When Is The Best Time of Year to Elope?
If you’re planning any kind of wedding or elopement, wondering when the best time of year to elope is probably on the top of your mind. The answer will influence so many different aspects of your wedding, so it’s an important one to think through!
This is one of those questions that has no wrong answers, but there are pros and cons to eloping in each season.
Spring
If you want moody, spring is the perfect time for you to elope! Especially out here in the pacific northwest, spring is when you’re going to get rain and fog and moooood. A spring elopement doesn’t guarantee rain and mood, but there’s a highly likely chance that you’ll get it.
If you’re lucky, you might catch a golden hour during the springtime. Spring is also the time of blooming flowers and new growth. If you want to have flowers in your photos (or perhaps a cherry blossom moment), spring is the time for you to get married!
The major downside to a spring elopement is the potential of rain. If you’re eloping with me, the rain won’t stop us. We’ll forge ahead, or pivot to backup plan B or C). The major plus is there won’t be many people out at the best spots during this time, especially on weekdays.
Summer
Hello, sun and long days. Summer is arguably the best season to elope in. You don’t need to worry about rain, the skies will be clear, and you’re almost guaranteed to have golden hour. The days are long so you have all the time in the world for your adventuring.
While limited, a summer elopement does present a few downsides. The biggest one is the crowds – everyone is out enjoying the sun and exploring new places in the summer months. However, this can be mostly avoided if you’re willing to get up early or to elope on a weekday to avoid the crowds. You may get lucky enough to have the place to yourself.
Summer can also be HOT depending on where you’re eloping, so if you don’t do well in heat keep this in mind. But, the summer months provide more location options as there are many spots that aren’t easily accessible in the winter.
Winter
If you want cozy vibes for your wedding, winter is the prime time for you to elope. Winter is probably the most magical time of the year to elope. If you’re really lucky, you’ll get fresh snowfall for your photos.
The things to remember about eloping in the winter is that it will be COLD. Layering fixes this, but if you’re planning to go out and adventure, keep this in mind when choosing your activities for the day.
You may also be limited in your location options. In the winter, locations can be difficult to get to or require a specific vehicle. If you are able to make it your location, there’s low chances that there will be other people at your location, giving you lots of space and privacy.
Fall
Next to summer, fall is also arguably the best time of the year to elope. The weather isn’t too cold yet, and the sun is likely to still be out. You’ll also get all the gorgeous fall colours (which is probably the reason many people opt to elope in the fall months – and can you blame them?!).
The days are still long enough to have lots of adventure time, and the cool evenings are the perfect chance to huddle up around a fire at the end of the day and roast some s’mores.
The downside to eloping in fall, once again, is the crowds. Many people are flocking to see the gorgeous fall colours, so many big national parks will be crowded. You should mostly be able to avoid this by eloping during the week!
No matter when you choose to elope, your elopement will be the perfect day for you, whether you have to use a backup plan or not. All you need is each other to have the best elopement!
Feeling overwhelmed planning your elopement? My blog about the 5 stages of elopement planning will help break down the whole process into easily digestible bits.
Not sure how to make your elopement feel unique and fun? Check out my blog filled with elopement activity inspiration and examples.
Want to elope with mountain views? Here are two of my favourite places to shoot at (with an ultimate guide to planning your elopement at each one). Check out Washington’s Mount Rainier Elopement guide, or Squamish’s Sea to Sky Gondola.
