to use your rug. Please tell me by now we have convinced you to bring a rug to your elopement?! Another fantastic and also easy seating option is to use pillows. They also look great to frame the space by propping them up around the rug or along the arch.
Celebratory Food and Drink: Sometimes people think an elopement just means two people in nature promising their lives to each other. At the very heart of it--that’s exactly what an elopement is, but you can make your elopement to be anything you want it to be.
Even if you elope, you can have a reception at a later date with your friends and family! You can also have all of your photos and videos finished to show your friends and family how sweet your vows were and how intimate your ceremony was.
You could even incorporate a picnic with your elopement. After one of the biggest moments of your life--taking the time to sit and celebrate and savor the memory together--that’s really special. At the very least we hope you bring a bottle of bubbly to pop after saying “I do.” But wouldn’t it be romantic to feed each other the dessert you had on your first date? Or to spend quality time together over a cocktail and indulging in a charcuterie board? You won’t regret planning time together after your vows to really take it all in.
If you are planning a 2020 or 20201 elopement we’d love to hear your story and see how we can help! You can see an example of one of our elopement films below. We also offer elopement styling and planning.
Thanks for being here!
Our hope for you is a beautiful wedding experience. We’re rooting for you, and we’re here to help! If you’re planning your wedding or elopement for 2020 or 2021 and are still looking for a videographer or design support—we want to work with you! Send us your concerns, your plans, and your dreams—we’re committed to supporting you through it all!
-Steven & Candace