Eloping is becoming an increasingly popular choice for couples who want an intimate and meaningful way to tie the knot. It offers a chance to break free from traditional expectations and create a wedding day that truly reflects the couple’s unique personalities and values. Elopements also allow for more flexibility in terms of location, timeline, and budget.

Elopement Getting Ready Photos Are a Great Addition

As top NYC elopement photographers, we have had the pleasure of capturing the magic of countless elopements in and around the city. One question we often get asked is whether couples should do getting ready photos as part of their elopement. Our answer? Absolutely! Here are a few reasons why we believe getting ready photos are a valuable addition to your elopement day.

Tell the Story of Your Elopement from the Start

Your wedding day is a special and significant moment in your life, and the getting ready process is an important part of that story. Capturing the excitement and nerves as you prepare to marry the love of your life is a beautiful way to document the day from start to finish. It also provides a context for the rest of the photos, creating a cohesive narrative of your wedding day.

Add to the Overall Experience of Your Micro-Wedding

Getting ready photos can be a fun and relaxed way to start your wedding day. It allows you to slow down and savor the moments before the ceremony, to take a deep breath, and enjoy the anticipation. It also provides an opportunity for some beautiful candid shots as you interact with your loved ones and get ready for the big moment.

Capture Your Meticulously Chosen Details in Elopement Getting Ready Photos

Elopement days are often more focused on the couple and the natural beauty of the surroundings, which can make it easy to overlook the details. Getting ready photos give us the chance to capture the little things that make your day unique – the dress, the shoes, the rings, the flowers. These photos can be a valuable reminder of the small but significant aspects of your elopement.

Create a Sense of Anticipation Before the Ceremony

Getting ready photos build up the anticipation for the main event – the ceremony. This is especially true if the couple chooses not to see each other before the ceremony. As photographers, we love capturing the energy and excitement of the bride and groom as they prepare for the big moment. It’s a time of reflection, gratitude, and joy that we are honored to be a part of.

A Bonding Experience for Couples Getting Ready Together

For many couples, getting ready together can be a bonding experience. It’s a time to share a private moment before the ceremony, to talk about the future, and to express love and support for one another. These intimate moments can be captured in photos, creating a lasting memory of your love and commitment to each other.

Highlight Your Personal Style with Elopement Getting Ready Photos

Getting ready photos offer a unique opportunity to highlight your personal style. This is particularly true for the bride, who can showcase her wedding dress, jewelry, and accessories in a more relaxed setting. For the groom, getting ready photos can capture the details of his suit or other attire, as well as the moments spent with his groomsmen.

Capture Your Loved Ones Helping in the Morning

Elopements may be smaller and more intimate affairs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t include your closest family and friends. Getting ready photos provide a chance to capture the special moments shared with your loved ones as you prepare for the ceremony. This can be particularly meaningful for parents, siblings, and close friends who may not be able to attend the ceremony itself.

Strengthen Your Final Wedding Photo Gallery with More Variety

Including getting ready photos in your elopement day adds to the overall photography collection. It provides a wider variety of shots to choose from when creating your wedding album or when selecting photos to hang on your walls. It also adds a more complete story to your wedding day photography collection.

Capture the Details of the Special Location You’ve Chosen

Getting ready photos also provide an opportunity to capture the details of the location where you are eloping. This may include the hotel room or Airbnb where you are staying, or the natural surroundings where the ceremony will take place. These photos add depth and context to the overall collection and create a more comprehensive story of your wedding day.

Should You Take Elopement Getting Ready Photos?

Of course, whether or not to do getting ready photos ultimately depends on your personal preferences and priorities. If you’re looking for a more streamlined and intimate elopement experience, skipping the getting ready photos is perfectly valid. However, if you’re looking to create a more complete and storytelling experience, we highly recommend including getting ready photos in your elopement day.

Work with Top NYC Elopement Photographers

At the end of the day, your wedding day is all about celebrating your love and commitment to each other. Whether you choose to include elopement getting ready photos or not, the most important thing is to stay true to yourselves and create a day that feels authentic and meaningful to you. As top NYC elopement photographers, we would love to capture the intimate moments of your special day.