How to
Leave No Trace
During Your
Elopement
Nothing is more magical than eloping in nature
The vivid greens of pine trees and the rainbow hues of wildflowers. Pristine blankets of pure white snow. Perfectly still blue alpine lakes.
These beautiful sights are what make elopements in nature such a magical experience—but these adventures are only possible if we preserve and respect this nature.
One of the most important ways we can do this is by making sure we “Leave No Trace” on the nature that provides the backdrop for your elopement.
What is Leave No Trace?
Leave No Trace is a nonprofit organization started by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Services, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to educate people about how to responsibly recreate in the outdoors.
But even more than that, Leave No Trace is a mindset that everyone should practice when spending time in nature—whether in a national park or our own backyards.
The 7 Principles
The Leave No Trace organization lays out seven principles that “provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors.”
You can think of these as the seven essential rules to follow when spending time outdoors. They’re easy to remember and easy to follow—and incredibly important for preserving and respecting nature.
Plan ahead & prepare
Travel & camp on durable surfaces
Dispose of waste properly
Leave what you find
Minimize campfire impacts
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of others
Already wondering how to apply the Leave No Trace principles to your elopement? I’ll go over each principle below, and how we can work together to make sure your elopement leaves no trace on the beautiful nature it takes place in!
Principle 1:
Plan ahead & Prepare
Elopements in nature can be incredibly peaceful and stress-free—but they definitely take some advance planning beforehand to eliminate stress on the day!
Preparing for the conditions we’ll be adventuring in is a big part of that. As we plan your elopement, I’ll help you handle all these considerations, including . . .
Principle 2:
Travel & camp on durable surfaces
Hiking and off-roading often play a role in adventure elopements—and while these are great ways to get farther out in nature, it’s so important to stay on established trails and safe areas to adventure.
Natural features like wildflower meadows, lakes and streams, and tundra can be easily harmed by human activity, even foot traffic. As part of your elopement planning process, we’ll consider where to hike, off-road, and camp to leave no trace by . . .
Principle 3:
Dispose of waste properly
Traditional weddings can definitely produce a lot of waste—from paper invitations to decor to tons of florals that end up in trash. Adventure elopements, where nature is your venue, are a great way to avoid a lot of this waste!
But even things like champagne, snacks, and flower petals are examples of waste that can get left behind from an elopement if you’re not careful. If you’re eloping somewhere way out in nature, it’s likely that trash cans—and bathrooms—won’t be available.
Most people don’t think about these “icky” things when planning an adventure elopement, but they’re important to consider! We can make that sure any waste for your elopement leaves no trace on the environment by . . .
Principle 4:
Leave what you find
It might seem harmless to bring home a little souvenir like a rock, flower, or pinecone from the place you eloped. But every object in nature has an important role in the ecosystem, and it’s critical to leave everything as we found it.
If you want a memento of your elopement location, there are other great ways to memorialize it. I’m happy to help you with ideas such as . . .
Principle 5:
Minimize campfire impacts
A campfire (and maybe some s’mores) can be a cozy way to end your adventure elopement and make for some super cute photos! But campfires present a huge threat to nature if they’re not managed responsibly.
Fortunately, there are things we can do before and during your elopement to make sure any campfires we have leave no trace, including . . .
Principle 6:
Respect wildlife
Some of the wildlife we might see during your elopement—picas, chipmunks, and birds—are super cute. Other wildlife—moose, bears, and wolves—are downright dangerous. But all wildlife, whether or not it’s a threat to us, is wild, and humans can be a threat to animals’ diets, habitats, and behavior.
We can leave no trace on the animals that call your elopement location their home by . . .
Principle 7:
Be considerate of others
If you check out the rules for eloping in most national and state parks (I read a lot of these!), you’ll notice a common theme: most permits for eloping don’t give you exclusive use of any area. That means other visitors are allowed to enjoy your elopement location too.
Of course, there are places we can go that offer more privacy if that’s important to you! But no matter where you elope, we have to consider other potential visitors by . . .
Feeling a little out of your element?
The Leave No Trace principles are a lot to consider, and they might be things you just haven’t thought about when envisioning your adventure elopement.
But the good news is: I’ve done this all before! I spend a lot of time out in nature—it’s both my job and my passion—and I know exactly how to plan an elopement that prioritizes a fun and safe experience for you and your partner and preserves the natural spaces we’re so lucky to explore.
The Leave No Trace principles are built into my elopement planning process—in the way I choose locations and times, where to hike and camp, and what to pack for your day.
Let’s plan a fun—and responsible— elopement!
If you want a Leave No Trace expert on your side during your elopement day, reach out to me! We can talk all things location, timing, and planning ahead to make sure your day is stress-free, beautiful, and sustainable.
Most people who choose an adventure elopement do so because they love nature. The best way to honor your love for nature is to preserve it for generations to come. I can’t wait to help you plan an elopement that does just that!
