'Run Away with Me' Elopement Officiant Service

First, most places where elopements happen only allow about that many people. Elopement permits vary from 8 people total (including you two, me, and the photographer) to roughly 15 people (including you, me, and the photographer). Having 10 guests puts us at around 14-15 people total to remain in compliance with the most common permit limits.

I’ve also noticed that the more guests a couple has at their elopement, the more stressed and less present they are. Instead of celebrating and savoring the moment, they’re focused on the relative who got lost and freaking out because none of us have cell signal to get a hold of them. Or worried about the friend showing signs of heat exhaustion from standing in the sun instead of finding shade despite my multiple warnings.

Yes, those are all real examples!

I mean that elopements with me do not have any of the following: a formal venue, an aisle, music or sound amplification, arch or arbor, strewn petals, candles, chairs (except for the elderly or disabled), etc.

There are two reasons I don’t allow any setup (no exceptions):

1. A set-up means you’re having a wedding, not an elopement. Most permits for beaches, forests, and National Parks don’t even allow this kind of stuff anyway!
   
   
2. It’s stressful and unnecessary.

   I know that arch you saw on Instagram or Pinterest looked amazing, but I can guarantee it did not add to the experience even though it made a great photo. Why can I say that with such confidence? Well, someone had to haul that thing down to the beach or up the mountain or set it up in the desert. That’s either going to be you in your wedding gear (now setting up instead of enjoying the experience) or you’re going to be paying a vendor a good chunk of change to tie us to a specific spot we can’t leave until the set-up is broken down and removed, even if that spot proves problematic for photos. It’s just not worth it! 

The bottom line:

I’m a hiker and my elopements are designed with the “pack in, pack out” and “leave no trace” ethos, meaning we carry in and carry out whatever we bring, leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but photos. Because we literally go into places as beautifully dressed hikers. It is deeply important to me that we respect the land while making your elopement experience stress-free and awesome. That’s why I’ve designed my elopement services this way – so they are fun, joyful, and relaxed because you don’t have to worry about anything!

Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest days everywhere. Traffic is horrible, parking is a nightmare, even the lines to enter National Parks are often 2-3x as long as usual.

For example, years ago I sat in a 50-minute line of cars at the West Entrance of Joshua Tree for a Friday elopement just to get into the Park. (This is something that usually takes me less than a minute on a Tuesday.) The traffic made everyone late and none of us had a phone signal to even contact each other! It’s a miracle the elopement still happened. (This is also why we always meet up somewhere there is cell signal now!)

So, I won’t do elopements on Fridays and Saturdays because they are so busy that it makes for a stressful experience for everyone involved, which is the OPPOSITE of what an elopement is meant to be! That’s why I only do elopements midweek and Sundays, no exceptions. I want you to roll up relaxed, smiling ear to ear, and ready to say your vows in an awesome place with your favorite person, not stressed out and late because of traffic.

In short, hell yeah!

I offer full service elopement options that include photographers because so many couples felt lost and wanted something all-inclusive. Plus I LOVE working with rad photographers, so when I find someone I adore, I want to keep working with them over and over.

But if you have found a photographer who rocks your world and you’re super excited about, then hire them! In fact, I demand an email introduction to the artist who won you over with their awesome work. 

I break it up into two payments.

• I require 50% of the package price to reserve the date.
• The final balance is due 2 weeks before elopement day.
  
  

My system is fully online, so you can make your payments online anytime once you’ve booked with me.