COVID-19, I know this is on all our minds whether we are more anxious about the disease, or what it’s going to do to our economy or for a lot of spring brides whether they have to cancel their weddings. With all the uncertainty going on I am here to be a calming presence and show you your options. I truly believe that everything is workoutable and there is always a solution we can find. So I’m going to lay out a couple options for all the spring brides out there.

Option #1 Reschedule Your Wedding

Many vendors are helping their couples reschedule their dates. If you can’t imagine not celebrating your day without over 50 or more guests this is definitely the option for you but I highly recommend reaching out to your vendors now. I am opening up all my Fridays and Sundays for all the spring couples who need to move their date. Most of the vendors I am in contact with are all more than willing to work on this without a fee but just make sure you reach out soon!

Option #2 Change Your Wedding Into A Micro Wedding

The second option is one I think is a truly wonderful solution! Cut down the guest list to 20-50 guests. You can live stream in the rest of the guests in or plan a big reception for later on. There are several amazing venues for Micro Weddings like Chippy White Table, Promise Ridge, The Pump House and many more. COVID-19 shouldn’t stop you from getting married or celebrating your love. In fact Willow Planning & Chippy White table and I have come along side each other to offer a special deal for Micro Weddings so you can still have a beautifully planned wedding now instead of waiting. Don’t hesitate to reach out as we have limited spots. But for any couple who doesn’t want to wait and get married this spring I am offering a massively discounted deal of $1000 for 5 hours for your Micro Wedding. I am here for you. I will make sure you have the day of your dreams.

Option #3 Elope!

The third option is also a great option. Elope now and plan a big reception after all of this has calmed down. As a professional elopement photographer I know hundreds of beautiful locations to elope this spring and I am offering a discount for spring elopements as well. Anything I can do to help couples go from stressed out and scared to married and happy I am willing to do it for you guys. Eloping is an absolutely beautiful way to celebrate love. I’ve planned many unique and special days for my elopement couples. We can go hiking, kayaking, waterfall chasing, eat pizza and donuts, the list is endless and the possibilities are as big as your imagination.

No matter what you decide to do I want you to know you have options and someone in your corner. So if you need someone to talk all these options over with don’t hesitate to reach out. My inbox is open to you and you can even text me if that is easier for you. The number is 570-665-1473

This will all pass and absolutely nothing can take away from how special your love story is. I 100% believe that and will help make sure your day reflects how special your love is.

The post COVID-19 & Your Wedding, What Can You Do appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

You’ve probably heard this before descriptor before “intimate wedding”, but what does it mean? Is it just describing a small wedding or is there more to it than that? Well we are going to dig into that today on this blog post and see if an intimate wedding is for you.

Intimate weddings are some of the most special gatherings I’ve ever been a part of. An intimate wedding is a wedding that throws the rulebook out in favor of a more intentional experience than traditional. It can look different for each couple. Some choose to rent a campground for the weekend with their friends and just enjoy each others company over bonfires after saying I do. While others have a small ceremony a top a mountain with 10 of their best friends. It can really be whatever you want the main thing is creating an atmosphere that allows for true vulnerability and an authentic experience for you and your family.

Whether you have your wedding at a venue or in your back yard it doesn’t matter, it’s picking a space that feels right for you. The biggest difference I see at intimate weddings is how much easier it is for couples and their family and friends to express their emotions. The more intimate environment allows for you to be honest with your emotions. There is no stressful schedule or traditions you have to go through the motions with. It’s stripping the day bare of the external stuff and keeping the heart, whatever that means for you.

If that means no first dances for you that’s okay, if it means instead traditional toast you just let whoever wants to speak from their heart that’s awesome and if it means no cake cutting or flower tosses heck yes. If it means renting out a campground and chilling all weekend with the people who are most important to you, you should definitely do that. If it means a small getaway with a few choice friends and family somewhere special to you, that’s perfect! For real the options are endless when you stop telling yourself that your wedding day has to follow certain rules.

Big and traditional isn’t for everyone. Some of us would rather a small gathering around a table that feels like a family thanksgiving dinner, or 50 great friends and family gathered around a campfire telling stories about the two of you as you laugh and gaze into each others eyes. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate marriage and if that sounds like you I would love to support you in that. I have started a facebook group for couples who want something a little different to help support and encourage each other on the process. Send me an email if this is something you need in your life.

The post What Is An Intimate Wedding? appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

Why is eloping great? Because marriage is great. Two people finding each other and deciding that forever is the only thing that could satisfy their love. Through hard times and good times choosing to stay to honor that love and cherish what they found in each other. Whether you claim that you love weddings for the free cake or the dancing the real reason we all love going to weddings is because you can feel their love and it gives us all hope, married or not. So why elope?

Eloping is beautiful because it puts on display the intimacy and beauty of the very roots of marriage. It strips back the whole pretense that goes into weddings, the drinks, the party, the dancing and leaves you only with the love. So for those of us who have had a harder time in believing in love, eloping removes all other distractions and just shows you the love as raw and real as it is. That’s why I love it.

Any type of celebration of marriage makes my heart soar but eloping I’ve found is for a special kind of couple. The one who fought hard to get where they are and all they want is simply to be married to each other. That is beautiful.

I’ve said it before but because I always get this question/reservation eloping DOES NOT mean that you can’t have family or friends there. It simply means you remove any obstacle that a traditional wedding puts on you getting married when and how you want to. You plan your day simply and with intention. You don’t need a venue, a DJ, a decor plan or to invite 200 + people if that’s not what you want. All you really need is too people in love and someone to make it legal to get married.

I am passionate about elopements because I want to make getting married simple and fun again. Social pressure has made it so hard on couples and their families to celebrate what should be so simple. I’m not against big and beautiful parties to celebrate marriage by any means. I’m against the idea that this is the only way to do it. Your love is unique and so should be celebrated in your own way.

Eloping isn’t just an instagram trend. It’s a beautiful and sacred thing for so many couples who couldn’t imagine celebrating their love any other way then a private and beautiful moment between the two of them or between them and 10 of their truly closest friends. It’s a reminder to slow down and enjoy each other and to enjoy marriage. That is why eloping is great. It reminds us to celebrate the marriage and not just the wedding.

I hope these words help you in your journey to marrying your person. I truly meant I want to help make getting married simple and fun again so I am starting a group to help couples elope. Help them along the process and get them married. It’s free to join. If you want in simply hit the contact button and send me an email. Love doesn’t need any more complications, let’s simplify this and get you married.

The post Why Eloping Is Great appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

It’s 2020 and Elopements are definitely popular. Scrolling through the many facebook groups and instagram post you can start to feel pressure to make your elopement mean something special. But the whole reason for eloping is to take the pressure off and have a day that is more intentional. So I wanted to take the time in this blog post to show you how easy it is to make your elopement special and meaningful.

1. Get back to the roots of why you want to elope.

Eloping is all about honoring the love between the two of you so block out all the voices from family, social media and friends and just listen to each other. Hear each other, what are the two of you longing to do. No one else’s opinion matters. Not mine, not your best friend Stacy or even your moms. It’s not that they don’t matter or that they aren’t important it is just that when it comes to your elopement/wedding day, the only opinion that matters is the two of you. It’s your marriage and you get to celebrate however you want.

2. Include the people you want.

Eloping doesn’t mean it just have to be the two of you. You can invite 10 of closest friends and family in your life that you couldn’t imagine doing this day without. If you want just the two of you then all means have it be just the two of you but if you want your mom their to officiate or your dad or just the friends who feel like family, do it. It’s your day and you can design it however you want. You make it special the moment you choose to design your day according to what is important to you. The elopement trend started as a liberating thing and now it seems people are trying to throw rules onto that too. There are no rules. You want some people there but still want that intimate and special feel. That’s still an elopement! Do what feels right for the celebration of your love!

3. Go where you want to go.

There are no restrictions. You have a dream of eloping in Italy. Girl, do it! Don’t be so afraid of the process or the money. Everything is workoutable. For real. The amount of couples who come to me and have this dream but think they can’t have it… and then when I show them how I can make that dream possible. The face and screams of gratitude make me the happiest in the world but I want more couples to know that their dreams are possible. You can elope there, you can have the dress of your dreams and you can invite friends to a destination elopement. It’s all possible. Dream big! You want to hike in Iceland for your elopement. You can! It’s just a matter of finding the right resources to help you and I am always here to point you in the right direction.

4. Add in an activity you enjoy doing together.

Whether it’s camping, cooking over a fire, skyjumping, mountain climbing or eating pizza together. Make time to do something you love doing together. Camp under the stars with an open bonfire, bring a picnic and have wine and macarons on top of a mountain, go swimming near the waterfall you just said your vows under. I’ve said it before and I will say it however many times I need to, it’s your day, design it how you want.

5. For couples who already have kids bring them into the process.

There are few things I love as much as when I see a family becoming one. No matter how that family was formed the moment two parents say I do is a beautiful one and your kids love to be involved in that. I cry so hard at moments like this because it is one of the more beautiful things in life. When you look in this little girls eyes you see the purest form of love and joy. Who wouldn’t want that on their wedding day?

In short, design your day without any noise or expectations from anyone else and your day will be the most special and beautiful day anyone has ever seen, because it will be 100% authentically yours.

The post How To Make Your Elopement Special appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

It’s no shock to anyone that wedding planning can be stressful. Seating arrangements, making a budget, trying to decide on decor, the list of responsibilities and decision you have to make is long. It’s way too easy to feel overwhelmed and frazzled. That is why you need a killer self care plan to make sure wedding planning stays fun instead of triggering panic attacks. Here are some of my top tips to survive wedding planning by adding in self care.

1. Don’t Forget Date Night!

Just because there are a lot of decisions you need to make doesn’t mean that every moment you spend together has to be talking about wedding details. Don’t forget to make time to just enjoy each other. Order some pizza and watch some Netflix. Get all dressed up and go out dancing. Go on a hike together and just relax in nature. Whatever it is you love doing together, make time for it. The thousands of decisions and people asking about the plan for the day can wait. There is no huge rush, everything will work out. Breath and make time for laughter and fun.

2. Make Honeymoon Plans!

It’s helpful to give yourself an incentive for all the work you’re putting into your wedding day that you will have a week or more to relax somewhere just the two of you. It doesn’t have to be far away, just make sure to get away. I share cheap flight deals with my couples all the time because often people think a honeymoon has to be so expensive but in reality there are many places you can go that won’t break the bank. Plan a trip and dream together about your time there!

3. Go out with your friends and don’t discuss the wedding at all!

These are the people who have been there for you before you fell in love and will be there long after. Make time to just hang out like you did before the engagement. Have a slumber party, spa day, go hunting, escape room or night out dancing. Do something fun together with your gang. Making nights out like this help you to not feel like wedding planning is taking over your whole life and it reminds your friends that you still care about them and their lives.

4. Make a morning routine where you can check in with yourself.

Even on a day to day basis I still do this because I know it’s important for me to have time to myself where no one expects anything from me. I need that time to ground myself and prepare for the day ahead. This is a helpful routine to get into especially during wedding planning because you will likely be talking to more people than usual and have lots of questions to answer and appointments to work. That can be tiring so make time to refresh and center yourself. I wake up early, before everyone else and get to the gym and then do some reading while I drink tea. Do whatever relaxes you and gets you ready for the day.

5. Keep a journal to document all the big emotions you’re feeling.

This is a very important time in your life! Your emotions will run high and everything will seem to go so fast. If you write everything down it will ensure you can remember exactly how you felt trying dresses out or picking out your flowers or just having a night out with the girls. You will thank yourself when you sit down 10 years later and you can take a peek back into those special days before your wedding.

Just remember to enjoy! No matter what pressure you’re under, it will all work out. You will get married and it will be beautiful. Be gracious to yourself! You’ve never planned a wedding before. No one expects you to be an expert. Happy wedding planning!

The post 5 Self Care Tips During Wedding Planning appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

As part of my weekly Wedding Wednesday blogs I want to start sharing some of my favorite venues with you all! Since I work all over the world there will be many of them but let’s start with PA. PA has so many hidden gems, so many unique places to get married and I want to share my favorites with you.

1. Promise Ridge

This is without a doubt at the very top of my list! Promise Ridge is the absolute definition of having a wedding day with intention. From the way Alisa officiates to the way the food is served is all done with intention and care. This is one of the best options out there for couples who want an intimate and intentional day. The space only holds about 20 people so you and sitting down to dinner in their lovely space is a lot like sitting down for a thanksgiving meal with family. Not to mention their views on top of the mountains are incredible! I wish I was getting married now instead of in 2014 so I could get married here, for real! If you are looking for a simple and intimate day you need to check this space out. I promise you it will make for a memorable and beautiful day!

http://alisatonggcelebrant.com

Address: 5353-5319 Hickory Cir, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

2. Grandview Vineyards

I mean who wouldn’t want to be married at a vineyard? How much more romantic can you get? Not only are the grounds absolutely enchanting but everyone who works there is just lovely. I loved my time photographing here so much! It’s such a great space for unique couples to really create something special! The magic is all there, once you bring in your personalized touch and decor it’s such a jaw dropping beauty! If you want something romantic and unique I would highly recommend going to check this venue out.

http://www.grandviewwines.com/weddings

Address: 1489 Grandview Rd, Mount Joy, PA 17552

3. Duke Art Gallery

Want some UK fairytale castle ambiance? Duke Art Gallery is the place to be! I mean look at how enchanting that ceremony space is! I’m feeling Rapunzel vibes! And the light just hits magically and really takes this location to the next level! It’s romantic, unique and oh so fun! It doesn’t take much to make this venue one of the prettiest weddings your friends will attend this year. It’s a showstopper for sure! Go check it out and put your own unique spin on it!

https://jamcater.com/venues/duke-art-gallery

Address 414 Plush Mill Road
Wallingford, 19086

4. Stokesay Castle & The Knight Pub

You want a full on castle? You can have it! This venue is great for a baller couples who want want something epic for their day. The couple above actually hired a fire dancer as entertainment for their guest. I mean how badass can you be? I was in love! The food was also AMAZING! Pup food can go two ways, meh or mindblowing. If you want to live in a fantasy for your wedding day in an actual castle you should come see this stunning venue!

https://stokesay.net/

Address: 141 Stokesay Castle Ln, Reading, PA 19606

5. Pump House Weddings and B&B

I absolutely adore Pump House, if I photographed a wedding there every weekend I would still never be bored. It’s just got that earthy, romantic and enchanting vibe that wraps you up and makes you want to stay forever. Honestly year round it’s a gorgeous place to get married. The reception space is an old factory so it’s not only gorgeous but so unique and then the ceremony space is right on the edge of the river in the middle of the woods. I can’t even handle how perfect it is. If I was planning my wedding again this would be at the very top of my list for my own venue as well as Promise Ridge. Check it out, you will thank me later.

http://www.pumphousebandb.com/

Address: 623C State Rd, Bloomsburg, PA 17815

6. Terrain at Styer’s

This last venue on the list is one I have not had the opportunity to shoot at yet but am dying to. I’m obsessed with this venue and it’s eccentric & lovely look. It’s outdoor space is to die for but it also has an equally gorgeous indoor space in case of weather. It’s definitely a great venue for more artsy couples, very bohemian vibes. If you are wanting to plan a wedding here I am willing to give you a special offer for your wedding photography because I love this venue! So if that’s you don’t hesitate to reach out, I will hook you up.

https://www.herecomestheguide.com/pennsylvania/wedding-venues/terrain-at-styers

Address 914 Baltimore Pike • Glen Mills • Pennsylvania 19342

If you loved this list, let me know. If I left any out that you love also let me know. If you’re getting married at any of these places don’t hesitate to reach out because I know if you love these spaces we will work well together. I hope you found this blog helpful in your search for the perfect venue for you! Be sure to check out more of the blogs and the rest of the site for more planning tips for your wedding.

The post 6 Unique Wedding Venues in PA appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

It’s no secret to most that “Adventure Elopements” has become a huge thing. It’s taken Instagram and many other social media platforms by storm. It’s what almost all of the big name photographers are doing, traveling the world and photographing elopements… or at least that’s what it looks like

With this new fad there are some good things that have come from it and some bad. Let’s dig into it.

The Bad

As with anything that becomes hugely popular seemingly overnight, there will be a lot of copy cats. Now I truly believe there is enough room for everyone in the industry but here is the problem with copy cats, their heart is in it for the wrong reasons. The whole draw for Adventure Elopements was for couples who wanted a private celebration lost in nature, it wasn’t about becoming insta famous. But so many “Adventure Elopement Photographers” are in it because it’s cool and not because they resonate with the couples who long for this kind of day. A lot of them don’t even care about nature or even like it.

When this started out it the audience it was trying to reach were couples who valued time alone together, camping, hiking and the beauty that this planet has to offer. It had nothing to do with seeming cool or having a JuneBug Worthy wedding/elopement. Unfortunately a large percent of photographers are telling couples this is what they should want.

While I am all for encouraging couples to go against the grain if that is what they want but we as photographers should never tell someone how they need to do their wedding. That’s the whole reason people want to elope in the first place because they are tired of being told how they have to have their wedding be!

The Ugly

What stems from this increase of copy cats trying to be someone they are not something really awful has happened. Photographers and couples who don’t care about the country or place they are eloping in and destroying land. This literally makes me want to cry.

No one is perfect and I don’t have any problem with someone who simply made a mistake but it’s a whole other thing when there is a blatant disregard for the land and country you are in. Parts of Iceland had to be shut off because of photographers not minding the signs and destroying land there. It will take years to repair.

If you are actually an Adventure Elopement Photographer it is your job to do the research to make sure you are sensitive of the plant life, wildlife etc. It is your job to help guide your couples in this as well. Don’t leave trash, don’t trample plants and respect the wildlife. Be wise and prepared for the weather.

It is further proof that many don’t have their hearts in the right place on this and only want one thing, insta fame. Their hearts aren’t actually set on fire by couples saying I do in a private nature setting. This is not an elaborate styled shoot that can share in a facebook group to gain likes and attention, this is someone’s wedding day. It deserves respect.

The Good

Despite all the crap people have tried to make out of Adventure Elopements on very good thing has happened from this fad. Couples who did not feel seen or understood in the wedding industry now do, and that is beautiful. If you ever felt anxious about the idea of a big wedding surround by people you don’t care to have with you but “had to” due to social pressure, you don’t have to anymore. There is a place for you here.

The rulebook has been thrown out and couples are starting to realize they can have their own fairytale wedding experience and it doesn’t have to be what society says it should.

And for the right people it has sparked even more love and care for our planet. It’s connected them to places they may have never gone before and it’s connected people who may have never met before as well.

So for all the bad and negative things that have come out of this there is an equally positive change from it as well. Let’s strive to do better about the bad and ugly parts of it and keep encouraging the good. If a truly unique and private experience immersed in nature is something that resonates with you, DO IT! Just make sure when hiring a photographer you find someone who cares about this planet and will be respectful of the country or place you are going.

The post The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Of The Adventure Elopements Fad appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

I see you, newly engaged and anxiously planning a wedding! I want to help you make sure the person you are paying thousands of dollars on for your wedding photos is the right person for you. So here are 5 helpful tips and questions to ask before you sign that contract and pay your deposit. 

1. Always ask them to see a full wedding gallery. 

Instagram highlights are nice and definitely a good indicator of style but make sure you see what their full body of work looks like. They may have gorgeous portraits but can they handle the lighting in your reception space, do they capture the moments they promise to? Is all there work consistent even in different lighting? These are things you will have a better feel for once you’ve looked through a real wedding gallery of theirs. 

I love sending over galleries to couples! I know I have beautiful work to show you and I can’t wait for you to see it. If anyone is hesitant they are likely not confident in their own work, and if they aren’t why should you be?

2. If you are not getting a real grasp on their personality over email, ask to hop on the phone and get to know each other a bit. 

If they haven’t already tried to get to know you a little then that is usually a red flag and I would search on for a different photographer but give them the benefit of the doubt. If they spend the whole phone call talking about themselves and their process and never really ask you about the two of you, probably best to move on. You want a photographer that sees and cares about YOU.

You want to pick someone who are 100% comfortable being your self around. You unique, quirky, self. You don’t want to feel like you have to preform on your wedding day. This is your wedding day not some styled shoot to add to their portfolio. Make sure to find someone who cares. 

Getting on the phone is one of my favorite parts because I love meeting and talking to new people and hearing a new love story. I am a sucker for it. If they don’t have time for a phone call, then they really don’t have time for you either. 

3. Ask them if they have business insurance. 

This is a good way to find weed out the amateurs from the professionals. If they don’t have business insurance they likely don’t have a business license either and you should never trust someone with your money who isn’t doing things by the book. You want to make sure you are in the best hands possible!

4. If you are hiring a photographer for a destination wedding, ask them if they have ever been there or what their experience is working overseas/an area they aren’t familiar with.

Destination weddings have a lot of moving parts so it’s essential that you have someone who can handle it all. I don’t think if they haven’t been to your location it’s a non negotiable, I work in new countries and places all the time. BUT I do my research, I come ahead in a advance to get a feel for all the details and the area, especially if it’s for my elopement clients as I do location scouting for them. So ask them about their process, do you fly out a couple days in advance so I don’t have to worry about your flight getting delayed and you not making it? Etc. Make sure they are up to the job. 

This always weeds about people who are just trying to build their travel portfolio because you will quickly find out their doing things cheaply to afford being able to do your wedding. I stress doing things legally and wisely. I work hard to make sure everyone who hires me feels seen and cared for, not like an afterthought or a cool travel job.  Your wedding day is more than that. 

5. Find someone who cares about you as people and not just what your wedding will do for their instagram feed.

This is a huge one. More and more I see wedding photographers popping up that seem to only care about what this wedding will do for them and not how they can serve you, the client. At the end of the day what I do as a wedding photographer is simply to serve my couples and I love it! I am not in this to get insta famous or end up in a magazine. I do this because I truly love capturing love stories and showing the world how beautiful they are. So ask them about their why, pay attention to how they treat you and whether they seem to care about you or just your wedding. You deserve a wedding photographer that sees you and cares about your relationship long past the wedding day is over. 

I hope this was helpful for you as you are planning your special day. Stay tuned for more Wedding Wednesday Tips!

The post 5 HELPFUL TIPS & QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BEFORE YOU HIRE THEM appeared first on Bethel Ann Photography.

Okay, so you’ve made the AWESOME decision to elope! Now you need to pick where your going to do it but there are so many options that it can start to feel overwhelming. One of the main points of eloping is to ditch the stress SO let me help you with some tips on how to pick your dream location for your elopement!

This blog post will give you some real guidance on how to choose your dream elopement location because I truly want you all to have the most magical elopement day and the location is so important. You want to be in an environment that is as magical as your love! So let’s dig in and get started!

1. DON’T pick a location by scrolling through someone else Instagram highlights!!!

Just because it has 15,000 likes on Instagram doesn’t mean it’s the right place for the two of you. The person who took the photo may have loved it there but you may not. Also a lot of Instagram famous locations are not as secluded as they are made to look. The powerful work of photoshop has probably removed a couple hundred people from that shot to make it look intimate & secluded. That’s something to consider when you’re planning your day, do you want a private location, most of us do. It’s far more important to figure out what kind of place you both will feel swept up in just as much as you are with each other.

The whole point of choosing a day just for the two of you is to make it about the two of you. You can’t do that if you’ve basing all your planning on what someone else enjoyed. You have to focus on what the two of you enjoy. Start there!

2. Take a moment together to make a list of landscapes you love and feel drawn to, even if you’ve never been there.

Ever since I was a little girl I was always drawn to the rugged terrain of Scotland, it’s 100% my favorite place that I’ve ever been. Something about the landscape calls to me and calms me to my very core. What place does that for you? Are you drawn to forests, waterfalls, cliffs, mountains, beaches, fields, etc. If money wasn’t an object what country, state or place have you always wanted to visit?

When couples take the time to ask themselves this question they are without a doubt going to be choosing a place that is right for THEM. Remember this day is for the two of you, not for social media, not to fulfill obligation to anyone else. It’s just for you. Now close your eyes and imagine this fairytale day of yours, where are you? Can you feel water splashing against your skin, the mountain breeze blowing through your hair, or the quiet lullaby of creatures in the forest? What language is everyone around your speaking, what food is being served?

I could tell you all my favorite places to travel in the world but none of that matters. Where do you want to go? Maybe it’s a special spot that you hike to everyday in your home town! Great!! Seriously that’s just as amazing and beautiful as flying off to Iceland for your elopement. It’s all about your elopement dream, no one else’s.

3. Do some research on the legality and logistics or getting married there, or hire someone who can guide you through that process.

The second biggest reason people don’t have the elopement they’ve been dreaming of (first being people guilting them into having a traditional wedding) is they get scared by the logistics and planning. That is why I ALWAYS recommend hiring a pro elopement photographer who live and breathes this stuff because they will already have a wealth of knowledge to help guide you through each step. It can seem daunting but if you take it step by step with someone you know you can trust it really makes a world of difference.

Your best bet when looking for vendors to hire who will know how to guide you through this is to find someone either local to the area who only does elopements or to find someone like me who travels all over doing only elopements. Now why to I say choose someone who only does elopements? Because their heart is 24/7 beating for couples who are looking to elope and their mind is in the game. They know how to guide you because that’s all they do day in and day out. You don’t want second best when it comes to picking someone who is going to guide you through your dream day.

Things you need to consider are include legalities of getting married there, permits (not all locations can you get married for free some lands require permits) and one of the most important ones is Leave No Trace Principles that apply to that area. Often well meaning but uneducated photographers take their couples to fragile locations and damage the beautiful place that hosted their beautiful elopement. This is again why it’s so important to hire someone who knows what they are doing and respects the land.

4. Consider the accessibility, duration of hike or transport to location and seasonal weather that could affect your day.

If you go to Iceland in February it won’t be green and lots of roads and trails will likely not be accessible to you. New Zealand’s summer is during American winters so if you want the green wonderland from the Hobbit you will need make sure to go during their summer months. Thailand is a gorgeous country but if you just choose anytime to go you may be caught in the rain, their wettest months are actually August to September. The list can go on and on and that’s why I will just hound on this one more time, find a photographer who knows this stuff and can help guide you and keep you from expecting one thing and getting another.

You also want to think about how much hiking will be involved to get to your location, are you physically up for it, etc. I personally will always be on the side of the hike is worth it but sometimes we have physical limitations that we have to respect. If that’s you, don’t feel bad! The right professional will help you find an amazing location that suits you, the outdoors are for everyone!

Keeping these things in mind before saying yes to your location will overall lead to a better experience and that’s all I want for each and every one of you. I truly believe you deserve this unforgettable experience! Small things like this will really take that dream you have from just a dream to a reality! It is possible, it’s doable and it is worth it!

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