how to find my ideal elopement location?

deciding on your elopement location is one of the biggest decisions you’re going to make for your elopement day, and will affect much of your planning process.

living in the pacific northwest, we are blessed in that there are SO MANY location options. but, this makes it difficult to narrow it down to just one – and it’s not just about picking the first pretty place you see! there are a lot of things you need to consider when deciding where to say i do.

here are the first things to consider when beginning your search for the perfect spot to get married:

1. Figure out the overall vibe you want for your elopement.

Okay, but how? Here’s what you’re going to do: you are going to open pinterest and create a new board titled ‘elopement inspo’ (or really whatever you want to call it – either way, it will serve the same purpose). then, you are going to scroll through pinterest and add photos to this board. there’s no rhyme or reason to this – you’re just going to add any photos you like, for any reason.

then, once you have 20-30 pins, you’re going to go through the board and determine what you like about each photo (you can even jot this down on a notepad). is it the location? the composition? the couples expressions? the editing?

you can also ask yourself what kind of scenery you’re drawn to – mountains? beach? waterfalls? forest? do you want to have different types of scenery in your photos?

based on your answers, you should be closer to knowing what kind of vibe you’re looking for.

2. Think about who’s attending your wedding.

Your location will depend on how many people you are planning to invite to your elopement. Some locations do not allow more than a certain number of guests, or simply just can’t hold a large amount of people.

Will you be inviting older family members? Your location may need to be accessible to those who aren’t as agile as you are. This means you might not be able to opt for the hiking option, or you may have to bring in a chair or two for them to sit on, which further limits your options.

We all know that pets are just as important as family (they are family!), and if you’re like me, you’ll want to have your pet there on the day you get married. Is the location pet friendly? Some venues won’t allow for pets, so this is definitely something to consider when choosing your elopement location.

3. Consider what activities you’re wanting to do the day of your elopement.

Activities are one of the most important parts of your elopement day, and the thing that differentiates a traditional wedding from an elopement. What you’re planning on doing can have impact and where you decide to elope for many reasons.

Will you be spending the day out exploring nature, or are the activities you’ve chosen only in a specific place that you might have to travel to? If you have a specific place you need to be at a specific time, this will influence where you do your ceremony, since you may not want to travel far between locations, or even have enough time to get from point A to B.

how do i go about finding elopement locations?

Once you’ve figured out your limitations, it’s time to begin looking for specific places you want elope. Remember: google is your friend!

• Look up national parks in the area you want to elope. If you’re in British Columbia, the BC Parks page is where you can find all parks and additional informatino.
• Google elopement photographers blogs in the area you’re planning to elope. This is great resource, and photographers often list the best spots in their blogs!
• Look on instagram for potential locations. You can do this by exploring hashtags or looking through different photographer pages.
• Ask your photographer. They are the best resource you have (and this is what you’re paying them for!)

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by your options, but take some time to sort out the logistics, and you will be well on your way to picking your dream location!

More resources

Not sure yet if you want to elope? My blog “Should I Elope?” will help you determine if an elopement is right for you!

Planning your elopement is feeling overwhelming? My blog Elopement Planning in 5 Steps breaks down the elopement planning process into bite size pieces.