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Should You Hire a Wedding Coordinator for Your Elopement Day?

4 Signs Hiring an Elopement Coordinator is Right for You 

 

As an elopement photographer who’s pulling for your vision–and your vision alone–of your elopement day, I’m a big fan of any vendor who can help you get you there. 

Yep, that means when it comes to wedding coordinators for your elopement day, no matter how wild and wandering it might be, is a big YES in my book. 

It’s my belief that getting married your way is the ultimate path for any couple. That means there are no rules. So, if that means taking the wonder of an adventure elopement and pairing it with some more traditional wedding elements or extra pizzazz, then that’s exactly what you should do. 

Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy to help you plan out your day, lay out the timeline of your dreams, and offer vendor suggestions. But often, couples are seeking something that goes a little past my elopement planning expertise and are on the hunt for someone who can work their wedding coordinating magic on their elopement day. 

The moment that idea floats into a couple’s train of thought, I’m always more than ready to encourage them to hire a little extra help. 

So, let me ask–does this sort of sound like where you’re at? Are you on the fence about hiring a wedding coordinator to work alongside your elopement photographer to help plan and capture the day of your dreams? 

Good news, couples–this blog is for you. 

A bride and groom hike to their adventure elopement, a day their elopement photographer and wedding coordinator helped to plan.

 

If you’ve flirted with the idea of hiring a wedding day coordinator for your elopement day (let’s call ‘em elopement day coordinators) but are stuck on the idea that, somehow, it stops being an elopement when you hire this vendor, I’ve got news for you–that’s not true! 

No vendor–not even a wedding day coordinator or a wedding planner–takes away the purpose or intention of your elopement. It doesn’t matter if you’re eloping just the two of you in Rocky Mountain National Park or getting married with a small guest list at the Great Sand Dunes National Park–a wedding coordinator added into either mix doesn’t change any intention. In fact, it often makes things more seamless and sweet than you could imagine. 

If you’re unsure about an elopement day coordinator joining your elopement day team, here are a few subtle (but for sure) signs that you hiring the right planner could be the cherry on top of your epic day. 

 

You’ve Got Guests Joining You 

The most magical thing about eloping is that it sort of streamlines a guest list and whittles it down to a small, intimate number that’s (ideally) filled with folks who support you, love you, and want to see your ideal day happen. But anytime you add any guests to your wedding day, other inherent elements are thrown into the mix. 

Even if every relationship–family, friends, other loved ones–is nothing but 100% positive, that doesn’t take away from the fact that managing people (just by nature) can make things complicated. A planner can help you streamline that management and deal with all the questions, provide guidance, make sure the ceremony goes smoothly, and be a point of contact to ensure that your guests know what’s happening without you needing to break your focus. 

Really stop and think about the best possible scenario for having wedding guests at your adventure elopement. In a perfect world, you’re soaking in each moment, everyone knows where to go and when to be there, and you don’t have to manage a thing. 

It’s entirely possible for you to do that on your own–but if you’ve got a coordinator or planner on your side, it can be wildly seamless. 

 

You’ve Hired Lots of Vendors 

Elopement days that are supported by fabulous vendors are always stunning and meaningful–but that doesn’t mean the management and guidance of those vendors are always stress-free. 

If you’re a couple who wants to enjoy the perks of all the amazing vendors without handling all the coordination, then consider an elopement day planner the ultimate hack toward a flawless wedding day. 

A bride and groom take a moment during the elopement hiking day to laugh, soak in the moment, and enjoy their stress-free day a wedding planner helped them arrange.

Two brides take a moment on their tailgate during their adventure elopement.

Imagine the bouquet or florals that you’ve always dreamed of, a delicious wedding cake that looks better than you dreamed, a 4×4 guide that drives you and your partner to your epic elopement location, or a makeup artist that perfects the look you’ve always pictured for your wedding day. 

Now, imagine all of that happening without needing to coordinate or arrange any of it yourself. 

Seems too good to be true, right? Trust me; it’s not. It’s possible! That’s the magic of a wedding day coordinator. 

 

You’re Chasing the Most Stress-Free Day Possible 

If you’re looking to avoid even the smallest drop of stress and value your peace of mind and presence more than taking the reigns yourself, then you absolutely need a wedding day coordinator on your elopement day. 

Think about every little element of your day that you want to unfold perfectly. Now, think about the joy of being fully hands-off, letting those details unravel as they were meant to without any involvement on your end.

Seems like nirvana, doesn’t it? A wedding coordinator takes your vision–your epic day!–and turns it into reality without ever asking you to arrange things, schedule pickups, communicate with people, answer questions, or set things up. 

 

You’re Unfamiliar with the Area & Want Extra Help Planning 

If you’re eloping in Colorado (or enter your other dream state here), there’s obviously plenty I can help you with. I know all the great vendors, tons of epic elopement spots, and can easily help you get what you want out of an elopement day. 

But if you’re looking for someone who can help you soak up every part of the area you’re eloping in–including suggestions for pre-wedding events or post-wedding celebrations that I might not be covering for you–a wedding coordinator and planner can likely be that resource for you. 

A bride and groom enjoy a stress-free elopement moment during their Telluride wedding day.

Further, wedding day coordinators can often apply their skills elsewhere if you hire them to do so. For example, if you have guests joining you in a snowy mountain town for your winter elopement, your coordinator might be able to help you set up transport to and from the airport, activities for your family while they’re there, and coordinate reservations for you. 

Planners are pros at doing exactly what they’re hired to do–plan! So, if your day requires a little extra planning, why not lean into that? I say hire a professional who can help you soak up your day as much as possible.  

 

Let’s Plan & Capture the Elopement Day You’ve Envisioned 

Remember, as your elopement photographer; I’m on board to provide you with the resources, knowledge, and tools to help you plan the best elopement day ever. But ultimately, I want you to hire the vendors who can make your dream day happen–and if your dream day includes more details, booking, and extra communication, a planner is a must. 

As far as capturing your love, telling your elopement day story, and creating the elopement day you’ve always envisioned goes, I’m your girl. If you’re ready to talk dates, have questions, or just want to chat about elopements, reach out to me ASAP! Let’s plan your perfect elopement day.

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Looking for a photographer to help guide, educate, and capture the most incredible adventure of your life — let’s do this thing.

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Alex, Coastal Elopement

"We loved our experience having Marcela as our elopement day photographer.

What was even more special about our experience was her ability to set us at ease months before our day. Through constant communication leading up to, and during, the day we got eloped. Her personality is that, in just four days time, we felt as if we've known her for years. 

Ah, but you're wondering about her photos. We loved every thing about them especially the raw emotion captured in many of the shots."

Caitlin, Alpine Lake Elopement

"My husband and I have been trying to put into words how simply amazing working with Marcela was.

From the start we could tell she truly cared about us, our relationship, and our story. She asked us so many questions, valued what we wanted, and kept up with the ever changing plans that came along with planning a wedding.

She made us feel so comfortable, made us laugh till we cried, and captured our true wholesome love for each other."

"We loved every moment of the day she helped create. Marcela was the perfect photographer for our adventure elopement! She worked tirelessly to make our adventure into marriage happen after our first options were snowed in! 

She made us comfortable to be ourselves throughout the whole day while making her job look effortless and fun. Our cheeks hurt from smiling, laughing and a few tears. Marcela captured every precious moment! Her photography is absolutely stunning every way! I highly recommend Marcela for your elopement or wedding!"

Lauren, Sand Dunes Elopement

Amy, Forest Elopement

"Instead of telling us how to pose or interact with each other, Marcela gave us prompts that seemed simple but made a huge difference.

We discussed the weirdest things we loved about each other (which made us laugh) and how we could fulfill each other’s love languages. Amy and I played games with each other and Marcela captured the energy that happened naturally between us.

I love this shoot because it perfectly captures the love we share. It’s incredible to see that love and admiration encapsulated in a photo! Thank you for this!"

Chris, Anniversary Session

"The photos we just got back from Marcela are giving me CHILLS!! She did SO MUCH more than just photograph us — she created special moments that I’ll cherish forever. She encouraged Con & I to genuinely interact & share intimate moments together. She prompted us to tell each other things that we love about one other, ways that the other person inspires us, & how being together has positively changed us.

It was more than just a beach shoot. We ended up giving each other precious, heart melting encouragement & that makes these photos all the more treasured to me."

Andrea, Red Rocks Elopement

"We had a pre-meet with her before the big day which definitely helped me feel more relaxed going into the wedding day. She gave us great suggestions and things to think about to be ready with on the wedding. On the day of she showed up early to help scope out the venue. She was creative to try and pull extra joy into our photographs.

When I look at these photos I see more than just beautiful images. I feel the moments that Marcela helped us experience and the connection we had. I can't thank Marcela enough! We will treasure these moments forever!"

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KIND WORDS

couples I've worked with

160

5 star
review record 

100

years as a photographer

6

My business is rooted in inclusivity, equality for all, and the inarguable truth that love is love. I am whole-heartedly and endlessly committed to capturing and celebrating your love regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

My Values

+

dollars donated to charity

10,400

houseplants
(and counting!)

18

countries visited so far

22

%

I deliver fully-edited images. I never deliver RAW, or unedited, images as they are not a reflection of my work. Every photo has my custom look applied, and is adjust for things like brightness and optimal color. I will remove small blemishes that aren't usually there but I generally don’t retouch images more than that. Your skin is part of you and your beauty and I want to capture it as authentically as I can. 

Do you edit or retouch images?

My travel fees are included in all my packages as long as I can access your location via commercial airline and 2WD. The only time there would an additional fee is if your location is more remote and requires a charter plane or if I need to rent a high clearance 4WD. Other than that, I'll take care of my own travel costs! You don't have to worry about additional travel fees like hotel stays or meal purchases.

Tell me more about travel costs

I know from personal experience that it can seem like ages when you're waiting for images. My photographer took 12 weeks to deliver my images!

That's why I work hard to deliver them within 6 weeks. I also make sure to send over some sneak peeks soon after your elopement day so you can share with family and friends!

When will we receive our images?

Because you receive high-resolution, un-watermarked photos, you are welcome to print them at any shop but printing via me guarantees the best quality. You can order these prints from your personalized gallery.

Along with professional quality prints you can also order calendars, announcements, and frames through our partnered labs. I test the prints and colors to my labs’ printers to make sure your photos print accurately and beautifully.

Where can we buy prints?

In addition to elopements, I also love to capture other wild adventures like a canoe or kayak engagement session, helicopter elopement, camping wedding, desert session, tree-house engagement, beach elopement, trash the dress session, a multi-day adventure, backpacking session and much more!

Do you only photograph elopements?

On average, I provide about 50 images per hour of shooting. This number varies depending on the weather, how your day unfolds, the type of session and time. Elopements range anywhere from 200-400 photos. Couples sessions are typically around 100.

I believe in quality over quantity and aim to deliver the best of the best photos from your day.

How many images can we expect?

Because my travel schedule & pricing structure is constantly evolving, I generally don't book elopements more than 18 months out (with the exception of international destination weddings).

Couples usually book elopements anywhere from 3-12 months out. If you're more spontaneous or just eager to get married and want a last minute elopement, definitely reach out! I might have a space just for you. 

How far in advance should we book?

Couples sessions can be for engagement photos, honeymoon photos, day-after sessions, anniversary photos, vow renewals, or just cause you wanna. I’ll help you plan a session that tells your story, including location suggestions, activities, and assistance with outfit planning. It can be as simple as a cozy morning in a cabin, or as adventurous as climbing a mountain. Couples sessions can’t be used for an elopement (because your wedding day deserves a whole lot more than that) and I have other packages specifically for elopements!

Couples session vs elopement

Absolutely! I want to make it very clear that I support love & marriage for all.

I believe that everyone deserves to have the perfect wedding day and I want to help you make yours just that.

Love is love and it comes in many forms. I'm just thrilled to be able to capture it!

Will you photograph LGBTQ+ ceremonies?

Absolutely. In fact I prioritize these session! Because I am a storyteller at heart, I want to tell the whole story – before & after and in-between. This type of coverage works well if you're camping out with your friends the night before, or traveling to a destination with all of your family, or backpacking to a spot for your adventure elopement. I want to capture it all.

Do you offer full-weekend coverage?