Sunset Elopement at Holden Beach with Trev & Mckenzie
Intimate Romantic Sunset Elopement in Wilmington, North Carolina with Trev and Mckenzie
The one thing I always tell clients is that your wedding day should reflect who you are and be exactly how you picture saying “I do” to your significant other. For some it’s a big wedding with the lavish details and big floofy dress or maybe you want something intimate like close knit family at a civil ceremony. But the one thing that not many people consider is an elopement, where it’s just you and your person and none of the stress and planned details that every other wedding entails.
Elopements can be hard and elopement photography can be tricky. It’s all about the timing and trying to preserve the privacy that the couple is looking for. The cool part is that these elopement photos are possible and always turn out perfect and like they come out of the page of a magazine. But how do I make this happen for my clients?
The key to success for private elopements and having the best photos is timing. Most of the time you’ll want to be either one of the first or one of the last people present at the place you have in mind for your elopement. In the case with Trev & McKenzie, because we decided to do a sunset shoot and it was winter time, the beach area was pretty much empty around sunset and allowed for us to build a little romantic scene along the water and in the sand.
We arrived a little ahead of time to scope out the area, decide what we were working with and where the best background would be and once this was all decided we dug a little trench for the romantic, intimate beach picnic dinner. Trev & Mckenzie had time to get ready and get changed for the shoot and chose the perfect outfits to match the beachy, aquatic vibes we were going for. As this was all going on, the beach started clearing out as people began to disperse and head to dinner, which is why by the time the sun started to set, we were ready to go!
Now, if you want a more woodland like elopement, you’ll probably want to hike early and be one of the first at the top of the mountain or field. I know this sounds stressful and like it needs a lot of prep but the truth is the hike or work you put in is just part of the core idea of an elopement, and that is: adventure. Most of the time clients will bring a change of clothes and keep the wedding outfits and make up simple, so that when they reach the top or the place they’ve chosen to share their vows it’s as quick as 1, 2, 3 to be ready.
A small consideration from a photographer who has a few elopements in the portfolio…sunset is the more superior time for an elopement shoot. The lighting is better and most people don’t want to be on a hike or on a breezy beach when it starts to get dark which allows for a more private experience. This also means you have more of the day to get ready and prepare for the adventure ahead!
So if you’re looking for a start to forever that reduces the stress of money and the details, and you instead want to prioritize the experience, feel free to reach out and ask me about some of the romantic elopements that I’ve been a part of! :)