Mountain Elopement

Mountain Weddings and Elopements: Planning and Tips

You probably have seen many amazing photos from beautiful mountain elopements that make you feel like that's how and where you want to elope. Imagine standing atop of a mountain peak, amid wildflower meadow below, 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 specifically) so that's something to keep in mind. Like with every elopement you can't predict the weather, even if you're planning your elopement only a 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 is the best month to get married in Yosemite, before it gets too hot and crowded). Later into spring you can start thinking of mountain towns in CO such as Ouray, Telluride or Aspen, the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, June is also the perfect month for my favorite Grand 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 blooming in Crested Butte, 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, Glacier 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 in my opinion New England Elopements are truly spectacular and so are elopements in the Catskills and Adirondacks upstate NY. These places offer 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, inaccessible roads 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 no crowds, easier reservations and wintery scenery if that's what you're looking for. My advice is to be open to shooting in your cozy airbnb if it's snowing outside. Many wedding venues might be closed for the season as well, except skiing resorts such as Sundance, Brighton or Deer Valley in Utah. If skiing elopement is your dream you're in luck and you should elope in a winter!

Best Mountain Elopement Locations

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.