Did you folks decide to elope and skip the extra costs and steps to do a traditional wedding? Here are some pointers for anyone who is considering this and yes, I will circle back to getting an elopement wedding videographer to go with your elopement photographers.
It seems that as traditional weddings sometimes slow down in numbers, destination weddings and elopements go up. Working in this business as a wedding videographer, we are paying attention and learning to pivot as needs and wants shift. I used to get really concerned but am now seeing that there is so much more opportunity. My initial thought, especially during the lockdown was “Are people going to get together anymore or is this the end of socializing?” Obviously, I over-thought just a little. Thank goodness that my wife is grounded when I start future tripping. If overthinking was measured in money, I wouldn’t have to have a job. lol.
Eloping just seems to be cool and exciting and if you want to stretch your creative wings of exploration, Aunt Linda and Uncle Chuck might not be in the same boat. Instead of trying to cater and please every single guest, maybe it’s time to start getting way outside of the box. If you film and photograph it, you can let anyone be a guess without sacrificing whatever out there idea you might have.
SHOULD I HIRE AN ELOPEMENT WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER?
Elopement wedding videography, photos and video should be at the top of your list. If you elope, you will only have a limited amount of guests with you, if any. I would double down on having folks like us, capture all of the good stuff to show your loved ones when you come home and have to explain that you just wanted to keep it simple.
Sedona should be called the capital of the elopement day because so many folks come here to do an intimate wedding and keep it simple. Ok, maybe second to Vegas, but I bet more marriages that elope to Sedona will be more…nevermind. I’m starting to stray from the topic.
If you are wondering which photographers and elopement wedding videographers specialize in elopements, I would say pretty much all of us travel and really want more locations because it makes our portfolio look better. My background is in film production so I have shot in every environment from the streets of New York when it’s 10 degrees in January to the Bonneville Salt flats at way over 100 degrees in August to a Yacht on the ocean in Cabo with 100 drunk people screaming the Macarena. My wedding videography also includes Super 8 wedding videography and drone wedding videography, so as you might guess, my abilities and interests in adventures jobs runs the gamet.
As a film production guy of many years, my jobs have taken me to some rough conditions. Being an elopement wedding videographer has given me a new found gratitude for the smell of fresh flowers and unlimited ice water while listening to someone play a harp.
Honestly, the funny dynamic is watching folks who mainly shoot elopement weddings do a traditional wedding. Almost every time, they show up to the venue dressed for a battle scene in Mad Max, complete with leather straps to hold gear that they would need like a soldier would need their rifle in a fire fight. They often forget that they aren’t fighting for their survival or preservation of the human race while also shooting a wedding. At a “regular” location, there is no mountain to climb or river to wade through. I love when these folks come to a regular venue. It’s like sticking an skydiving, adrenaline junkie into a quiet church. Hopefully, I haven’t lost you.
Elopement films shot by your favorite elopement wedding videographer last forever. This is a great way to share your memories with loved ones and they didn’t even have to leave the house. Get that sense of adventure out and become the wild, out there version of you that you know you can be once you ditch the idea of boring ideas that have already been done a million times and treated as if they are original. What lurks in the depths of you and your partners longing for a place that no one has ever said yes in?
To be honest, I wish people would come at me with more creative, out there, crazy stuff. Why? Because we are humans, built with these bodies that can go out and do so many awesome things.
Yes, it’s great to do it the way mom and dad did it but it’s also ok to really dig in and find something that is truly once in a lifetime. Why not you? Why not your wedding?
Eloping to a national park is also a great idea. The scenery is usually way cooler and as long as you don’t start fires or do anything too silly, park rangers are notoriously nice. Most rangers are adventurers as well. They do that job so they can go out further and explore more. Just use your common sense and go have fun.
Zion in Southern Utah and Yosemite in California are two of my favorites. There is also Grand canyon which has hundreds of miles of trails and picture perfect areas to say yes. Bring your elopement wedding videographer and team on your special day and you are set. And yes, most of us are game to travel. Just make sure your team is good with hiking in and out of the location you pick. I would also lean toward having at least one team member who has been to and or shot your location. Experience is a huge part of the elopement working smoothly.
If you are wanting your spot to be remote, make sure you let your team know what it will take to get there. Do some planning and contact someone who knows the area you are considering. Pictures of a place versus the reality of what it takes to get there and come back in one piece might be slightly different. Ask questions early on to make sure you are going somewhere you will actually enjoy.
Here in Sedona, we are surrounded by National Forest. The Forest Service Rangers here are great. As long as you don’t leave trash, start fires or bring chairs, you will have no issues. That’s right, chairs are not encouraged. If you have anyone who needs to bring a chair, please do. The forest Service just doesn’t want any extra wear and tear on forest. Chairs poke holes in the dirt “crust” which is a pile of living organisms that work like a web on the ground that keeps the dirt in place. The red dust kicks up quick without the crust. You will see this if you go out on any dirt road on a dry day.
Also, bring plenty of water. Sedona is considered the high desert and the advice is always bring way more water than you think you will need. Our next door neighbors are on Search and Rescue and often get over a hundred calls per year. 90 plus percent of the time, they are going to find people who ran out of water and crawled under a tree for shade. If you bring water, you are over 90% in the clear to come out ok! Want to know more about us? Give us a call anytime!