What's the difference between an adventure, destination, and courthouse elopement?
Adventure Elopements? Destination Elopements? Courthouse Elopements? What’s the difference?
Adventure Elopements:
These have created a lot of buzz over the past few years. This is the kind of elopement that makes you put your hiking boots on, hit the trail, and get a little dirty. The options are endless, you can exchange vows at the rugged peaks of the North Cascades, in a lush California Redwood forest, in a stark desert like Joshua Tree, in the peak of fall at the Catskills, on top of the massive red rocks in Moab, or at the rocky coastline of Acadia. Wherever you go, an adventure awaits.
It’s more planning than you might expect. Choosing a general location is easy, but pinpointing the exact spot that you’ll stand at when you say “I do” requires a bit more work. Finding and coordinating with vendors that are up for your unique adventure are harder to come by than you might think. You'll also have to apply for "Special Use Permits" depending on where you marry.
Typically it’s you, your partner, maybe a couple friends, your photographer, and a planner/coordinator who can also serve as an officiant (if they’re licensed).
Destination Elopements:
Travel by car, plane, train, ferry, or all the above to get to where you need to be.
These are similar to an adventure elopement, but a bit more glamorous. There is no hiking involved, no trudging up the mountain with your wedding attire in your backpack just to change at the top.
Since you’re not planning a long hike on your wedding day, it allows for more friends and family to join you. And since you’re not straying far off the beaten path, you can easily go back to a nearby restaurant for dinner and drinks with loved ones.
Courthouse Elopements:
These are at your local city hall, and while there are many beautiful city halls, not all are as grand or as photogenic as say, San Francisco’s City Hall
Fortunately since you’re getting married locally, you can always hop in the car and go to your favorite place. This way you don’t have to skip out on getting those stunning couple’s portraits you’re so excited about.
This really just requires an appointment and coordinating with a couple key vendors. You're welcome to invite a few guests, or none at all, and because you're in the city, a celebration afterwards is no problem at all!
If you’re looking for more details about what an elopement is and why it’s important to treat it as a legitimate wedding day, then head over to my blog post: “Should I have a small wedding or elopement?”
