Intentional Elopements: Why Couples Are Rethinking Traditional Weddings
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Elopements aren’t less — they’re more intentional.
For a lot of couples, the idea of a traditional wedding doesn’t feel wrong, it just doesn’t feel aligned. Intentional elopements give couples a way to get married that feels meaningful, personal, and true to who they are.
More and more couples are choosing intentional elopements as a way to create a wedding day that feels meaningful, personal, and true to who they are, without the pressure, expectations, or performance that often come with traditional weddings.
They like the idea of getting married. They care deeply about their relationship. But when they picture a wedding day filled with tight timelines, expectations, and the pressure to perform, something feels off.
That’s where elopements come in.
Intentional elopements exist to give couples permission to slow down, step away from expectations, and build a wedding day around connection instead of performance.
As an elopement photographer, I work with couples who want their wedding day to feel intentional rather than overwhelming. Those who want an experience that actually reflects who they are. In this post, I’m sharing why elopements exist, what makes them different, and why I photograph them the way I do.
Why Elopements Exist
Elopements aren’t about avoiding people or running away from something.
They’re about choosing alignment. Alignment with who you are, how you want to spend your time, and what actually matters to you on your wedding day.
This is why intentional elopements have become such a powerful alternative to traditional weddings.
When couples choose to elope intentionally, it creates space for things that are often lost in traditional wedding days:
- Real, unrushed time together
- Presence without distraction
- Meaning without pressure
Without the expectation to host an event or manage other people’s emotions, couples are able to experience their wedding day instead of managing it. The focus shifts away from how the day looks to everyone else and back to how it feels to the two people getting married.
Why This Matters to Me
My own wedding experience is a big part of why I care so deeply about intentional elopements.
Going through a wedding that didn’t fully feel like me made one thing very clear, it wasn’t the idea of marriage that felt wrong, it was the way the day was structured. The pressure, the expectations, and the feeling of needing to move through the day a certain way took away from being fully present.
That experience shaped how I photograph intentional elopements today; with more space, less pressure, and a focus on how the day actually feels while you’re living it. I don’t want couples to look back on their wedding day wishing they had slowed down, spent more time together, or made choices that felt more aligned.
I want them to remember how present they felt, how grounded the day was, and how true it felt to who they are.
Why I Photograph Elopements as Full-Day Elopement Experiences
I don’t approach elopements as short events or quick ceremonies with photos around them. I approach them as full-day,and sometimes multi-day, experiences.
When couples give themselves a full day, everything changes. There’s no rushing from one location to the next or squeezing meaningful moments into tiny windows of time. Instead, there’s space, space to settle in, to have real conversations, and to allow moments to unfold naturally.
I intentionally avoid rigid timelines because the best moments don’t happen on cue. They happen when couples feel relaxed enough to be themselves.
My role isn’t just to document what happens. I act as a guide throughout the planning process and on the day itself, helping couples dream up an experience, choose locations, build a flow that feels natural, and create a day that supports connection instead of stress.
Photography is part of what I deliver, but what I’m really focused on is how the day feels while you’re living it.
If you’re curious what this looks like in practice, you can explore more about my full-day elopement experience and planning approach on my website.
Who Intentional Elopements Are For
Some of the couples I work with are getting married again after a traditional wedding or as a vow renewal. Others are getting married for the very first time.
What they all have in common is that they don’t want their wedding day to feel like a performance.
Intentional elopements are for couples who want to slow down, be present, and choose experiences they actually enjoy. They’re for couples who want their wedding day to reflect who they are, not who they feel like they’re supposed to be.
When your wedding day feels aligned, it doesn’t just feel better in the moment, iit sets the tone for your marriage.
If This Resonates With You
If you’re dreaming about a wedding day that feels less like a traditional event and more like an intentional experience, eloping might be the right path for you.
This post is part of my YouTube Elopement Field Guide series, where I share guidance, insight, and realistic expectations to help couples plan with clarity and confidence; whether you’re considering eloping in Moab, the Pacific Northwest, or somewhere entirely different.
You can also start here if you’re early in the process:
If you’re ready to start dreaming up a wedding day that feels like time well spent together, you’re in the right place.
I would love to follow each other on social media. You can find me on Instagram and TikTok.
