Elopement Dress Guide: Choosing a Dress for Your Biggest Adventure
Find the perfect elopement dress that is both beautiful and functional.
Table of Contents
Where to Buy Your Elopement Dress
Budget-friendly
For the mid-range budget
Thrifted (aka eco-friendly)
Local Colorado wedding dresses
Need elopement outfit inspiration? This style guide is for you!
Some things you are 100% sure about. Like the fact that you want to elope in a gorgeous corner of the world. Or that you can’t wait to marry your person in an authentic ceremony that’s true-to-you. If you’re still in the planning phase, some things—like what to wear for your intimate elopement—might be a little less clear. You’re not alone!
The location and time of year that you tie the knot are both critical pieces of the planning puzzle, and the elopement dress that you choose will play an important role in your overall elopement experience. It is crucial that you feel both confident and comfortable so that you can enjoy yourself, your partner, and the day, as well as remember it as a joyous occasion—and not that time you experienced the worst chaffing in your life.
Whether you’re entertaining the idea of an adventurous elopement at 14,000 feet during the peak of summer, or you’re researching an outdoor excursion during our Rocky Mountain winter because you’re already sold on those magical snow-globe vibes, read on, because this guide has you covered!
Elopement Dress Shopping Rule No. 1
The first rule of Elopement Club is there ARE no rules in Elopement Club.
The most important thing is to wear whatEVER you want. Wear whatever you will feel your absolute best in. I am not here to tell you what to wear, but rather to help guide you along your journey to help create one of the most memorable, loving, and happiest days of your life.
Choosing a Wedding Dress for Your Destination + Season
Let’s go back to the example I mentioned earlier. If you are planning on having a hiking adventure elopement in the Rocky Mountains in the middle of February, you might need to rethink that lightweight dress, sheer fabric, and sleeveless look. You would want something with an inner lining if possible, long sleeves, and matching layers like a fur shawl or coat.
The first thing I want you to think about is where and what time of year your dream day will unfold. What would you wear in this setting on a typical day? While I send all my clients location guides, I stress it’s important to do your own research, especially if you have very little or no prior experience in the setting you will be in. April atop Crested Butte’s Scarp Ridge, for example, will look and feel a lot different than the same time of year in Moab’s Canyonlands.
For high elevation adventure elopements, like here in Colorado, here are my expert tips for what the environment is like throughout the year and how best to prepare your attire:
Spring: In the springtime, it is still going to be quite cold, especially at high elevations. Be sure to take that into consideration for how warm your elopement dress will be. You will also want to be sure to be prepared for unpredictable weather like snow, rain, hail, sun, or storms. The biggest thing to keep in mind is how wet this time of year can be. There’s a good chance there’ll be mud on the ground, so if you want to hike but also have a clean elopement dress for your ceremony and photos, it might be best to pack it in. Personally I love a dirty dress! But if you do pack it in, be sure the weight is doable for you or your partner.
Summer: During the summer it’s best to wear something lightweight and flowy to allow for air circulation. You do not want anything too heavy causing you to overexert yourself (or overheat). Long sleeves are not necessarily out of the cards, you’ll just have to make sure they are lightweight or something you can take off. Since the sun is very strong at high altitudes, having sleeves for skin protection is not a bad idea.
Fall: In the early fall such as September, the days can still get warm, while later in the fall (October and November) the days start to cool way down. This shift is escalated when you are at higher altitudes. This is a great time of year to pair your elopement dress with a light shawl or jacket.
Winter: Winter in the mountains is the time for layers and thicker materials. It’s a good idea to have a dress with room for wool undergarments and long underwear. It is also wise to have outerwear such as gloves, hats, fur shawls or coats. This is a great way to pair your elopement dress with fun accessories and for a wider variety of looks!
Talking with your elopement photographer is a great way to learn everything you would need to know about a certain destination. Every environment, elevation, adventure, and season are different so it’s important to do your research.
This information is something I provide for all of my clients! I have you covered completely for your adventure elopement!
If you’re interested in chatting with me about your elopement, please reach out!
How to Adventure With Your Elopement Dress
It is essential to choose the right material, style, and fit for your body and elopement day.
How well does the material feel on you? Is it restrictive without allowing much movement or is it flexible and easy to move around in? If you are planning an adventure elopement it is wise to select a material that moves well with your body.
The same goes for the fit and style of the elopement dress. Dresses that are tight around the hips and restrict your leg movements like a mermaid style are not the most functional when walking long distances on uneven ground and can actually be a bit of a hazard in these settings. Strapless dresses are another style that might be quite uncomfortable walking long distances in.
As I mentioned earlier, you can pack in your dress as well. In my experience, early morning brides prefer to pack in their dresses and hike in hiking clothes, but it’s all up to you and what you want in your photos. Consider avoiding heavier materials like corsets or tulle, or super puffy skirts if you plan to pack in your elopement dress.
Having a train on your elopement dress does create some epic photos—but it’s also something to think about if you are planning on doing much rock-scrambling or rappelling.
Wedding Dresses That Photograph Well
A couple of final things to keep in mind (if it interests you) is to think about how your elopement dress will be complemented by the surrounding landscape. Do you picture your dress coming alive in the wind on top of a towering bluff? Or maybe you prefer a dramatic, long veil that you can take on and off. This way you don’t have to worry about the wind all day, but you can still get a few breezy photos.
The color of your elopement dress is also something to think about. Remember how the fun thing about elopements is that you can do whatever the heck you want? Well, the same goes for the color of your outfit(s)! You don’t have to wear white! If you’re exchanging vows against a snowy scape, white may not even show up that well! You can select a different color that might even be more your style and will really make you pop in photos.
How to Travel With Your Wedding Dress
If you plan on traveling by airplane, the best advice to follow is to absolutely do not pack your wedding attire into a checked suitcase. The worst case scenario—which unfortunately is all too common with flying—is losing luggage. If you can’t live without on your elopement day, pack it in your carry on!
The best way to pack a wedding dress is to keep it in a garment bag to protect it from any spills, rain drops, make up, dirty hands, etc. Gently roll the bag up and place it on top of all other items in your carry on. This will help to lessen wrinkles. It’s always a great idea to pack a portable steamer or call ahead to the place you’re staying (if applicable) and see if they can provide one for you. Your dress and partner’s attire will probably need a touch up once you arrive to your destination.
If you’ll travel by car, this is a bit easier than by airplane. Keep your dress in the garment bag and either hang up or lay over the seats on top of everything else. Do not put anything else on it, as this can cause kinks and wrinkles.
Check out my guide on How to Pack Your Wedding Dress for your Elopement to learn everything you’ll need to know!
Where to Buy Your Elopement Dress
These are some excellent (vetted) suggestions to get you started in your search! If you’re from another state, I recommend looking at your local dress shops, and if you’re from Colorado, let me know because I have tons of local recommendations, depending on where you live.
Budget-Friendly:
Morning Lavender
Azazie
Baltic Born
Reformation
Lulu’s Bridal
Etsy
Mid-Range Budget:
Anthropologie
Nordeen
Milamira
Kyha Studios
Mywony
Thrifted (& Eco-Friendly!)
Once Wed
Stillwhite
Loved Twice Bridal
La Laurel
Nearly Newlywed
Rent the Runway
Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses
Colorado-Specific:
Runaway Bridal
Little White Dress Bridal Shop
Emma and Grace Bridal Studio
Boulder Bridal
Elopement Wedding Dress Alterations
Once you’ve found the perfect dress that you will feel your absolute best in, book any alteration appointments as soon as you can so you are not worrying about this later.
If you are buying a dress that will need alterations, the best time to buy the dress will be about 3 months prior to your date as alterations can take a few weeks to book and finalize.
However, if you are ordering online or through a bridal shop I would look at about 6-8 months out to be on the safe side, especially with shipping delays and—the worst case scenario—if it’s not perfect once you try it on. This will give you plenty of time to find another dress if you’d like.
Once you have found the perfect dress that you will feel your absolute best in, take a look at my Elopement Guidebook for all of the details you need to plan your adventure elopement!
As an elopement photographer and a lover of all outdoor adventure, I am here as a resource for you every step of the way; from the beginning stages of daydreaming to the gallery delivery and beyond—I am here for it all!
If you are interested in an elopement photographer who is also your dedicated partner in the elopement planning process, please reach out—I’d love to connect and help plan your dream day!
Vendor Credits:
Planner: Custom Weddings of Colorado | Florist: Stefanie Hofmeister Design
Ready to Book?
Elopement Photographer Andrea Enger (Portrait by Jennifer Garza Photography)
If you’re ready to get the ball rolling to secure your photographer (slash wedding planner!) that’s great!
You can do that by contacting me through my website, emailing me directly at andreaenger.photography@gmail.com, or by calling or texting me at (720) 739-0784. I look forward to hearing from you!
If you’re still in the research phase, I hear ya! Here are some more resources that my couples have found helpful. I hope you do, too!