How much time do eloping couples need a photographer for?

Imagine your elopement. What will you do to celebrate?

Elopements are no longer just about running off to the courthouse in secret. They’ve evolved into deeply personal, intentional celebrations that deserve just as much attention and care as a traditional wedding. If anything, elopements allow for even greater creativity, adventure, and meaning—so why wouldn’t you document the entire experience? How much time should you book your photographer for?

Considering an Elopement or Micro-wedding Instead? No Wonder!

Elopements have evolved from secretive courthouse ceremonies to personalized, meaningful celebrations that rival traditional weddings. This shift reflects a growing preference for intimate, cost-effective, and authentic experiences. Recent data indicates a significant increase in couples considering elopements. A national survey of over 1,000 engaged U.S.-based couples found that 62% were open to a scaled-back, elopement-style wedding, with 69% of female respondents expressing this interest (PR Newswire).

In Canada, elopements are gaining popularity due to the country's diverse and picturesque landscapes, offering couples countless unique and memorable settings for their ceremonies (Today's Bride). People are excited to explore and experience Canada, and use their upcoming wedding as an excuse to do so. Not only that, but the cost of the average wedding in Canada has risen over the years and depending on the province, couples can expect to spend anywhere from $25,000 in Alberta to $38,000 in Ontario, on average (Your Wedding Atlas). Much of this cost can be attributed to venues and guest counts of traditional weddings. Elopements allow couples to stay on budget while focusing on what truly matters to them, crafting a day that reflects their personalities without the constraints of traditional wedding expectations. This emphasis on authenticity and intimacy is a key factor in the growing appeal of elopements.

Most couples wouldn’t book a photographer for just 30 minutes of their wedding day, so why limit an elopement to just the ceremony and a few portraits? Your elopement isn’t just about the moment you say “I do”—it’s about the entire experience.

Here’s why documenting the whole day matters:

1. Your Story Deserves to Be Told Fully

If you're like most people, you are not hiring a professional photographer very often. Now is the time to maximize the value of your investment, to track and document the thought and care that went into planning your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. A great photographer will incorporate the values you share and little details of what makes your relationship work. They'll focus on the shared experiences, activities, people and environments that are special to you. This is all above and beyond documenting "I do".

Similar to traditional weddings, couples don't hire a professional photographer all day for the guests. Couples hire them to ensure the story of their day is captured completely and artfully, so they can relive it again and again, regardless of who attended.

2. The Little Moments are just as important

A soft look exchanged during breakfast, quiet moments while writing your vows, your partner helping you lace up hiking boots, the way the light catches your dress as you walk—these are the fleeting moments that make your day uniquely yours. These are the images that will transport you to the emotions and wonders of your elopement day, time after time.

Let's start the conversation.

3. Remaining Present

Elopements aren't quick and dirty experiences to be rushed through. An hour is certainly not enough time for a proper portrait session, let alone the before, during and after of a ceremony with formal portraits. Don't rush it.

Couples should consider that they will need more time with their photographer in order to create a memorable gallery that embodies what they intend to share with family and friends, and revisit for themselves as years go on. Including your photographer for longer means that there’s no rush to capture forced portraits in a limited timeframe. Instead, you get authentic, immersive documentation of your day as it naturally unfolds.

4. Reliving the experience

We can't carry every little memory with us. But, with a little foresight, years from now, you will be able to revisit the details of your wedding day and feel like it was yesterday. But what's more, with the full narrative, you will be able to recall the emotions, the atmosphere and the sense of adventure of that day as well.

Crafting an Elopement That Feels Like You

Elopements break the mold of tradition and create space for what matters most—your connection. Plan an epic adventure or a slow, meaningful day. Either way, your elopement is still your wedding day, and it deserves to be captured with the same care and artistry as any other.

So, how much time should you book a photographer for on your elopement day?

For all the reasons described above, I recommend a minimum of 6 hour coverage for elopements and micro-weddings, just as I would for traditional wedding coverage. This offers time to settle in, be present, reflect authentic narratives, and fully capture the essence of your wedding day.

To learn more about what your elopement day time might look like, check out this blog post.

Ready to start planning?