Destination Elopement Photographer

Photographing destination elopements and micro weddings in far off places

Hey There!

I’m Katie Dawn, your destination elopement photographer and guide

After traveling to 30 different countries and counting, I’ve become something of a savant at planning itineraries and finding breathtaking views in far off places. I love looking up a place I’ve never been to, doing all the research into what to do there, what to see, where to stay, what to eat, and every little experience in between. I love helping couples find epic venues and vendors to make their day unique to them while experiencing all the things that make the place their getting married at unique.

I’ll be with you every step of the way while we plan your day, and I’ll give all the advice I’ve got to help make your day easier, whether I’ve traveled to your destination or not. I spend the better part of my twenties backpacking different continents, building out an astro van, and filling my camera with photos of wild open spaces all over the US and the world, so if you’ve got a question, I likely have an answer- or at least I will go down a rabbit hole for 2 hours in the middle of the night to figure out the answer if I don’t have it already. Let me help make your day epic.

How to plan a destination elopement

Pick a location:

This is the fun part of the planning process: When you envision saying your vows, where are you? Are you at the base of a mountain, in the ruins of an old church? Maybe your toes are in the sand on a beach somewhere warm. Daydream and brainstorm what you want your day to look like- look up inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram, make a mood board, think about what time of year and what weather you’d like to have, think about what would really suit you perfectly for your day.

Research local laws and permits:

Now to get down to the more nitty gritty logistics: laws and permits. Is it easier to get married at the court house back home or in another state or country? Are you legally allowed to marry in this country? Will your marriage be recognized where you’re getting married? Do you need permit to get married in your dream location? All of these are questions I can help with, but researching online beforehand may impact where you decide to marry.

Do something epic:

Now this is the best part: say your vows and spend time in the destination you chose for your elopement! Maybe you want to ride ATVs, lounge by the beach, have a private dinner, hike to the top of a mountain, or partake in whatever culture your spending time in- it’s your day, so do whatever you want!

Best time of year to elope and where to elope

Summer: Mountains

Summer is one of the best times of year to elope in the mountains, and a great place to beat the hot temps of lower lands. Usually late summer is when snow melts in most mountain ranges and roads and hiking trails are all open and accessible to the public. Some of the most picturesque mountain ranges perfect for eloping include the San Juan mountains of Colorado, the Dolomites, the Andes, the Northern Cascades, and the Swiss Alps.

Fall: Mountains, Desert, coast

Fall is a great time to visit the mountains in most places and to watch the leaves changing. Crowds are usually much better in the fall than the summer in touristy locations as well. Anywhere with large deciduous forests will have great fall colors- the aspens of Colorado, the east coast of the US of course, and the forests in Oregon all have lovely autumnal seasons. This is also a great time to visit places like the Amalfi coast, Greece, the Dolomites, and any other place that see a surge of tourists in the summer- prices will be more affordable, and less crowds to interrupt your ceremony.

Winter: Desert, Beach, Southern hemisphere

You can visit the mountains in winter, but it’s going to be COLD and many areas won’t be accessible due to snow. If you want to escape the freezing weather as much as I do, I’d suggest you head south to Arizona, tropical beaches in Mexico, or somewhere south of the equator. Patagonia is a beautiful place to say vows December-February if you want mountains during those months, but don’t want snow. Anywhere close to the equator will be warm this time of year, but be sure to check different rainy seasons in tropical countries.

Spring: Desert, Beach

Springtime is typically not a good time to visit places like Colorado, Banff, or Yosemite, or anywhere with mountains, as the snow still hasn’t melted, the weather is unpredictable, and most roads and trails will be inaccessible. Spring is a perfect time to visit the desert, where many plants will be flowering, temps will be warm and temperate, and the weather isn’t typically too wet. Beaches are nice this time of year as well, as the temps aren’t too hot and the beaches themselves aren’t too crowded. Arizona, southern Utah, and Joshua Tree are all lovely this year, as well as tropical environments, the mediterranean, and areas closer to the equator.