If you’re planning on having an adventure elopement chances are you’ll need an adventure elopement dress! Looking for an elopement dress is a little bit different than looking for a traditional wedding dress. There’s a few factors you have to keep in mind such as comfort, mobility, weight and of course style! But don’t worry cause we’re here to help you find the best elopement dresses that checks all the boxes!

Traditional Wedding Dress VS. Elopement Dress

What’s the difference between an elopement dress and wedding dress? There are so many different wedding dress styles and a lot of them make the perfect elopement dress, but a lot also don’t make for a good elopement dress. You will definitely be moving around much more, doing tons of exploring and wearing your dress in different environments. In traditional weddings a lot of the time you’re sacrificing style over comfort and when it comes to your adventure elopement, comfort will be the most important factor! I will definitely be mentioning comfort a lot when choosing an elopement dress. Making sure you choose a dress that follows these guidelines will be helpful in feeling comfortable and confident for your elopement day!

Comfort and Mobility  

When shopping for clothes in general you should be searching for stuff that makes you feel comfortable! Especially if you’re planning on spending hours wearing it.

Typically with adventure elopements there could be some hiking involved and comfort will be a huge factor when finding a dress. You definitely don’t want to choose anything that is too tight, try and stay away from corsets and super puffy skirts. Remember this is something you’ll be wearing for a long period of time, so making sure you can move around in it is important! 

We suggest lighter fabrics, and something flowy. The best way to see how the dress will react to movement is spin in it! Do some squats in it! Maybe even dance a little! Having a flowy dress during your adventure elopement will help capture some epic photos! 

Hiking in an Elopement Dress

Yes people really do hike in their elopement dress! Of course this also depends on how long the hike is and if it makes more sense to just pack their dress and change once they get to the destination. As adventure elopement photographers, we can definitely help you give clarity on what’s better. 

Some key factors to determine on whether you should pack it or not are the length of the hike, we suggest if the hike is more than 4 miles round trip it’s probably easier to pack it, and how strenuous the hike will be and if you feel more comfortable to just hike in your normal hiking attire. 

So how do you even hike in a dress? It’s actually a lot easier than it looks! Being able to bunch up your dress will definitely help for it to not get caught in any branches. However just a side note, we absolutely loooove that “ombre” look! 

Again, mentioning weight here, you want to make sure your dress is not too heavy since you’ll be carrying it while you hike and even if you decide to pack it, it won’t be so heavy in your backpack.

How To Pack your Dress

If you decided you wanted to pack up your dress, you want to make sure you pack it in something that won’t cause any wrinkles. Packing it in it’s own garment bag will definitely help. Of course you still might get some wrinkles here or there, so it’s a good idea to choose material that wrinkle as much, such as lace and embroidery.

Once we get to our destination, where do you change? I’m sure you guessed it, there are probably no bathrooms during your adventure elopement so we have to make due with ducking behind a tree or rocks to change, but that’s how your spouse can help you change of course by bringing a blanket or towel to give you more privacy!

Should I worry about my dress getting dirty?

Sorry, but your dress will definitely get dirty! I’m sure that’s true with any type of wedding. But like we mentioned before, that “dirty dress” look makes for some amazing images and looks so beautiful. Plus it just shows how epic and amazing your elopement day was!

What to Wear with Your Elopement Dress  

Your elopement dress doesn’t have to be “simple” you can absolutely dress it up. Wearing veils, capes or jackets can really amplify your images and can provide extra movement to your images! 

Depending on what season you’ll be having your elopement will also help with determining what to wear with your dress. Being prepared is extremely important for your adventure elopement, so having the right gear is essential! If your planning on a winter elopement, layers will be your lifesaver. We highly suggest a base layer, something like wool or fleece leggings, try and match your base layer to your skin color so it will blend in well for photos. Of course bringing a sweater will also be beneficial for colder elopements.

Hiking Boots?

Chances are your adventure elopement will have a lot of walking even for an elopement with not much hiking, so good footwear is important. Imagine wearing heels during your adventure elopement, how uncomfortable that’ll feel! We suggest hiking boots for your adventure elopement, even for easier hikes. Shoes with good traction are a safe bet, when you’re walking or hiking outdoors. There are so many different photo opportunities such as on a rock or boulder and you want to make sure you have stable footing. I sound like a broken record here but being comfortable is what should matter most during your adventure elopement. Feeling uncomfortable on your elopement day will definitely hinder your experience!

Where Can I Find Elopement Dresses

Ok now that you know what’s important when looking for an elopement dress, where the heck can i get one? There are soo many wedding dress shops! Try unconventional stores and local shops as well! Here are a few shops to get you started 

  1. Lulus 
  2. BHLDN
  3. Etsy 
  4. Rue De Seine 
  5. Rish Bridal 

Elopement Dress Styles

There are tons of dress styles, from boho to modern. It’s hard to figure out which dress to choose from. Our best advice is take it slow. Search Pinterest for dress styles and narrow it down from there. The best styles for elopements really do vary, but our favorite styles are, A-line, Boho, and Two-piece. Don’t rush buying a dress just because you feel pressured. You will find the perfect dress! Most important thing at the end of the day is comfort and of course confidence!

Ready For Your Elopement!

We hope this helps getting you started on your elopement dress search! If you’re ready to start your adventure elopement journey get in touch so we can start planning your epic elopement day!

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For those who want to start their lives together with an adventure