Hand holding disposable camera.

How to Document Your Elopement

Planning a wedding is special, but eloping is a whole separate special journey. If you want to remember the special moments of your elopement day, you’ll need to document your adventure. Documenting your adventure allows you to take a step back and relive all the incredible memories of your elopement. Here’s how to document your elopement.

Table of Contents
  1. Adventure Elopement Photographer
  2. Professional Videographer
  3. Papershoot
  4. Polaroids
  5. Guest Book
  6. After the Tone
  7. Keepsake Box
  8. Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet
  9. Photo Album

1. Adventure Elopement Photographer

The first and most obvious is hiring a professional photographer for your wedding day, but not just any photographer. You’ll want to find an adventure elopement photographer specializing in outdoor and experience-based elopements. 

As an adventure elopement photographer, I provide documentary snapshots of your unique experience through a storytelling approach. I take advantage of natural landscapes and embrace the beauty of the outdoors that only nature can provide. I capture details of the environment, your special touches to your announcements, the small moments, as well as the great. 

Furthermore, your photographer will be able to provide invaluable guidance, from the perfect location scout, permit research, and activity recommendations, to the best time of day to achieve what you’re dreaming of. If you’re reading this nodding your head with, “this is what I’m looking for!” I provide this support and more. Find out how I provide a seamless, stress-free elopement experience here

Couple sitting on a cliff overlooking the water.

2. Professional Videographer

A professional videographer can help to capture all the details you may have missed throughout the day. The quality of their recordings will be spectacular. They also know what shots work best to create a truly unique video with emotive nostalgia. Furthermore, they will be able to provide you with advice on the types of shots you may wish to include, ensuring that you get the most out of your special day.

3. Paper Shoot

Paper Shoot is an eco-friendly, digital camera that captures photos resembling film. It acts as an old-school analog camera without the trouble of developing it, but still maintains the excitement of a film camera by being screenless. It provides digital files that can be easily uploaded directly to your computer via a Micro USB cable or standard and WiFi SD cards up to 32GB. Paper Shoot offers 16/18 megapixels and 1080/1440 video recording cameras with four filters: color, black and white, sepia, and cool tone. The camera itself is thin and light, making it perfect for travel and adventuring! Save 10% when you document your elopement using Paper Shoot by entering code ADVENTURE10 at purchase.

Paper Shoot camera with a gray background.

4. Polaroids

An instant camera can be a wonderful way to save memories and document your elopement. Plus, a polaroid camera gives any guests a chance to take their photos, to capture the special moments in ways that reflect their perspectives. These photos can act as a special souvenir or for your memories to keep. This can create a truly personalized keepsake that they can treasure for a lifetime and pass down to future generations. Additionally, you can also use your instant camera to quickly and easily document the décor and atmosphere of your intimate affair, in a way that a regular camera may not be able to capture with the same warmth, emotion, and natural beauty.

5. Guest Book

A guest book is a way of allowing your guests to leave you love notes of wisdom, happiness, and well wishes. I’ve seen couples pick up a journal in the area they’re eloping; choose a book significant to or reflective of their relationship; use napkins because of an inside joke; or choose any notebook for their guests to write meaningful words.

6. After the Tone

After the Tone is an audio guestbook featuring a vintage phone at the center. It captures voicemails to transport you back in time, reliving the memories and voices from your elopement day. After the Tone lets you choose the color of the phone you’d prefer to receive and ships it out to you before your event. Their phones are completely wireless and AAA battery powered allowing the phone to record for 8-10 hours. After use, you ship back the phone within 3 days and Ater the Tone will send you an audio digital download. There’s even an option to receive a vintage vinyl record of your recordings! This is a remarkable way to document your unique experience. Use my code KAREN10 for 10% off.

After the Tone vintage phone line up in different colors.

7. Keepsake Box

For eloping couples, a wedding keepsake box is a perfect way to keep and preserve the priceless memories of your special day. Not only does it provide a way to cherish your elopement tangibly, but it also serves as a small time capsule to transport you back to that moment when you said: “I do”. As you plan for your elopement and on your special day, make sure to take the time to collect all of the little trinkets and tokens that will make your special moment last a lifetime. This is a fun and tangible way to document your elopement.

8. Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet

When it comes to preserving memories of your elopement day, you don’t want to overlook the importance of your wedding bouquet, if you opt to have one. Preserving your wedding bouquet can serve as a reminder of the power of love and connection, and the commitment you made to each other.

When it comes to preserving your wedding bouquet, there are several different methods available. A florist may offer a preservation service where they can dry and press the flowers for you. Alternatively, you can preserve your bouquet at home using natural drying methods . Some of these methods include air drying, microwave drying, pressing, and freeze-drying. Here are a few other ideas on how to preserve your elopement bouquet:

  • Air-dry upside down and hang as decor
  • Preserve in silica gel 
  • Send your flowers to Pressed Bouquet Shop to be made into a resin art piece
  • Create a dried petal shadow box

9. Photo Album

Creating a wedding album is an excellent way to capture the precious memories of your special day and preserve them for years to come. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task either; with the right tools and a few tips, making a stunning wedding album is easier than you might think. Fundy is an excellent way to proof your wedding album before printing. A quality album will reflect your style and allow you to showcase your favorite photos. Consider the weight, size, design, and layout of the album to ensure it is something you’ll enjoy looking back on in the years to come. I recommend Folio for handcrafted, high-quality albums to hold your elopement photos. Creating a wedding album is a great way to showcase your love story and ensure you have a reminder of the special day that is both beautiful and timeless. 

Photo albums laying on wood table.
Photo album laying on wood table.

Your elopement adventure is something special, and documenting it allows you to capture and savor the memories of your special day. If you found or used one of these ideas on how to document your elopement, leave a comment below to share which one you used!

Here's to co-creating an unforgettable elopement experience.

Here's to co-creating an unforgettable elopement experience.

I’m Karen, a Southern California Elopement Photographer who empowers couples to create memories that will last a lifetime. I am dedicated to providing the tools you need to create an unforgettable experience. 

I help couples by providing personalized location lists, planning resources, vendor recommendations, permits, timeline-curation, and much more to curate elopement days that will be cherished forever.

Your Southern California Elopement Photographer, planning expert, and adventure pal.

I'm here to empower you to create memories that will last a lifetime.

About Karen

Follow me on Instagram!

@karenagurtophoto

Follow me on Instagram!

@karenagurtophoto

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