Desert Elopement Guide: How to Plan a Desert Elopement
How to Plan A Desert Elopement
As wedding trends evolve, couples are choosing to stray away from the traditional wedding venue and get married in all different types of geographic destinations, such as deserts, mountains, and lakes. These weddings are typically more intimate (30 guests or less) and are referred to as elopements.
Eloping is about bringing the focus back to the couple on their wedding day. It’s about doing whatever will make YOU happiest on your wedding. There is not set definition on what an elopement is, because it varies from couple to couple. The most important thing about planning an elopement is creating a day that brings the focus and intentionality to the commitment you are making to your partner on your wedding day. A day filled with experiences and adventures that fit your personality as a couple. Learn more about elopements here.
With elopements, nature is typically your wedding venue. This makes the planning process much easier, less expensive, and less stressful than planning a traditional wedding.
If you love the idea of getting married surrounded by red rocks, plateaus, cactus, and sand dunes… keep reading to learn everything you need to know about planning your DREAM bohemian desert elopement.
Desert Elopement Step 1:
Location
Like I said earlier; nature is your wedding venue now. The first step to planning your desert elopement is to choose your elopement location! All the deserts in the U.S. are located on the West Coast, but let’s not forget about those international spots! If you’re a big traveler, there are so many options outside North America. These spots include Morocco, South Africa, and Australia.
To narrow down your search, think about what type of geographic features you want at your destination. Some deserts are just endless views of sand, while others include plateau formations and big red rocks, cacti (I had to look up the plural version of cactus), mountains, and cliffs. These geographic features can drastically change the scenery in a destination. I’ve included a few examples below.
Popular Desert Elopement Destinations:
One thing to think about when picking a location is the time of year you want to elope. Each park has its own ‘peak season’ which is when it is the most popular time to visit. I HIGHLY recommend planning your elopement either a month or two before or after peak season, the weather will still be good but there will be WAY less crowds.
Related: Interested in getting married in Joshua Tree National Park? Check out this Joshua Tree Elopement & Wedding Guide
Desert Elopement Step 2:
Find a Photographer
An elopement photographer may be one of the most important investments you make on your wedding day.
There are two main reasons why an elopement photographer is so important:
REASON NUMBER 1:
Elopement photographers do so much more than just take pictures. Since planning an elopement is a completely different experience than a traditional wedding, we are the experts and help YOU throughout the whole process.
We help in every aspect of planning: finding a location, planning the ceremony, finding vendors in the area (make-up artists, florists, ordained officiants… you name it), helping with what to pack, logistics where to stay, backup locations, what to do before and after, creating a personalized timeline and basically ANYTHING that goes into planning your perfect elopement experience. Elopement photographers care about making sure your wedding day is EVERYTHING you could ever want.
I care so deeply about my couples. Helping them have the best elopement/wedding experience is my highest priority. I am in their corner 100% of the time. I am always texting them late at night or giving advice on things such as- how to tell their family they’re eloping or talk them through which dress will look best in the desert sand. By the actual day of their elopement, we are the closest of friends, which makes bringing me with them on the most important day of their life, that much more special.
REASON NUMBER 2:
Your elopement day is just as important as any traditional wedding. Wedding photographers capture 6, 8, 10 or 12 hour days. Your day deserves just as much coverage and just as many captured memories. You want this day to be documented forever. The day you decided to commit yourselves to each other should be completely captured, so your love story can be passed down for generations to come.
Since not all your friends and family will be there, it is also a great way to share the adventures of your day with all those who care about you. After elopements, couples always tell me ‘our day would not have been complete without you’. In those special moments, I will be a fly on the wall, and you will look back at your pictures and feel those moments all over again. Having an elopement photographer will help keep you in the present moment, knowing you only need to focus on each other, so you can look back and remember how warm the sun felt on your face, or how your partner started to tear up during your vows. Those are the moments you’ll want to re-live forever.
Desert Elopement Step 4:
Create a Timeline
When you are designing your own wedding day, you don’t have a wedding venue to help build a timeline. It’s important to have a timeline, as a strict or gentle guideline, to lay out the plan for your wedding day.
Things to think about for your timeline:
How long will it take you to get ready?
Are you having a first look?
Do you want to do anything before the ceremony? (hike, explore, drinks with the family)
What time of day is the ceremony? (I recommend sunrise or sunset!!)
How do you want to celebrate after? (first dance, champagne pop, adventurous activity)
Adventurous weddings are about experiencing the day. Whether it’s just the two of you or you have your family with you, how do you want to spend your day? Couples are choosing to do activities such as helicopter tours, ATV rides, sand dune surfing, hiking, or anything that you two would love to do on your wedding day to celebrate. No idea is too crazy! This is your day and you should celebrate the way you want.
Related: Looking to get married in the Grand Canyon? Check out this Grand Canyon Wedding Guide
Desert Elopement Step 4:
Guests & Permits
It’s important to figure out permits and the legal parts of your elopement early on in the process. Some National Parks require you to apply for a permit, so you want to make sure that gets approved before you plan anything else!
Permits can vary depending on complexity of the elopement, amount of guests, and the location you want to get married.
Elopements tend to be 25 guests or less, if you even choose to have guests at all. Some couples choose to just elope as the two of them! It really depends on how you envision your day.
If you are getting married in a different state than you reside in, it’s important to look up the legal requirements to get married in that state. Some states require two witnesses, while others do not. Some couples choose to do the legal paperwork in their own state beforehand, so their elopement ceremony is more symbolic and easier to manage.
If you do decide to have guests, it’s important to layout a schedule for them. As eloping is different than the traditional wedding, guests may be confused on where they are supposed to be at certain times. Communication is key here, since you don’t want to have to be stressing about your guests on your big day.
Desert Elopement Step 5:
Elopement Vendors
When you’re picking out your outfits for your desert elopement there are a few things you want to think about. The first being how warm it’s going to be under direct sun- make sure to buy something that’s lightweight and won’t show too much sweat! Also, prepare for your dress to get a little dirty, which is totally okay, the dusty ombre bottom of a white dress shows the end to a perfect wedding day.
Bouquets can still be a fun accessory to have in your photos and on your wedding day. It is a good idea to find a local florist where you are having your ceremony to pick up the day of or the day before. Using #arizonaflorist or #arizonaweddingflorist on Instagram can be a great way to find amazing bouquets for your wedding (change the state depending on where your destination is).
Other vendors to think about are an officiant, hair and make-up artist, and a planner. Some couples want a friend, religious leader, or an ordained officiant to marry them, it is completely up to how you want to celebrate your ceremony. These vendors can be found in a similar way through Instagram hashtags, or your photographer has a network of vendors who they may be able to recommend. Otherwise, a quick google search could do the trick.
Desert Elopement Step 6:
Ceremony
The ceremony aspect of an elopement is super customizable to each couple. From the traditional exchanging rings, saying vows, having a religious ceremony, or other unique traditions, your ceremony is completely up to you.
Here are some ideas of what you can do for your ceremony:
Exchange Handwritten Vows
Write each other letters to read during the ceremony
Light a unity candle
Create an anniversary box filled with a bottle of wine and letters to open on your 5 year anniversary
Include your pets in your ceremony
Come up with something unique to you two
Desert Elopement Packages
As a full-time adventure elopement photographer, I work with couples all over the world to help design, plan, and capture their dream elopement day. When you decide to work with me, I am SO much more than just your photographer. I am 100% there to help you though the planning process. Basically, I guide you through all the steps listed above, recommending ideas, locations, and anything you could need in planning your desert elopement.
Are you 100% set on getting married in the desert? One of the big steps is to pick a photographer to capture your day! Unlike a lot of other photographers, I work with couples to help them plan and capture their day! If you are interested in working with me, here are my elopement photography packages for couples looking for someone to help them plan & photograph their adventurous wedding day!
What’s included in each package:
Offering Half Day, Full Day & 2 Day Photography Packages
Customized Adventure Guide filled with personalized elopement plans from ceremony locations, where to stay, what to do, things to see, vendor recommendations personalized to your interests & needs
90+ Page Elopement Planning Guide with step by step instructions on how to plan an adventure elopement
Assistance with permits and marriage licenses
A huge gallery of fully edited, high resolution photos for you to download with personal printing rights
Option for me to be your ordained officiant and sign off on your marriage license if you want to have a ceremony with just the two of you
No travel fees!
Packages start at $5800
Looking for more guidance on how to plan a desert elopement? I’d love to help! Learn all about how I work with couples around the world helping them plan their dream adventure elopements!
Hey, I’m Amanda
I’m an adventurous travel elopement photographer who believes in experiencing all that life has to offer. I truly love connecting with my couples and capturing their relationship authentically and genuinely.
I truly believe your wedding day should ONLY be filled with things that will make you blissfully happy.
YOUR WEDDING DAY SHOULD BE AS adventurous, as breathtaking, and unique as you want it to be.
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