How much time do I even need a photographer for on my elopement day??
When planning your elopement day, it is SO easy to feel like you'll only need a couple of hours (MAYBE) of coverage. Let me be the first to tell you that this absolutely does NOT have to be the case!
Your elopement day is no less important than a traditional wedding day, and I would argue that documenting your day is even MORE important when you don't have 100+ people with phones capturing things at the same time! Be sure and take these timeline examples lightly - I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't include in your wedding day! My hope is that these help open your eyes to the possibilities that exist. When you're ready to really dive into the nitty gritty and start looking at what you want for YOUR day, I'll be here ready to help!
Multi-Day Elopement Timeline
This is my big suggestion for couples who are torn between an elopement & an intimate wedding. With this option, you have the freedom to spend a day with just one another, AND a day with your loved ones! You can choose to split your time evenly, or make one day more involved than another. I ADORE multi-day elopements and the freedom they offer my couples. What's better than spending more time celebrating your love story?!
Full-Day Elopement Timeline
The most common question I receive when describing a full-day of elopement coverage (even more so than with multi-day!), is "Why would I want to take pictures for that long?" My friends, trust me when I say that your elopement day is SO MUCH more than a photoshoot!
A full day of photo coverage actually grants you the opportunity to feel like your wedding day is LESS of a photoshoot in my opinion. A full-day allows you the space to PLAY and enjoy the activities that make you feel most like YOU as a couple! It allows me the space to be a fly on the wall and capture authentic interactions between the two of you AND help lead you through poses that will ensure you get those true hero shots in your gallery as well.
If I had to pick a favorite option for my couples, this is IT.
Half-Day Elopement Timeline
This is the way to go if you don't want to include as many locations or as intense activities. It's also important to keep in mind that while a full-day of coverage can be split to include both sunrise and sunset adventures, you don't really have that option if this is the route you choose (unless we're in Alaska in winter, that is!). When you have 6 hours with your photographer, you want to spend that time making sure your memories are captured! Any splitting of this timeline leads to there not being enough of a warm-up period for you to get comfortable in front of the camera again.
Mini Elopement Timeline
For my couples on a bit more of a budget! There's a reason I offer 4hrs of coverage as my MINIMUM for elopements - you DESERVE to have your day documented! It is NO LESS important than those who choose to have a traditional wedding.
That said, I do know I have clients that need a cheaper option, and perhaps aren't as keen to spend a day with an additional person. While this option may seem like it would feel the least like a photoshoot, my clients have come to feel the opposite! When we only have 4 hours to work with, it can feel like we have to rush from one aspect to the next - and the main thing I NEVER want is for my clients to feel like they need to stress on their wedding day.
