Your Elopement Deserves to be Documented!

Micro-weddings and elopements have gotten more and more popular in the last few years, and I mean… I totally get why! It helps you keep it simple, it can be a great way to keep costs down – and it’s a great reason to keep your guest list small. Which also has huge items in the “pro” list versus a big wedding! Now, I do have to say, I’m not saying DON’T have a big wedding, if a big show is what you’ve dreamed of, make it happen, babe. But if you’re planning an elopement or micro-wedding, and you’ve been on the fence about whether photography is a worthwhile addition to your budget, I’m here to tell you it ABSOLUTELY is!! (As well as what images you absolutely HAVE to make sure are on your micro-wedding shot-list!)

Photography is Worth Splashing Out For

I talk about this all the time, but no matter what phase of your life you’re in, no matter what the event is we’re planning… photography is worth it. Big days like your wedding (whether it’s a small wedding or not!) only come around once. Even if you’ve been married before, and this isn’t your first rodeo. Regardless of your path to get to this point, you deserve to be able to look back on your wedding and relive the memories. Relive the smile on your partner’s face when you walked down the aisle, or the tears from your mom when she hugged you after the ceremony. EVEN if the ceremony was at the court house – actually, believe it or not – ESPECIALLY if the ceremony was at the court house!

Less time doesn’t mean fewer memories!

The shorter your wedding is… the more valuable it is to have those images to look back on. Because the shorter your wedding is… the less time you have to MAKE the memories. Which sounds like obvious simple math, but that’s not how most people look at it. We think “short” translates to “no big deal”. It’s just a subconscious thing that we do as people. But it couldn’t be further from the case! If you do book micro-wedding photos here in Minneapolis, you will LOVE being able to look back on your day, and enjoy the love all over again – that’s my promise to you.

So – when you’re creating a shot list and talking to your photographer… what should you plan to include??

1. Photos With Your Witnesses

Even the smallest weddings – like, we’re talking twenty-minutes-at-the-courthouse weddings, have witnesses. So you’re probably going to bring your besties, or your family – very important people. The VIPs of your wedding, so to speak – I mean, other than the two of you, that is. And those humans are IMPORTANT humans to get pictures with!! So make sure that there are images of you and your witnesses included in your micro-wedding shot list.

2. Photos of the Rings

Now, I know that not all couples exchange rings now, and like, I get it. But if you DO exchange rings, getting pictures of the rings is a VITAL part of documenting your elopement! Whether they’re gorgeous images of the rings on your hands, or your photographer disappears for a moment to capture the rings with some of the decor at your elopement, you’ll want those images to look back on. The rings in a wedding are, after all, symbols of your love! So capturing them gorgeously is a super important memory to have of your day.

3. Photos of YOU, the Couple!

It wouldn’t be a complete list of micro-wedding photos without talking about you, the couple! You guys have decided something huge – and whether you’ve been together twenty years and are just now taking the plunge, or you’ve been together three months and you just KNOW that they’re the human for you, it’s equally important to document your love and happiness together on the day of your wedding. Whether it’s a few images in the area of the courthouse, or they’re gorgeous images taken in the surrounding area of your venue, take a moment in the day to document YOU. It may not be as long as the couples portraits that take place (usually in cocktail hour!) at a traditional length wedding, but it’s important to make them happen!

4. The Kiss <3

Similarly, even if your wedding is a micro-wedding or an elopement, there will VERY likely be a kiss involved. And whether that kiss is in front of a judge in the courthouse, or in front of a friend who got ordained for the specific purpose of officiating your wedding, you deserve to be able to look back at that moment. It’s one of those magically fleeting few seconds – and it’s so easy to forget. So being able to look back on it is even more important!

5. The Love

Okay so this one probably feels like a cop-out, but follow me here. Every wedding looks different. Has a different number of guests. Takes place under different circumstances. Weddings – especially micro-weddings – are unique. But no matter how many guests your wedding has, there will be SO much love. Whether it’s between you and a few family members, you and a few friends, you and your bridal party (mini or otherwise) there will be love to document. So make sure before your micro-wedding photos that you walk your photographer through who’s going to be there that you absolutely want to get a few photos with, whether they’re posed, or unposed. Capture the love.

Micro-Weddings deserve to be documented too!

Just because your wedding is smaller, or shorter, or has fewer guests… doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t document. It doesn’t make it less important to be able to look back on, and it certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring a photographer along for the ride! And as an added bonus… photographers who work with micro-weddings and elopements can also go a long way to helping your day go smoothly. I mean, they might be the only “staff” member who goes along with you during your day!

So if you’re booking a micro-wedding or elopement in the coming year, and you’re officially convinced that you want to REMEMBER the love… reach out. I would love to talk to you about documenting your big day – because whether it’s LARGE or SMALL… the day itself? It’s still a big one. And I’d be honored to help you remember it, with micro-wedding photos!