How to Choose an Elopement Wedding Dress
Choosing a wedding dress is one of the most exciting parts about planning a wedding. Something about picking out your elopement wedding dress makes the reality of being a bride set in! I get it though, there are SO many options out there, and it can be overwhelming. You may wonder, does my elopement dress have to be any different than a traditional wedding dress?
In short, the answer is no. Your elopement dress can be anything you want! After years of experience working with eloping brides though, this is what I’ve gathered they wished they would have thought about before picking out their dream adventure wedding dress. Stay tuned to the end to read about some suggestions on where to start with shopping!
Make sure you can hike in the dress
Most adventure weddings require at least a little bit of walking. There doesn’t have to be a strenuous hike incorporated into your wedding day to consider how easy or difficult it will be to walk in the wedding dresses you are trying on. Ask yourself: can I take wide steps in this dress? Will I be able to step over any logs or rocks in the path? Can I lift my arms up? How will the underarms feel if I am wearing a hiking backpack at my elopement?
In other words, a super tight, form-fitting trumpet dress might not be the best fit for an elopement day – but if that’s your dream dress, you can simply plan your day around the dress and keep the walking to a minimum!
Consider the dress’ durability
Another thing to keep in mind when getting married outside is that your dress will come into contact with the elements. While I don’t want you to worry about that on the day of (more on that later!), it’s worth a thought when picking out your dress. Tulle is a beautiful material but it does snag very easily. If your elopement is taking place somewhere with lots of brush and brambles, it may be better to opt for crepe or a thicker lace.
Think about what moves well in the wind
One of the great parts about getting married outdoors is that we get to work with the beauty of nature. One of my favorite elements to work with during elopements is the wind!! If you have a flowy dress or veil, we can create some seriously dramatic shots. I mean look at these gowns and veils!!
Factor in alterations
Many (but not all!) elopements are planned on short timelines, and ordering elaborate custom dresses can be difficult to get shipped in time. Sometimes ordering a dress online can be the best way to get your dress quickly. However, if you’re ordering online, keep in mind you may need alterations once the dress arrives to ensure it fits perfectly to your body. Factor that into your dress budget and your elopement planning timeline.
Consider if you will want to re-wear your elopement wedding dress
Some couples who opt for an adventure elopement choose to have a bigger party to celebrate with family and friends later on. Something to think about is whether or not you will want to re-wear your elopement wedding dress to this event or choose different attire for the occasion. Will the dress also work with what you envision for your wedding celebration back home? Another fun thing I’ve seen couples do is to put their wedding attire back on for anniversary photos years down the road! Consider whether you want something on-trend for the time of your wedding, or something timeless for years to come.
Don’t be afraid to get it dirty
Even if you are choosing to re-wear your dress at a later date, I strongly encourage my couples not to stress about getting their outfits dirty during their elopements. Trust me, no one will find a little dirt on the bottom of your epic outdoor wedding photos out of place at all. It will be clear to the friends and family who see your photos that you are in your element, enjoying something you love! And naturally, the dress can get dirty in the process. It’s just the reality of this type of wedding day. If you are too stressed about keeping your dress clean, it may keep you from being in the moment and enjoying the beautiful adventure that your wedding is.
I actually love when an elopement wedding dress shows signs of the day by the end of it – it adds character! You’ll always be able to look back at the marks on the dress as evidence of the amazingly adventurous wedding day you had.
Hoping to wear your dress for an epic national park ceremony?
Where to shop for your adventure elopement wedding dress
Most of my brides begin their search for an elopement wedding dress online. However, there are plenty of places to shop, and plenty of price points as well! These are some of my favorites to jump start your search. They range from budget to custom designer dresses and everything in between.
Lulu’s
This is where I bought my dress for my own adventure vow renewal!! I loved my dress so much and for the price it was very well made. They have plenty of affordable options that are perfect for brides.
ASOS
This is another super affordable option for dresses. Sizes can sell out super quick so stay on top of new releases here for the best availability!
Revolve
Revolve is a slight step up in quality and price point than the first two. If you want a dress that is super on-trend to the times, Revolve is the place to shop.
BHLDN
While the other online retailers I’ve listed so far sell plenty more than just bridal dresses, BHLDN is focused solely on the budget-conscious bride. The best part here is being able to search by wedding style, such as bohemian, modern, classic or romantic.
Azazie
Similar to the last option, Azazie is a full website dedicated to bridal occasions. They also have style subsets including beach wedding, vintage bride and more. They even have a section of their website focused on elopement style inspiration!
Etsy
Hear me out. This option may sound risky, but I’ve actually known brides who have had major success with buying their dress on Etsy! La Novale is an Etsy designer based in Ukraine and will custom make your dress fit to your measurements – and ship it quickly! The key to ordering off of Etsy is reading customer reviews to understand what you’ll be receiving.
Rue De Siene
You can still elope in a designer dress! Rue De Siene specializes in gowns “for the dreamers and free-spirited souls,” which is perfectly fitting for a bride who wants to elope. Think non-traditional designs and whimsical lace patterns.
Reev Bridal
Ultra-modern designer dresses with simple details. They’re actually sold on Etsy but can be ordered through the designer’s website as well.
Daci Gowns
Did you know you can RENT a wedding dress?! If you’re not concerned about custom fit and don’t want to hold on to your dress forever, Daci Gowns offers this as a fantastic option. Plus their gowns have that romantic, flowy element which looks absolutely perfect in nature!
Your Local Bridal Shop
If you’re planning your elopement well in advance, you don’t have to sacrifice the traditional wedding dress shopping process! Grab your girls and go try on dresses in the store. It may take some time to ship, but if this part of the wedding process is important to you, you can still incorporate it even if your wedding day is non-traditional.
The bottom line of elopement wedding dress shopping
At the end of the day, any dress can be an elopement wedding dress. The reason many couples elope is to be able to design their day any way they want to, and your dress is included in that! There are no limits on what your wedding dress can be, just as there are no limits on your wedding day. If you’re still stuck, try browsing my “Elopement Wedding Dress” Pinterest board for inspiration! No matter what dress you choose, it’s all about how you feel in the dress. Choose whatever makes you feel most confident, and the rest will fall into place!