Did you get an engagement ring for Christmas? Or maybe he proposed at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve? SO exciting! This is such a fun time, and I’m 100% all about milking it for all its worth & showing off that ring every chance you get!

But then eventually the question hits you… How do I even start planing a wedding? I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories, but today the Elope Telluride team is helping to allay your fears. We’re sharing our top 3 “first steps” to take after getting engaged.

1. Decide what type of wedding you want and where.

The “type" and the “where” often go hand-in-hand. Discuss if the two of you want a traditional wedding, an adventure elopement or perhaps a “hybrid” of the two like a destination micro wedding. If you want a traditional wedding venue, set up some tours with local venues to find a spot that you truly love and will fit your wedding style. If you’re not set on a certain date and willing to be flexible, there’s a good chance you can lock in the location of your dreams! Weekday weddings have become more and more popular in the last 4 years or so. Although we specialize in 2-person elopements, that might not be what you want and that’s OK. Decide what suits your personalities, your budget and your lifestyle. Then get excited to have the BEST. DAY. EVER! If you’re curious about a Colorado wedding, send us a message and we’ll find a package that fits your needs. 

2. Interview Photographers.

Photography is the most important “vendor” to hire for many couples, regardless of what type of wedding you’re having. It’s best to have a consultation with 3-4 favorites, and if you’re getting married in a different location, hire someone local who knows the best spots for pictures. Ask them questions that are important to you, and even ask questions about hobbies and what music they like. The point is that you want to get along well. You don't have to be best friends, but this person is going to be next to you all day long. You want him or her to be fun and personable! After a couple inquires with us, we like to have a casual video chat with them, to answer their questions about how we work, discuss where & how they want to elope, and just see if we’d be a good fit for each other! Tip: Ask to see a photographer’s last 2-3 weddings in their entirety, not just the 5-10 best images on a blog post or website. Look for consistently amazing images, plus the experience under their belt.  

3. Hire a planner. 

If you’re having a traditional wedding and inviting all your friends and family, we can’t recommend enough hiring a professional wedding planner (sorry, but your cousin who likes party planning doesn’t count). We’ve been photographing weddings for over 10 years, and seen first hand that a great planner is worth the investment…especially if you don’t want to be stressed out. Even if you’re eloping, you may still need assistance with choosing the exact location, obtaining permits, getting a bouquet, or finding a videographer or officiant. At Elope Telluride, we go beyond just photography, and we offer assistance with planning too since many of our couples don’t live here. Our clients are SO important to us, and we want to make their day completely stress-free so they can have the experience of a lifetime! See our packages.

If you’re interested in more info about how it works to have an adventure elopement, especially near Telluride, Ridgway or Ouray, Colorado — then email us or leave a comment!