What Vendors to Hire for an Elopement

So you’ve decided to elope— CONGRATS! Now it’s time to choose your vendors. The great thing about eloping is you can go totally off script from anything traditional! You don’t have to hire anyone but these a few vendors that we recommend hiring to make your day go smoother!

Photographer: It is SO important to find a photographer who has experience in the outdoors and is comfortable shooting in the location that you want to have your ceremony but it’s also just as important to hire someone who you vibe with! You will be spending ALL day with them and sometimes overnight, it could be a long day if you don’t get along. Some questions to ask your photographer when deciding to hire them or not:

Do you have experience with eloping?
Do you have plans in case of crazy weather instances?
Are you comfortable shooting in the location we want to elope?
- If you haven’t picked a location, your photographer will likely have location ideas for you based on your visions!

Don’t be afraid to hire someone who is newer to the game—as long as you like their work and you get along them, pull the trigger!

Officiant: If you’re looking to elopement, chances are you are fine breaking all wedding tradition. A lot of people prefer to have a friend or family member officiate their ceremony but if you’d prefer someone neutral, ask your photographer for recommendations! If they have shot elopements before, chances are they have met a few officiants who are comfortable performing a ceremony on a cliff edge. Here are a few questions to keep in mind and ask a potential officiant before hiring them:

Are they comfortable hiking/backpacking and do they have the gear for it?
How far are they willing to travel? Can they make it back to the trailhead by themselves after the ceremony if they don’t want to stay?
Make sure they’re on board with the vision you have for your ceremony.

Alternatively, ask your photographer if they’re ordained – I am! Chances are that they will be and they can sign the papers. But they wouldn’t be able to conduct a ceremony because they’ll be busy capturing it.

Florist: A florist probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you are looking elope as you are already surrounded by trees and flowers in the wilderness but we highly recommend considering it! You don’t have to have anything crazy but carrying a beautiful bouquet is icing on the cake for a bride to carry down the aisle plus it makes for great photos. A couple things to ask your florist:

Can they make a bouquet that will hold up through miles of hiking?
Can they create a bouquet that doesn’t weigh 20lbs and will be easy for you to carry up the mountain?
Can they create a bouquet that compliments that landscape of your ceremony location?
Keep in mind when choosing flowers to make sure they can withstand potential extreme temperatures both hot and cold!

If you’re worried about finding a reputable florist near your elopement destination, Farmgirl Flowers is an awesome shop that will ship nationwide!

Hair & Make Up Artist: Some brides decide to do their own make up which is totally great! If you have it in your budget to hire a hair and make-up artist, we highly recommend it. If you’re deciding to elope, chances are your guest list will be SMALL or even non-existent which means friends and family are eagerly awaiting to see all the photos. You want to feel beautiful on your wedding day, even if it’s on top of a mountain. Here are some things to ask your hair and make up artist before booking them:

Are they able to create looks that will last while sweating on a hike?
How early are they willing to meet you to get started? Sunrise elopements are a popular thing!
Can they provide you with tips and tools for touching up your make up when you’re ready for your ceremony?

Planner: Not a lot of couples use a planner when having an elopement but it’s definitely a vendor to keep in mind. Depending on your guest count and how elaborate you want your ceremony space to look, consider booking a planner. Planners can help with things like guest lodging and transportation, setting up a ceremony site and keeping your day moving if you have lots of moving parts and vendors. Most of the time, your photographer will keep you on track with your day! One of the best parts of eloping with limited or no guests is that you don’t necessarily have to have a plan for the day, just go with it and get some epic photos along the way!

These are the more essential vendors to hire for your elopement but there are certainly other very important vendors to think about! This includes a cake/desert artist, a private chef or catering service, a videographer, and even a stationer/calligrapher!

Keep in mind, higher priced vendors don’t necessarily mean they’re better. Eloping is becoming a lot more popular and a lot of vendors are switching to become sole elopement vendors so not everyone has as much experience as the most expensive and popular ones Don’t be afraid to give them a shot, just because they are newer doesn’t mean they are just as great!

Stephanie Keegan

I’m an adventure elopement and wedding photographer based in Seattle and the surrounding Pacific Northwest. I focus on capturing love in beautiful places while sharing a passion for the outdoors. Rock climbing, backpacking, hiking – I love it all!