Planning an adventure elopement? Skip peak season!
If you’re planning an adventure elopement, your vision probably looks like: frolicking around scenic spots with your lover, soaking in little moments unbothered by timelines, exploring somewhere sentimental or entirely new, and doing it all without a worry in the world.
But if you elope during peak season, it can be a liiittle harder to pull off. You know those “Instagram vs. reality” posts? That can very much apply here. According to the National Park Service, there were a whopping 331.9 million visitors to parks last year— the highest it’s been in a decade. And as an elopement photographer with 15+ years of experience, I can tell you that I’ve 100% noticed.
When you elope during high season (especially in national parks or popular outdoor elopement locations), you are often trading a sure-fire weather forecast for:
→ crowds (I’m talking a LOT of people)
→ buffer periods in the elopement timeline for parking or traffic
→ more expensive accommodation & more logistics in general
→ lots of love from tourists complimenting your wedding attire
Not exactly the slow, sacred, spontaneous kind of day you may be imagining. That’s why shoulder season is always my #1 tip for adventure elopement planning.
5 Perks of Planning Your Adventure Elopement in Shoulder Season
Using Becca + Travis as a prime example! This stunnnnin’ couple eloped in a national park that has over 20,000 visitors A DAY during peak season, so they opted for fall instead and got the laid-back, free-flowing outdoor wedding day of their dreams because of it! So, don’t just take my word for it! I’m sure they’d tell you these reasons, too! ↴
1. You get more spontaneity and flexibility in your elopement timeline!
This is my personal favorite perk and it’s exactly what made Becca + Travis’s day so special. Because they eloped in late fall (right after the crowds cleared), we didn’t need a zeroed-in timeline to keep us in check. They had the whole day to move at their own pace.
We wandered to an alpine lake they’d never seen before (I love showing you hidden gems), spotted mountain goats, explored new views with no one around, and ended the day on a cliffside with the prettiest mountain sunset. They booked me for a longer day so we could take our time, stop at the spots that felt good, and just let the day lead us.
That kind of flexibility is almost impossible during peak season.
2. There are far fewer crowds and much more privacy.
Some couples aren’t bothered by the wandering, curious eyes of tourists as they exchange vows or those “congrats!” cheers as you pass in your wedding attire. If so, I love that for you!!! But the reality is that most of my couples already have plenty of nerves fluttering between saying ‘I Do’ and being in front of a camera, so they’d much rather have more privacy when possible.
I had photographed Becca + Travis for their engagement photos, so they knew me and my approach to their photography experience. But that doesn’t always shake the day-of jitters! But with a ceremony on a literal cliffside, overlooking miles of golden trees and those big views they traveled in for and not a single other person in sight? It made them feel completely at ease. We didn’t have to dodge hikers in the background, or other weddings, or pause to wait for crowds to pass. The whole park felt like it was just for them.
If you’re dreaming of an adventure elopement that’s quiet, connected, and just about you two, shoulder season is your best bet.
3. Logistics are far easier all around.
If you’ve ever tried to visit a national park in July, you know the chaos: booked lodges, trailhead traffic jams, shuttle reservations, and parking lots that fill up by sunrise.
But when you elope in shoulder season? Sooooo much smoother.
Becca + Travis got their preferred location and time for a ceremony permit with no problem, didn’t have to build in long buffer windows to account for crowds, and never once had to battle for a place to park. It gave us more time actually enjoying the day and less time waiting around. Win-win!!!
4. Somehow, it feels more sentimental and true to you.
Don’t get me wrong, every elopement has moments that make it special in its own way. But when you get to run around somewhere gorgeous, just you and your lover, and really let every single moment sink in without stressing about your surroundings—it’s freakin’ magic!
It lets you slowwww down. You get to do more of what YOU want, without any pressure or stress. Photos happen more naturally as you wander and aren’t as carefully styled to adjust to any chaos around you. You can shift plans without a second thought, just flowing with what feels right. And the result? A day filled with a million tiny, perfectly uncurated moments that make the whole elopement experience feel entirely unique and once-in-a-lifetime.
5. Seasonal magic is underrated (and so beautiful) for adventure elopements!
Take one scroll through Becca + Travis’ gallery and try to tell me they aren’t the dreamiest fall elopement photos??? I know everyone loves summer because the weather is steady and sun seems like a sure thing. But as an elopement photographer, let me tell you that shoulder season weather is nothing to be scared of!!!
In fact, I’d argue it’s what gives your photos character. The golden leaves, the moody clouds, the mist clinging to the mountains? It adds a whole vibe that you just can’t recreate. And the best part? It’s different everywhere—maybe it’s a foggy afternoon on the Oregon coast, early snow in the Tetons, or a surprise downpour that ended with you dancing barefoot in the rain. You get unassuming beauty, variety in your photos, and little unplanned memories along the way.
Yep, shoulder season is the best time to book an adventure elopement.
Less stress, crowds, and planning. Way more flexibility, privacy, and time to be truly PRESENT! After all, isn’t that what eloping is all about??
I’ve photographed adventure elopements in many national parks (and all over the globe), and I can tell you that going during shoulder season is the #1 planning tip I could offer. Though I’ve got plenty of advice to share as you plan your day!
Start with these:
→ Adventure elopement inspiration, photos, and tips! And when ready to find the photographer for your day, you can contact me here bb!
