What to Wear for an Elopement
Adventure elopement and micro wedding outfit ideas and advice
Footwear
One of the most important aspects of your day will be what you're wearing on your feet. No matter what season it is or what activity we'll be doing, you'll need sturdy, comfortable shoes. Save the slippery dress shoes and break-an-ankle heels for your next city date and go for a pair of boots instead. It doesn't have to be ugly and outdoorsy, but it has to keep your feet safe!
Think about where we’ll be. Will there be water, puddles, or mud? Better look into something water proof. Will there be inclines, gravel, or rocks? Get boots with a solid tread. Will we be somewhere fairly flat and maintained? You can probably get away with a tennis or street shoe.
Another thing to think about: if you’re purchasing new boots for your elopement, especially if we’re hiking in them, you’ll want to break them in first. An extra thick pair of socks and a hair dryer can help you do this without getting them dirty, if that’s important to you.
Don’t forget some cushy memory foam insoles and breathable crew socks designed for moving in!
My recommendations:
your favorite hiking boots
Keens
Tevas
Blundstones (they make very cute heeled boots if you want something fancier!)
Darn Tough or Smartwool socks
Clothing
Look for wedding dresses that move with you – super structured silhouettes or tight skirts will feel awful when you’re hiking. I highly recommend moving around when trying on your dress to test it out! Make sure you have enough fabric in the skirt to be able to hold it while you’re hiking, or go for a shorter length that won’t affect your stride.
As for trains, I generally recommend we bustle them while we hike, and then unbustle them for your ceremony. If we aren’t hiking, it’s up to you how often you keep your train down while we move around!
For suits, I recommend a heavier fabric like wool or tweed for winter elopements, and linen or cotton for summer. Make sure you also have a full range of movement. Bonus tip: wear a tee shirt under your button up shirt to catch your sweat in the warm months and double as a layer in the cold months! If it’s really warm during your elopement, bring a backup button up to change into.
Staying Warm
Layers, layers, and more layers. If you’re eloping at higher elevations, it will be chilly, even in the summer. Fleece lined tights and solid base layers will be a lifesaver on those sunrise elopement mornings. Coats, gloves, scarves, and hand warmers are also a must have. We will take as many breaks we need to keep you safe and warm!
A solid order of operations if you’re wearing a wedding dress:
thermal top or bodysuit
fleece lined tights
thermal pants
your wedding dress
a very warm over-layer, bonus if it has a hood to shield you from winter winds
gloves and cute ear muffs so we don’t cover your hair
If you’re wearing a suit, things are simpler for you!
thermal top and pants
second top and pants (should be fairly form fitting)
suit
outer layer (a wool trench coat works wonders)
gloves and a cool winter hat to cover your ears
Mountain Altitude
Mountain elopements are beautiful, but they mean we are much closer to the sun, and it will fry you like an egg, even if you’re only exposed for 10-20 minutes. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, even in the winter and on cloudy days.
Oxygen is thinner at higher altitudes and it can catch up to you quick, especially if we’re hiking. Make sure you spend at least 24-48 hours at elevation (anything over 4-5 thousand feet) to help your body acclimate. If you know you’re prone to altitude sickness or have any other physical conditions, stock up on those liquid oxygen cans, water, and PLENTY of electrolytes. Gentle movement at altitude (a walk around your AirBnB, for example) also helps you acclimate.