How to Elope
A Complete Guide for Adventure Elopements
A guide to crafting a wildly personal, unforgettable experience
Eloping isn’t about running away. It’s about choosing to begin your marriage in a way that feels real, grounded, connected, and true to who you are. A way that lets go of outside expectations and holds space for what matters most to you as a couple.
Whether you picture sunrise vows on high ridgelines in the Swiss Alps, intimate moments among the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites, or exchanging promises beneath the otherworldly landscapes of Iceland, this is your invitation to experience your wedding day differently. You don’t need a detailed vision. Just a willingness to trust, to feel, and to be fully present. We’ll shape the rest of your perfect elopement day together.
Here’s how to plan an elopement that FEELS like the ultimate expression of your connection.
01.
Reach Out & Begin Your Elopement Journey
When you send me a message about your elopement plans, you don’t need to have it all figured out. You might have a specific Alpine location in mind. Or maybe just a feeling you want to experience. That’s more than enough to start creating your perfect day.
Your unique love story and vision deserve thoughtful attention from the very start. Together, we’ll explore what’s possible for your elopement in these magnificent European locations, whether it’s:
A sunrise ceremony on a secluded Swiss Alps mountaintop
A quiet moment by a crystal-clear Dolomite lake surrounded by dramatic peaks
An intimate exchange of vows against Iceland’s volcanic backdrop and flowing waterfalls
This is your opportunity to step away from wedding conventions and focus on what makes you feel most alive and connected as a couple during your elopement experience.
Once we connect and it feels right to move forward together with your elopement plans, you’ll receive a contract and retainer to officially secure your elopement date.
I intentionally take on only 10 adventure elopements per year so I can give each couple my full presence, creative energy, and care throughout the planning process. Your elopement experience will never be rushed or treated like a checklist of locations to visit.
02.
Dream Big & Choose Your Perfect Elopement Location
Now the real adventure elopement planning begins. Through a thoughtful questionnaire and personalized communication (whether through emails, video messages with screen sharing, or calls – your choice), we’ll explore your vision for your European mountain elopement in depth.
This is your moment to shed traditional wedding conventions and focus on what makes you feel most alive and connected as a couple. Whether you’re drawn to the majestic Swiss Alps, the dramatic limestone peaks of the Dolomites, or Iceland’s otherworldly volcanic landscapes, we’ll uncover which location resonates most with your unique love story.
Your chosen elopement location sets the tone for your entire intimate wedding experience. Having specialized in photographing and planning elopements in these breathtaking European regions, I’ll guide you to places that feel secluded and meaningful. Imagine saying your vows surrounded by jagged Alpine peaks dusted with snow, or finding yourselves alone in a mountain meadow where the only sounds are the whispers of the wind and the distant chime of cowbells.
We’ll talk about the pace you want to move at during your elopement day. Whether you’d rather hike for hours across scenic Alpine trails, keep it gentle along Icelandic black sand beaches, or spend the morning in solitude and the evening stargazing in the Dolomites.
These mountain landscapes aren’t just beautiful backdrops for your elopement photos – they’re living presences that reshape the rhythm of your wedding day. Every adventure elopement unfolds in response to landscape, light, and emotion.
03.
Create Your Elopement Timeline for Meaningful Moments
Your elopement day should flow naturally, giving you space to savor every moment. Here’s how we’ll craft a timeline that prioritizes connection:
Getting Ready: Whether it’s a quiet morning together in a mountain chalet or separate preparations, this is the time to set your intentions for the day.
The Ceremony: Choose a time and place that feels right – whether it’s exchanging vows at golden hour in the Swiss Alps, under the midnight sun in Iceland, or at dawn in the Dolomites.
Adventure: Take a helicopter up to a breathtaking Alpine viewpoint, enjoy a picnic by a Dolomite lake, or explore Iceland’s hidden waterfalls. These shared experiences create memories that echo through your relationship.
Intimate Moments: Take time to soak it all in. Sit together in the stillness, celebrate with champagne, or simply gaze at the scenery around you.
Celebration: End your day with something special that reflects your unique connection – perhaps a private dinner in a mountain hut or stargazing on an Icelandic beach.
04.
Planning Practical Details with Intention and Care
This is where our shared vision starts to take shape. From location scouting to timeline design, I’ll handle the logistics with clarity and calm. You’ll receive tailored resources, emotional guidance, and access to local experts for everything from transport to food to safety on the trail.
We’ll design your day around light, season, terrain, and energy – with flexibility to embrace whatever nature offers us. Rather than rigid backup plans, we’ll respond dynamically to the day as it unfolds, ensuring your experience remains profound regardless of conditions in these majestic but ever-changing landscapes.
Most locations we’ll explore don’t require special permits, though occasionally we might arrange access to private meadows or special spots. Most couples choose to handle the legal marriage formalities at home before or after their elopement, allowing complete freedom for your symbolic ceremony in these stunning landscapes.
You’ll also receive guidance on what to bring for your specific adventure – from comfortable hiking shoes to layering options for changing mountain weather. Every detail will be considered so you can focus entirely on the experience.
Some couples bring vows and rings. Some bring nothing but their presence. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
Eloping is about being true to yourselves, leaving behind the noise of expectations, and stepping into an experience that’s intimate, adventurous, and DEEPLY meaningful.
05.
Personal Touches for Your Intimate Ceremony
The beauty of an elopement lies in its intimacy and individuality. Think about adding:
• Vows straight from the heart or letters from loved ones
• Meaningful details: a keepsake, heirloom, or personalized adventure
• Cultural elements that honor your heritage against the Alpine backdrop
• A celebration that’s uniquely you, whether that’s sharing a picnic on a Dolomite peak, dancing under the stars in Iceland, or toasting to your future in a Swiss valley
Every element should feel like a reflection of your love, and I’m here to help weave those details into your day seamlessly.
06.
Your Elopement Day: Presence, Photography & Lasting Memories
You’ll wake up on your elopement day knowing it’s truly yours. Nothing staged. No expectations to perform. Just the two of you, embraced by the magnificent European mountains, doing something brave and beautiful together.
As your elopement photographer, I’ll be there with a calm and steady presence, guiding you through each part of your intimate wedding day and documenting it all as it naturally unfolds in these breathtaking landscapes. The way you look at each other. The Alpine wind on your skin. The wildflowers.
The quiet moments. The awe of being surrounded by nature’s grandeur on your wedding day.
My approach to elopement photography goes beyond simply documenting what your wedding day looks like – I capture what it feels like in its most visceral, fleeting moments. From the sweeping panoramas of Alpine landscapes to the quiet glances between you, each elopement photo will hold both the physical beauty of the mountains and the emotional depth of your connection on this meaningful day.
You’ll walk away with elopement photographs that don’t just show what your wedding day looked like, but what it felt like – so you can return to this feeling, again and again. You’ll carry this adventure elopement day with you long after you leave these breathtaking European landscapes – not just in photographs, but in how you move through the world together as married partners.
Long after the Elopement Adventure has passed, the feelings you experienced in those breathtaking landscapes will continue to echo in your hearts
Eloping in the Swiss Alps, Italian Dolomites, or Icelandic landscapes is about being true to yourselves as a couple, leaving behind the noise of traditional wedding expectations, and stepping into an intimate experience that’s personal, adventurous, and deeply meaningful.
When life moves too quickly, the quiet, intentional moments of your intimate elopement are what will stay with you forever
Kind Words
“The unbelievably gorgeous photos are just the juiciest cherry on top of what is the best experience we could’ve ever imagined.“
I believe that you’re not just planning a celebration – you’re crafting a chapter in your love story that’s as unforgettable as it is uniquely yours.
Hi – I’m Eline!
From the moment you start dreaming about your intimate elopement in the Swiss Alps, Italian Dolomites, or Icelandic landscapes, I’m here to support your unique vision. As your dedicated elopement photographer and guide, I’ll be both your calming presence and fierce protector throughout the planning process, navigating mountain challenges with confidence and care. You don’t have to figure out how to elope in these magnificent European locations on your own – reach out at any time, and together we’ll bring your adventure elopement vision to life.
As part of my commitment to the Alpine places we’ll explore during your elopement, I prioritize eco-conscious practices that respect these precious mountain landscapes. We’ll work with trusted local experts to minimize our environmental impact while creating an elopement experience that feels deeply personal and true to you as a couple.
Ready to begin planning your dream mountain elopement? Send a message today, and let’s start creating something extraordinary together for your intimate wedding day in the Alps, Dolomites, or Iceland.