10 Reasons to Elope

Photographer: Bethany Reasoner

10 Reasons to Elope

Breaking tradition, bending the rules, and getting married in a totally unconventional way might feel a little scary, but if you’ve got a sneaking suspicion that you don’t want to plan a 200 person wedding with a big ballroom and a huge party that you hardly get to enjoy, here are 10 reasons to elope instead! As more and more couples realize that a traditional wedding might not be right for them, these are the most common reasons they choose to downsize.

Photographer: Megan Freeman

What Do We Mean When We Say “Elope?”

Before we get into the reasons to elope, we’ve got to define what eloping actually means! We’re not talking about the old meaning of the word, when eloping was about quick courthouse ceremonies or even drunken Vegas weddings - we’re talking about the magic that happens when a couple decides to do their wedding their own way, and to get married in a way that feels true to them. This might mean a private day with no one around, or a small ceremony with your closest friends. It might mean an epic new adventure, or a day spent relaxing with the person you love most. Your elopement can be absolutely anything - it’s all about being intentional in how you get married, and making sure that the day is a reflection of the two of you!

Photographer: The Adams Co.

10 Reasons to Elope

Now that you know what eloping means, let’s talk about 10 reasons to elope, and why couples decide to plan an intimate adventure instead of a big wedding. If any of them resonate with you, this might be your sign! 

Photographer: Kristian Irey

1. You Don’t Want All the Attention

For a lot of couples, the thought of having all eyes on them, exchanging vows in front of 100 people, and spending the entire day being the center of attention just isn’t appealing. If you feel that way, that’s definitely a good reason to elope! 

Photographer: Kristian Irey

Elopements are much smaller than traditional weddings, so you get to decide whether you want a day that’s totally private, or if you want to share that moment with a few of your loved ones.

2. You Want Your Wedding to Be About You

It often feels like big weddings involve a lot of people pleasing. Scrambling to make sure everyone’s happy, worrying about everyone having a good time, and focusing on just about everyone but the couple! If you want to make sure that the day you get married is about the two of you, and not about throwing a party that you won’t get to enjoy, eloping might be right for you. 

Photographer: Bethany Reasoner

Eloping shifts the focus of your wedding day, ensuring that the day is about what matters most - you, your partner, and beginning your marriage in a way that you love!

3. You Want to Get Married Outdoors

One of our favorite things about elopements is that you get to tie the knot in some of the most beautiful spots in the world. You have basically unlimited options for your “venue” - glaciers, mountains, forests, beaches, lakes, and more. Instead of exchanging vows in a traditional venue that probably doesn’t hold any sentimental value, you can get married in a place that’s truly unforgettable, with backdrops that will make your jaw drop! The place you commit to spending the rest of your lives together should be special, and for couples who love nature, there’s no better place than the great outdoors.

Photographer: Kristian Irey

4. You Want to Have an Adventure

Let’s be real - a lot of traditional weddings seem to be pretty much the same. Sure, there’s some personalization, but there’s definitely a “script” that they tend to follow. A big reason to elope instead is if you want your wedding day to be unique, personal, and to feel like you. You should celebrate the beginning of your marriage in a way that reflects who you are, and there’s no better way to do that than with an elopement! 

Photographer: Kristian Irey

The possibilities are endless - you can hike, fly in a helicopter, take a private boat, have a picnic, go kayaking, or even ride in a dog mushing sled. Anything you can imagine, you can do on your elopement day!

5. You Want to Spend Money on Experiences, Not Things

It’s definitely true that eloping usually costs less than a big wedding, but this isn’t because couples aren’t investing in their day! The money you spend when you elope usually gets spent on more experiences, and adventures you’ll remember forever, instead of decorations, single use items, and things that you’ll never need after the wedding is over. 

Photographer: Rachel Struve

Photographer: Juliana Renne

6. You Want to Keep it Small

Elopements have a smaller guest list than weddings, and sometimes they have no guest list at all. This is a big reason to elope for a lot of couples! It may be that you want to avoid family drama or that you aren’t close with your relatives, or that you simply feel that keeping the experience private and intimate just feels more like the two of you. No matter what your reason is, remember that this is your wedding day - each choice you make is entirely yours! And if you decide to invite a few loved ones, you’ll get to spend more time with them, instead of just a few minutes per guest while you’re rushing to do something else.

Photographer: Rachel Struve

7. Eloping is Better for the Environment

Weddings produce a ton of waste - actually, 400 lbs of waste and 63 tons of CO2 on average, according to The Green Bride Guide! Those are some pretty mind boggling numbers, and a great reason to elope is because it’s much better for the planet. You’re reducing the amount of trash your day produces, the amount of electricity used by a big venue, the number of cars traveling to your wedding, and so much more! 

Photographer: The Adams Co.

8. Eloping is Less Stressful

So many couples say that they hardly got to enjoy their wedding day, and that it all went by in a blur because they were busy worrying about everything and everyone. Eloping allows you to slow down, be present, and really enjoy the moment - you’re marrying the love of your life, and that should be the most amazing day of your life, not one that you spend stressing.

Photographer: Kristian Irey

9. You Want Freedom and Flexibility

The schedule is often pretty tight for traditional weddings. Couples are rushing from one place to the next, making sure there’s enough time for photos, trying to say hello to every guest, and worrying about running behind schedule.

Photographer: Kristian Irey

Elopements give you so much more freedom, both throughout the planning process and on the day of. You get to decide what’s important to you and what you want to do, and there’s more room for spontaneity, flexibility, and fun!

Photographer: Kristian Irey

10. You Don’t Want to Plan a Big Wedding

One of the biggest reasons to elope is that you just don’t want to plan an entire traditional wedding. We can’t blame you - it’s a ton of work! For a lot of couples, one of the first signs that eloping might be right for them is that they feel stress and anxiety at the thought of beginning to plan their wedding day instead of excitement and anticipation.

Photographer: Kristian Irey

While elopements still require planning, the process is so much less stressful, and so much more fun, because you get to focus on what matters to you, and how you want to celebrate! 

And we’re here to help you with all of it - we plan elopements in Alaska and all over the world, and we’ve got your back with everything you need to plan the perfect, customized elopement day. If you have decided that eloping is right for you, contact us to get started!

Alaska Dog Mushing Elopement

Dog Mushing Elopement in Alaska || Divina + Victor

Divina and Victor shared a beautiful and intimate day dog mushing to their ceremony site with their daughter, and sister, a special experience enjoyable for the whole family and one they could never forget. As for myself, the most memorable part of the experience as the officiant and planner was not only the connection between Victor and Divina, but their relationship highlighted as a family during the vows. Surrounded by nothing, but fresh snow and the quiet magnitude of wild Alaska, we could not help but notice the contrast of lively energy brought by the sled-dogs, thrilled to run through unpaved trails, instilling an invigorating feeling of freedom and excitement.

The official Iditarod Race just kicked off for 2021, but the celebrations last far longer than the race itself. It’s a cultural celebration that beats softly in every Alaskan’s heart because it honors the hardship and solidarity we face as a community-a monumental act of heroism made by a team of settlers and natives that risked their own lives to save others. In Anchorage alone, the city livens up with the 10-day Fur Rendezvous Festival, full of food, stalls, auctions, and events including the Running of the Reindeer, a charity ball, the Mr. Fur Face beard contest, and ice sculpture competitions. Running with the Reindeer is especially unique to Alaska where the streets are closed off, the contestants dress up, and try to beat the reindeer to the finish line. The night before the race, all the competing mushing teams parade through the city as we cheer and prepare to send them off!

This highly rewarding lifestyle still lives on for many in Alaska including the team I like to partner with for these dog mushing expeditions. From their reputation of tours let by a 4-time Iditarod Champion and other well-known competitors to their dedication of the sled-dogs themselves, Divina and Victor eloped led by a team from Alaska Mushing School known for their professionalism, knowledge, and passion for the sport.

In the summertime, you can see the teams along the Iditarod route just north of Anchorage all the way to Nome getting their teams in shape and familiarizing themselves with the trail on 4 wheelers tethered to their team. The Iditarod itself is a turning point of seasons as it signifies the end of the long winter and the welcoming of Spring and finally, days with more sunlight. 

Every Alaskan has connected to dog mushing even before the Iditarod gave us a reason to celebrate. In the harshest winters, this was the only way to travel from one town to the next. It was and still is in some places, a life-saving resource taught by the natives to help our ancestral settlers survive. Still a way of life for some, we hold pride and applaud those that keep the culture alive. 

If you’re interested in dog mushing for your elopement, I highly encourage you to use an experienced planner like myself who knows the vendors so you can reserve a place with a company that you can trust takes great care of their dogs. It truly is such a magical experience and this activity is usually available from November - April. There is an option in the summer months to fly via helicopter to a dog mushing location as well!

Photographer: The Adams Co.

Videographer: Jake Elko

Kennel: Alaska Dog Mushing School

Florist: The Teal Door

Cake: Arctic Moon Bakery

Hair + MUA: @stylist.cherenee

Planner: Alaska Wild Hearts Events

Why Hire an Elopement Planner?

Photographer: Kristian Irey

Do I need an elopement planner?

I want to focus on sharing a few important reasons that could really impact your elopement in the best way by working with a planner from the beginning and I’ll start by sharing that usually, the number one reason why a couple may choose to refrain from hiring one is to go a more budget-friendly route. Let me reassure you that you’ve already accomplished that first big hurdle by choosing to elope and keeping your ceremony small and intimate. Now let me explain how this has helped you overall develop the intimate setting and how a planner like myself will really enhance the experience.

Photographer: Sarah French Photos

Eloping in unfamiliar Territory: This is the magic of choosing a small ceremony! Go somewhere new and inspiring and make lifetime memories! It may sound intimidating to plan an elopement in unfamiliar territory which is why hiring a planner is the best move you can make. Your planner knows the vendors, they’ve worked alongside many of them in the region and they can make sure you have a vendor that best fits your needs, AND they will get you the best rate. From experience, I can tell you hands down that we’ve already created packages and negotiated prices to fit your budget. We have relationships with these vendors and we can work with each other to make sure everyone comes out feeling valued and fulfilled. Not only this, but we know the region. Looking for that amazing waterfall shot? Glacier landing? Oceanside? Picnic along the river while the salmon spawn? We’ll find the perfect place to share your vows.

Photographer: Sarah French Photos

Expect the Unexpected: Your planner on your big day is going to make sure everything goes perfectly. There will be those unique moments when something changes and it’s out of your control, but you’ll be grateful you have an experienced professional on the scene to make the best choices and take the lead so that you and your partner can focus on each other. Things can happen, especially when dealing with outside weather in Alaska or wherever you choose your destination. Your planner is there to prioritize you two above all else. They will make sure everything works out perfectly as if it were all planned along. Even if that means they are carrying your dress up a mountain to keep it from getting mudded, keeping the kids busy while the photographer does their magic with your two, or holding an umbrella while you share your vows in the rain, we’ve got you covered!

Photographer: Sarah French Photos

Down to the Very Last Detail: You’d be surprised how much planning goes into something as small and intimate as a destination elopement and it’s okay! Your planner can keep the schedule, find you an available officiant or BE the officiant like myself, walk you through unfamiliar marriage license papers, do all the lifting and setting up seamlessly, and still get you hyped after your vows are shared because everyone deserves to celebrate with the perfect toast after crossing such a beautiful milestone! You can have your dream cake and eat it too 

Photographer: Charleton Churchill

Getting Married is an Experience! This may be the most obvious, but it cannot be emphasized enough. Allow your planner to truly make your vision come true. They have amazing ideas and solutions to offer to compliment the needs of you and your partner that you likely have never thought of! You could say we’ve done this a time or two  This absolutely includes the experience leading up to your special day too. Planning should be stress-free, enjoyable, and inclusive. Each step of the way will be a part of your memories, so you don’t want to murk the experience with uncertain vendor choices, unforeseen obstacles, and most of all distractions from being in the moment. We’re here to coordinate a truly exceptional experience you’ll think back on fondly for a lifetime.

Photographer: Sarah French Photos