adventure elopement packing list
What to bring to your adventure elopement
What to bring to your adventure elopement
So you picked the date and the location and have some ideas in mind but …what now?! Your head is probably spinning with the list of things you need to get and pack for your big day.
I’ve spent the last 8 years planning and photographing hundreds of adventure elopements for happy couples in Colorado, Iceland, Washington, Alaska, Utah, and beyond. Needless to say, I’ve learned a few things about what keeps couples happy and comfortable on their day … as well as what looks awesome in photos!
Who this adventure elopement gear list is for
There are SO many ways to elope! From getting married in Vegas by Elvis to flying to Positano for your dream European elopement. So who is this list for? I curated this list for folks like my couples who are planning to elope somewhere wild – whether that’s the black sand beaches in Iceland, the Utah deserts, or right here in my home state of Colorado.
Obviously there will be some variations in what you need based on where and when you’re eloping but I think this list is a really great place to start!
I provided links below to help make your shopping easier. Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission at no extra cost to you when you make a purchase using this link. Thank you for supporting my small business and allowing me to continue providing helpful elopement content!
Ready? Let’s go!
What to Wear to Your Elopement
Elopement Clothes
Dresses for Elopements
When it comes to choosing a dress for your elopement, the first piece of advice I give everyone is to pick something that you can move in. Think, being able to easily breathe, lift your leg to step over a rock, etc. I have found that flowy dresses work really great for this AND look awesome in photos (especially when they blow around in the wind!).
I’ve found that a lot of couples who elope are the type who don’t necessarily want a traditional white wedding dress. If you’re looking for unique patterns, boho styles, different colors, etc. Here are a list of places I recommend checking out!
I also highly recommend checking out Etsy where you can find a lot of unique dresses (including boho elopement dresses, colorful elopement dresses, and black elopement dresses)
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Elopement suits
Grooms and other folks who prefer to wear suits for their elopement have a lot of options! One of the biggest considerations is color. I always recommend choosing a color that will complement or contrast with the environment in which you are eloping (for example, Wyatt, on the left, eloped in Olympic National Park and I recommended NOT wearing a green suit so that he didn’t blend in with the greenery!).
Generally speaking, darker colors tend to hold up better against the dirt and mud we often come into contact with when out in nature, so if staying clean is something that is important to you, choose a darker suit!
Here are some great places to get suits:
Indochino (suits for everyone)
SuitShop (suits for everyone)
Little Black Tux (suits for women and non-binary folks)
XSuits (specializes in comfortable suits for men)
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Elopement dress alternatives
If neither a suit, nor a dress, is your style, I highly recommend jumpsuits! Jumpsuits are fun, comfortable, look awesome, and fit a large number of styles! Here are some places to look for jumpsuits!
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elopement footwear
What you wear on your feet is another important decision and it will honestly make a huge difference in how comfortable you are at your elopement.
It’s so important that I put together a full Elopement Shoe Guide, which I highly recommend checking out!
The gist of that guide? While shoe recommendations vary somewhat based on climate, be sure to choose something comfortable, stable, and with decent traction! This is a time for hiking boots, not heels (unless you want to change into fancy shoes for a few photos, in which case go for it!).
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elopement flowers
If you want a traditional bouquet and/or bouttoniere for your elopement, your best bet is to work with a florist that is in the area where you will be eloping. That way you can be sure that your flowers are ready (and not wilted!) for your day!
If you would like to go a less traditional route, or do something more unique, Etsy has lots of options for you!
Dried flower bouquets look awesome, last forever, and are much lighter to hike with than traditional bouquets.
Pearl bouquets are super unique and will obviously last forever.
Feather based bouquets are rad!
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elopement details
Little Ways to Make Your Elopement Photos Cuter and your day more special!
vow books
As an elopement photographer, one of the things that I think makes the biggest difference in your photos, in particular your ceremony photos, is having actual vow books. This could be as simple as a blank notebook or it could be (as most of my couples do) something custom to you. Trust me when I say that having a nice book will look WAY better in your photos than you reading off your phone!
Here are some ideas!
Personalized Leather Vow Book
Vow books specific to your location
custom linen vow books
Ring boxes
Sure, you could use the boxes that came with your rings but if doing something custom is way more fun (and also makes for great photos!)! Most of my couples choose to order custom ring boxes for their day.
Here are some ideas!
Custom wood ring box
Personalized wedding ring box
mossy ring box
elopement signs
Custom elopement signs are a really cute way to celebrate your elopement, look awesome in photos, and can even be used as home decor after the big day is over! Signs come in many forms, from ones designed to be held or hung on your wall to ones mean to be hung from a backpack
Here are some of my favorites!
National park sign
handmade wood sign
Custom backpack signs
food and drink related details
No elopement is complete without a pop of champagne, some sips from a flask, or a picnic! Including food and drink in your day, in some way, is a great way to spice up your elopement (and make sure that no one gets hangry!).
Here are ideas!
Note: If you are eloping somewhere wild, you will want to avoid taking glass!
plastic champagne flutes
custom flask w/ your names and date
personalized mugs
Wicker picnic basket set
picnic basket backpack
Custom water bottles
adventure-specific elopement gear
Outdoor gear for your adventure elopement
This is where things get a lot more specific! Because my couples are typically eloping in places that tend to be remote, cold, wet, and snowy (like Colorado, Washington, Iceland, and Alaska), this list is largely geared towards them! Keep in mind that even in summer these places can be chilly. in theearly morning and evening and plan accordingly!
Obviously these items are NOT necessary for all elopements but this does give you a good place to start (especially if you will be doing something more adventurey!)
Warm jackets
Mountain weather can vary dramatically over the course of the day. Warm sunny afternoons can give way to chilly (or even downright cold) evenings so it’s always best to be prepared!). Obviously if you have a jacket that you love, you don’t need to get a new one, but if you want to splurge, go for it!
My favorite jackets for being outdoors any time of year are Cotopaxi (check them out on Amazon or REI) because they are warm, comfortable, and colorful, making them look awesome in photos! I linked to the women’s jacket above but they also come in a men’s version.
Wool socks
As a person who spends a lot of time outside in harsh climates, I’m an absolute sucker for all things wool – in fact, wool socks are just about the only kind I wear. With its ability to regular temperature, wool will keep your feet warm (even if they are wet) and cool (even if it is hot out)!
There are a lot of companies that make great wool socks (like Smartwool and Icebreaker) but hands down my favorite brand is Darn Tough. These socks really are tough (and so comfy!) and they come in a ton of different weights and cute patterns!
backpacks
Again, if you have a backpack you love, awesome! Use it! But if you want to splurge on something new (and that will look great in photos), go for it! The size of backpack you need will depend largely on whether you’re hiking (or doing something similar),how far you’re hiking, and how much you need to carry. I highly recommend checking out REI’s huge selection of backpacks. I’m a sucker for color in backpacks and especially love Cotopaxi (REI, Amazon) and Topo Designs (REI, Amazon) packs!
Miscellaneous
A lot of these things are pretty obvious (and many are things I provide for my couples – when in doubt, check with your photographer so you don’t have to buy things you don’t need!) but I think they’re worth listing out. Again, a lot of this will depend on your elopement plans, location, time of year, etc. But you may be surprised that you need some of this stuff well into the shoulder seasons in the mountains
– Chemical hand warmers
– Headlamps
– Snowshoes or microspikes
– Water (and lots of it!)
– Snacks (and lots of them!)
– Sunscreen
– Chapstick
- !
\backpacks
more elopement planning resources
Best Places to Elope in the US
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