The perfect dress is whatever dress fits you! I don’t mean physically (although that’s important too), but the dress that fits who you are. Your dress doesn’t have to be white or floor length or elaborate. When you choose to elope, you are making the decision to have an experience that is genuine to who you are as a couple, and this applies to your wedding attire too!

Below are some tips that will help you as you begin searching for a wedding dress, along with some links of where to look for the perfect dress.

Are you getting married outdoors?

The majority of elopements that I photograph take place outdoors, and this is definitely important to keep in mind while searching for your dress.

The location of your elopement may be relatively calm, have a mild breeze, or it may be windy af. Keep this in mind as you search for your dress! Think about how the dress you’re looking at will move in the wind.

If you’re planning to hike for your elopement, avoid heavier materials in your dress as you will likely wait to change into your wedding attire until you reach the location you’ll be getting married. Make sure that the dress can be packed into a backpack that you won’t mind carrying during your hike. And if you’re thinking “…but, where do we change?”, don’t worry! I have a pop-up tent that I bring on longer hiking elopements so you can change with complete privacy.

Make sure that you keep in mind how comfortably you can move in your dress. Even if you wait to change into your dress until we reach your ceremony location, we will likely still be hiking around for photos, so make sure you’re comfortable! This is also important to keep in mind when you’re selecting your shoes. And the more lightweight the dress is, the more comfortable you’ll be wearing it all day.

What about accessories?

If you’re planning to have any accessories with your dress (veil, shawl, coat, etc), keep this in mind while you’re searching for your dress. Make sure that the dress will work with any accessories you’d like to incorporate.

Another thing to keep in mind is the colors of your florals (if you’re having any) and your partner’s attire. Make sure that the color and style of your dress work well with the other aspects of your elopement, including the location!

Where can I find the perfect elopement dress?

I always recommend checking out local shops and trying on some dresses to get an idea of what style or color appeals to you the most. Second hand shops are also great options, and often very affordable! There are also some great online shops where you can find a great selection of dresses for your elopement. A few of my favorite places to check out are:

• Lulus • www.lulus.com

  Lulus dresses usually range in price from $100-$250. They have a great variety of options on their website, and remember, your dress only has to be white if you want it to be!

• Amazon • www.amazon.com

  I know that this seems like an odd suggestion, but there are some great, affordable dresses and skirts on Amazon! Be sure to check out reviews, but you can find some amazing options here.

• Etsy • www.etsy.com

  Etsy has some of the most unique, handmade dresses available. (I actually bought my wedding dress on Etsy!) And several shops will custom make you a dress, saving you on alteration costs!

• Flutter Dresses • www.flutterdressshop.com

  Flutter dresses are gorgeous, boho gowns that can be customized to make it exactly what you want.

• Baltic Born • www.balticborn.com

  Baltic Born has some great and affordable dresses! They have some of my favorite boho dress options and are definitely worth checking out.

• Azazie • www.azazie.com

  Azazie has a great variety of dresses! Most of their dresses range in price from $150-$500, and they have sales often.

Eloping means that you care deeply about the way that you get married. You want your wedding day to be the best day of your life, where you and your partner can focus on each other and having a unique experience unlike anything else.

Remember that the most important thing about your wedding dress is how you feel in it. Be authentic to yourself!

No matter how you choose to spend your wedding day, I am here to help guide you through the process of eloping. I will be your photographer, your guide, your cheerleader, and your friend on the best day of your life.

Remember, you can make your wedding day whatever you want it to be!

Looking for some unique activities to incorporate into your wedding day? Check out 50 fun ideas here!

x Brittany