CHECK YOUR IDEA OF ELOPEMENTS AT THE DOOR

I think it’s safe to say that elopements no longer carry the connotation that they once did. Whenever I’m talking to my mom and I mention I have an elopement coming up, she always thinks I mean a couple is sneaking away in the night to wed. Not the case! Elopements and intimate weddings are so popular these days for many reasons. Whether you want the experience to be private between just you and your partner, or you have chosen to have your immediate family join you- that’s up to you!

I consider any wedding celebration with fifteen guests or less to be an intimate wedding. Planning a wedding this size can be a lot more simple and help keep the day light, fun and focused on one another. Bonus: Elopements are so versatile -you can really play with the location because you don’t have to worry about the logistics of getting 100+ guests to your dream destination.

As trends change, more and more couples are choosing to scrap their large traditional weddings in lieu of a smaller fete. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your dream wedding.

PLANNING THE PERFECT INTIMATE WEDDING

When talking with my clients that chose to elope, the common sentiment is that the couples really wanted to focus on what was most important to them, and not worry about making everyone else happy. And you know what- I love that! That kind of focus on what truly matters makes for a beautiful wedding day, whether traditional or intimate. Focusing on a smaller event doesn’t mean wearing your best outfit and showing up at the courthouse.



Make a list about what you do and don’t care about and focus on that. Love cake? Get yourself a big ol’ beautiful wedding cake to enjoy! If it’s just to two of you that means more leftovers. Here is a list of all the fun details you can choose to include in your intimate wedding.

•Wedding Attire

•Rings/Ringboxes

•Hair/Makeup

•Bouquets/Boutonniere

•Cake/Dessert

•Invitations

•Heirloom Items (think grandma’s handkerchief)

WHERE TO ELOPE?

The biggest benefit of eloping is you can really do it anywhere! Whether you stay in your own backyard or wed on the beach in Greece, there are amazing destinations all around. Here in the Sonoma wine country, tons of couples have their dream winery wedding at a fraction of the cost. Most wedding venues allow elopements on weekdays and off-season- just ask! Many of my clients love the wild of the California coastline and choose to wed on the cliffs above the ocean. And don’t forget the many amazing National Parks and open spaces we have available to us. Just remember to research where you are allowed to get married when choosing to do it in nature.

HOW MUCH PHOTOGRAPHY DO I NEED FOR MY ELOPEMENT?

I am an advocate for treating your wedding day the same whether there are two guests or two hundred. What that means for photography is telling the story of your whole day. Start with your getting ready process (hair/makeup and getting dressed), followed by a first look, your ceremony then the romantic portraits of you and your spouse. If you do have a few guests in attendance, a champagne toast, cake cut or small reception may be included. In general, I recommend between 1-4 hours of photography depending on your plans and locations. Because of the unique nature of each intimate wedding, I work with you to create custom coverage options for each one of my clients.

Intimate wedding photography starts at $950