I have some couples come to me and say “we don’t need the getting ready” — but I think what they mean is that they don’t need two hours of coverage just for hair and makeup and those classic wedding prep details… mimosas, cuddle piles on the hotel bed, cigars with the boys. There’s no wedding party to help get ready with them.

But even so, the act of getting ready, the preparations, the setting the scene — to me that is a core piece of your story!

The ‘getting ready’ moments often end up being some of my favorite from an adventure elopement day — sweet, quiet moments before the adventure begins, moments of anticipation and excitement. Maybe a few nerves.

And for elopements, this often looks a lot different than the ‘getting ready’ that most associate with big, traditional weddings — and for that reason I feel it’s an important piece to capture, since it’s so unique.

I encourage you to think of these preparatory moments as you’re planning out your day and your photography coverage — this is the start of your adventure, and it sets the scene for the rest of your day (and your photo gallery) — you don’t want to start right in the middle, like starting a movie half an hour in.

So what does getting ready actually look like? How is this time used? How long does it take?

I’ll start with the golden “rule” of elopements: there are no rules. Every adventure looks different, each experience can be totally customized.

Getting ready might look like 20-30 minutes at the trailhead, a quick change at the summit — slipping on your attire, touching up your makeup, stowing your packs somewhere safe for the ceremony. Or it can take 1.5-2 hours for more detailed coverage at your lodging, with HMUA, flat-lay details, coffee and cozy photos in pajamas before dressing up. You can get ready together and help each other, or change separately and have a first look.

Basically: just know there are plenty of options and ways this can look. We’ll talk through a bunch of them!

What getting ready might look like for your adventure elopement:

Packing your backpacks for the hike — rolling up your wedding dress, strapping on your hiking boots
Meeting at the trailhead and quickly slipping into your wedding attire before the adventure (I have a portable changing tent I can bring if it’s a busy area)
Using the car as your staging area, sitting in the back putting on your boots
Meeting at your cabin as you two get ready separately, then share a first look out on the deck
Helping each other get ready together — sweet moments helping each other get zipped up and buttoned up
Finishing touches of your hair and makeup, whether it’s you doing it yourself, or hiring a pro (I usually just come for the last ~15-30 minutes and try to snap a few toward the end)
Write out the last few lines of your vows into your vow books (one of my favorite moments to photograph)
Making a cup of coffee together, at your cabin or trailside with a JetBoil (I always have mine!)
Cooking breakfast together
Loading the car with the cake and picnic foods
Photos in and around your rental’s property
Photos of your details and accessories, ‘flat-lay’ style — vows, rings, jewelry, shoes, flowers, maps, postcards/souvenirs from your location, ferns or pinecones from around your cabin’s property
Swapping letters or gifts
Putting on a playlist and dancing together
Playing/singing a song for each other
Slinging on your packs, getting in the car, driving to the trailhead, getting ready for the hike, signing the trail register

What I usually recommend for the best storytelling and photo coverage:

Wait until I arrive and start photographing before donning your wedding attire and jewelry
Detail photos of the rings, vows, flowers, or other little trinkets — this can happen throughout the day too, if not during this ‘getting ready’ time
For half day/shorter coverage, I usually recommend meeting on site and getting ready there, to make the best of our time
For sunrise elopements, I usually recommend meeting on site — we might plan for a “wind down” back at the cabin and you two can “get unready” (more on this next!)

Getting Ready for Sunrise Elopements — and ‘Getting Unready’

I’m a HUGE fan of sunrise elopements. It’s a beautiful thing: starting in darkness and watching the changing light, the feeling of anticipation as the sky brightens. You two starting this next big adventure together (your marriage), right as this new day dawns.

(Also it is the SINGLE best way to make any iconic location feel super secluded.)

Getting ready for sunrise elopements looks a bit different though, and we always have to think about timing and light.

In most cases, instead of meeting you at your cabin beforehand during total darkness, we’ll meet on site and start our hike together.

Some couples like to hike in their attire — so we could plan for a quick change at the trailhead, by lantern light. Or you could just change up at the top, especially if it’s a longer hike, and if you want to have a first look moment. Imagine, right at sunrise, first light, first look. It’s really lovely way to do it.

But some couples still want that coverage back at the cabin, especially if you’ve got a really cute cozy place booked. And it is a really nice part of the story to include: where you stayed, for your wedding.

So instead of starting here, consider this for the end! Instead of getting ready, you’re getting unready — decompressing, winding down, celebrating together.

This time can feel really celebratory — the “we did it!” Or it can feel more relaxed, like a wind-down at the end of your adventure, a well-deserved moment of rest.

What ‘getting unready’ can look like:

“Carry over the threshold” — pick them up and carry them inside
Dropping your packs by the door, letting your hair down
Helping each other take your wedding clothes off, unzipping, unbuttoning — can be really steamy if you want it to be!
A perfect opportunity for boudoir photos, if that’s your cup of tea
Swapping into another outfit — maybe cozy robes/matching pajamas, or lingerie
Starting a fire in the fireplace and cozying up
A first dance, swaying in the kitchen or living room, or out on the deck if it’s a place with a view
Hanging up your attire, drying your boots by the fire
Photos in and around your rental’s property, enjoying the space together
Winding down with a cup of tea or coffee
Playing a game — Scrabble, crossword puzzles
Giving each other gifts
Re-reading your vows to each other — a nice chance to let those words sink in again
Painting “Just Married” on the car with washable paint
Sharing cake or some other dessert together
Popping a bottle of champagne on the porch
Enjoying a meal prepared by a personal chef
Hop in the hot tub together or draw a bath
Looking through Instax photos from the adventure — I can bring my Instax!
Jump in the water if your place is on a lake or river, for a fun “send off”
Detail photos — all the little things you packed, plus ephemera and found objects from your adventure (ticket stubs, a map from the visitor center, vow books stamped with the national park stamp, that pinecone that got stuck in your dress on mile 2)

See It in Action — Getting Ready Examples

Getting ready on the hike

Getting ready together at the cabin

Prepping for the hike

Getting ready at the cabin — then switch back to normal attire for the hike

Quick first look by the car

Getting ready at camp

Getting ready before sunrise + getting ‘unready’ afterwards

Post-adventure wind down at the cabin — coffee and crosswords

A few other favorites:

Still unsure?

There’s tons of options here — it’s okay if you don’t know what you want this part of your elopement day to look like.

If I’m your photographer I’m also your planner. I’ll help you talk through the logistics and how getting ready will work for your adventure: how and when and where to get ready, best timing and light, travel time, how to prepare, elements you want to include, fun details we could incorporate and capture — and make sure it’s all timed so you don’t feel rushed and can truly enjoy your experience.

That’s the whole point, right?