What Should You Plan to do More of on Your Wedding Day? - 5 Things to Consider when Planning Your Elopement
Planning your wedding might feel daunting, after all, it's like the first time you have ever planned one! So how do you know that you are doing it right?
First step: Calm down, and breath.
Unless you have a very short planning period, it's likely that you will have enough time to think through and reconsider certain aspects of your day, like your timeline, and how much time you spend doing what.
To help you out, I asked four other elopement photographers what they wished that couples’ spent more time doing during their elopement day, and this is what they said. Read to the end to hear my own opinion as well!
“Eloping couples are already making a huge leap to opt for a day that is truly about them and thier personal love story. I encourage all of my couples to take this to the next level by putting as much intentionality into their elopement as they would a traditional wedding. That means creating a day that is truly authentic to them full of epic activities that speak to them as a couple. I don’t think the decision to elope should have been reached with a “well, I guess we will elope” mindset. It should be “Oh my gosh let’s elope and have the most incredible, memorable, and epic experience doing it!”. That means thinking about more ways to spend intentional time together on your elopement day and including activities that will elevate your time together. ”
From Kailyn with http://www.summitandcophoto.com/
“I personally want my couples to spend more time enjoying the beautiful nature around them! During their elopement, couples are so excited to explore and see new sights around their ceremony and portrait locations. But often they forget to stop being on the go, taking a step back, and truly taking in where they’re getting married. Including moments like enjoying a picnic, star gazing, or relaxing in a hammock are great activites to include during your busy wedding timeline to enjoy the “we just got married” feels and the “holy crap, look where we got married” thoughts.”
From Kelcee with http://www.escapeandadventurecouples.com/
“When couples elope, I encourage them to lean more into soaking up quality time together and diving into fun activities, rather than focusing on those perfect wedding portraits. Don’t get me wrong, those photos are beautiful, but there’s something special about truly living in the moment on your elopement day. It’s all about the experiences. When you’re fully present, enjoying each other’s company, and maybe even trying something new together, it adds so much more depth to your wedding day. Activities are such a fantastic way to bond and create those genuine, in-the-moment shots that tell a unique story. And those emotions and feelings get caught in the images too. So, when you’re flipping through your photos years from now, it’s not just about how stunning you both looked; it’s about remembering how amazing you felt and the awesome time you had together.”
From Karen at https://karenagurto.com/
“Two things absolutely - put your heart into the personal vows! - Add valuable and fun activities throughout the day. It can be both small and bigger activities. And surprise your partner with something! ”
From Malin at http://www.wildsoulsunited.com/ and http://www.malovephotography.com/
Something I wish that couples’ considered spending more time doing during their elopement?
Relaxing!
It might sound a little counterintuitive - your day should be fun and exciting! But all too often I see couples just tired at the end of the day. When you plan your day, make sure you plan some you time in there just to relax, enjoy a coffee or your favorite drink together, sit in a hot tub, have a nap… While the day should be fun and exciting, you don’t want to burn out, and those quiet times are special too!
Did these tips help?
If you are a photographer and want to chime in what you think couple’s should spend more time doing on their wedding day, we would love to hear!