Why I’m Falling in Love With Elopements

I love a beautiful wedding day. I love the getting ready, the happy tears, the celebration, the people you love all gathered in one place.

But lately, I’ve found myself dreaming about something a little different.

More adventure. More time together. More beautiful places. More of the day actually feeling like you.

I want to photograph more elopements.

And I think the reason is pretty simple: I love the idea of a wedding day that feels less like something you have to fit into a timeline and more like an experience you get to actually live.

What if your wedding day was an adventure?

Maybe you wake up somewhere you’ve always dreamed of visiting. You get ready slowly. You explore together. You hike to a beautiful location. You exchange vows somewhere that feels completely yours.

Maybe there’s no huge guest list. Maybe it’s just the two of you, or your closest people.

Maybe afterward you celebrate with dinner somewhere amazing, pop some champagne, watch the sunset, or do something that has absolutely nothing to do with a traditional wedding day.

There isn’t one right way to get married.

And that’s one of the things I love most about elopements.

Your wedding day can look like you.

I want to photograph the whole experience

One of my favorite things about photography is that the best images don’t always happen during the big, planned moments.

Sometimes it’s the way you look at each other when you think nobody is watching.

It’s laughing because you got caught in the rain.

It’s fixing your partner’s jacket before you walk into the ceremony.

It’s hiking up a trail in your wedding clothes.

It’s stopping somewhere along the way because the view is too good not to.

It’s all of those little pieces that tell the story of your day.

That’s what makes an elopement so exciting to me. I get to photograph more than just the ceremony. I get to photograph the experience.

And honestly, that’s the kind of storytelling I want to do more of.

And this is where Ivy & Co. comes in

If you’ve followed along with Ivy & Co., you probably know that we love creating photography experiences in incredible places.

A huge part of what makes our retreats so special is getting photographers out of the ordinary and into places that inspire them.

And a big part of that experience is the couples we photograph.

We’re looking for couples who are willing to adventure with us, get a little messy, explore beautiful locations, laugh a lot, and create something incredible together.

So if you’re reading this thinking, “Wait… that actually sounds like something I would love to do,” I have good news.

There are two ways you might fit into this.

Are you actually thinking about eloping?

If you’re considering an elopement — whether you already know where you want to go or you’re still in the “What if we just ran away somewhere beautiful?” stage — reach out to me.

I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.

It doesn’t have to be a huge production. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s wedding. We can talk about what matters to you and what would make your day feel like yours.

Want to be a retreat couple?

Maybe you’re already married. Maybe you’re not planning an elopement at all. Maybe you just really love the idea of putting on your wedding clothes again and getting to explore somewhere incredible together.

Ivy & Co. is always on the lookout for real couples to model for our photography retreats.

And these aren’t just “stand here and smile” kind of shoots.

We’re looking for couples who want to play, explore, interact, and genuinely enjoy the experience.

You get beautiful photos and an unforgettable experience, and our retreat photographers get to practice creating the kind of images that make them excited to pick up their cameras.

It’s a pretty fun exchange.

So, let’s go somewhere beautiful.

Maybe your wedding day is going to be a big celebration with everyone you love.

Maybe it’s an intimate backyard ceremony.

Maybe it’s just the two of you standing on a mountain somewhere.

Whatever your version looks like, I want to photograph the moments that make it yours.

And if you’re thinking about eloping, reach out.

Seriously.

I’d love to hear about it.

And if you’re thinking, “I want to be that couple running around Scotland, New Zealand, or wherever Ivy & Co. takes you next,” keep an eye out for our upcoming retreat couple opportunities.

Because whether you’re planning your actual elopement or just looking for an excuse to adventure somewhere beautiful together, I’d love to have you in front of my camera.