How to Create a Meaningful Elopement Experience

Part of the reason many couples choose to elope is because they are looking for a more intimate elopement experience. This alone can be a driving factor for why couples choose to have an elopement over a traditional wedding. However, when making a decision as important as this you want to know what it all entails and make the most of it. You need to know how to create a meaningful elopement experience and what exactly that means.

Over the years as an Arizona Elopement Photographer, I have witnessed some of the most beautiful celebrations. If you’re wanting to create a meaningful elopement experience, here is what I would recommend.

Choose A Location That Won’t Be Too Stressful

How to Create a Meaningful Elopement Experience | Arizona Elopement Photographer

Ideally, you want to make sure that you’re choosing a location that won’t be too stressful. If you’re really wanting to hike a trail or do more of an adventure elopement you should know exactly what that entails. You don’t want to choose an elopement location that will stress you, your partner, and any guests out. Your elopement should be as stress-free and easygoing as possible in order to have a positive elopement experience. The last thing you want is to have your location be so much work that you are stressed before you even get there.

Ground Yourself Before Your Big Moment

Something that goes highly overlooked towards your elopement experience is how you go into your big day. You want to go into your wedding day with a clear head and there are several ways that you can do this. These are options that you can do with either your partner, friends, or alone by yourself. Either way, these are meant to help ground you and get you in the right mindset for all of the fun-filled festivities ahead.

Yoga – One way to ground yourself before your elopement is to incorporate a little bit of yoga on the morning of your wedding day. Yoga is a great way to center yourself and get calm before hitting the road for one of the most exciting days of your life!

Meditate/Breath Work – You can also take this opportunity to do a little bit of meditation of breathwork before everything else. This can help calm any of those pre-wedding day nerves and have you feeling as cool as a cucumber.

Say Affirmations

I don’t know about you, but I am a firm believer in manifestation and affirmations. If you and your partner are experiencing those wedding day nerves, then I highly recommend participating in saying some affirmations to one another.

This can be things like:

“I am thankful I get to marry the love of my life today”

“I feel beautiful inside and out on this special day”

“My wedding day will be everything I ever imagined it to be”

“I can’t wait to marry my best friend”

These are just some of the many different affirmations that you can say leading up to the big moment. You’ll be surprised by how relieved and calm you will feel once you take the time to really manifest and think about all of the positivity and joy surrounding you. This alone can play a major role in your overall elopement experience.

Be Intentional

Being intentional is key to creating a flawless and epic elopement experience. Throughout your entire elopement experience, you should be thinking of different ways to be the most intentional that you possibly can. Including bits and pieces of your personality, things you like to do, etc are great ways to add intentionality to your wedding. This is one of the main reasons why you chose to elope in the first place, isn’t it? Being intentional allows for your wedding day to hold just that much more power and intimacy. It makes for an incredibly memorable elopement experience and one that you will remember forever.

Involve Your Loved Ones

A great way to enhance your overall elopement experience is to make sure you involve your loved ones on such a joyous occasion. Especially if you chose to not have them present at the ceremony, a reception-after party will do the trick. No one says that you have to have no witnesses if you don’t want them to be. If you’re wanting a very small guest count to witness your elopement that is perfectly fine. It will make your elopement just as special and meaningful.

Try And Be Present & In The Moment

It can be easy to get wrapped up in everything in life. We get distracted and preoccupied and it happens to the best of us. When it comes to your wedding day, however, I strongly encourage you to focus on trying to be present and in the moment. This day doesn’t happen often and it’s a life-changing event that holds so much power. Don’t let the day and memories slip you by just because you are preoccupied with other thoughts. While it may be hard, I encourage you to try and be present and as in the moment as possible. By doing that watch how your mind and perspective shifts.