What Is an Elopement, Really? (And Why More Couples Are Choosing One)
Somewhere along the way, "elopement" stopped meaning running away in secret and started meaning something else entirely: choosing intention over tradition.
I've photographed elopements and every single time, I've watched the same thing happen — two people, completely present, without 150 pairs of eyes on them, just being in the moment they've been dreaming about.
If you've ever looked at a wedding Pinterest board and felt more exhausted than excited, this one's for you.
An Elopement Is Not "Less Than"
Let's clear this up first, because I hear it all the time: "Isn't eloping just... a smaller, sadder version of a real wedding?" No. An elopement isn't a compromise. It's a completely different kind of celebration — one built entirely around what the two of you actually want, not what a 100-person guest list expects.
No seating charts. No forcing a first dance in front of your uncle's phone camera. No spending your morning managing a timeline instead of looking at each other.
Just you, your person, and the place that means something to you.
What an Elopement Day Actually Looks Like
Every elopement I shoot looks different, because every couple is different. But there are a few things that tend to show up again and again:
A location that means something — not necessarily the most "Instagrammable" spot, but the one that feels like you. A mountain ridge. A quiet chapel. A city street where you had your first date.
A slower morning. Coffee, getting ready together (or not — no rules here), no rush.
Vows that are actually yours. Written by you, for each other, not recited from a script.
Time. This is the biggest gift an elopement gives you — hours together, instead of minutes stolen between guests.
Photos that feel like you — candid, emotional, a little wild maybe, instead of stiff and staged.
Where to Elope in Europe
I get asked this constantly, so here's my honest answer: wherever pulls at you.
That said, some of my favorites for elopements are the quiet, dramatic corners of the Dolomites, hidden coves along the Amalfi Coast, the fjords near Lübeck, and the alpine backdrops around Switzerland. Each of these places offers something different — but what they all have in common is space. Space to breathe, to feel small in the best way.
Is an Elopement Right for You?
Ask yourself this: if you could design your wedding day from absolute scratch, with zero obligations to anyone else — would it look like the one you're currently planning? If the honest answer is no, an elopement might be exactly the permission slip you need. Still not sure? Feel free to check out 7 questions to help you decide if Elopements is right for you.
I'm Jo, and I photograph elopements across Europe — on film, on Super 8, and digitally — for couples who'd rather feel their wedding day than perform it. If this resonates with you, let's talk
