how to elope in texas
What is an elopement?
An elopement is an intentional and intimate wedding day crafted around you and your partner. It is a way to get married that is rooted in experience and quality time. An elopement allows you to make the most out of the time you have with the person (or people) you love most.
texas elopement packages
Planning an elopement is different from planning a traditional wedding in a lot of ways. But they still require a lot of care and consideration while planning.
As a Texas elopement photographer and planning guide, I am here to help you enjoy the elopement planning process almost as much as you enjoy your elopement day.
how to plan a texas elopement
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you might be ready to elope if:
- You value experience and quality time with your loved ones.
- You're not a fan of huge parties or crowds.
- You want to have an intimate wedding experience with just the two of you.
- You're in the middle of planning a big traditional wedding but you're feeling stressed out or pressured.
- You want to go hiking in your wedding dress.
Step one - Dream big
Think about the perfect day the two of you could have together. What would you do to make the most out of every moment together? Do you envision being in a certain landscape? Are you alone together or are there other people by your side? What kind of activities do you want to include? Dreaming over the perfect day together is a great way to get started in your elopement planning journey.
how to elope in texas
texas elopement packages & pricing
Step two - where are you going to elope?
Having a general idea of where you want to elope will help you iron out other details and logistics. Dreaming of your favorite landscapes, what kind of activities you may want to do, whether or not you are including guests and how flexible your schedule is are all different things to consider when choosing your elopement location. Click the link below to see my guide on where to elope in Texas. It includes some location ideas and questions to ask yourselves when narrowing down your location. I include custom location suggestion guides in all of my elopement packages, so you don't have to have an exact location picked out before booking me!
guide on where to elope in texas
Step three - when should you elope?
When you decide to elope is a combination of personal preference and the location you choose to elope. In Texas, the summers can be pretty brutal. I would avoid locations like Big Bend or Palo Duro Canyon in the summer. But some spots in Central Texas would make for good summertime elopement locations. Spring and Fall are perfect elopement seasons but they’re prime wedding AND hiking seasons, so you have to plan further in advance and may want to consider a weekday elopement for more privacy.
texas elopement packages
Step four - who will be there?
Yes, you can elope with guests. Sharing this experience with the people you love can be so beautiful! But your guests will impact your overall elopement experience. The more people you include, the less quality time you will have with each person. And not every location is sustainable for groups of people. So guests may impact your flexibility when it comes to location. Click the link below to head a blog I wrote to help you decide whether or not to include guests on your elopement day.
guide to eloping with guests
Step five - what will you do?
Activities on your elopement day are one of my favorite things to help plan! The options you have are quite endless. You can plan something like an elegant dinner with your closest friends and family members, opt for something adventurous like horseback riding through a canyon or keep it simple and plan things like having coffee together while you write your vows. Think about the ways you find connection or what some of your favorite memories have been together!
texas elopement packages
permits and legalities for texas elopements
When using public lands to get married you need to obtain special use permits. All Texas state parks require day use passes and most require special use permits for photography. You can get this information by contacting the parks directly. My Texas elopement packages do come with permit assistance. I am super familiar with the process and happy to help you get any permits you need.
Marriage laws can vary from county to county. I recommend doing research on the marriage laws in your specific county. In Texas you must wait 72 hours after obtaining your marriage license to marry and witnesses are not required. I am ordained and able to sign marriage licenses for my elopement couples at no extra charge! Check out my elopement packages to learn more.
texas elopement packages
Are you ready to plan your texas elopement?
This is seriously such a small glimpse into the planning we go through when you book one of my Texas elopement packages. Fill out my contact form and dive into planning your very own elopement. I can't wait to help you design your one of a kind wedding experience.
contact me to get started!
Reviews
"Having Nikole as our elopement photographer was the best decision! She literally made everything so easy! We were so scared about the whole process because we’ve never been in Texas before and the first thing we were going to do was elope! Nikole helped us with each and every doubt I had. She always had an answer and so many great ideas for our day that it even made the whole process very exciting!
Our experience on our elopement day was BEYOND THIS WORLD! We enjoyed every minute of it and never had to worry about anything!! Nikole made sure that everything worked out as we wanted. It was the best day and experience of our lives. One of the things I appreciated the most was her thoughtfulness. We had to start hiking before sunrise and she made sure we stayed warm and cozy by bringing hand warmers and extra layers! She made us feel as if we had known her for many years!
Our photos are the most precious memory of the best day of our lives! She was able to capture every meaningful moment and expression of love. "
BOOK Me
• Where are you located?
• How many images are included?
• Do you give out unedited photos?
• How does payment work?
• How do I book you?
• What happens if you can’t be at our wedding?
• What if we cancel/change our date?
• can you officiate our elopement?
• Will You Photoshop Us?
• What happens if the weather is bad?
• What do we wear to our photoshoot?
• what if we aren't outdoorsy?
• What is your turnaround?
• How Does Travel Expenses Work?
• Do you help in the planning process?
• Do you photograph Families, seniors, etc.?
FAQ's
In the case of an emergency where I cannot be there for a wedding you've booked me for I will send an associate shooter pre-approved by you in my place and I will edit the photos.
In the case that you contact me and I am already booked on your date I can refer you to other photographers or we can work on a different date!
What Happens If You Can’t Be At Our Wedding?
If you cancel your date the 40% retainer will be non-refundable.
If you reschedule your date and I am not already booked on the new date then your retainer will transfer to the new date and there may be a rescheduling fee.
If you reschedule for a date that I have another booking on then I will try to send an associate photographer in my place. If an associate can't be found then your 40% retainer will be non-refundable and the contract will be cancelled.
What If We Cancel/Reschedule Our Date?
I deliver fully edited images, most of my editing is color tones, cropping and straightening out images. I do use photoshop to remove distracting objects but I do not photoshop scars, change the shape of bodies or drastically change the way people look. You are beautiful and I am here to document your unique beauty.
If there's a wardrobe malfunction, you have lipstick on your teeth or something un-natural like that then yes I will try to photoshop it out.
Will You Photoshop Us?
Unfortunately we can't control the weather but we can definitely control how prepared we are for it. My workflow and planning process will help you prepare for any kind of weather your specific location and season may encounter.
I love shooting rain or shine! Sometimes rainy weather makes for the best scenery. But we do work together to create a plan b, otherwise known as a "rain plan", in the case of dangerous weather.
What Happens If The Weather Is Bad?
Wear whatever makes you feel like YOU! Which I know can be an annoying answer so don't worry I got you. After you book I will send over outfit inspiration boards that match your specific shoot as well as some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way to make sure you look and feel great!
What Do We Wear To Our Photoshoot?
