No two elopement days look the same — and that’s the beauty of it. Your day isn’t built around a strict timeline or tradition, but around what feels meaningful to you. While every experience is unique, most elopements naturally flow through a few core moments that make the day feel grounded, intentional, and unforgettable.
The Core of an Elopement
At its heart, an elopement is about stripping everything back to what truly matters — your connection, your experience, and the place you’ve chosen to celebrate in. Everything else simply supports those moments.
Your Ceremony
Your ceremony is often the emotional center of the day. It can be as simple or as intentional as you want — standing on a mountain overlook, tucked into a forest, or beside the ocean. This is where you exchange vows, promises, and everything you’ve been carrying into this moment together.
Sharing an Experience
Beyond the ceremony, elopements are about actually doing something together. Whether that’s hiking to a viewpoint, kayaking on a lake, exploring a national park, or sharing a quiet picnic, this part of the day is where your story really unfolds.
Living in the Moment
One of the most powerful parts of eloping is the freedom to slow down. With no packed schedule or external pressure, you get to fully be present — to take in the scenery, hold each other close, and actually feel your wedding day as it’s happening instead of watching it pass by.
What a Real Elopement Day Looks Like
2-Day Alaska Elopement Example
Day 1:
- Getting ready at the Airbnb
- First look on private beach at the Airbnb
- Helicopter tour ride to Bear Glacier
- Romantic Picnic at Bear Glacier
- Exploring 3 locations in Kenai Fjords National Park by helicopter
- Ride back to Seward, AK by helicopter
Day 2:
- 6 mile (out and back) hike to a hidden lake in the Alaskan Wilderness
- Private ceremony at the lake
- Signing marriage license and celebrating with beers
- Romantic first dance at a second lake
- Hiking back and driving to the Airbnb
- Campfire on the beach at the Airbnb
Full Day (11-hours) Switzerland Elopement Example
- Sunrise hike to an overlook
- Getting ready together
- Wedding portraits during sunrise
- Breakfast Picnic with Cake & Mimosas
- Hiking to another overlook
- Symbolic Ceremony with lake in the background
- Hiking back down to the hotel for a break
Afternoon Break
- Renting Rowing Boats
- Writing anniversary letters in the row boats on the lake
- Going back to shore and eat dinner at the mountain lodge
- Freshen up in the room and taking some photos on the lodge balcony
- Walk down to the beach for sunset photos
Frequently Asked Questions About How To Elope
If you’re just starting to plan your elopement, you probably have a lot of questions, and that’s completely normal. From logistics and legal details to timelines, costs, and what the day actually looks like, this section is here to help simplify the process and give you clarity as you begin planning your own experience.
Can you have guests at an elopement?
Yes — you can absolutely have guests at your elopement. While some couples choose to elope just the two of them, many still include a small group of their closest friends and family members.
At Running Wild, we typically define elopements as up to 15 people total, which allows you to keep the experience intimate while still sharing meaningful moments with the people who matter most. Many of our couples spend part of their day with loved ones — like sharing a ceremony together, celebrating with champagne, or having a private dinner — and then take time afterward for just the two of them to explore and soak it all in.
This balance allows you to create a day that feels both personal and meaningful, without the pressure and logistics that often come with larger weddings.
Where can you elope?
One of the best parts about eloping is that you’re not limited to traditional venues. You can choose a location that reflects your relationship — whether that’s mountains, coastline, desert, or forest. Many couples choose to elope in national parks, state parks, national forests, or on BLM land, where the focus stays on the experience and the scenery around you.
From iconic destinations to hidden gems, there are endless places to elope — and choosing the right one often depends on the kind of experience you want to create.
Best Places to Elope in Washington
Washington State is one of the most diverse places in the country to elope. Within just a few hours, you can experience alpine mountains, rugged coastline, lush rainforests, and scenic lakes. Here are a few of our favorite places to start:
- How to Elope in the North Cascades
- How to Elope in Mount Rainier National Park
- How to Elope in Olympic National Park
More Elopement Location Inspiration
How much does it cost to elope?
Most of the time, yes — but it really depends on the experience you want to create. Elopements typically cost between $8,500–$20,000, compared to traditional weddings that often range $34,000–$60,000+. The biggest difference is that with elopements, you’re investing in your experience instead of guest count and large venue costs.
Many couples choose to spend their budget on things like travel, unique accommodations, meaningful activities, or multi-day adventures — whether that’s kayaking, hiking, or planning a destination elopement. These experiences can range from free to several thousand dollars depending on what you include.
If you want to learn more about real elopement budgets and examples, check out our full guide: How Much Does It Cost to Elope
other Asked Questions About Eloping
MEET YOUR
Elopement Photographer Team
Hi! We are Sanne, Brooke, Janelle, Alanna & Kristi
So, what do we exactly do? It’s very simple! We specialize in helping couples with a shared love for nature celebrate their union in the great outdoors! No obligations, no cookie-cutter wedding templates—just you two, your love for each other, and the beauty of nature. Maybe throw in a few friends and family members too!
Of course we do a lot more than just that! We are your planners, coordinators, photographers, and trail friends.
GET MARRIED IN OUR BACK YARD
Eloping in Washington State — Our Home Base
As Washington elopement photographers, this is where we spend most of our season documenting elopements across the state. From Mount Rainier National Park to the North Cascades and the Olympic coast, Washington offers an incredible variety of landscapes for couples who want an intentional, nature-focused wedding experience. We help you plan and photograph your day in a way that feels personal, relaxed, and connected to the outdoors.
How to Elope in Washington State
Your complete guide to planning an elopement in Washington—covering legal steps, best seasons, location ideas, and permits. Written from our experience as Washington elopement photographers.
Washington National Park venues
Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Park each offer completely different landscapes—from alpine meadows and glacier views to rugged coastlines and mossy rainforests. As Washington elopement photographers, these are the locations we return to most for adventurous, nature-filled elopements.
Best Micro Wedding Venues in Washington
For couples planning a small wedding, Washington offers beautiful intimate venues surrounded by nature. We photograph micro weddings across the state and can help guide location planning.
Have you ever found yourselves thinking…
I want to plan a wedding day that actually feels like us.
Maybe You Are Realizing:
Then you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Your elopement deserves to be more than a photoshoot, it deserves to feel like an experience you’ll never stop talking about.
As your elopement photographers, we help you create a day that feels intentional from beginning to end. From finding breathtaking locations and planning meaningful activities to documenting every emotional, adventure-filled moment, we’re here to help you build a wedding experience that feels effortless, unforgettable, and entirely your own.
“They put their heart and soul into your day so you can fully take it all in, enjoy every moment — both big and small — and simply trust them to work their magic”
Cassidy & Joe
Why Choose an Outdoor Elopement or Micro Wedding?
Your wedding day doesn’t have to follow someone else’s rules.
- You can slow down.
- Be fully present.
- Explore somewhere breathtaking.
- And create memories that feel just as meaningful as the photographs themselves.
Elopements and intimate outdoor weddings give you the freedom to create a day that truly reflects your relationship and what matters most to you.
Curious about planning an outdoor-focused wedding? Learn more about How to Elope or How to Plan a Micro Wedding
Elopements and small weddings aren’t about running away from tradition, it’s about running toward a day that feels true to you.
Imagine your wedding day feeling like this…
A wedding day that unfolds slowly.
Instead of squeezing everything into one hectic timeline, imagine turning your wedding into a multi-day experience.
One day spent exploring somewhere breathtaking together. Another celebrating with your favorite people around good food, stories, and unforgettable moments.
More time.
Less pressure.
Memories that don’t feel rushed.
A day built around the moments you actually love.
Maybe that looks like sharing coffee in a quiet cabin, hiking to your ceremony location, canoeing across an alpine lake, or watching the sunset after reading your vows.
Your wedding doesn’t have to follow a template, it can reflect your relationship, your pace, and the things that matter most to you.
An experience that feels deeply personal.
From fly fishing in mountain rivers and off-roading into the wilderness to slow picnics, board games with loved ones, or dancing under the stars, your wedding day can feel less like a performance and more like an experience you’ll never want to end.
Because the best moments are usually the ones that feel honest, unplanned, and completely your own.
If I could elope again, I’d hire Running Wild in a heartbeat.
I can’t imagine our wedding weekend without them. Easy one of the best decisions we made!
“They put their heart and soul into your day so you can fully take it all in, enjoy every moment — both big and small — and simply trust them to work their magic”