Helpful Information

your place for all the lingering questions you have about eloping and what it’s like to have us as your photographer and videographer team

YOU’VE DECIDED TO ELOPE, NOW WHAT?

Below you’ll find all the next steps on what we recommend you do following your proposal! It’s time to dream up the different ways your wedding day can unfold - THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

couple cheering after they were announced husband and wife at City Hall in Minneapolis — Hire a Photographer and other Vendors:
First things first, you need to find your perfect people to document your big day. We hope you’re considering us as your photographer and videographer dream team (and we’re very excited to make some major memories + magic). But that’s not all we’re here to help you with!
Chuck is the ultimate planning guide and an incredible resource for finding places to stay, things to do, and ways to relax and explore. Not to mention researching and locating the best places to eat and drink in town! Shiloh handles all things sentimental and special—like tirelessly listening to all your favorite stories together, asking about how you met, and holding space for you to feel fully seen.

Tell Your Family and Friends:

We know this can be a challenging topic for a lot of couples since families can have such a huge impact on our wedding days. We are here to remind you that how you choose to get married or elope is ultimately a choice between you and your fiancé. There can be a lot of fun ways to share the exciting news with friends and family and we encourage couples to consider allowing them to help with the planning process. If that’s not something you’re interested in, surprising them with beautiful photos and a wedding video can also be a fun activity to do once the final photos and wedding video are completed. If you’re choosing to share the news before hand, we always love when family and friends write letters to the couple for them to read on the wedding or elopement day itself as a way to incorporate their love for you two into your dream wedding day. There are other ways to include family in on the fun and if you need more suggestions, we are just a call/email/text away!

guy dipping girl in the Minnesota north shore — Pick an EPIC! Location:
There are so many beautiful locations inside the United States (as well as all over the world!) and the goal here is to consider places you two really feel called to, a place you feel is a good representation of your relationship, or simply just some place you two have really been wanting to go. Did you travel somewhere special when you were in your dating phase? Have you always dreamed of eloping to Hawaii? Or do you want to get married in the desert because you’re obsessed with succulents?! Maybe you’re a life-long beach bum and can’t get enough of the salty air? If you’re having trouble deciding on where you want to go, reach out to us and will send you a list of recommendations or ask you a few questions to help narrow down your search! Ultimately, you want to consider what you want to do before and after the wedding and find a spot that aligns perfectly with your vision.

Snag the proper permits, wedding licenses, etc:

Did you know you can’t just walk out into a National Park, declare your love for each other, sign a marriage license, and call it a day? Some locations require a photography or hiking permit—and the last thing you want is a hiccup on your big day. Not to worry, we’ll make sure all of those items are taken care of, but it’s good to be aware.As far as a marriage license goes, states vary in how quickly you can obtain one, how many witnesses you need, and how long the license is valid for. Don’t worry about remembering all of this juicy info—we’ll go over all of it during the planning process.

Pick a Date:
When it comes to picking a date, eloping is much easier than traditional wedding planning. You don’t have to limit yourself to a weekend in the *very busy* summer if that’s not what you’re into.
Are you obsessed with the snow?! Let’s get you married in December along the snowy cliffs of Tettegouche State Park. Do you love the color of leaves changing in the fall?! Let’s head to Bayfield and capture your love along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and take in the views. Is your favorite smell fresh flowers rejoining the world after a long hibernation? Then spring it is! We highly recommend choosing a weekday if you’re planning on heading out to any of the National Parks, especially from Memorial Day to Labor Day, as that’s a hot time for families, tourists, and everyone else enjoying the outdoors themselves.

We’re bringing more than just cameras. We’ve also got you covered on:

Vendor recommendations
Timeline planning

We’re always building our vendor recommendations, so if you’re lost or don’t know who else to reach out to, let us know and we’re happy to help!

PS: Eloping on a weekday is totally normal + actually, really epic. Less people. More space. Better views. And photos that don’t require cropping out random strangers in the back.

“Amazing humans and amazing photos + film! I love working with them and am even more in love with our wedding video! They’re so fun to work with and you can tell that they care about you and the work they’re producing. Would highly highly highly recommend for all of your engagement, wedding, personal photo + film needs!”

— Kim and Chase | Denver, CO

Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1 is easy—simply fill out our contact form and we’ll be in touch with more details.
Step 2—we’ll hop on a call and set a concrete date in place (along with a few other details).
Step 3—together, we’ll plan your day down to every last magical detail.
Step 4—the day arrives and it’s time to party! We’ll take endless photos and video (while staying out of the way + giving you space to truly soak in the moment) so you can reminisce on this day for life.
Step 5—a few months later, you’ll receive your photo gallery + video download. Prepare with snacks and a comfy outfit, something tells us you’ll be on the couch staring at these a while.
And if you have questions between any of these steps, we’re always a text, email, or phone call away!
Rain or shine, your elopement is happening! They say rain on your wedding day is good luck anyway, right? ;) (we promise not to say that cliche statement come wedding or elopement day though because seriously, sometimes rain can dampen your mood but we PROMISE, you’re going to love the final products. Hello moody portraits!) We have experience photographing in all sorts of weather and will make sure we have at least 3 plan B’s set in place. You’re job is simply to enjoy the moments with your favorite honey bunny and let us handle the rest.
We are wedding and elopement photographers and videographers based out of Colorado Springs, but love exploring new cities and places, including internationally. Our current goal is to visit all 62 National Parks, so if you have any interest in booking a session in one, we are so game!
All of our wedding packages include travel if you’re choosing to get married or elope in the beautiful states of Minnesota or Wisconsin! If you are considering a destination wedding or elopement somewhere outside of our travel schedule or the mid-west, contact us for a custom quote based on your destination of choice. We are huge fans of travel, visiting new places and exploring alongside our couples. There is always room in our schedule for new adventures and we would never say no to someplace new and fun!
Absolutely! Chuck is the best travel planner known to man and finds all the best places to stay, eat + drink, hike, and explore. As your photographers, we also like to take on the role of wedding planners as best we can. We do that through giving suggestions on where to stay, things to do in the area that would be of interest to you both and all the best places to eat and drink. Though, that is not to say we are full on wedding planners and leave all the reservation making and booking to you - BUT, if you find that to be overwhelming, just reach out and we’ll recommend a handful of AMAZING wedding planners who can help take care of all those little details for you and leave you feeling stress-free come the wedding day.
They are! We feel that having both is what makes us unique and we know you'll appreciate the value of each! There will be so many memories we don’t want you to forget. Pairing those memories with sound, motion, and music, creates a wedding video that takes you right back to the moment you two said “I do”! Our goal is to capture your day to its fullest potential, and we do that best by providing wedding and elopement photography and videography together in one package.
As fellow humans and non-models, we totally understand that fear and hesitation, which is why we’re here to remind you: THAT’S OKAY! We don’t expect you to know where to put your hands or how to pose, that’s what we’re here for. So many of our couples experience this same thought, so our approach to ‘posing’ is a natural one that focuses on candid movement, fun and easy prompts, and snuggling your best friend the best way you know how.. Each couple has their own quirks and ways they interact with each other; we focus on bringing out your best side and your natural smiles, all the while taking in the views around you. Real talk, just picture us being some friends who are tagging along on your exciting excursion and who happen to be really good at capturing some of the most memorable moments you’ll share together!
Heck to the no! Some people just seriously appreciate the beauty of this magnificent earth and we totally respect that! There are SO many drive- up locations where we park the cars, take a few steps off the road, and soak in the vast horizon! Don’t let your non-hiking selves stop considering the option to elope because eloping can be for any couple, outdoorsy or not! If you’re up for a short-distance hike, or a multi-day backpacking trip, we got you covered there too!
The sooner the better! We’re excited you’re interested in celebrating your love in a non-traditional sense and can’t wait to see how your elopement unfolds. Typically, most elopements don’t have the 12 month planning period so we encourage you to reach out sooner rather than later when it comes to your elopement! There are things to consider like AirBnb rentals, permits in national parks and other reservations that book fast if we’re not quick to snagging the proper items.