Evening Elopement at Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Summer Country Wedding at Younger Ranch, Colorado
How to Prepare for an Engagement Session
Congratulations! You’re engaged! I am so genuinely excited for you both. So what’s the next step? Your engagement photos of course! Engagement sessions are so much fun and you can really make them unique to you and your relationship, but the trick is preparing for them properly. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create the perfect engagement session, unique to you!
Book Your Photographer And Set A Date
The very first step in the process of creating the perfect engagement session includes finding a photographer that meets your needs and vision. There are thousands of photographers out there, and every single one of them has a different style and approach to taking a couple’s photos. This is not meant to overwhelm you!
Even though photographers have different styles and approaches, most photographers can fit into three different categories to describe their work: dark and moody, light and airy, or true to color. These three categories describe editing style, and while they are pretty broad categories, some photographers cross the lines a bit (for example, a photographer can have a darker editing style but still be true to color). My style is pretty self explanatory, but I lean more towards a dark and moody style with muted but natural colors.
Another way to describe the different approaches to creating beautiful images is shooting style, which is basically the way the photographer composes the image and directs the couple. Some photographers are crisp, clean, and posed, while others enjoy adding a bit of texture and blur to describe movement in the image. All of these factors work together to create beautiful images, so it is super important for you to find a photographer that meshes with your style as well.
A couple of questions to ask yourself as you search for a photographer could include: Do you like the messy, in-between moment type photos that tell a story, or do you lean more towards crisp, clean, perfectly coordinated images? Are you in between the two? Are you more drawn to images that are lighter or darker, lighthearted or dramatic?
Once you find the perfect photographer that matches your style and is available on your preferred date, it’s time to book and move along in the planning process!
Adventure or Chill Date?
You’ve found the perfect photographer, now it’s time to get down to the basics of your engagement session vision. The options are endless, the sky’s the limit! Think about how you want your engagement session to look. Are you thinking that you’d like to go on a fun adventure, or do you want to keep it cozy and casual? Do you want it to look dramatic and romantic, or sweet and fun? Below are a few different ideas of what you can do for your engagement session.
The Adventure Packed Session
#1 Head out on an off-roading adventure to a remote spot, and take photos along the way to document the adventure. Arrive at a stunning spot, change into something a bit more formal and take dramatic sunset photos overlooking the mountains.
#2 Hike to a gorgeous location, taking photos along the way to document. Arrive at the beautiful location, and take some breathtaking photos during golden hour.
When it comes to adventure packed engagement sessions, the options really are endless. Think about what you both love doing the most, and turn it into a fun date! (rock climbing, horseback riding, hiking, skydiving, off-roading, kayaking, etc).
The Sweet Casual Session
#1 Take some intimate, sweet in-home photos that describe who you are in your home. Have a pillow fight, bake something sweet, or just chill with a cup of coffee. These photos are meant to display your relationship in a fun, sweet, intimate way.
#2 Head to a beautiful location and take some fun, casual photos during golden hour. These sessions are usually filled with laughs, and you can add something fun such as a picnic or bonfire. Maybe even pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate your engagement!
location, location, location!
Location is everything, it sets the style of the shoot — whether dramatic or sweet — and really makes the photos, and the entire experience for that matter, special. When deciding on location, it is important to think about logistics and how difficult it is to get there, but also think about what kind of ties you have to the location. It could be a coffee shop where you had your first date, it could be where you did your first hike together, it could be in your home, or even just at a beautiful lake or overlook in the mountains.
Locations that are tied to past memories, or locations that spark emotions that create new memories, turns a simple photoshoot into an experience that you will never forget.
As you can see, location is everything, which is why I have a massive list of tons of different beautiful locations for you to choose from if you don’t already have a spot in mind.
Plan Your Outfits: Coordinating With Your Location
Along with location, your outfit is equally as important when planning your engagement session. By this point you have probably decided what style of shoot you are going for, and you most likely have also chosen your location. Your next step is deciding what you’ll wear, but there are a few things you need to consider before you decide.
Colors: Bright or Neutral
When choosing what you’ll wear, colors are super important to consider. Think about what season it is and also your location. I always encourage my couples to go with something neutral, or choose colors that are softer and not as distracting. When you look at your photos you want to see emotion, not a hot pink or neon orange dress. Don’t get me wrong, I love bright colors, but in engagement photos you want your eyes to go straight to the people, not the clothes.
In some instances when a couple has chosen a location that is a relatively blank canvas (such as Great Sand Dunes National Park), it can be fun to go for a brighter color like a rich red or sapphire blue. Think about how your clothes coordinate with your location; for example, if you’ve chosen to take photos in an aspen grove in September, go for something with texture like a cozy knit sweater in a warm color. Another example is if you have decided to hike to a lake in the mountains, maybe go for something more dramatic to match the landscape (maybe a flowing dress in a jewel tone).
Patterns
Another thing I always encourage couples to stay away from are big, distracting patterns like stripes or other crazy patterns. Like I said earlier, be careful about choosing clothes that distract. If you are going to go for a pattern, stick to smaller prints, and think about your location and feel of the shoot.
Great examples of when to wear patterns is if your location has more of a blank canvas such as a beach, sand dunes, or a urban cityscape.
Flexibility: Is It Easy To Move Around In?
Before finalizing what you’ll wear to your engagement session, one more thing to consider is how comfortable and flexible your outfit is. You will be doing a lot of moving around, walking, running, and even hiking in these clothes, so definitely keep that in mind. If you are hiking to a lake or walking through a forest, I would not recommend wearing heels ladies. Before your engagement session, try your clothes on and try sitting, moving, and jumping around a little bit. Getting in front of a camera is already hard enough, so be sure you are comfortable and feel great in your chosen clothing options. Also consider packing a few different options such as a casual outfit and then something more dramatic so you have two different looks.
Enjoy every moment, and have fun!
Now that you have gone through every step, it’s time to take some photos! Engagement sessions are so much fun, think of it like a cool date with a third wheel (AKA, me). A couple things to keep in mind at your engagement session:
1. Be present with one another, don’t let the camera distract you.
2. Keep moving, the more you move the less stiff and awkward you’ll feel. Don’t worry, I’ll guide you into subtle, comfortable poses that look amazing!
3. If you get caught up in the moment and feel like kissing, twirling around, or dancing, do it! Enjoy the moment, get caught up in one another!
What Does It Mean To Elope? | The Definition of Elopement and How To Do It
Many people think that when a couple chooses to elope, it means that they “ran away” and got married in secret without including their family and friends. While some couples choose to not tell their families until after they are married, this definition has morphed over time and is actually celebrated just like any other wedding. There is actually very little that is different between an elopement and a wedding in today’s day and age!
So What Exactly Does It Mean To Elope?
There are a lot of different definitions out there, but all of them revolve around the same concept: an elopement is an intimate wedding that is completely focused on the couple and what they want for their wedding. There is a small difference between an intimate wedding and an elopement which is the number of guests, typically an intimate wedding is 50 guests or less and an elopement is 10 guests or less, but for the most part they are the same.
An elopement is a day that is planned in a way that revolves around the couple, their relationship, and personalities. Having an elopement instead of a traditional wedding does not mean the day is any less special and it does not mean you have to run away in secret — which you totally could if you wanted to.
Elopements look completely different for every couple, because every couple is different in their own ways! Elopements are truly about creating a day that is unique to you in order to celebrate the fact that you are committing yourselves to one another for the rest of your lives! When it comes to eloping, there are no rules.
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, where you’re doing it, or who is there; as long as it reflects your needs and wants for your wedding day. Getting married is a day of celebration that reflects your adventure instead of focusing on everyone else’s needs and expectations; you have complete freedom!
SO HOW DO YOU ELOPE?
WHO?
Elopements are different depending on the couple, it really is all about what is important to you. Are you really close to your family or have friends who have poured in your relationship?Include them in your ceremony!
Want to have a private ceremony with just the two of you, but you still want to include your family? Have a reception to celebrate with them! You have complete freedom, so its time to discard any stress and anxiety! This day is about you, so celebrate it the way you want to!
WHERE?
Elopements can take place absolutely anywhere! Because you’re eloping, you are not confined to a venue, rather your venue is God’s incredible creation! You could choose to elope on a white sand beach by the sea, on top of a mountain, in an ice cave, in the desert, or even hop on a helicopter and reach places that only a handful of people have been! I have a very long list of options, but when it comes to choosing a location, it all comes down to what you love the most.
One thing to consider when choosing your location is if you want to have guests or not. If you choose to include more than ten guests, you may need to choose a place that is easily accessible (eloping on a mountaintop could be a little difficult with guests unless you hire a fleet of helicopters to transport everyone).
Many destination weddings are intimate weddings, so the options really are endless. You could get married in your backyard, in a courthouse, or you could travel to a destination you’ve always wanted to see (helloooooo, the Swiss Alps, Amalfi Coast, or Iceland??). As long as your special day is meaningful and all about YOU, that’s all that matters!
WHAT?
Many think that elopements are quick and can only last as long as the vow reading, but actually elopements can be just as long and fun as a traditional wedding day!
Because elopements are smaller than a traditional wedding, many people think that means a shorter day, but I definitely disagree! I believe that you should enjoy and revel in every single moment of your wedding day, and every moment deserves to be captured.
Elopements are completely customizable depending on what is most important to you, but I definitely encourage any kind of adventure! Think about the best possible day you could spend with your love, and turn that day into your elopement. This could include hiking to an epic spot and catching the sunrise, going snowmobiling or rock climbing, having a slow morning getting ready for an afternoon elopement, or even spending the whole day hanging with just your family and closest friends.
Some couples choose not to have a formal reception and instead focus on a longer couples portrait time while others still want to have time to party. Intimate weddings (50 people or less) generally still have a reception, but it is much more casual that a traditional wedding reception depending on the couple.
FIVE STAGES OF PLANNING AN ELOPEMENT
DREAM
Come up with a vision for the best day of your life. Think of a fun, adventurous day that could include anything you can think of, and turn that into your elopement day! If you could get married anywhere in the world, where would it be? In this stage of the elopement planning process, you’ll pick the part of the world you’d like to get married in and what time of year.
RESEARCH
After you brainstorm and dream about your big day, it’s time to research to start making your day come to life. Research the area you’d like to get married in, look for vendors, and find out what’s possible to make your dream into a plan. Look into marriage laws, permits and regulations, and seasons. Hiring an experience elopement planner, travel guide, or elopement photographer can really help you with this part!
START BOOKING
Start by setting your date! Next up, finalize your location, book lodging, look into flights, and book your transportation.. Finalize your wedding vendors, whether they are local or will travel to your elopement spot.
GET READY
Purchase your elopement attire, finalize details with your vendors, plan your activities, and work with your elopement photographer to develop a timeline. If you’re having guests attend, finalize travel details and lodging with them. Communication is key in this part of the planning process!
ELOPE
You’ve worked incredibly hard to make this dream come to life, so in this part of the planning process you get to experience the materialization of your elopement day!
Soak up every single moment.
WHY SHOULD YOU ELOPE?
Elopements aren’t for people who want to breeze through the most important day of their lives, rather it is for the ones who care deeply for one another and are brave enough run away from the norm to choose something different.
Elopements are for the people who desperately want to spend a day, or however long, soaking up every single moment of the day they commit their lives to one another. Elopements aren’t about just a quick license signing and a couple of portraits, they are about taking the hand of your love and jumping into the biggest adventure of a lifetime.