If you are considering getting married just the two of you, you may be wondering about elopement photography packages in Philadelphia. I have a special place in my heart for elopement photography. Every wedding day is different and planning an elopement is much more low-key than a full-blown wedding, but it still involves planning. It could include having vendors such as a small venue, hair and makeup, a dress or special outfit, flowers, a cake, maybe restaurant reservations or a honeymoon.
It could include booking a ceremony venue location, going to a local park, or even having your wedding ceremony right in your own backyard. One thing is for sure, no matter the location, you will want to have photos from your elopement! Wedding photos hold such precious memories and become a lasting symbol of your love and commitment.
Are you wondering what is included in an elopement photography package and how much photo time you might need?
The amount of time you choose to book for your elopement photography really depends. Even though it’s just the two of you on your wedding day, you don’t have to skimp on photos. You can do getting ready photos, ceremony photos, couples photos, and cake and champagne. You could choose to have your first dance together as a married couple. Even on a small wedding day, like an elopement, there are often sweet and memorable details that couples want to incorporate and capture in their photos. Perhaps you are wearing a special piece of jewelry passed down through the generations. Perhaps you are exchanging gifts or cards before or after you are newly married. There are honestly so many special and meaningful things you could choose to do for each other, or do together, on this occasion. You also want to keep in mind locations. If you will be at more than one location(for example ceremony at a park, couples photos at city hall and then champagne at your favorite rooftop bar) you will need to include travel time to get from place to place. Some couples keep their photography short and sweet for their elopement and just hire a photographer for the ceremony and couple’s photos. The amount of time that you choose to book your elopement for will ultimately depend on what parts of the day you want to be photographed. I can tailor to your needs and I am always happy to hop on a call to help you tease out how many hours of photography coverage would be the best fit for your Philadelphia elopement photography package.
There are so many amazing locations for elopement photos in Philadelphia. Some couples know right away where they want to do their wedding photos. Maybe they are drawn to the classic Philadelphia wedding photo locations such as City Hall, The “Broad Street Photo” or the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Other people choose some lesser-known locations such as the street they walk down every Sunday on their way to their neighborhood coffee shop or their favorite mural in the city. If you are not sure where to start, here are some questions that might help you. Do you like center city or other neighborhoods? Are you looking for skyline views, historic landmarks or green spaces? Do you want to do more than one location? There are many unique and photo-friendly locations and I am happy to chat with you to help brainstorm ideas that might be a good fit for your Philadelphia elopement photos.
Couples choose to do an elopement at all kinds of different locations. You could choose a small wedding venue like Vaux Studio, which is a wonderfully curated small event space specializing in intimate gatherings. One benefit of booking a pretty venue for your elopement is that if you happen to have inclement weather on your wedding day you still have a lovely(and dry!) location for your wedding photos. Wedding Wednesdays is also a cool option which allows you to have your ceremony right in front of the “Love” Statue downtown. This blog post, Ultimate Guide for Small Philadelphia Wedding Venues, shares some possible locations where you could have your elopement.
Some couples choose to have their elopement at a restaurant and Philadelphia is full of delicious options for that! Other couples select a park or historic area or a friend or families home. The options are endless for a Philadelphia elopement!
One of the pluses of choosing a Philadelphia elopement is that you have more flexibility in creating your day just the way you want it to be. You are not bound by tight wedding timelines and have the freedom to do it your way. Whatever you want to do on your day, you can do! Once you say “I do”, you could grab a slice of celebratory pizza or head to a rooftop to cheer with a bubbling glass of champagne. You can wear your favorite dress that you already have in your closet or you can have a dress custom designed for the occasion – it’s up to you. You could choose to elope on a Tuesday afternoon in the park or a Friday evening at your favorite restaurant. You could have a summer wedding or a winter wedding. You can currate the day filling it with all your favorite things. You can keep it simple and relaxed or make it as fancy as you like. This is your special day and you can elope your way!
As a Philadelphia elopement photographer, I have photographed for many years throughout the city and I would love to talk with you about your vision and go over elopement photography packages for your Philly-based celebration. We can discuss timelines, best elopement locations, tips and tricks, and things to keep in mind for your wedding photos, best days, times and more. Reach out to me with this online contact form and we can connect!
Check out these links to browse some small weddings and elopements in Philadelphia that I have photographed. Seeing what others have done can sometimes spur ideas and spark excitement for what your elopement could be:
Love Park Wedding Philadelphia
Waterworks Gazebo Philadelphia
Race Street Pier Micro Wedding