Elopements have been a part of the wedding industry for a LONG time. What started out as a secretive marriage where the couple would run off for a private wedding has now become a celebration where each couple is able to freely create the wedding day that they want, with hardly any limitations. Because of this, and a certain pandemic back in 2020, elopements have been surging in popularity for a few years now. This has been incredibly exciting to see as an elopement photographer in Central Illinois, which is why I love putting together resources that give couples tips on how to create the elopement of their dreams!

Today we’ll be looking at just how long you should book your elopement photographer for, as well as a few other tips!

What is an Elopement?

First and foremost, what exactly IS an elopement? I actually answered this question in depth previously in one of my articles that you should definitely check out when you have a chance.

In short though, an elopement is a small and personal wedding day built around the couple themselves. It’s the smallest of any wedding options, though the actual cutoff for guests varies from person to person.

For example, I consider elopements to be under 15 guests, while the publication Simply Eloped considers them to be anything under 20. Whether it’s just the couple that’s present, or they have some of their closest friends and family at their side is entirely up to them. That’s just the start of the creative freedom and flexibility that elopements bring though, and part of why SO many couples are choosing to have them!

Deciding How Long You Should Book Your Elopement Photographer For

What Do You Want Your Elopement to Be?

Arguably the most important part in deciding how long you should book your elopement photographer for is deciding on the look and feel of the day itself. This is YOUR wedding day, so what do you want it to be?

• Do you want to have a morning ceremony, take some newlywed portraits, then get together with your friends and family for a celebratory lunch?
• Are you wanting a ceremony with your parents present before heading out with your new spouse for some adventurous portraits?
• Maybe you just want a simple ceremony with a few photos before you head home and spend the rest of the day together just the two of you!

Elopements are special as they give you total freedom when creating a small, intentional, and beautiful celebration built around your love for one another. The options above are only a small glimpse into what an elopement can be, so don’t be afraid to get creative when crafting your day! 

As you begin to build your elopement day, start thinking about the photos you want to remember the day by. This will help you determine which parts of the day you want your photographer present, and in turn how many hours of coverage to book for your elopement! 

What Different Coverage Options Look Like

Take a look below at a few examples of what some of my coverage options have looked like in the past:

1 Hour of Coverage

Want something simple and sweet that really lets you enjoy your time together as just the two of you? Book your photographer for just an hour of coverage for your elopement! This gives you enough time to snag some newlywed portraits at 1 to 2 locations, leaving the rest of the day for you to enjoy as you’d like, only now you’re married!

2 Hours of Coverage

If 1 hour of coverage seems a little too short, or you just want a bit more of your elopement documented, 2 hours of coverage from your photographer is a great option. The extra hour gives your photographer time to document your elopement ceremony, followed by newlywed portraits at a couple locations. This still gives you PLENTY of time to enjoy the day as just the two of you, while also giving you photos from your ceremony to relive the moment through!

4 Hours of Coverage

The next step up would be 4 hours of coverage, and this gives your elopement photo album a more fully rounded feel to it! A typical day with 4 hours of photography coverage for me could include:

• Getting Ready Photos
• Ceremony Photos
• Portrait Photos
• Photos at Lunch or Dinner

I love this option as it really lets me document your elopement in a way that allows you to relive ALL your favorite moments from the day!

Making it True to You

Whatever coverage amount you go with, make sure it aligns with what YOU want for the day! If you’d rather spend more of the day enjoying one another’s company and less time with a photographer documenting the day that is TOTALLY fine. It’s your elopement, and you should celebrate it the way you want to. 

Planning Assistance

If all of this, and the rest of the planning process, sounds stressful to you don’t worry. As an elopement photographer in Central Illinois one of my favorite things to do is work with my couples to help plan the details of their day! Whether they book me for 1 hour or 4, I want to do everything I can to ensure that you have the day that YOU want to! From recommending officiants, planning the timeline, location suggestions, help with photography permits if necessary, and SO much more, as your photographer I’ll help with it all!

That just about covers everything you need to know when deciding how much coverage to book your elopement photographer for! There are of course still tons of decisions to make, like where to have your elopement in the first place. Luckily I have resources on my blog to answer that question and more to help with your planning. You also can send me an inquiry through my contact page if you’d like me to document your day and help plan all the details with you!