Should you hire an elopement planner? Here’s when it makes sense
An elopement photographer helps plan locations, timelines, and logistics— but when does an elopement planner become the secret to an effortless, fully curated experience?
Eloping isn’t about ‘skipping’ a wedding— It’s about making the day entirely yours
You chose to elope because you like to do things a little differently… you’re not here to play by someone else’s rules. You make your own rules. For that reason you’ve opted for a day that is deeply personal, where every moment reflects what makes your love yours. Whether it’s saying your vows on a mountaintop at sunrise, sharing a quiet picnic by an alpine lake, or dancing under the stars with lanterns lighting the way, an elopement is a chance to strip away the expectations and create a day that feels like you. It’s about more than just a beautiful location. It’s about the experience, how the day unfolds, the emotions that arise, and the memories that will stay with you forever. You know… the kinda day where afterwards you’ll show photos to your loved ones and they’ll respond with “Wow… that’s so amazing. Of course you two did something wild and fun like that”.
But when it comes to planning that perfect day, who do you need by your side?
Is an elopement photographer enough? Do you need an elopement planner too?
Knowing the difference between what an elopement photographer can assist with and when you actually need an elopement planner is key. While there’s some overlap, each plays a unique and valuable role in making your dream elopement stress-free and unforgettable.
To help illustrate this, I teamed up with Kiira from Evergreen Event Company to plan and document this evening for Emma & Laurel at a fire lookout tucked in the Cascade Mountains between Leavenworth and Chelan. This collaboration showcased exactly how a photographer and planner can work together to bring an elopement vision to life.
Let’s break it down.
What an elopement photographer (like me!) brings to the table
While sure… you’re going to receive some of the most epic photos, an elopement day is about so much more. This is the first day of the next chapter of your lives together. This is your wedding day! It should be a reflection of everything you’ve been through together thus far and everything that the future holds for you. As an elopement photographer, my role goes far beyond capturing beautiful images. I help couples create a seamless, immersive experience that allows them to be fully present in each moment. That all starts by getting to know you for who you really are so that I can tailor every part of your elopement experience. From location logistics to timeline guidance and activity recommendations, I offer expertise to make the day feel effortless, personal, and completely stress-free.
1. Expertise in Location Logistics
I help couples choose the perfect location based on their vision, factoring in permits, group size, travel logistics, trail access, wildfire trends, and weather considerations.
As a lifelong local to the Pacific Northwest, I know this region inside and out and can offer advice on seasonal conditions, accessibility, and hidden gems (whether that’s a local’s favorite stop or an entirely unnamed location you won’t find on any tourist map).
2. Planning Support
You get access to my 90+ page VIP Intimate Wedding Experience Planning Guide and a Leave No Trace Guide to ensure a seamless and sustainable day.
I provide real-world advice based on my experience with past couples, helping with everything from choosing attire for the weather to backup plans for unexpected conditions.
I offer tailored activity recommendations, ensuring your elopement feels like a true reflection of your relationship. Your day is about the experience… not just the locations you get to see. Let’s check something off that bucket list of yours!
3. Timeline Creation
Unlike a traditional wedding day, elopements in the great outdoors require accounting for the unexpected, travel time, hiking time, and any wild adventure you can dream up. I create a timeline that ensures ideal lighting for photos while keeping the pace relaxed and stress-free.
I structure the day around key moments, ensuring there’s time for quiet, intimate experiences without feeling rushed.
4. Lodging & Vendor Recommendations
While I’m not a full planner, I do help couples find great accommodations and connect them with trusted vendors like videographers, officiants, florists, hair and make up artists, and adventure guides. I’ve got a back pocket full of professionals that are so ready to get on board with your crazy ideas for your elopement day.
Since I’ve been around the block a time or two (okay, I really mean around Washington & Oregon a few thousand times), I’ve always got my eye on the best lodging. Where you stay is all a part of your wedding day experience!
5. Ordained & Ready to Make it Official
Yes, I’m ordained too! I’m prepared to sign your marriage license and help you to make sure everything is legally legit. Don’t forget, Washington & Oregon require 2 witnesses which I can help with as well.
Why would you need an elopement planner when an elopement photographer helps with so much?
While both an elopement photographer and elopement planner are essential for crafting an intentional day, the difference lies in the depth and scope of their involvement. As you’ve probably gathered from everything above, I as an elopement photographer do so much more than take pictures. However, a planner takes this level of guidance to an entirely new scale.
A planner isn’t just assisting with the vision, they are bringing it to life. Where a photographer helps with finding stunning locations and providing general logistical guidance, a planner is hands-on with every fine detail, ensuring that every moment unfolds seamlessly. They are behind the scenes, setting up decor, troubleshooting potential issues, and making sure all moving parts align so that the couple doesn’t have to lift a finger.
1. Full-Scale Design & Setup
Photographers help couples choose scenic and meaningful locations, but planners take it further by transforming those spaces into a curated, visually stunning experience.
Planners arrange florals, candles, tablescapes, and personalized decor to elevate the ambiance.
They coordinate rentals, furniture, and decorative elements, ensuring the space looks exactly as envisioned.
As Kiira puts it: “If the couple wants design elements for the ceremony or perhaps a table setting for an intimate dinner, I’ll bring all of those elements and set them up before arrival to create a beautiful setting.”. Kiira also loves to think of the details: “I love to garden, so often I’ll pull flowers or leaves from my garden to add a special touch. I’ve used leaves as place cards, dried lavender as confetti, and flower petals to decorate a card box. I also have a decor library that I can pull from, like strings of lights or votives.”
2. Complete Vendor & Guest Coordination
While photographers provide vendor recommendations, planners actively manage and coordinate those vendors to make sure everything is in place.
They ensure that florists, caterers, musicians, and officiants arrive on time and have everything they need.
If guests are attending, planners arrange transportation, lodging, and guest experiences.
They create and distribute a detailed itinerary so that every vendor knows exactly when and where they need to be.
However when it comes to the day of your elopement, Kiira takes care of other important vendor details (so you don’t have to) like “I want to make sure the couple and vendors are comfortable and well fed so that they can have the best time and do their best work. This includes sharing the weather forecast beforehand, sending out a packing list and making sure there is a plan for food. I always bring a supply kit with tools and personal care items to handle most issues that come up.”
3. Advanced Problem-Solving & Logistics Management
Photographers are fantastic at adjusting to changes in lighting, weather, and unexpected surprises. My back up plans have back plans and my car is stocked with extra gear. Yet planners offer an additional layer of preparedness for every scenario ahead of time so the couple never has to stress.
They build contingency plans for weather changes, road closures, and last-minute vendor cancellations.
They provide a fully stocked emergency kit with everything from stain removers to first-aid supplies.
“I discuss with my clients a few different scenarios and options so there are several choices that we can go with,” says Kiira. “This is a great discussion to have together with the photographer so we are all aligned on what the best options are… I’ll schedule a planning call with the photographer beforehand to discuss all elements of the day. If on the day plans need to change, we’ll decide on the best option together so we are in alignment.”
4. The Art of Seamless Flow
Photographers craft timelines to ensure perfect lighting and a relaxed pace, but planners oversee the big picture flow of the entire day.
They transition moments smoothly—from getting ready to the ceremony, to dinner and beyond.
They manage all timing aspects, ensuring that food is warm, music cues happen on time, and no detail is overlooked.
How an elopement photographer & elopement planner work together
While a photographer is instrumental in creating an intentional and visually stunning elopement experience, a planner ensures that everything behind the scenes happens without a hitch. The two roles complement each other beautifully:
A photographer documents the moments.
A planner creates the environment for those moments to happen authentically.
A planner brings an extra level of curation, ambiance, and seamless coordination that allows couples to fully immerse themselves in the experience. They ensure that everything looks and feels effortless, while the photographer preserves those memories forever.
A real life example of how we make the perfect team:
For the evening with Emma & Laurel at the fire lookout, Kiira and I worked together to bring a fully immersive elopement experience to life:
I provided location guidance and worked with Kiira to create a timeline that ensured we had perfect light for every part of the day.
Kiira handled the logistics—securing the reservation six months in advance, acquiring permits, and making sure every detail (from decor to food) was accounted for.
When temperatures soared to 100 degrees, together we adjusted the timeline to start later in the evening for a more comfortable experience. Kiira communicated with the vendors as we made adjustments to ensure the evening flowed smoothly.
While I documented Emma & Laurel from getting ready to celebrating after the ceremony, Kiira already had decorated the fire lookout and prepared an entire picnic complete with charcuterie and cake.
As the evening winds picked up, Emma & Laurel found solace in the fire lookout where they shared a toast + first dance. Meanwhile Kiira handled all of the clean up so they could keep enjoying the evening and watching the stars above.
Kiira reflects: “The biggest challenge was weather and smoke. Because the lookout was on the east side of the state there was a good chance there would be wildfire smoke or at least a very hot and sunny day. We decided to start the shoot in the evening at 6pm when the temperatures started to drop so that we could get some relief from the heat.”
Do you need both an elopement photographer and elopement planner?
The answer depends on how much support and design you want for your day.
If you want planning guidance, timeline creation, and a trusted resource to help you navigate logistics, a photographer like myself has you covered. This is a great fit for most couples who want a simple yet meaningful experience without feeling overwhelmed by details.
If you want full-service planning, decor curation, and a stress-free experience where someone else manages everything, a planner is a great fit. The more moving parts you have to your day, the more likely you are to highly benefit from giving up the coordination of it all to a professional.
How to know if you need an elopement planner
If you’re unsure whether hiring a planner is right for you, ask yourself these questions:
Do you want a fully designed and styled ceremony space with intentional decor and rentals curated just for you?
Are you envisioning an elaborate setup that includes a dinner table, florals, or lounge area?
Do you want someone to manage multiple vendors and ensure everything is set up and flowing seamlessly?
Are you eloping in a remote or complex location where additional logistical coordination is required?
Would you rather focus entirely on your experience while someone else handles setup, breakdown, and problem-solving?
Are you incorporating guest experiences that need additional coordination and structure?
Do you want someone to execute an intricate backup plan without you having to think about it?
Did you answer yes to multiple questions? Then hiring an elopement planner will likely make your experience smoother, more enjoyable, and stress-free. A planner doesn’t just assist. They orchestrate your entire day in a way that ensures every aspect of your elopement is cohesive, beautifully designed, and effortlessly executed.
If you want the kind of elopement day where you can fully immerse yourselves in just living in the moment, hiring both an elopement photographer and a elopement planner will allow you to let go of the fine details so you can get back to being excited about your wedding day. You deserve the kind of experience you REALLY want, without all the stress of figuring out how to get there. With this combination, you get the best of both worlds: beautifully documented memories AND a perfectly curated, effortlessly executed day.
The right choice is different for everyone
Every couple is different, and every elopement is unique. For many, working with an elopement photographer who provides expert guidance, location recommendations, timeline planning, and vendor referrals is more than enough to create a seamless and beautiful day. If you love the idea of a more spontaneous, intimate experience with a simple yet thoughtful approach, an elopement photographer may be all you need.
However, if you have a more elaborate vision, want an intricately designed setup, or simply prefer a completely stress-free experience where every logistical detail is handled, an elopement planner can take things to the next level. Planners provide an unmatched level of coordination, ensuring that every aspect of your day is flawlessly executed so you can focus entirely on each other.
No matter what you choose, your elopement should feel effortless, intentional, and perfectly yours.
If you’re ready to start planning your dream elopement, let’s chat!
When it comes to planning, who should be by your side? Let’s break down the key differences between an elopement photographer and an elopement planner, helping you decide which is the right fit (or if you need both) to bring your dream day to life.