Even the sound ‘mountain elopement’ or ‘hiking elopement’ words make when you pronounce it sounds mesmerizing. It’s so melodic and soothing. And how wouldn’t it be when it’s the combination of 2 great things – mountain and elopements. The first one describes one of the most beautiful landscapes of our planet while the other one is the best kind of wedding you can have.
While the mountains will do their part in your little hiking elopement, don’t expect them to do your part of the job too. Yes, there are some steps you can do to make your mountain elopement even better. The only limit to this list is your imagination and we bring you a few ideas that could direct you to some other ones.
If you are not familiar with the elopement wedding term, we have written a whole article about it. Read it and everything written in this post will be much clearer to you.
Ready? Let’s start the ascent!
Make your mountain elopement a multi-day experience
Your elopement act will last for maybe 15 minutes. What a waste of time would be to hike somewhere just to return right after the elopement. Some hiking elopement articles suggest you spend a whole day roaming the mountain after you elope.
We’ll go even further than that. We suggest you take a few days off and make the mountain your home for a while. The world can wait while you and your partner are celebrating together on your epic hiking elopement.
Choose a remote part of the mountain for your hiking elopement
This is important. Mountains are popular places and there are a lot of mountain trails full of hikers trying to reach their destination. The same is with other popular places on the particular mountain. They are just full of people.
You don’t want to have your mountain elopement while the hikers are passing just a few meters away from you. That’s just not right. Either choose a secluded and least visited part of the mountain or find the hours in which there are fewer visitors at a certain place where you want your mountain elopement ceremony to be held.
Do the hiking elopement planning together
You’re doing everything together so this is a logical next step in the preparation for your mountain elopement. Plan all the details of your elopement together but leave room for some surprises that will spice things up. Your partner doesn’t need to know everything.
You can even split tasks among yourselves, one of you can be responsible for the equipment while the other will search for your perfect mountain accommodation. Of course, we suggest you still discuss things you found together until you find something you both feel like the right choice.
Make a small surprise for your partner
Everybody likes surprises. At least the good ones. Your partner will love it too. The best thing is, it doesn’t have to be huge and expensive. It can be anything as long as your partner is not aware of it.
When the right moment comes, just pop out your surprise and watch your partner’s happiness reflect in their smile. If you are a coffee lover like we are, buy a portable Espresso maker such as Wacaco Nanopresso and make yourself the best coffee right after your mountain elopement. That way you’ll have something that will remind you of your mountain elopement even when it’s been a long time.
Elope in Autumn or Winter
We are huge mountain lovers and we can’t help it. And that’s a kind of love that many others share. In fact, mountains are one of the most adored landscapes ever.
But even the mountains have some seasons when they are more scenic. We believe that mountains are best when covered in the colors of autumn or winter’s snow. That’s the reason why we suggest you choose one of these 2 seasons for your hiking elopement.
But beware of the conditions you might stumble upon during these seasons. Know that some higher mountains have pretty harsh weather conditions during the winter months and that there are some mountains with snow even in the summer.
Find the best mountain accommodation
We already suggested you spend a few days in the mountains and that’s one of the best decisions you can make during your mountain elopement. The other good decision would be finding the best possible accommodation that exists on a particular mountain.
There are probably plenty of regular mountain huts available but you don’t want regular accommodation for this occasion. You want a small cottage with a fireplace and huge windows that look in the best possible direction. You want to rent a sleeping place in which you’ll feel like you don’t want to sleep at all. If you know what we mean.
Don’t try to save money when it comes to accommodation for your hiking elopement, it will pay off, trust us.
Be your own photographers
We suggest you hire a photographer for your hiking elopement. If you would like to have a video, consider that as well. Have him/her as long as you want, maybe only during the elopement ceremony, and maybe for a whole day. If the mountain is not familiar territory for you but you still want to elope in its beautiful scenery, there are people like us who are adventure guides and photographers + videographers at the same time. Consider hiring those for your hiking elopement.
But even when you hire an elopement photographer, there are moments you don’t want him to be with you. In these moments you can be your own photographer and save those moments with a touch of a finger. Image quality is less important in situations like these, it’s the mood that’s important. Just don’t let yourself overdo it and forget to enjoy the actual moment.
Spend a night by the fire
If you are visiting a mountain in the winter, you’ll want the fire to be close to you all the time. Not the fire in your hearts that was lit after your mountain elopement but a real fire that cracks and makes a wonderful sight.
If you are searching for a place to stay in the mountains, make sure it has any kind of fireplace. That’s a must. It’s not only the heat that’s so good about the fire but it’s the feeling of it too. There is something ethereal in just watching the fire burn. It’s a meditation of a kind.
Check out the guide for eloping in Lauterbrunnen
Drink a bottle of good wine
No, you can’t drink the tea after your mountain elopement is over. You can drink anything but tea. Find a room in your backpack and put the best drink you both like inside.
You can open it right after the elopement or you can wait until you’re warm by a fireplace. Either way is fine. A toast to your epic hiking elopement! Cheers!
Camping? Absolutely
If you and your partner are an outdoor type of person used to roaming in the wilderness, then you should consider camping as accommodation for your hiking elopement. Camping is always a good idea and it will cost you nothing.
Just make sure you know the rules about camping and making fires in the areas you’re going to.
Venture into adventure together
And finally, we came to the good old adventuring stuff. Check the adventure tour option of the mountain you’re planning to have your hiking elopement at. If you are visiting in the winter months, see if there are any ski areas where you can ski together.
Or if you have never skied before, wouldn’t it be great if you take a course together. A great idea indeed.
And then there are some other adventures available particularly in the mountains, maybe a motor sleigh ride, what do you think?
Ultimate Guide to Elope in Dolomites
Having additional questions about mountain elopements?
We hope this article about mountain elopement has been helpful to you or at least gave you the direction to go in planning your own elopement. Most of this advice can be adapted to other types of elopement and not just mountain elopement. Even choosing to have an elopement wedding is a great first step and you have all our support for that decision.
However, if you are not familiar with elopement weddings or how they work, browse through our web for a while, there is much useful information right there. Head over to our Ideas & Stories for more elopement resources. If you are still left with some questions unanswered, that’s what the contact form is for. Reach out to us and we’ll gladly help you with our bits of advice.