5 Reasons to Elope with a Travel Elopement Photographer

February 4, 2025

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Eloping has totally evolved, it’s not just about a quick courthouse visit anymore. It’s about creating a day that’s as personal and meaningful as your love. Working with a travel elopement photographer means you get to design an intimate experience that reflects who you really are as a couple, all while having those moments captured in a breathtaking location you’ll never forget.

When you work with me as your travel elopement photographer, it’s about more than just taking pretty pictures, it’s about capturing the raw emotions and meaningful moments that make your love story uniquely yours. Eloping today isn’t just about escaping the big wedding. It’s about crafting a day that’s all about you two, your connection, and the experience you want to have together. Whether you’re exchanging vows on a mountaintop or saying “I do” by the ocean, I’ll help you choose a location that resonates with your love and document those intimate moments that matter most.

I know how important it is to feel present and connected on your day, no stress, no rush, just pure, beautiful moments. If a big wedding doesn’t feel right for you, let’s create an elopement that’s personal, intentional, and focused entirely on the feelings and memories you want to walk away with. Your day, your love, your story, captured in a way that makes it last forever.

Couple holding hands while walking up grand marble stairs with ornate murals above them.

5 Reasons to Elope with a Travel Elopement Photographer

Reason 1: More Freedom to Choose a Location that Reflects Your Story

Planning a big wedding can quickly feel like a full-time job, with guest lists, venue bookings, and endless details that pull you away from what the day is really about. No wonder so many couples feel burned out before they even walk down the aisle. Eloping changes all of that. With a travel elopement photographer, you’re not limited to local venues or stressing over availability; you get to pick a spot that speaks to your hearts. Maybe it’s the place you first met, somewhere you’ve always wanted to explore, or a place where you feel most connected to each other. Your day becomes about you two, and that’s something truly special.

As your travel elopement photographer, I’m here to help you find that perfect spot and capture every meaningful moment. No packed schedules, no pressure to entertain—just you, your love, and a breathtaking location where the memories unfold naturally.

Blurry shot of a bride holding her bouquet as she kisses her groom in front of vintage gold elevator doors.

Reason #2: The Day Becomes a True Experience, Not Just an Event

One of the best parts about choosing to elope? The planning actually feels easy. With a travel elopement photographer (hi, that’s me!) by your side, you’re not juggling endless vendors or drowning in logistics. I’ll help you choose the perfect location, connect you with trusted vendors if you want them, and take care of all the little details like permits and timelines, so you don’t have to stress about a thing. 

Adventure elopements aren’t just about pretty photos. They’re about being in the moment, hiking together, swimming, traveling, stargazing, journaling, or reading your vows under the stars. It’s more than a photoshoot, it’s about creating emotional moments you actually get to experience fully. No pressure to entertain guests or perform for a crowd, just presence, peace, and a day that’s truly about you two.

With fewer moving parts and a travel elopement photographer who’s got your back, planning your elopement feels more like an adventure and less like a to-do list.

Reason #3: Elopements Are Often More Intentional + Less Stressful

Big weddings often come with packed schedules, outside opinions, and the constant pressure to keep everyone else happy. Between family expectations and timelines that don’t feel like you, it’s easy to lose sight of what your day is actually about.

Eloping changes all of that. With me as your travel elopement photographer, you get to toss out the rules and create a day that’s entirely yours. Want to hike to a mountaintop at sunrise? Let’s do it. Prefer a quiet, intimate ceremony by the ocean? Or maybe a laid-back elopement at your favorite park? Whatever feels right to you two, that’s what matters.And the best part? Fewer logistics mean less stress. You’re not managing a packed timeline or worrying about guests. You’re free to focus on what matters: your connection, your vows, the scenery, and the experience itself. As one couple told me after their elopement, “It was the first time in months we felt totally at peace, just soaking in the moment together.” That’s the kind of elopement I’m here to create for you.

Reason #4: You Can Spend More on What You Value Most

One of the best parts of eloping? You get to say your vows somewhere that actually means something to you. Maybe it’s where you had your first adventure together, a place you’ve always dreamed of exploring, or just a spot that feels like “you.” Whether it’s a quiet beach, a mountaintop at sunrise, a private boat ride, or even a helicopter tour, the options are completely open.

Your location isn’t just a backdrop, it becomes part of your story. A place you can revisit, where every return brings back the memories of the day you chose forever.

Many couples are skipping the traditional wedding budget and choosing to invest in what really matters: travel, experiences, and the photos that help them relive it all. Think private chef dinners, two-day elopements with backpacking, or tying your elopement right into your honeymoon. As a travel elopement photographer, I’m here to help you prioritize what’s meaningful to you, from the memories to the emotions, and capture it all in a way that’s true to your story.

Reason #5: You Can Truly Be Yourself

Let’s be real, traditional weddings get pricey fast. A lot of your budget often goes toward things that may not matter to you: the big venue, the décor, the pressure to entertain and feed 150 people.

Eloping flips that script. Instead of spending on things that feel like obligations, you get to invest in what feels right for you. Maybe it’s an epic location, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, stunning photography, or a cozy private dinner after your vows. As a travel elopement photographer, I’ve seen couples hike in boots, say their vows in the rain, bring their dogs along, wear linen or go barefoot, whatever feels most you.

There’s no timeline to follow, no expectations to meet, and no pressure to perform. Your day becomes about your love, not the traditions or the trends. Eloping gives you the freedom to be completely yourself and create a wedding day that actually feels like your

Bonus: You Can Still Celebrate With Loved Ones (If You Want!)

Eloping isn’t about excluding loved ones, it’s about celebrating in a way that feels authentic. Many couples choose a private elopement, then host a small gathering with friends and family afterward. Eloping isn’t about excluding anyone, it’s about creating a day that feels true to your relationship while still finding ways to share the joy with the people who matter most.

You Deserve a Day That Feels Like You

At the end of the day, eloping is about creating a meaningful, relaxed experience focused on your connection, a chance to slow down, be present, and start your marriage intentionally. If you’re even thinking about going this route, I’d love to help. As a travel elopement photographer and guide, I help couples plan and capture intentional, personal wedding days, wherever your adventure leads. Reach out anytime, I’m here to help you craft a day that feels like home.

Bride and groom walk hand-in-hand up grand marble stairs inside the Utah Capitol building, their modern elopement unfolding in a stunning architectural space.

Book Your Travel Elopement Photographer!

I’d be honored to help you craft a day that feels just as personal and meaningful as your love story. Contact me to book your elopement photography session, and let’s start planning your unique day together.

Follow me over on Pinterest for all the dreamy elopement inspo!

– Rachel

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Colorado Based & Arizona Elopement Photographer | Worldwide Travel Available

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