Adventure Eloping in an RV
Weddings Venture To Parts Unknown in 2021
Image Caption: Desert adventure elopement. Image: The Foxes Photography
For many, a wedding is one of the most anticipated events of a lifetime. But in 2020, dreams of grand gatherings were cancelled or postponed indefinitely in a global attempt to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
At a time when celebrating seemed impossible, many loving partnerships grew stronger amid the challenging circumstances. For couples who refused to put their wedding on hold, the option of eloping outdoors presented the possibility for a safe and intimate ceremony. The concept, commonly referred to as an “adventure elopement,” continues to gain traction in the wedding world.
It comes as no surprise that elopements have grown in popularity since the pandemic. With the ability to safely distance outside, the concept poses a significantly reduced health risk. An elopement party is small, usually consisting of the wedding couple, an officiant, and a photographer or two.
Desert adventure elopement. Image: The Foxes Photography
What Is an Adventure Elopement?
More than just safe, adventure elopements are beautiful, romantic, and elegant. The hashtag #adventureelopement on Instagram showcases a quarter of a million scenes of happy couples enjoying the outdoors for their special day. The photographers that capture these events outside are integral to a successful elopement.
Adventure elopement photographers define a specific niche within the world of wedding photography. Their skills are characterized by a finesse for landscape photography, and a knack for capturing candid moments in all kinds of lighting and weather scenarios. Whatsmore, an elopement photographer’s images serve as the only living memory of a private day, an all-important window to sharing the experience with friends and family later.
When asked whether his photography business has felt the effects of the elopement trend, Mitchell James of Wilderness Mitch Photography, said
“The elopement concept has definitely had a moment in the midst of the pandemic—and seems to have been quickly maturing into a preferred wedding-style for many!”
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Weddings Post Covid-19
Elopement photographers are experiencing an increase in inquiries as 2021 begins. Colorado based photographer Kelly Miller, of Kelly Miller Studios, said “I definitely have seen an uptick in adventure elopements, many of my clients are postponing their larger weddings and doing more intimate weddings that speak to them and their lifestyle together.”
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Though large party weddings are certainly not gone forever, adventure elopements offer the opportunity for couples to celebrate and honor their union during an otherwise disruptive and uneasy time. For many, the pandemic has highlighted the fragility of life and importance of spending time with the ones we love while we can. An adventure elopement complements these values for couples wanting to move forward with their wedding and life plans together.
Perhaps most surprising about the rising trend in adventure elopements is the confession that many couples wanted a small ceremony all along. Professional photography couple Gabi and Brandon Fox, of The Foxes Photography, said,
“Twenty-twenty was the year of the elopement for sure! What’s funny is that a lot of them confessed to us that eloping or doing something smaller and more intimate was actually what they originally wanted to do for their wedding.”
A Redwoods Coastal Elopement. Image: The Foxes Photography
Mitchel James observes that adventure elopements are seeing popularity not just out of necessity, but out of an intentional choice, “In some cases, it has empowered folks who felt family or societal pressure to have a more traditional wedding to move past that, and plan the day and experience that’s right for them.”
Do Your Wedding Your Way in an RV
Adventure elopements aren’t just for the rugged, backpacking couple. Though some intrepid outdoorsy couples commit to tent camping on high-altitude peaks, not all elopements require ice picks and mountaineering skills. Those who are physically fit won’t find difficulty in hiking to a mountain overlook, but for a less intense experience consider eloping on a beach or in the desert, easily accessible by RV without too much hiking.
Adventure Elopement couple with RV rental Image: The Foxes Photography
When it comes to sunrise ceremonies and stunning photographs at dawn, an RV gets you as close as you can get, explain the Foxes “The nearest town where you’ll find a hotel or Airbnb might be over an hour away, so you have to do a lot more driving. In an RV, you can often stay right on the coast, or tucked away in an ancient forest, or high in the mountains where all you have to do is step out the front door to see a stellar view. It’s the best way to connect with nature!”
Just like a traditional wedding, adventure elopements are easily customized. When it comes to planning your elopement photographers will be a big help, guiding you to hikes that suit your skill level and suggesting reliable vendors nearby. Flowers and bouquets should be indigenous so as not to introduce invasive species to a fragile landscape. When hiking out extra decoration, remember to pack out what you brought in.
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An RV can provide essential extra storage space for hauling out wedding supplies and decoration like lights, banners, or garlands. When it comes to setting the scene, RV’s play a big part in setting a mood and vibe, notes Mitchell James.
“RVs, just like any other space, can be dressed up accordingly with lights and decorations—including the outdoor space around the RV.”
With tasteful RV décor and rustic natural adornments, an RV can be a charming backdrop to a classy outdoor wedding.
rent a Campervan for an adventure elopement. Image by: The Foxes Photography
But more than just a backdrop, An RV’s amenities serve important functions in the success of a comfortable adventure elopement, notes Mitchell James, “A major logistical component of any elopement is where to home-base it during the whole experience, but having an RV opens up so many possibilities,” he said. “You essentially then have a space to have privacy, get ready, and whatever else that’s also mobile!”
Elopement Photographers and their RV’s
It’s not just the wedding couple that benefit from a mobile couples’ suite. The elopement photographers who have popularized adventure elopements often live the RV lifestyle too.
“We have been living full-time or part-time in our 1972 Airstream for the last 5 years, so we’re big fans of the RV life,” said the Foxes.
As traveling photographers, Gabi and Brandon Fox use their renovated vintage Airstream as a mobile office and home-on-wheels during peak wedding season. “What we’ve loved most about living and traveling in our Airstream is the freedom it’s given us to see so many incredible places,” said the Foxes. “Last fall, we shot some elopements in Zion and camped on some beautiful BLM land just outside the park for a couple weeks. Zion was literally our backyard!”
The Foxes Photography 72 Airstream on BLM land. Image: The Foxes Photography
Office views don’t get much better than Zion, but when your office goes just about anywhere, the potential for epic workplaces are endless. The freedom of the road proves alluring for many photographers. Lorenzo Van Dee of CampClimbRepeat said, “I travel in an RV as a landscape photographer in Chamonix Valley. Compared to my past life where I worked 9 to 5 , this lifestyle gave me much more freedom and thus gave me the ability to capture those magical moments in the mountains and explore all the potential that the landscapes have to offer.” Van Dee travels full time in his converted campervan, a Fiat Ducato 2.8.
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Elopement photographers who live the RV life, like the Foxes or Van Dee, are a wealth of RVing expertise. These full-timers can offer couples boondocking tips or suggest awesome places to camp off-grid in preparation for an elopement.
Gabi and Brandon Fox of The Foxes Photography with their 72 Airstream
For these working photographers who make capturing outdoor moments their career, being immersed in nature is imperative to doing their job well. Their RV’s have proven instrumental to growing their business and inspiring their art.
Honeymooning in an RV
Honeymoons had a tough year in 2020. All-inclusive getaways to a Mexico beach or the Amalfi Coast are still on hold. But adventure elopements put you in place to slip right into Honeymoon mode after the ceremony. If you know you want a more luxurious wedding experience, rent an Airbnb for the ceremony, like an A-frame cabin or lakefront cottage. Then, after an exciting and exhausting big day, throw your bags in an RV and hit the road on a road trip you’ll be talking about for years to come.
“Renting an RV for your elopement allows you to explore more of the region you’re eloping in before and after the elopement,” said the Foxes.
“We help our couples plan the elopement day, but also load them up with other spots to check out nearby so they can make a whole road trip out of their elopement adventure. Because there’s always so much more amazing stuff to see in these places than what we’ll be able to do in just one day.”
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Where to Start and how to Plan an Adventure Elopement
Despite growing popularity, adventure elopements are still “unconventional,” by most standards. When planning your own elopement, it may be hard to know where to start. Kelly Miller suggests beginning by finding the perfect photographer. She explains how adventure elopement photographers are different from traditional wedding photographers,
“Many of us work to research locations, can help with permits, and logistics of the day. Some of the main considerations would be the type of backdrop you want to have, permits, and accessibility of the location!”
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Before you set the date, research your state’s marriage laws so your ceremony is legally recognized by your state government. Some states are “self-solemnizing,” meaning no ordained officiant is required to legalize a wedding ceremony. With respective fine-print, self-solemnizing states include:
· Colorado
· Washington D.C.
· Wisconsin
· Pennsylvania
· Illinois
· California
Take it from the experts at The Foxes Photography and start with their professional advice for prospective elopers interested in making an RV part of their unique experience:
· Try to stay in state park campgrounds or BLM land—The experience is always much better than staying in a big RV park.
· Try to rent an RV with solar power so you aren’t dependent on electric hookups. This will free up your options a lot when it comes with where to stay.
· Rent a smaller RV, like 20ft or shorter. As a novice RVer you’ll have an easier time getting around and finding sites you can stay in.
· Always take the scenic route!
A Redwoods Coastal Elopement. Image: The Foxes Photography
Learn more about the adventure elopement photographers featured in this article:
· The Foxes Photography
· Camp Climb Repeat
· Kelly Miller Studios
· Wilderness Mitch Photography
