Should You Elope in Big Bend?
You may be set on eloping or having an intimate wedding and you’re just trying to pick a location— or maybe you’re still not sure about all of it! Many couples find themselves in the same boat as they mull over all the options for their day. With so many variables to discuss and decide on, you can easily become overwhelmed with decision paralysis.
I want to help!
After Lana and Mitch got married last June, I asked them if they’d be up for a virtual interview about their experience and why they chose to adventure in Big Bend for their wedding day. Sometimes hearing from the people who have already done it can help you decide if it’s the right option for you!
Here’s what they said:
Q: What was your vision for your wedding day?
A: We wanted each other and nature. That's it. Knowing that we are who we are because of the people we love, having our closest friends and family there was natural because everyone that was present is an extension of us in some way. Thoughts also came in bursts of images, colors, short scenes played out in our minds... We did not visit Big Bend National Park before arriving for our wedding so everything was one big dreamy day dream. Everything exceeded expectations :)
Q: Why do you feel like having an intimate wedding instead of a traditional wedding helped you achieve that vision?
A: Less people, less stuff, more memories and more love. Keeping it simple preserved our sanity and kept things focused on love.
Q: What was the planning process like for your wedding?
A: The what??? Seriously, our planning process was entirely revolved around AC's guiding hand. We worked together to craft the perfect day individual to us. The rest was in collaboration with Betsy (Lana’s mom). The Chisos Mountains did most the work.
Q: You chose to do a sunrise session on your wedding day, why did you choose that and how do you feel like it impacted your overall experience?
A: 10/10 would advise everyone doing this on their wedding day!! Having that intentional quiet time together and sipping coffee on top a damn cliff set the tone for the entire day. It seems impossible to describe the way we felt the morning of our wedding, all the beautiful nerves and excitements, but that's okay because we have these gorgeous pictures to look back on... they capture it all. That almost-married-I-love-you-so-much morning glow. And THEN WE GOT TO HOP IN A HOT NATURAL SPRING AND GET ALL MUDDY?! YES please. It was romantic and silly and fun and so, so incredibly special.
Q: What was each of your favorite moments of the day?
A: Lana: The sunrise session and the portrait shoot immediately following the ceremony. And the getting ready in that cute little cottage, small but enough, crammed full with the most beautiful women I know!
Mitch: Getting married
Lana and Mitch: The light rain after the ceremony that created a bright orange sky and a rainbow (there was a rainbow the night before too, gotta throw it out there).
Q: Your day was full of intentional details -- what was one of your favorite details you included?
A: We both really loved the first look. It felt like we were the only two people in the world.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to a couple that was considering having an intimate elopement or wedding, instead of a traditional wedding?
A:
1) Please, PLEASE do not let wedding culture get the best of you, or really any part of you at all. Do what you want to do. Hard stop.
2) Anyone you hire to be a part of your special day is a collaborator.
3) Do not take anything too seriously.
Q: There are SO many beautiful places around the country--How / why did you choose Big Bend for your wedding?
A: I (Lana) knew I wanted to get married in TX and thankfully Mitch was down. Then we saw an IG post from AC about elopements and literally, the rest was history HA (get married!! it's fun!)
