Why would someone want to elope in a place they’ve never been to before? We get this question a lot — it’s something that often surprises people: the fact that a lot of our couples are seeing the place for the first time when they come here for their elopement. It might sound strange, but if you think about it, it’s the perfect time to explore somewhere new. Marriage is new. It’s a marking of a new turn, a new life, a new promise. Why not explore a new place while you do that? Often times, our couples decide to elope, or plan an intimate destination wedding, because the idea of a big wedding back home doesn’t feel right to them. So they choose to have an epic, exploratory, adventurous wedding day instead. They choose to go somewhere new together, experience the place for the first time on a day that they’ll never forget. The thing is, when they do this, they forever have a place that means everything to them. Callen and I were married in a typical venue in Texas. We’ve never gone back to it. It’s fun to pass the highway exit occasionally and remember our wedding was there, but the place itself doesn’t hold much meaning. For our couples, they get to forever hold a special place in their hearts, somewhere significant and beautiful like Alaska or Moab. These two hiked out and said their vows on this little beach in Alaska last summer, and they’re coming back on a trip this summer because they loved it so much. Now, it’ll always be special to them...and I really love the idea of them coming back here in their 80’s, telling young hikers about when they got married here all those years ago 🥹