5 Reasons Why We Decided to Elope

What’s an elopement anyway?

Traditionally an elopement has been a spur-of-the-moment decision to get married in secrecy. It can incorporate the two of you or an intimate group of close friends and family. It’s an authentic celebration that focuses specifically on the two of you – your priorities, your relationship, your union. Without all the bells and whistles of a full-blown wedding, more couples are choosing to elope and carefully plan ahead. An elopement can mean a lot of things and here are a few reasons why I decided to elope.

An elopement can be a tough decision, but for us, it made sense and was super easy. We were still able to share our experience with our family in a way that was unique to us. Here are the five reasons why we decided to elope. Find your reasons and do it for the right ones. You should never feel pressured to celebrate your marriage in a certain way. Do what feels best for you. I hope this gives you a better idea of why I love photographing my couples in the most intimate way. 

So why did we decide to Elope?

Here are the five reasons why we decided to elope

1. We wanted our day to be easy and not stressful 

I was born and raised in France and my husband is from New Jersey. The idea of planning a wedding local to us or as a destination felt really stressful because of a few factors – the communication barrier, time, travel, and accommodations. We’re an extremely easy-going couple and wanted a celebration that felt authentic to who we are as a couple, our unique story and our future. 

2. We love to travel

When I graduated from college, I wanted to see the world, so I did! This was a priority for Tim as well.  Adventure is important to us and especially to Tim! When Tim and I met again, Tim was coming back from a 6months motorcycle trip. He drove from Philadelphia to the bottom of South America on his motorcycle. And I was finishing a road trip through Alberta and British Columbia. At this time I had been traveling full time for about 3years.

This is when we planned a 7-months back-packing excursion through South East Asia. We backpacked for the most part and once we arrived in Vietnam we bought two motorcycles and rode for about 2,5 months before selling our motorcycles in Cambodia. Want to see where we went? Click here to view our trip across South East Asia.

At that time, we were and still are so eager to discover the world. Nothing is more important to us than visiting new places. Being in a destination that represented us was the best way to make sure our marriage was a reflection of who we are.

3. We love the outdoors

An elopement can be anywhere – City Hall, a neighborhood in New York City or your favorite location. For us, we decided it had to be in the mountains and we eloped in Yosemite National Park. Why? Because of the scenic view, the climate and the surroundings were the best representation of us.

When I had the opportunity to share our wedding album with everyone, they immediately understood why we made the decision to elope and were happy for us. “I don’t know if these images could have represented who you are more than this.” “It’s everything you guys stand for.” ” This was the perfect place for you.” These were a few of the comments that we’ve received since then which has been so validating and reassuring that deciding to elope characterized who we are as a couple. During our planning process, we wanted to make sure our family was as involved as possible although they would not be physically present.  We shared details of our location, my dress and our excursions before and after so they felt as integrated as possible and to respect our wish for intimacy.

Interested in learning how to plan an elopement? Click here to read 5 tips of what to consider when planning a destination elopement. 

4. Intimacy

When it comes to meeting people I’m an extrovert. It’s why I’m a photographer because meeting new people, sharing your story and capturing your moments are thrilling to me. Little does anyone know that when it comes to my feelings I’m a huge introvert. I wasn’t sure how comfortable I would feel reciting my vows in front of a large audience. It was so easy in privacy to be much more myself. 

5. Budget 

The reality is we were having a wedding on a budget. This meant a premeditated decision to forgo wedding traditions and a choice to invest in our future and prioritize what we want for ourselves. What do we want? We want more money for travel. Before we dated, I found jobs in new destinations of places I really wanted to visit and live in. I was a nomad and wanted to experience new cultures and new traditions. This is why I travel so much and it’s what we’re planning to do together.

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Meet my amazing team:

Photography: Katie Bergman Photography// Florist: Brier and Ivy + Blog  //  Calligrapher & Designer: Old City Mail Room   // Hat: Gigi pip // Wedding Gown: BHLDN  //