Mountain Wedding and Elopements: Planning and Tips
You probably have seen many amazing photos from beautiful mountain weddings that make you feel like that's where you want to elope. Think standing atop of a mountain peak, amid wildflower meadow or by a clear alpine lake with the perfect mountain reflection. The allure of mountain weddings is obvious. But how do you plan the perfect wedding so it's successful in terms of the right weather (the mountains are unpredictable after all), beautiful locations, necessary permits and time of the year. In this guide to mountain elopement I will share helpful tips that will make your day absolutely amazing.
Best Time to Elope in the Mountains
This varies location by location but in general late spring to early fall are the safest months in terms of the weather. Some states on the other hand see more wildfires in the late summer (Montana, Washington or Oregon) so that's something token in mind. Like with every elopement you can't predict the weather even if you're planning your elopement only few months ahead.
Spring: early spring (late April though late May) is a great season for lower elevation locations such us the foothills outside of Salt Lake City where I often photograph elopements, lower elevations in the PNW or Yosemite (June being the best month to get married in Yosemite). Late into spring you can start thinking of mountain towns in CO, the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, June is also the perfect month for my favorite Grad Teton elopements. In places like CO expect some afternoon thunderstorms so it's good to be flexible with your timeline and alter it if needed.
Summer: Summer is a great time to elope or get married in places like Colorado (all the wildflowers, great hiking opportunities), the Tetons, Washington and Oregon (lots of mountain passes open up plus you have THE BEST weather) but that also brings way more tourists so certain places such as Maroon Bells, Rocky Mountain National Park or Yosemite get very crowded and you have to apply for permits 6-12 months in advance. Yosemite tends to be very hot too, but you can navigate that by starting your ceremony earlier in a day.
Fall: is amazing for elopements and weddings. Not only the trees are turning beautiful colors (think red maples, yellow larches and aspen) but the weather is ideal in many places, the mountain passes are still open and crowds are less. I highly recommend Yosemite elopements, Colorado fall elopements and Washington fall elopements. If you're thinking of eloping in Utah Salt Lake City and Wasatch mountains offer amazing fall elopement locations. Provo canyon is another great spot.
I lived on the East Coast for 17 plus years so n my opinion New England Elopements are truly spectacular and so are elopements in the Catskills and Adirondacks upstate NY. The best foliage for sure if you're looking for vibrant colorful wedding photos among amazing trees and mountains.
Winter: with full honesty my least favorite season for mountain elopements only because of limited locations and unpredictable weather. A lot of beautiful mountain passes are closed for the winter. For instance road in Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone, most mountain passes in CO, UT Guardsmann pass etc. Pros of eloping in a winter are definitely n crowds, easier reservations and wintery scenery if that's what you're looking for. My advice is to be open to shooting your cozy airbnb as much as outside in car it's snowing. Many wedding venues might be closed for the season except skiing resorts such as Sundance, Brighton or Deer Valley in Utah. If skiing elopement is your dream you're in luck!
Best Mountain Elopement Locations
I briefly mentioned my favorite mountain wedding locations above and this might be biased based on where I shoot elopements but I love mountains in Wyoming and the Tetons elopements. as well as Aspen Colorado Maroon Bells. Yosemite is another amazing elopement location as each state provides something different. I am linking to my elopement location guides with pictures below:
Utah mountain elopement: Washatch Mountain Elopement
Colorado: Maroon Bells Elopement or Telluride and Ouray elopements.
I love Washington State for mountain elopements (especially elopement at Artist Point or early in the season Mt Rainier) Olympic National park is another great elopement location.
Califorina: for sure Yosemite and the Redwoods if you're wanting forest vibe for your elopement.
Unsure on where to elope? Make sure to reach out and I will be happy to suggest some of the best location that for your requirements. Part of being great elopement photographer is doing throughout research on locations and when eloping with me you can rest I assure I know a good spot that fits your vision.
Things to Do During Your Mountain Elopement
The good thing is that you won't run out of things to do during your mount elopement. If you love hiking, camping, paddle boarding or even horseback riding most mountain locations provide something for everyone. It's important to keep in mind that the most remote, beautiful and peaceful locations require some hiking. Especially if you want to avoid crowds and want a location all to yourself consider a hike (it's part of your day after all and adds to your elopement story) Here is link to my guide to a hiking elopement.
When choosing your elopement timeline it's important to remember some of the spots you might like will require a short hike or a jeeping advenure. After all the best spits are hard ton get. A 3h elopement timeline is usually good for a few locations with min hiking, 5-8h allow for longer hike and multiple locations or a fun jeeping adventure. As always you want to make sure you get the best light for pictures therefore starting at sunrise or in the evening for sunset is crucial.
