When I became an elopement photographer and videographer years ago, I had no idea just how important Elopement Wedding Dresses would become to me. However, the topic quickly shot up on the list of my favorites to chat about! For good reason too, if I might add.
WHAT MAKES ELOPEMENT WEDDING DRESSES DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL ONES?
It is not because elopement wedding dresses are a whole lot different from traditional ones… In fact, a lot of elopement couples shop at the same stores that traditional couples do. The difference is in the thought process and purpose. That, my friends, is what sets them apart.
READY TO LEARN MORE?
THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND PICKING YOUR
ELOPEMENT WEDDING DRESS
UNDERSTANDING ELOPEMENTS
If you are seeking out an elopement wedding dress, then you probably are pretty familiar with the term “elope“.
However, did you know that the deeper meaning behind eloping and picking your dress is almost identical?
When you choose to elope, your wedding becomes a genuine representation of who you are as not only an individual but also as a couple.
The same goes for choosing your elopement wedding dress
WHITE OR COLORFUL
LONG OR SHORT
LACE OR TULLE
You are free to choose whatever type of dress you would like for your elopement day.
The best part? It can symbolize ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO.
4 TIPS FOR PICKING OUT
ELOPEMENT WEDDING DRESSES
When picking your elopement wedding dress, you will want to already know what type of elopement you are having beforehand. Obviously, a courthouse wedding will be different than an adventure elopement. If you ask me, I can’t think of anything worse than hiking through the forest in a tight laced dress. So here are a few tips to help you pick out the ideal, comfy fit.
ONE
MATCH THE VIBE OF THE ELOPEMENT LOCATION
Matching the vibe of your elopement location will make for really beautiful photo and video. That’s because everything is going to flow visually and make sense. If you are eloping in the middle of the beautiful forest of Washington, you might want to opt for a woodland fairy theme dress. But if if you’re eloping on a mountaintop, maybe you want something a bit more classic with lots of length to blow in the wind!
TWO
PREPARE FOR THE WEATHER + SEASON
Make sure to match your dress with whatever the weather + season will be like at the time of your elopement. For example: If you are having a mountain top wedding in Mount Rainer National Park in the fall, you may need long sleeves or even an adventurous coat. You will want to layer and find a dress that looks good with a shawl/jacket/hat/gloves/etc.
THREE
PICK A PRICE POINT AND STICK WITH IT
If you are going to worry about messing up the dress all day, go with something cheaper. Another thing that I recommend doing is to consider your budget and what you value most. If your dress isn’t a huge deal for you and your partner, use the money elsewhere.
FOUR
GO WITH COMFORT
If you were to ask me which one of the tips is the most important, I would say this one.
Being comfortable in your dress is so important for enjoying your day. Find a dress you can sit down, squat, take big steps, and breath easy in. This way you can enjoy the time with your loved one without worry about what you’re wearing.
ELOPEMENT WEDDING DRESS QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
FOR ADVENTURE ELOPEMENTS
- IS THERE THE ABILITY TO MOVE/TAKE LARGE STEPS?
- HOW MUCH OF THE TRAIN DRAGS ON THE GROUND?
- DOES IT FLOW IN THE WIND?
- ARE YOU OKAY WITH IT GETTING DIRTY?
- WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO PACK (EXAMPLE: DRESS BAG OR BACKPACK)?
- HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO GET INTO?
MY FAVORITE SHOPS TO BUY YOUR
ELOPEMENT WEDDING DRESS
There are so many places that you can buy your elopement wedding dresses from, and I am not here to tell you which places are the best vs. the worst.
However, after spending lots of time with brides during elopements there are quite a few that have become my favorite!
Used wedding dresses
- Once Wed • oncewed.com/used-wedding-dresses
- Borrowing Magnolia • borrowingmagnolia.com
These are both great places to search for and purchase previously new, sample, and previously used wedding dresses (which are super eco-friendly!)
Eco-Conscious Wedding Dresses
- Reformation • thereformation.com/categories/brides
“We make effortless silhouettes that celebrate the feminine figure and pioneer sustainable practices, focusing on people and progress each step of the way.”
- Wear Your Love • wearyourlovexo.com
“Our mission is to infuse the bridal shopping experience with the new-paradigm ideals of ease, convenience, uniqueness, quality, and ecological-consciousness. And because we offer our products only online, direct to you, we are able to skip the bridal shop markup and provide our dresses at affordable prices.”
- Tara Lynn Bridal • taralynnbridal.com
“Are you feeling out of place in the sea of white, fluffy, taffeta wedding dresses and stiff tuxedos? Well, you just found the place for truly Unique Wedding Dresses and Bespoke Suits, custom-made for you!”
- Pure Magnolia • puremagnolia.ca
Other wedding dresses
- ASOS • asos.com
A great online store to look for very low cost gowns, perfect for people who want a simple outfit that they won’t be worried about getting dirty on their adventure.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on your wedding dress for your elopement, YOU DON’T HAVE TO! In fact, a lot of my couples DO spend LESS on their attire so they are able to splurge elsewhere! However, if the dress is important to you then you can spend as much as you’d like!
The shops that I have listed have options for all different budgets, body types, and style preferences!
Like everything else in the elopement world, don’t let anyone else dictate what your elopement wedding dress looks like, feels like, or means to you. If you want a princess dress you have been dreaming about since you were a kid, get it. That flowy, black dress you saw pop up on your Instagram feed? You’d look amazing in it.
Think of it this way, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT AND YOU HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS TO EXPLORE.
