How to Plan An Intentional Elopement or Wedding

Ditch the Traditions & Choose Intention : Intentional Elopements / Weddings are Best!

An intentional elopement? Yes, you heard that right! Your elopement can look exactly as you want. So many put weddings into a box, believing that traditions must be maintained and certain protocol must be followed. As a photographer, I see things differently. The weddings and elopements that are the most wonderful and joy-filled are those that are intentional. Intentional elopements or weddings can look a million different ways. It’s important to ask, “Why am I doing this?” “Does this bring me joy?” “Will I care about this ___ years down the road?” When answering these questions, it becomes more simple to decipher what’s truly important to you, and what you might be tempted to do, just to appease others.

Finding the Perfect Location or Venue for Your Elopement

Things to consider when selecting a location or venue:

• Does it accommodate my guest list?
• Will this space make room for how I want my guests to MOVE and FEEL during our time together?
• Does it feel like us?
• Does it allow the props that are important to us? (For example: photos, candles, florals, etc.)
• What makes this place special? / What is the significance of this venue/location?

Plan Your Day – Intentional Elopement Style

Perhaps this is a hot take, but you should enjoy your wedding day! This means that you should eat, be able to breathe, and that you should have private moments with your partner. All of this can be worked into the schedule, as can everything else that proves a priority. Think about how you want to feel on your wedding day and what things are most important, and build your day around these two things. You do not need to have your reception the same day you exchange vows. In fact, you don’t even need to have a reception! Allow yourself to ditch all preconceived notions about what this day NEEDS to look like, and instead do what feels right to you.

 

An Example in Katilynn and Michael – The Most Intentional Elopement I’ve Photographed

A couple from Utah decided to elope on the coast of California, in Big Sur and hired me to be their photographer. They decided they wanted to spend the day exploring around the area, as neither one of them had ever been here. We morning and afternoon adventuring around Monterey, visiting local bakeries, exploring favorite beaches, and spotting wildlife.

 

 

 

After separating for a few hours, we met up again in the evening, just before golden hour to discover a different part of the area – Big Sur. We wandered along cliffs, and the bride and groom exchanged their vows. Following the nuptuals, we walked along the beach, and then enjoyed juicy In N Out burgers.

What I love about this couple is that they made this day entirely unique to them and insanely special. They didn’t ask permission to do exactly what felt like them and their relationship. They spent their day with intention and meaning and it was absolutely magical.

 

 

Alexi Cox is a destination, central-California-based photographer who loves capturing intentional memories of romantic love stories. She specializes in weddings and elopements, couples photography, and women empowerment portraiture. You can see more of her work on her website at  www.paperairplanes.photography. For more information, and to book, visit https://paperairplanes.photography/book-me