What Is Eloping?!
A Guide to Choosing a Wedding Day That Feels Like You!
At Castlehouse, we believe your wedding day should actually feel like you. It should be joyful, grounding, a little adventurous, and full of the kind of moments you’ll want to relive over and over again. And honestly, for more couples nowadays, that’s exactly why they’re choosing to elope.
So, what is eloping, really? Here’s the tea-
First and foremost let’s clear the air on an important note: eloping doesn’t mean running off in secret or skipping something. It’s also definitely NOT a lesser version of a traditional wedding. Eloping is a deeply intentional way to get married, one that lets you focus on your connection, honor what matters most to you as a couple, and celebrate your love in a way that feels natural, unhurried, and authentic.
In this post, we’ll walk through what eloping actually looks like today, why couples are choosing to elope, and what kind of experience you can expect when you plan an elopement, especially in a place as epic as Colorado!
Eloping Today: It Ain’t What It Used to Be!
Eloping has come a long way from the courthouse-and-dash stereotype it once had. These days, elopements are thoughtful, curated experiences. They’re usually grounded in activities that the couple enjoys together and brings excitement to the day. Typically, elopements are full-day (or even multi-day) celebrations that still include everything from traditional weddings that couples care about: meaningful vows, beautiful outfits, and loved ones cheering them on (either in person or from afar!). You take all of those aspects and put them at a stunning location and BOOM- elopement!!
At its core, eloping is about stripping away the pressure, expectation, and excess and replacing it with presence, connection, and clarity.
Want to exchange vows at sunrise with just the mountains as your witness? That’s an elopement. Want to bring a few family members along, rent a cozy Airbnb, and end the night around a firepit? Still an elopement. Want to ski into your ceremony, eat tacos on a trail, and toast with beers from your backpack? Yep. Elopement. Dream BIG for your BIG day, y’all, that’s the elopement style!
There’s no right or wrong way to do it! That’s kinda the whole point! :-)
So, Why Do Couples Choose to Elope?
Every couple has their own reasons why eloping feels right for them, but here’s what we hear folks say most often:
They want to be present. Elopements give you SO much room to breathe. To soak in the view! To be with each other! You’re never rushed or pulled in a million directions. You actually get to live your day, exactly how you’d like to.
They don’t want a performance. If you don’t love the idea of reciting personal vows in front of 150 people, you’re not alone (Mallory gets that, she’s no fan of public speaking!!). Eloping lets you share your love privately, authentically, and without a script with the trees and birds only listening in.
They care about spending intentionally. Maybe a big venue and 150 guests not only isn’t your style, but also not in your budget. Eloping lets you invest in what actually matters to you on your wedding day, without the stress or price tag of a traditional wedding.
They want something beautiful and meaningful. Elopements don’t mean giving up style or sentiment. We think the complete opposite, actually. You can still wear what you want (we do advise dressing for the weather though, lol), bring flowers, read letters, pop champagne if that’s what you’re vibe. No matter what you choose, you’ll create a day that’s visually stunning and emotionally rich.
They want memories that last. With the right team (oh hi!), your elopement is more than a moment or staging beautiful photos. Eloping is a story of your authentic love that you’ll get to relive again and again through intentional photo and film. Not to mention stress free planning beforehand so the day is a BREEZE :-)
Check out our portfolio of elopements we’ve had the absolute pleasure of capturing here!
What Happens During an Elopement?
You’re asking all the right questions here, friend. Of course, every elopement looks different, and that’s where the true magic of it all lies! Freedom to roam and follow your wild hearts together, no rules, just good times. Out of the elopements we’ve had the pleasure of capturing, here’s a glimpse into what we’ve seen full day elopements include:
Psst! Here’s one of our elopement videos we’ve crafted of a unique, epic elopement day!
1. Getting ready somewhere beautiful. Maybe it’s a quiet Airbnb tucked in the woods. Maybe it’s a camper van you’ve rented for the week. We often help couples find a space that fits the vibe of their day to prepare. Because the before vibes matter, y’all!
2. A slow morning. You get ready without a rush. Drink some coffee, hang with your pups, make final touches on your vows, whatever you want to do. If you start the day a bit later than planned, that’s a-ok with us (we love coffee and dogs)!
3. The adventure. Whether it’s a short hike to an overlook or a full-on skiing experience, this is where the story of your day starts to unfold. We encourage couples to really pick an adventure authentic to them as a couple where they know they’ll have the most fun doing. We guide you through the timeline, help carry your stuff, provide snacks, and capture it all along the way!
4. The ceremony. This could be just the two of you or include a few loved ones. You get to choose where you commit to one another, it could happen on a mountaintop, by a lake, in a field of wildflowers, or on a snowy trail. Wherever it is, it’s always emotional, meaningful, and 100% yours. You’ll probably hear Roo say “who’s cutting onions out here?” since he’s a hopeless romantic like that.
5. Celebrating your way. After the ceremony, let’s celebrate the newlyweds! Maybe you want to have a picnic, cook dinner, head to a local brewery, read letters from friends and family, or dance under the stars (or all of it?!). It’s your day, let it unfold however you want.
6. Sunset or blue hour portraits. Some of our favorite moments happen when the light gets soft and the day starts to settle in. These portraits feel less posed, more reflective, and incredibly cinematic. Think of going for a walk in nature with your new SPOUSE (!) and we just happen to be there taking your photo.
7. And finally: the art. One week later, you’ll have your full gallery and elopement film delivered to you just as you’re starting to miss the moments from the big day. Both the film and photos designed to take you right back to how the day felt. Authentic, emotional, joyful.
What You Don’t Need to Elope
There are a lot of myths about what you have to have to elope. Spoiler alert!: you don’t need much at all. Here’s a few things you can skip when eloping:
A big venue
A huge guest list
Endless planning stress
A rigid timeline
Feeling like you don’t have autonomy over your day
You don’t need to compromise your values to have a beautiful, meaningful wedding. Eloping gives you permission to focus on what matters and have a stress free experience for kicking off the new stage of life: ~ marriage ~
Curious what elopement videos look like? We totally get that. Check out our YouTube Channel to view a few!
Why Colorado Is One of the Best Places to Elope
We might be biased (can ya blame us?), but we think Colorado is one of the best places in the world to elope! Have your doubts? Well, here’s our reasons why:
Diverse landscapes. From alpine lakes to red rock canyons, you can find nearly every kind of terrain here!
Accessibility. So many epic views are just a short drive or hike away and have beautiful places to stay close by.
Seasonal magic. Winter snow, summer wildflowers, golden aspens in the fall… need we say more? There’s magic in every Colorado season.
Self-solemnizing laws. Maybe one of our favorite stress free reasons to elope here. In Colorado, you don’t need an officiant. You can marry yourselves, making the ceremony feel even more intimate. Or maybe even have your pups sign your marriage licenses for you, up to you!
How Castlehouse Makes Eloping Easy
Ok, ok, here’s our shameless plug for what we do here at Castlehouse Videography but hear us out! We are a full-service elopement team, meaning we help plan your day, photograph it, film it, and deliver everything back to you within one week!
That includes:
Location scouting and planning support
Custom timeline creation and logistics help
Photography and videography (and lots of good vibes)
Full gallery + highlight film in 7 days
A stress-free experience from beginning to end
When you work with us for your elopement, you’re not juggling multiple vendors or wondering what comes next. You’re simply showing up to a day that’s already been thoughtfully crafted and then living it fully while we document it beautifully. We are down for any adventure, especially yours! See what you get when you choose to work with us here!
So, Is Eloping Right for You?
If you’re dreaming of a day that’s less about performance and more about presence... that feels a little wild and A LOT like you... and that trades stress for connection, then yeah, eloping might be exactly what you’ve been looking for! And if it is, we’d love to help you create your dream day.
Want to learn more about what your Colorado elopement could look like? Gather more information about us and eloping on our website!
