PHOTOGRAPHY
We're based in Charleston, South Carolina, but are available to photograph weddings worldwide during our off-season months: July, August, December, January & February!
2021 Wedding Packages - starting at $6200
You're getting married!! ... and we're so happy for you! Our wedding photography packages ALWAYS include both Aaron & Jillian as your photographers, 8 1/2 hours of wedding day coverage and an online gallery of color corrected and artistically edited images to download, share with wedding guests and professionally print from. We have two additional packages to choose from if you'd like to add more coverage, an engagement session and/or an album. We also offer rehearsal dinner coverage and bridal sessions to complete your wedding experience!
2021 Elopements - $3500
You're eloping! Congratulations!! Our elopement photography package includes 4 hours of coverage and BOTH Aaron & Jillian as your photographers. And if you're not familiar with Charleston, we'd be happy to share some of our favorite locations with you, to ensure that you'll have a beautiful backdrop for your big day! We'd also be happy to recommend our favorite elopement wedding planners, who can help you create an absolute dream day to enjoy!
Engagement Sessions - $750
Congratulations on your engagement! Our engagement sessions always include BOTH Aaron & Jillian as your photographers and 60 minutes of photo coverage, at a location of your choice. If you're not familiar with Charleston, we'd be happy to share some of our favorite locations with you, to help you two find a beautiful backdrop for your photos!
We also offer gorgeous, in house designed, professionally handmade wedding albums that we guarantee for life! Albums are offered in
8x8, 10x10 and 12x12.
Have Them There the Day of the Ceremony
If having your family or friends there on the day of your elopement ceremony is important to you, there are many ways that you can include them. Unlike a traditional wedding where it’s assumed that guests will be included in the whole day, an elopement allows you the freedom to pick and choose which parts guests will attend. This can help to take the pressure off certain parts of the day, and can also allow you to have flexibility to enjoy more adventurous activities that your guests may not be up for.
Here are some ways my Amores have included their guests:
• Having a family member or friend help get them ready for the ceremony
• Inviting guests to a small ceremony before they had an adventure with just the two of them
• An intimate private ceremony followed by a party with guests afterwards
• Inviting a close friend or family member to officiate or witness the ceremony
• If your family members are of the 4-legged variety, include them in your ceremony. In some states (like Colorado), your furbaby can even be an official witness!
Celebrating in Other Ways
If you don’t plan to have guests or want to keep your guest list to a minimum but include people in other ways, here are some ideas to make people feel like they are a part of your day:
• Ask friends or family to write personal notes to read at the elopement ceremony
• Skype or Facetime for part of the ceremony
• Have a big party (or multiple small parties!) to celebrate afterward
Unique Elopement Ceremony Ideas
While even the most unique elopements usually incorporate some type of ceremony, there is no template for what an elopement ceremony has to look like. As someone who wants to carve your own wedding path, you shouldn’t feel any pressure to follow traditions that are not meaningful to you.
If you’re looking for elopement ceremony ideas, here’s what some of my other Amores have done, but again, the best part about an elopement is that you can do whatever you want! There is no right or wrong way to have an elopement ceremony, so if none of these elopement ceremony ideas speak to you, go right ahead and make up your own tradition.
Handfasting
This Celtic tradition of handfasting involves tying your hands together to symbolize the union of your lives together. Handfasting has roots in Wiccan and Pagan culture, but has recently become more popular in secular and religious ceremonies.
Paint a Picture
Making a piece of art is a great way to spend creative time together during your elopement. Even if you're not artistically inclined, you'll have a lot of laughs and a special reminder of your day!
Have a First Look
To have a first look, dedicate time before the ceremony or activities to just focus on that moment when you see each other for the first time. It's guaranteed to be an emotional moment for you both, so don't be surprised if there are some happy tears (maybe even from your sappy elopement photographer).
Make Sand Art or Jewelry
If you're planning a beach wedding, consider collecting some of the sand to create sand art or incorporate into a piece of jewelry.
Blend Your Own Drink
Who doesn't love a signature cocktail? And, you’ll have something to sip every year on your anniversary.
Celebrate With a First Dance
Just because there's no dance floor or cheesy cover band doesn't mean you can't have a first dance with your love!
Read Personalized Vows or Letters
Write your own vows or letters to each other and read them either privately or publicly to each other as part of your ceremony. You can even have a custom vow book created to keep your words forever.
Exchange gifts
Take a moment out of your day to slow down and exchange meaningful gifts with each other.
Custom Design Your Wedding Details
The possibilities to customize your wedding attire and decor are endless! Taking the time to make each detail a little more “you” will make the day that much more special. Etsy has some amazing artists who can custom create just about anything you want! We've had couples customize everything from denim jackets to shoes!
Get Matching Tattoos
A tattoo is a meaningful symbol of your love, and an awesome permanent reminder of your special day!
Plant a tree together
Planting a tree together allows you to give back to the earth and can serve as a permanent reminder of your day every time you visit.
Use Custom ‘Just Married’ or ‘We Eloped’ Signs
We love incorporating custom signs into our photos even for our most adventurous elopements!
Create a Time Capsule
Gather items and photos from your elopement ceremony and leave them for you (or someone else!) to discover years from now.
Wear Matching Outfits or Other Non-Traditional Wedding Attire
Even if you don't want to go full matchy-matchy, you can find a way to coordinate or maybe add little matching details like socks, shoes, etc. It's these little details that help to make this day special!
Whatever you wear, make sure it's authentic to you!
Unique Elopement Activity Ideas
As I've mentioned before (and you know I'm gonna mention again 😀), your elopement can be anything you want it to be. It can be as adventurous or as laid-back as you want, and some couples even incorporate two or more activities into their elopement!
Here are just some of the activities you can enjoy on your special day:
• Get ready together
• Play music
• Elope in a special place with extra meaning
• Rent a Jeep and explore off-road trails together
• Capture a steamy intimate moment
• Go rafting
• Swim in a lake or ocean, naked 😉
• Charter a small boat
• Go surfing
• Ride in a hot air balloon
• Take a helicopter
• Ride ATVs
• Take a hike
• Go snowboarding or skiing
• Go ice climbing
• Snowshoe
• Ride snowmobiles
• Visit hot springs
• Skydive
• Go dog-sledding
Unique Food and Drink Elopement Ideas
If there's one piece of traditional wedding day advice that still holds for elopements, it's this: “don't forget to eat!” Sure, you can always just throw a few energy bars in your bag to keep you going, but many couples want to have something more special. Here are some ideas for a memorable elopement meal:
• Have wedding cake
• Make a charcuterie board
• Hire a private chef
• Have wedding donuts
• Have a picnic
• Pop some champagne
• Have pizza and beers
• BBQ
• Make s'mores around the campfire
Where to Stay and How to Get Around Your Elopement
When it comes to transportation, your options don't end at the rental car counter. Depending on your activities, you may want to explore alternate modes of transportation to get you to your elopement spot. My Amores have found all kinds of fun ways to get to their elopements, including helicopters, dog-sleds, 4x4s and boats!
Best Places to Elope
Now that you hopefully have some great elopement ideas, you'll need to decide where to elope! For some, this decision is easy: they want to stay close to their current home or hometown. Others dream of a destination wedding in a locale that has their ideal climate, landscape, or activities. Wherever you choose, it should be someplace that has special meaning to the two of you.
Working with an experienced elopement photographer can help make your destination wedding planning easier, since we know the best places to elope and can help with permitting and logistics. Here are some of my favorite elopement locations:
Eloping in Colorado
Colorado truly has it all! Stunning mountain vistas are a given, but you'll also find lakes, forests, and even sand dunes! For more, check out these 7 Best Elopement Locations In Colorado.
Eloping in Utah
Utah, and especially the Moab area, is known as a mecca for adventurers for a good reason. You'll find some of the most unique landscapes in the world here, and along with that comes incredible opportunities for exploring. For everything you need to know about the area, read this Ultimate Guide to Your Moab Elopement.
Eloping in Hawaii
Hawaii doesn't need much of an introduction as a dream elopement locale. With its incredible beaches, stunning views, and year-round sunshine, it's no wonder Hawaii is a popular spot for destination elopements.
Eloping in Oregon and Washington State
There are a number of incredible elopement spots in the Pacific Northwest. Whether you're looking for a moody forest backdrop or stunning beach views, you'll find them here.
Go International!
If you want to combine your wedding with the epic trip of a lifetime, you can choose to elope anywhere in the world! We have elopement packages for international destinations – no extra travel fees or costs. Grab your passport and let's go!
Meet Your Elopement Photographer with Unique Elopement Ideas
Hi there! I'm Adam, an adventure elopement photographer who loves helping couples like you plan their dream elopements! If you're thinking of eloping and want to learn more about unique elopement ideas, reach out! I offer elopement packages in locations around the world, so whatever you're dreaming, I'd love to help you make it happen!
I want that epic photography!
WHAT IS AN ELOPEMENT?
Is getting married without a wedding. Although you can choose to get married and have a small gathering after. You can have some close people present for it. Your options are only limited to your imagination!
HOW MUCH TIME IS NEEDED TO PLAN ONE?
The average length of planning one is about 4-10 months. This gives you time to book flights at good prices and find the best options for you two
HOW MUCH DOES IT TYPICALLY COST?
This can cost between a couple hundred to a couple of thousand depending on what you want for your special day and how you want to celebrate. Fortunately, its much cheaper than a wedding.
IS AN ELOPEMENT RIGHT FOR US?
At the end of the day its your experience. Some questions to ask yourself… Will this make you happy? Things to consider would be finances, family, the dream day you imagined. There are so many ways you can create the day. Be sure this is something you and your partner want and have fun with it!
Brain Storm/Dream it up
Come up with the overall feel and vision you have for the day. Will you be at home or will it be a destination elopement? Will anyone else join you two?
THE ELOPEMENT JOURNEY IN 5 STEPS
Although there are many ways to plan this, an elopement doesn’t always follow a linear process.
However, I have found that this sequence is helpful for couples planning their elopement!
Brain Storm/Dream it up: Come up with the overall feel and vision you have for the day. Will you be at home or will it be a destination<
Make a Budget: hile you are dreaming, consider how much you would like to spend and on what? Where will you splurge<
Research and Start Booking: Research photographers, places you can elope and look for someone who can marry you two.
Consider theFinalize Details: Finalize airline tickets, rentals for car and hotels. Consider reservations at restaurants etc.
Enjoy!
BRAIN STORM & DREAM
This is the part of the process where you can dream about what you would like to do. Do you want this to be an elopement with just you two and no-one else? Do you want a couple of important people present for this?
Do you want to make this a destination elopement? Do you want an after party?
There are so many options and ways of enjoying this day, so just grab a paper and jot down all kinds of ideas you would be interested in doing.
So dream:
IF you could get married anywhere in the world,
where would it be?
MAKE A BUDGET
BRAIN DUMP
Grab a pen and paper and just write out all the ideas you both have about what you would like to do.
DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF
If you have a dream in mind, don’t give up on it, find ways to make it happen! Do your Research!
FIND INSPRIATION
TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR BUDGET
Make a list of everything that will cost money:
Destination, Rings, Dress, Suite, Shoes, Food, Photographer, Reservations
Then what you want to do is decide how much your total budget is and how you will break it up.
So if you wanted to spend the bulk of your money on a dress, then you would plan accordingly.
Some things to consider to save money:
Rent a suite. Look for second hand dresses.Get married on a weekday. Do an all inclusive cruise. Ask a friend to borrow their boat, nice car, or cabin
Once you’ve come up with the overall vision and budget for it. Now is time to move to step three and start doing some research and booking!
Your goal with this research is to make this vision a reality. This is where you start looking at places you want to elope and check logistical issues such as time allowed, rules of the venue or park you are going to.
Its in this stage that can become overwhelming, ask a friend for help and delegate some stuff. Just because you don’t have a bridal party does not mean you can’t ask your loved ones for help, nor does it mean you can’t utilize a wedding day planner!
could be included.
Elopment Checklist
Dress/Suit - Bridals shops typically suggest that you get it 6-12 months in advance for fittings and for delivery of dress.
Shoes - Keep in mind the area you will be getting married. If you will be out in nature, it’s smart to bring a pair to hike in.
Jewelry - Will you buy jewelry? Or will you borrow? Do you have something special that runs in the family? Make provisions to keep that jewelry safe and to not forget it on the wedding day!
How to Research
DO SOME DIGGING:
Find out the general rules. Some of the biggest mistakes people make is thinking they don’t have to worry about all this extra stuff that they end up over looking things like: Hours of operation, are candles allowed, is photography allowed, can there be more than just us?
DON’T GET DISCOURAGED
You mind find something won’t work exactly how you want it due to restrictions and budget. Don’t let this ruin your dream. Find ways to make it work!
ASK FOR HELP:
Utilize a wedding planner! So many people think just because they are getting eloped that they can’t use one…this is false! Utilize their planning expertise for some extra support. Ask friends and family who are good with researching to help as well! You don’t have to do this alone.
Elopemnt Checklist
Photographers - Find someone you connect with and who can help you with the elopement.
Flowers - Be sure to plan ahead so you have the bouquet ready for you if you are wanting flowers.
Hair & Makeup - Will you be doing your own hair & makeup? If not, finding someone who can work with your location and time is important.
Musician/Music - You might want someone to play for you…check this in advance people get booked! Also, consider location and if they are able to get there with their instrument
Officient
ELOPEMENT CHECKLIST(cont.)
Ceremony Timeline
Finalize ceremony Details:
Decide what you want to happen for your ceremony.
Will their be music?
Will you have special vows or do
any symbolic things?
Write out your wedding day timeline:
Sure there isn’t a bunch of things like hosting a wedding, but what will you do?
Where will you get ready?
Who will you meet up?
Where will you eat?
The day still needs planning!
Photography:
When will you take photos?
Will you take any before you see the groom?
Will you have any family photos if anyone comes?
Be Prepared:
Where is your ceremony going to be located?
Will you need an extra pair of shoes?
Umbrella?
Will it possibly rain and you’ll be stuck in the wilderness? How about a back pack with some small items?
Who will carry all that?
Will you have a friend come along to help?
Those are all things to consider when planning the ceremony!
Also, if you plan to have a couple of people there don’t forget to tell them to bring water or provide it for them!
Last Step
ENJOY!!