Sometimes couples know exactly the spot they want to get married at, it usually holds some sentimental value or is a gorgeous location they’ve always dreamed of getting married at. What do you do if you don’t know exactly where you want to get married? It can be hard to book a photographer or other vendors for your day until you know that. So where do you start with finding a location?

Online Inspiration

Check out Pinterest, Instagram, Wedding Blogs, and other online sites to start finding place and ideas for what you want your own wedding to look like. What season do you enjoy? A winter wedding in a snowy forest? A cool autumn ridge overlooking a lake? What kind of experience do you want your wedding to be? Hiking to a remote destination? Lounging on a boat with family and friends? A leisurely stroll to a scenic locale with a cozy picnic style dinner? If you already have a photographer you enjoy, check out some of their previous weddings!

Map Tools

Now that you know what kind of feel you want for your day, do you have a specific state, or park, or region in mind? If you’re looking for a cool forest that also has mountain views check out parts of the country or state that have those geological features. Check park groups on Facebook, Google Maps recommendations, and more for further help.

Next you can start to narrow it down to a couple of parks or natural areas that fit that description. Use a plethora of resources to find the right trail or place in the park, including Google Maps, trail and travel websites, and local blogs.

Keep in mind the length and difficulty of some of the trails listed as well as your own comfort and abilities. It’s not going to be a fun day if you are straining through the hike and can’t even enjoy the view at the top.

Permits

Now that you have a spot in mind, check out what the local municipality, park or natural resource department require as a permit or if they allow weddings at all. Some state parks only require a small fee and a permit submitted weeks in advance. On the other hand, some national parks only allow weddings to take place at selected locations and only give out a couple of permits a year. While this may put a damper on your plans, it’s to protect the park’s wildlife and ecosystem. Too many spots have become overrun with visitors and the harm to the environment can often be irreversible to fragile ecosystems that call the place home.

Trying to circumvent these rules can often result in fines or being removed by park officials, ruining the whole experience and memory of your wedding day.

Backup Plan

You’ve picked a date, have everything packed and ready to go, ready to travel to your dream location, but your perfect weather turns to rain. Or a large snowfall the night before closes the road to your trailhead. What do you do now? Having a backup plan in place can help relive some of this out of your control stress. Planning an event in the outdoors comes with it’s own struggles, but being able to transition to a new plan can still make sure you have a great time.

Does this all sound like a lot of work and hard to include in all of the other wedding to do items? That’s why I include location scouting services in all of my packages. I’m here to be a resource for you, to take all of your dreams for your wedding day and recommend places that fit that vision and make it a comfortable experience for you.

Hey there, I’m Brooke! A dog loving, coffee drinking elopement photographer based in Wisconsin and I would love to help you plan your best elopement experience. Let’s celebrate all the things you love!