WHY YOU SHOULD DO A HIKING ELOPEMENT ON A WEEKDAY
Want to know my biggest secret to avoiding crowds on your wedding day? Try to have a hiking elopement on a weekday.
Now, let me make two things very clear…
- This is not me saying that hiking is a requirement for having an adventure elopement. The outdoors is for everyone. Many of the elopements I shoot are in very accessible locations that require no hiking whatsoever!
- Hiking does not mean a long, strenuous trek uphill. Hiking could mean 1 mile (or sometimes less) on a paved trail. It could mean 10 miles through the woods, 100 miles along the Colorado Trail, or even half a mile from a parking lot.
WHY CONSIDER HIKING ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?
Choosing to hike for your wedding can be a great idea for a number of reasons:
- Scenic views: Hiking trails often offer stunning natural scenery and breathtaking views, making for a picturesque backdrop for your wedding photos. If you choose to hike along a trail, it will allow us to capture you in a variety of landscapes in a short period.
- Intimate setting: Hiking for your wedding can offer a more intimate and personal setting for your special day, away from the crowds and distractions of traditional wedding venues.
- Unique experience: A hiking wedding can provide a truly unique and memorable experience for you and your guests, creating a shared sense of adventure and excitement.
- Cost-effective: Hiking for your wedding can be a more cost-effective option compared to traditional wedding venues, as many hiking trails are free to access and don’t require expensive venue rental fees.
- Environmental impact: Choosing to hike for your wedding can also have a positive impact on the environment, as you won’t be contributing to the carbon emissions associated with a traditional wedding venue.
- Drive-up locations are much busier than locations you can hike to. This is because they are well-known and very easy to find on the map. These locations are typically polluted with passing-through tourists who want a quick viewpoint on their long road trip itinerary.
Overall, hiking for your wedding can be a great way to create a unique and unforgettable experience. And, It’s also cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Benefits of choosing to have your wedding on a weekday:
- It’s easier to obtain necessary permits and lodging when you elope on a weekday, as most people work. On another note, eloping in certain areas on a weekday can save you some cash.
- Less crowded: Popular elopement destinations can be crowded on weekends, but choosing a weekday can help you avoid the crowds and have a more intimate experience.
- Cost-effective: Many vendors and venues offer weekday discounts, so eloping on a weekday can be a more affordable option for couples on a budget.
- More availability: Popular wedding vendors and venues may have more availability during weekdays, which can make it easier to plan your elopement on shorter notice.
- Unique experience: Choosing to elope on a weekday can make your experience more unique, as you’ll be able to avoid the typical weekend wedding rush and have a more relaxed and personalized celebration.
- Flexible schedule: Eloping on a weekday can also offer more flexibility with scheduling, as you’ll have more options for travel and accommodations without worrying about weekend traffic or availability.
- Less stress- and choosing to hike on a weekday can more likely allow you two to enjoy the place you’ve selected to elope in peace.
CHECK OUT JESSIE & TYLER’S HIKING ELOPEMENT
Take this 4-mile round trip hiking elopement I captured near Breckenridge, Colorado, as an example. While the couple could have chosen to drive up to this open field, they made the trek and dressed in their wedding attire outside of some abandoned cabins in a gorgeous meadow. After they dressed and had their first look, we hiked further up and explored the area for a few hours. Then their closest friends and family drove up to meet them before their intimate ceremony. The best part? An elopement shot in late July with not a single soul in sight. If you want to see more of their adventure elopement, click here!
Again, hiking (on a weekday) is absolutely not a requirement for your wedding day. It’s also not the only way to guarantee you won’t have a crowd. Although I love scouting a good remote trail to help give my couples the most intimate elopement experience possible.
Now tell me… would you hike during the week on your wedding day?
COLORADO ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER | WHITNEY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY
Every wedding is unique and deserves more than a cookie-cutter approach. By stepping back to let intimate moments unfold naturally while offering support and guidance to ensure no important memory is missed, I strive to create timeless images that blend an editorial style with a documentary approach. From the distinctive details of your celebration to the cherished traditions, I'll deliver a collection of photographs that allow you to relive these memories for years to come. After all, the moments that matter most aren’t always staged or polished—they’re raw, authentic, and uniquely you.
Don’t you agree?
MY PHILOSOPHY
An Honest Wedding Experience
“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still”
Words I Live by
I'm WHITNEY.
Your wedding day is a story—one filled with fleeting moments of beauty, deep emotion, and once-in-a-lifetime memories. As an artist, I am here to preserve those moments with intention, artistry, and care. I don’t just capture what your wedding looked like—I document how it felt.
Born and raised in the breathtaking landscapes of Vail, Colorado, I am deeply inspired by the way love and nature intertwine. There’s something poetic about the way light moves across mountain peaks, the way wind dances through a bride’s veil, and how the beauty of the outdoors mirrors the intimacy of a wedding day. My work is shaped by this connection—an effortless blend of refined editorial imagery and documentary storytelling, allowing each wedding to unfold naturally while being captured with timeless elegance.
Beyond photography, I am an adventurer at heart. Whether I’m exploring new landscapes, hiking through the Rockies, or traveling to breathtaking destinations, my love for movement and exploration brings an effortless, natural feel to my imagery. Every love story is unique, and I am deeply invested in capturing the emotions, scenery, and in-between moments that make your wedding day truly unforgettable. From the moment we connect, my goal is to provide an effortless, elevated experience that allows you to be fully present while I handle the art of storytelling. With a calm, intuitive approach, I blend artistic direction with documentary storytelling—guiding you when needed while allowing your most authentic moments to unfold naturally. My couples value timeless, emotive imagery, a refined yet relaxed presence, and the confidence of knowing their memories are being preserved with intention. When I’m not behind the camera, you can find me skiing down the slopes, hiking with my husband and our two border collies, or enjoying a slow morning with a perfectly crafted latte. I live for meaningful conversations, spontaneous adventures, and capturing beauty in the quiet, in-between moments of life—just as I do with my couples. I take on a limited number of weddings each year to provide an intimate, high-touch experience, ensuring each love story is captured with the highest level of artistry and care. If you feel drawn to timeless, emotional, and editorial-inspired imagery, I would love to hear your vision and create something extraordinary together.
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