You’ve decided to elope. Cue the happy tears, the deep exhale, the excitement, and the sudden moment of “wait… what do we actually do now?”
First of all, congratulations. Choosing to elope is choosing intention. It’s choosing presence over performance. It’s choosing a wedding day that feels like coming home to yourselves instead of putting on a show for anyone else.
Whether you’re exchanging vows on a windswept overlook, in your own backyard, or barefoot somewhere that holds meaning for you, eloping gives you the freedom to build a day that reflects who you are and how you love. But even when you’re keeping things beautifully simple, there’s still planning involved. The good kind. The kind that supports the experience instead of overwhelming it.
This guide walks you through how to plan an elopement that feels grounded, intentional, and true to you, while making space for your day to be photographed and filmed in a way that feels natural and unrushed.
At Hey Love Studio, we don’t just document elopements. We help couples design days that feel calm, affirming, and emotionally real, then capture them through both photo and video so the memory lives on exactly as it felt.
Start With Why You’re Eloping
Why your reason for eloping should guide every decision
Before you think about locations or outfits or timelines, start with your why. Not the surface-level reason, but the deeper one.
Maybe you’re craving intimacy and privacy. Maybe you want to avoid the pressure and expectations of a traditional wedding. Maybe you’re dreaming of adventure or travel. Maybe you’re prioritizing your values, your mental health, or your chosen family. All of those reasons are valid.
When you’re clear on why you’re eloping, decisions get easier. Your location, your timeline, the people you include, and the way your day is documented all start to align naturally. Your why becomes the compass for the entire experience.
An elopement without a clear why can still be beautiful. An elopement rooted in intention feels powerful.
Choose a Location That Feels Like Home
Why the right elopement location is about meaning, not trends
One of the most freeing parts of eloping is that you can go anywhere. A mountaintop, a courthouse, a quiet forest, a city street, your backyard, or your favorite place to eat tacos. There is no rulebook here.
What matters is how the location feels to you.
Some couples want sweeping views and adventure. Some want quiet and familiar. Some want a place that holds shared history. None of those choices are more valid than the others.
When choosing your location, think about how it will support the experience of the day. Consider the season, the weather, how accessible it feels, and whether it allows you to stay present instead of stressed. The best location is the one that lets you breathe, connect, and focus on each other.
Your elopement does not need to be trendy. It needs to be true.
Build a Timeline That Leaves Room to Feel
Why elopements still need structure without feeling rigid
Even the most laid-back elopement benefits from a loose timeline. Not a minute-by-minute schedule, but a gentle flow that supports the day instead of rushing it.
When couples skip timelines entirely, the day can start to feel chaotic or disjointed. When there’s too much structure, it can feel like the very thing you were trying to avoid.
A well-paced elopement timeline leaves room for getting ready without stress, travel time without pressure, a ceremony that doesn’t feel rushed, and space afterward to soak it all in. It also allows your photos and film to feel intentional instead of hurried.
Time and pacing matter even more when your day is being filmed. Video captures the in-between moments, the movement, the sounds, and the emotion. Slowing things down allows your film to feel immersive and honest, not clipped or frantic.
Be Intentional About Who You Include
Why fewer people often creates more freedom
Elopements can be just the two of you. They can include your closest people. They can include your dog, your grandma, or your chosen family. There are no rules.
What matters is that anyone present supports your vision and respects your choices.
This is not the time for guilt invitations or people who make you second-guess yourselves. The people who witness your elopement should be people who celebrate you fully and create a sense of safety and joy.
Sometimes the most meaningful choice is choosing no guests at all. Sometimes it’s choosing exactly the right ones. Both are equally valid.
Choose a Photo and Video Team You Genuinely Connect With
Why comfort with your team matters as much as their work
If you’re eloping, especially with few or no guests, your photo and video team will be a big part of your day. You want people who feel grounding, affirming, and easy to be around.
The right team does more than capture images. They help shape the experience. They guide gently without interrupting. They help with timelines, locations, and pacing. They know how to read energy and step in or step back at the right moments.
When photo and video are handled by one cohesive team, everything feels smoother. There’s less repetition, less direction, and more space for you to stay present. Your photos feel natural. Your film feels alive.
Being comfortable with the people documenting your elopement is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
Add Personal Touches That Feel Like You
Why elopements shine when they’re deeply personal
Skipping tradition doesn’t mean skipping meaning.
Elopements are the perfect space to lean into what feels personal. Writing your own vows. Wearing something that makes you feel unstoppable. Sharing a meal you love. Dancing in the kitchen. Bringing music, rituals, or moments that feel sacred to you.
Your elopement can be intimate and intentional and joyful all at once. There is room for softness and play. There is room for quiet and celebration.
The magic comes from allowing the day to reflect who you are, not what weddings are supposed to look like.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planning an Elopement
Eloping often comes with less pressure and fewer expectations, but it still benefits from thoughtful planning. The difference is that every decision serves your experience instead of a guest list or timeline expectations.
Elopements are often even more meaningful to document because of how intimate they are. Photo preserves how the day looked. Film preserves how it felt, sounded, and moved. Together, they create a fuller memory.
Absolutely. Many couples find that eloping allows them to be more present, more emotional, and more connected because the focus stays on the relationship instead of logistics.
A wedding is defined by intention, not size. If it feels meaningful to you, it is real. Full stop.
Final Thoughts on Planning an Elopement
Eloping is an invitation to let go of expectations and center what matters most. It is a chance to say no to pressure and yes to presence.
Your elopement does not need to look like anyone else’s. It can be quiet or bold, adventurous or familiar, spontaneous or thoughtfully planned. What matters is that it feels like you.
And when your day is photographed and filmed with care, you don’t just remember what happened. You remember how it felt to stand there together, choosing each other.
If you’re looking for a team that will celebrate you exactly as you are and document your elopement with tenderness and intention, we’re in your corner. We got you.
