Engagement, elopement or micro-wedding...this is the year!
Photo by: Alyse in San Francisco
Come summer, many of us are usually getting out our best strappy heels and dapper suits to wear to the season’s many weddings. Others of us are looking forward to what will be one of the happiest days of our lives.
But, as you’re probably tired of hearing, this year things are a little different, and that comes to all things wedding-related, as well. Many couples have already had to alter their wedding plans while others are wondering if they should put engagements and ceremonies on hold until next year.
Our answer: Absolutely not!
As we hope you’ve also been hearing, no matter what challenges or hard times come along, life must go on. In fact, it is in the face of adversity that love and joy become all the more necessary. So we say, make this year the most romantic and celebratory you can. It’s already historic; add some of your own history. We’ll be with you, every step of the way, to capture all your romantic, love-inspired moments!
Engagements / Surprise Proposal
Nothing should hold back a profession of undying love. Not nerves, not lack of funds, and definitely not a pandemic! This year those boldly proposing are getting creative, looking to meaningful local settings, unique and affordable rings on Etsy, natural backdrops, technology and intimate moments.
Still, you don’t want the moment to go undocumented. Our local photographers can help you whether you’re planning a surprise proposal, searching the perfect setting, or both! They’ll work with you to give you all the space you need and be there, snapping pics from the wings, when the magic moment happens. You’ll both be so wrapped up in this momentous declaration of love, that you’ll thank your cleverness for hiring an engagement photographer to get the pics you’ll treasure later. Our contactless photoshoots are the perfect way to document this special moment with Inst-worthy engagement photos you’ll treasure long after the wedding.
If you’re not quite ready to propose to the love of your life this summer, no worries! Take this downtime to plan. According to the 2020 Weddingwire Newlywed Report, based on a survey of 27,250 recently married individuals, “seven out of the ten most popular days to propose take place in December” and 45% of people spend at least five months picking out that perfect engagement ring (and supporting local shops while they’re at it). That means you’re right on track! Book one of our promotion packages with no expiration date. You’ll have a professional photographer in your pocket for whenever and wherever you decide to pop the question...and one thing checked off your list!
Read the interview with photographer Sarah in San Francisco who loves capturing couples in love!
Elopements
If ever there was an excuse to elope, 2020 is it! There can’t be any hard feelings amongst family and friends when we’re all self-isolating and social-distancing, right?
An elopement has always been an affordable alternative to a big wedding. And if you travel abroad to elope, then you get a wedding and honeymoon in one! But elopements aren’t just about saving money. They’re about creating an experience that’s intimate and focused on the couple, rather than the pressure of guests and traditions. It lets you take your special day and truly make it all yours. And this year, even those who dreamed of a big wedding find themselves considering the benefits of the alternative. Eloping ensures you wear what you want, go where you want, and definitely tie the knot this year! And it doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate with friends and family when social distancing is over.
If you and your partner have decided an elopement is right for you, all that’s left is to pick the date, choose the spot, and book one of our professional photographers. Another benefit of elopements: some of the best wedding photos are from these unique, intimate ceremonies. There’s an undeniable sense of freedom and fun in photos, which you can then use on “We’re married!” announcements to friends and family.
Micro-weddings
Nothing has been quite what we expected this year, so even if you don’t want to elope but have always wanted something a little different, this is the time to do it. Plan the big day but in a smaller, more personal way, opting for a guilt-free, intimate “micro-wedding.”
A micro-wedding typically refers to any ceremony with less than 50 people in attendance, but there is no exact science. The goal is simply intimacy and whatever the couple is after. Fewer guests means more meaningful interactions with those family and friends in attendance. It also means more personal touches, like a bold-colored dress, matching sneakers, or a karaoke session with cake. Whatever it is that makes you two uniquely you!
Family gardens and dining rooms often serve as the settings of these personal ceremonies, fostering an old-fashioned celebration with a potluck reception and homemade cake. But there are options away from home, as well. Just as couples are rethinking their wedding plans this year, wedding professionals and venues are also coming up with better ways to cater to love, offering small wedding packages that present some glam options. And remember, micro-weddings are much easier to take on the go, so make the location a vacation destination with parents and BFFs.
Thankfully, we have local photographers in over 500 cities in the world, ready to capture all the special moments of your intimate wedding day, proving that when you go smaller the love just gets bigger!
Read the interview with photographers Elizabeth and Talia in Phoenix who specialize in wedding-related photography!
Shoot My Travel wants to document every part of your unique wedding journey, from proposal to honeymoon. See a photographer you like, book them for all your wedding-related events. Or try different photographers and styles to celebrate different parts of your love.
And if you know a couple who’ve had to postpone or are rethinking their wedding plans in 2020, give them a gift card to capture an event close to their hearts when they’re ready.