The Ins and Outs of Elopements in 2026

Every year, the “ins and outs” lists take over the internet. So we figured — why not do one for elopements? In this episode, we’re breaking down what we’re leaving behind in 2026 and what we’re fully leaning into, based on real conversations we’ve been having with couples in the planning stage right now.

No rules. No pressure. Just a real honest look at what couples are talking about, what they’re leaving behind, and what actually makes a wedding day feel like something.

What We’re Leaving Behind (The Elopement OUTS of 2026 )

Elopements as a backup plan.

Choosing an elopement isn’t settling. Couples in 2026 are doing it on purpose, enthusiastically, because intimate won when they got honest about what they actually wanted.

Overscheduled timelines.

When every minute is accounted for, there’s no room left to actually be there. A packed shot list and a rigid schedule can mean the day just passes you by without you ever really being in it.

Posing for the grid.

Your wedding day shouldn’t feel like a content shoot. The best moments we’ve ever captured weren’t manufactured. They happened because we got out of the way.

Picking vendors based on aesthetics alone.

A beautiful portfolio matters, but do they actually get you? Would you want to spend your wedding day with this person? The people by your side during the most meaningful moments of your day need to be more than just visually impressive.

Planning your wedding for everyone else’s vision.

If your day is starting to feel more like theirs than yours, it’s time to recalibrate. Guest lists you didn’t really want, venues that photograph well but don’t mean anything to you, timelines built around other people’s schedules. None of it is worth it.

What We’re Fully Into (The Elopement INS of 2026)

Chasing the experience over the aesthetic.

The goal isn’t pretty pictures. It’s a day that actually felt like something. One fave moment that means just as much as the vows was when Leanna and Brian came back to their cabin in the mountains to hang out, make their favorite pasta dinner together, and share a bottle of champagne. Your elopement is about having the best dang day of your lives. The photos just prove what happened. When that becomes your north star, decisions get a lot easier.

The all-in-one cabin experience.

A private spot in the Rockies where you wake up together, make coffee on the deck, and step outside into a meadow that feels like it exists just for the two of you. No logistics group chat. No scrambling. Just ease. We saw this firsthand with Linzey and Ivan, and the energy of that day was completely different. If you’re curious about building something like this, our Elopement Planning Guide is a great place to start.

Candid, unposed moments.

The laughing too hard, mid-sentence, totally forgot the camera was there stuff. That’s what you’ll want to look at in twenty years. Not the perfectly composed portrait, but the photo where you can almost hear what you were saying to each other.

Film photography.

Warm, grainy, real. Film slows everything down in the best way. There’s an intentionality to it that shows up in the images. Every shot means something, and the photos come out looking like they’ve already stood the test of time. Pair that with candid, unposed moments and honestly, it doesn’t get better than that. Learn more about our film work here.

Locations that actually mean something to you.

Not the most tagged overlook. Not the spot on every elopement blog because the light is good at golden hour. The trail you hiked on your first trip together. The lake you’ve been talking about going back to. The mountain you’ve been staring at from your backyard for years. You can feel it in the photos. We cover how to choose the perfect elopement location for you if you’re still figuring out where to go. Or check out our full guide to where to elope in Colorado to start narrowing it down.

Resources Mentioned

Elopement Planning Guide — a solid starting point if you’re in the early stages of figuring out what your day could look like

Elopement Essentials Packages — for simpler, intentional days

Custom Packages — if you’re dreaming up something more layered

About Us — come say hi, no pitch, no pressure, just a real conversation about what you’re building

We still have availability in 2026 and we’d genuinely love to hear about your day. 🤙