Love & Sol Photography Elopement Guide by loveandsolphoto

ELOPEMENT GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL DAY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 WHO ARE YOU INVITING? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 WHERE ARE YOU ELOPING?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY YOU? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 HOW TO PLAN YOUR TIMELINE?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT? . . 45 READY TO ELOPE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 WHAT NOW?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

THANK YOU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

WELCOME! WE ARE SO STOKED TO BE YOUR ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS! WhaaHoooo! We are dancing all around the room! Elopements are so special, so intimate and dreamy and that's why going on adventures with our couples and helping them tie the knot is our absolute favorite thing to do! We are truly honored and we can’t wait to spend the coming months getting excited and hearing the details as your day comes together. We will be there for you throughout your entire journey. This little booklet will include what to expect out of us as your photographers, lots of information on your elopement timeline, what a first look is, and all the different adventure options throughout your day. This is more of a guide than “a rule book”, we want your day to reflect you! It will help you feel more prepared and serve as a guide as you start to think about your day. Please use the pages in the back of this book to help you plan your dream day. We would like to thank you again for hiring us to capture your adventure elopement. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have. We can’t wait to help you plan your dream elopement and jump on the phone to chat about all the details of your day, until then, cheers!

MUCH LOVE, CHRISTINE & DANNY

ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS Why do people take engagement photos? First and most importantly, to celebrate! Second reason is, you have a collection of selfies of the two of you but you’ll need some gorgeous pics to put on your engagement announcements, social media or your final album. Not only will you make use of the actual photos, your engagement session is SUCH a great opportunity for us to get to know each other and help you get super comfortable in front of the camera. You'll get to know us and how we work and we want to get to know you two more because that helps us tell your story better. Since you'll be eloping most likely in nature, most of our couples try to do the opposite for their engagement photos. If you are eloping in the mountains we might take your engagement photos on the coast, in the city or you can have an in-home session with your pets who couldn't be there on the big day. Now let’s take some beautiful, pictures to celebrate!

WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL DAY? LET'S PLAN A DAY WITH NO LIMITS. Planning your elopement should be fun and stress free. Isn't that a big reason why you're eloping in the first place? We are here to help you do just that.

Do you guys have a fur baby? Maybe they are at the center of your relationship and you guys love going on walks together, bring your fur babies!

On the next page there are a list of possibilities to help you spark some ideas. There are also blank pages in the back to use while the two of you are brainstorming.

What if your interests together aren't really transferrable into your elopement? That's perfectly fine, maybe the adventure of your elopement is that you've never been to the mountains and this will be something new and exciting for you both.

Let's start by helping you to begin the thought process of creating a day centered around your interests and dreams. What was your best date? Use your relationship and your likes/dislikes to create a day centered around YOU. Are you foodies? If you love food as much as we do, then maybe after you say your vows you bust out a picnic with your favorite foods, a charcuterie board, box of pizza or take out from the restaurant where you had your first date. Do you spend a lot of time playing games together? Bring that chess board or a deck of cards and some craft beer to chill by some waterfalls. Do you guys like hiking together? We can hike along the Appalachian Trail or C&O canal by the river. We have so many hikes to choose from, wanna hike for just an hour total? Weverton Cliffs is a short and sweet hike with an amazing overlook at the top. Want to spend the entire day hiking? Maryland Heights is an epic 6 hour hike that has the most amazing famous view at the top. Do you guys love the water? Want to go for a swim or kayak for the day? Your adventure is totally up to you!

The journey we take to your ceremony spot and the different areas to take photos will be an adventure in and of itself. Harpers Ferry has so many viewpoints to choose from. Part of this elopement guide features epic location options in the area. We will plan your day with you based on the time you've booked with us and the activities/locations you want to visit. Again, planning your elopement should be fun and stress free, don't get too hung up on figuring out an activity. Your day could be super low key and just include your ceremony and taking photos at an epic location. It might be helpful to go on a day date and try some things out. We want your day to be everything you've been dreaming of. We want your day to feature YOU and celebrate your love. We can't wait to hear what you are going to brainstorm together.

A LIST OF POSSIBILITIES TO HELP SPARK IDEAS: What was your best date? What is a day that really stood out to you throughout your relationship? How does your perfect elopement day FEEL? Adventurous, Happy, Quiet? Dream scenery? Waterfall, ocean, mountain, vineyard? How's the weather on your elopement day? What are you wearing? Are you barefoot, thick snow boots, wearing beanies? Is this a destination location? Are you spending multiple days around your elopement day or just an afternoon elopement? Who's there? Friends, family members, fur babies? Ideal ceremony? Is there an officiant or a family member officiating? Are you reading your own vows or repeating after the officiant? Is it traditional, non traditional? Will there be dancing? We usually play your song and invite you to at least have that first dance. Food? Are you packing a picnic or going out to eat afterwards? Drinks? Do you want to pop a bottle of champagne? Bring wine/beer cooler? Need us to drive, sure thing!

What activities do you like to do together? Where are you staying? Want to camp or get an airbnb/hotel nearby? Want to stay and have your honeymoon in the area too? Do you like wine? We could tour several vineyards in the area! Do you like beer? We could tour several breweries in the area! Are you star gazers? We could have a sunset ceremony and then lay on our backs and watch the stars for a cool night time activity. Wanna go for a swim? We have two rivers, lakes and waterfalls we could explore and take a dip. Boaters? We can all go kayaking or rafting pre or post ceremony! Do you love the air? We could rent a small plane and tour the area. Wanna go rock climbing? Are you hikers? We have 1-6 hour hikes in the area to choose from and a pop up tent for you to change into your tux/dress at the top. Do you want a quiet relaxing day or do you want us to play music and have a party kind of day?

TIP: USE THE "PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY" SECTION AT THE END OF THIS GUIDE TO START BRAINSTORMING!

WHO ARE YOU INVITING? THINK ABOUT WHO IS PRESENT ON YOUR IDEAL DAY. Elopements are hard for so many people because they don't know whether to invite family, friends or NOT. They feel so much pressure to invite people, and when they do, sometimes the guest list gets a little crazy and maybe some people might even get offended. Here is a chance to think about it both ways, maybe it's for the best for you to elope JUST THE TWO OF YOU. But if you choose, you could have the best of both worlds and elope with family and friends and still have it be special and powerful. The next few pages will help break down each way with ideas on how to include your loved ones.

HOW TO INCLUDE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THE CEREMONY We've had couples do a standard religious ceremony with family and then we take them to an epic private location to say their privately written vows. Another option would be to have a unity ceremony that involves the family: ex: ring warming, speeches, having toasts at the end of the day or at the end of the ceremony. Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa or whoever are happy but you still have the entire day for just the two of you.

OTHER WAYS TO INCLUDE FAMILY Breakfast! Lunch! Dinner! Have your private ceremony, sometimes expressing our love for each other is, well, private. Have an adventure photo session with us and then meet up with the fam. Plan a nice dinner with a small group of close friends and family so they can feel like they are part of your day and are able to celebrate with you two. They might want to help you devour that delicious cake and raise their glasses to toast the happy couple. But you still had your quiet time, just the two of you!

OR JUST THE TWO OF YOU: Sometimes you just can't. Maybe your parents live on the other side of the earth. Maybe with the uncertain times with COVID you are just sick of rescheduling and want to just do this already! Maybe you don't want family drama on your day. That's fine, that's why you are eloping, here are some other ways you can include your family and friends without them being physically present: Invite them to dress shopping, engagement party Encourage them to gift you heirlooms to use throughout your day Facetime/Zoom on the day of Livestream your ceremony Add videography to your package so family can watch the highlight video later Have family send videos of them toasting you two so you can watch them either before or after your elopement Have family write letters you can open on your elopement day (you can have them emailed or mailed to us so it's a complete surprise on your big day!) Open gifts from family on elopement day Have a reception on another day for family & friends Share your photo gallery with your family & friends Gift them prints or an album

WHERE ARE YOU ELOPING? TIME TO PICK THE PERFECT SPOT. Location, Location Location. Let's find your dream spot to say your vows. You probably have an idea of what you are looking for whether it's coastal, forest, mountains or desert but most people have no idea how to pick THE spot, we got you! Let's talk about how your location, weather, and accessibility play a role in choosing the right location for you.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THE LITTLE DETAILS.

LOCATION

WEATHER

What kind of location are you envisioning? Coastal, forest, mountains or desert? We have plenty to offer in our home town of Harpers Ferry and we have a location guide to help you choose the right area. We also travel. Have you been dreaming of the South of France, please take us with you! You'll also need to look into how to obtain your marriage license. Harpers Ferry borders 3 states, let's make sure you get the right officiant to make this thing legit!

What time of the year are we doing this? Things are always changing and depending on the season some locations might be off limits. Hiking 3 hours in 10 degrees and 3 feet of snow, probably not going to be the best idea. However, in the winter the river water level is low meaning we can walk out to little islands off the river banks. Summer time brings the floods and the river will be brown and swelling overtop the banks so you'll want to check with us on which locations are best for each season.

ACCESSIBILITY

MULTI DAY ELOPEMENTS

Is it just the two of you? Are you guys outdoorsy hikers or is this going to be your first time hiking? Know your limits! Are you looking to bring your fam? Maybe we need to find an area that is wheel chair accessible? Really think about your location and how you will get to it. We offer a changing pop up tent so you won't have to sweat through your formal attire. You might have to wear hiking boots and change when we get to the top for photos. We want you to be prepared!

Are we doing this in one day or 2-3? Sometimes one day is just not enough, your elopement is whatever you want it to be! Wanna hike all day, camp and say your vows at sunrise? Harpers Ferry is famous for it's natural beauty and being the exact midway point on the Appalachian Trail. Hiking and camping is in our blood, take us with you for a day or two to capture your magical journey.

GETTING READY/LODGING

PORTRAITS

Your entire elopement does not have to happen all at one location, let's start with getting ready and first looks. Where are you staying? Whether you are camping near by or staying at an airbnb, if you want to do getting ready or first look photos you will have to think about your location. We can also bring our wardrobe pop up tent to any epic location so you can change on the spot. We also know a few venues in the area that have getting ready areas if you are already planning your reception there.

This should be your favorite spot, this is going to be the essence of your wedding photos. So back to that whole do you want mountains, water etc thing, you'll want to pick the area that will describe your day the best. You could hold your ceremony in a barn or a church but your elopement portraits are going to be those epic shots you hang on your wall, so pick your favorite! Again, think about accessibility, weather, and distance to your ceremony and reception locations.

CEREMONY

DINNER/RECEPTION

This is going to depend on if it's just the two of you or if you are having a few family members attend this portion of the day. Think about accessibility, grandma probably isn't going to rock climb to watch you get married. Is this spot special to you or is this a brand new spot you guys are excited to explore? Also think about your other locations in proximity to this spot. Is your airbnb 10 minutes or 2 hours away? How far away is your portrait location? We can help you plan locations and timing so just pick your favorite locations and we can make it work!

This one is important! Pick your favorite food! Wanna hike all day and then grab pizza, beer or even swing by a taco truck? Harpers Ferry Brewing offers all three with amazing views. Are you vegan? Kelly's Kitchen is super yummy! Wanna have a picnic with charcuterie boards of cheese, meats and fruits? How about a picnic with take out from the restaurant where you met? Is this a sunrise elopement? We could do donuts and coffee at the top of an epic overlook. Are you having your friends and family meet you at a nearby restaurant, brewery or vineyard? Your day is whatever you want, we want you to remember the food and drinks you shared!

LEAVE NO TRACE The best impact you can make on the world is a little less impact. Let's enjoy public lands responsibly, so all of us can experience the same great outdoors tomorrow as we do today, because the earth rocks! What does it mean to "leave no trace"? Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What you Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Others We have seen places get closed off to photographers or raise their permit fees because they get popular on Instagram then get overrun and trashed. We don't want to contribute to this. We are huge about not littering, so unless it's on your own property or you have permission from your venue, we will absolutely not shoot with confetti canons, we know, party poopers. We will however allow popping a bottle of champagne. We will bring a trash bag with us and pack out the cork, wrapper and bottle, so keep an eye on that cork! This isn't about being perfect and we are definitely not shaming anyone. Leave no trace is about leaving less impact the next time you're outside. It's easy and we are here to help!

WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY YOU? LET'S PLAN THE DETAILS. This part can be a little overwhelming but so rewarding as well. After all, one of the reasons you chose to elope might be because you were really turned off when it came to planning a huge event. Let us start off by saying, we are here for you! These details are what make up your big day, so take your time and really curate your favorite vendors centered around your needs, wants and who you really are. Let's brainstorm your accommodations, vendors, keepsakes, wedding attire and all the little details. The details are going to impact your full experience, your memories and the quality of your photos. So let's take a look at some of our favorite vendors.

LODGING + ACCOMMODATIONS First think about what kind of experience you are looking for. Do you want to sleep under the stars? Do you want an

THE INN

entire house with a view through airbnb? A hotel with room service? A quaint Inn with a spa? Is your pet going to be there and you need to find a place that's pet friendly? These are all decisions you'll need to think about when choosing the right lodging accommodations.

SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS If you want to sleep under the stars you could of course bring your own camping gear but if you can't, we have the perfect tent rentals for you! Check out Outdoor Eventures for the best in glamping. These tents come fully stocked with a queen Aerobed, bedding, table and chairs, area rug, battery operated lantern and fan, mirror, ice bucket and cups, luggage rack, shower pack with towels and soap. This is luxury camping with a ton of add ons. You can even reserve an onsite camping butler and campfire supplies. Reserve a few for friends and family and have a full glamping elopement weekend with your loved ones. These tents are also pet friendly! You can pick any ole spot in the woods, stay at the Harpers Ferry KOA or if you are hiking along the Appalachian Trail there are A-frame shelters and camp sites placed every couple miles. We can help you find the best place to set up camp or pull in your rv or van.

We have two Inns in the area that we love to recommend to our couples. The Hillbrook Inn hillbrookinn.com is right outside Harpers Ferry in nearby Charles Town. This inn has a spa, elegant rooms with huge luxury tubs in each room, and a fine dining restaurant with food that is to die for. The Bavarian Inn bavarianinnwv.com is just up river from Harpers Ferry in nearby Shepherdstown. This Inn sits on a cliff and has amazing views overlooking the Potomac River. They also have an infinity pool and award winning fine dining.

LOCAL AIRBNBS We have our favorites, but of course you will have to look online to make sure it's going to be available for your dates. Airbnb's are always a unique experience, most are pet friendly and it gives you the freedom to settle right into home, cook a meal together and sit out on the back deck to soak in the views. Below are our favorite local Airbnbs and resources to begin your search. The Ledge House - theledgehouse.com Downtown Harpers Ferry Historic Home vrbo property # 2216838 airbnb.com vrbo.com hotels.com rvshare.com

YOUR VENDOR DREAM TEAM A lot of people who are eloping forget about the vendors. You might want to have some of the things a "traditional"

VENUE

wedding might have like a bouquet. By hiring vendors it doesn't turn your elopement into a big production as you might fear. Instead it can actually help make it EVEN MORE stress free. You might want a planner to take everything off your shoulders, you might want a florist, hair and makeup artist, a caterer or cake maker. It's in your best interest to hire some of these so you don't feel overwhelmed, let us help, here are some of our favorite LGBTQ friendly wedding vendors in the DMV area.

OFFICIANT This one is important, they handle your marriage certificate and they file it with the courts, you don't want this part messed up. You will have to first determine which state you are getting married in and then find one licensed in that state. Lisa is our go to officiant for the state of Maryland. Danny is our go to officiant for the state of West Virginia. Trish is our go to officiant for the state of Virginia. All of these officiants are LGBTQ friendly. If you are looking for more of a religious officiant you can ask your minister/priest/rabbi, they typically can marry you over state lines without any issue. If you are in need of finding an officiant we can send you information and email addresses for whichever state officiant you need.

We are eloping, why do we need a venue?? You might need a place to get ready and cut your cake, have your ceremony or your small reception. We have our favorites, here are a few local venues that provide incredible wedding support. The Wedding Niche-perfect for getting ready, ceremony, epic photos with their bamboo forest and a small covered outdoor dinner party. Swings, firepits, 3 getting ready spaces and historical charm Harpers Ferry Brewing-best views in town, pizza, pretzels, beer and a taco truck on the weekends, need we say more? Breaux Vineyard-only the most beautiful vineyard on the east coast and the wine is killer too. Head over there for a tasting, the place sells itself. Kalero Vineyard-amazing views, great wine, this place is perfect for small intimate receptions and ceremonies Stoneleigh Golf and Country Club-This place has great food and atmosphere indoors or out. They have two getting ready rooms and epic views from the 18th hole. Plus your golf loving friends or family will have a great day golfing. Bluemont Vineyard/Dirt Farm Brewing-These two are right across the street from each other and have the same owner in Bluemont, VA. This is great if one of you favors wine and one favors beer. Incredible drinks and even more incredible views Hillbrook Inn-This place is super unique, they have lodging, a spa, beautiful grounds for ceremonies and an incredible chef in their fine dining restaurant in the main building.

FLORIST

CATERER

This one is a biggie. You'll most likely just need a bouquet and boutonniere. Pro tip - ask for the trimmings, as photographers we use these as props for your details and also if they give us a bag of petals you can give these to your flower girl/boy or we will have fun throwing them at you. Here are our favorites: Sofia's Flower Designs: sofiasflowerdesigns.com CM Bloomers: cmbloomersflorist.com The Pink Poppy: thepinkpoppy.org Mini Rose Farm: minirosefarm.com My Enchanted Florist: myenchantedfloristmd.com

Food! Drinks! This one is important if your friends and family are coming to dinner. You could of course head to a restaurant, but if you are planning an outdoor dinner at your venue you will need a caterer. Here are our favs: Anvil Restaurant: anvilrestaurant.com Kevin's Catering: kevinscatering.net Rochelle Myers Catering: rochellemyerscatering.com Mojo Catering: mojos-catering.com

HAIR & MAKEUP Sure you can do your own, but it's your big day, pamper yourself and feel extra confident! Some hair and makeup require you to come into the salon and some will travel to you, if you don't have a getting ready space like your airbnb or a venue, you'll have to go to them. Here are some of our favorite hair and makeup artists: For her: Ana Merces Beauty Group: anamercesmakeup.com Lisa at The Wedding Niche: theweddingniche.com JKW Beauty: jkwbeauty.com For him: The Suite Barbershop: thesuitebarbershop.com Collins Barbershop

MUSICIANS Live music just takes everything up a notch, this is a classy move that will never disappoint. Here are a few locals who provide live music: Pixie Violin: pixieviolin.com Dan Mcguire Group: danmcguiregroup.com The Plate Scrapers: theplatescrapers.com LPE Snapshot: louispettinellientertainment.com Bachelor Boys Band: bachelorboysband.com

FURNITURE/TENT RENTALS If you are looking to turn an outdoor space into your own venue for your guests here are a few local furniture and tent rental companies we've worked with: APM Weddings: apmweddings.com Jefferson Rentals: jefferson-rentals.com

PLANNER Your new bestie because chances are, if you are planning on eloping you were looking forward to NOT having the stress of planning your wedding. So here are some humans who are going to make your life SO much easier: Fete Du Jour Events: fetedujourevents.com Vida Events: vidaevents.net Tilly and Teal: tillyandteal.com Happily Hitched: happilyhitched.com

CAKES Our personal favorite part of the day, yummy cake! Here are some bakers we LOVE! Tastefully Ever After: facebook.com/tastefullyeverafter Honey Bee Pastries: honeybeepastries.com Monica's Sugar Studio: monicassugarstudio.com

CHOOSE YOUR ACTIVITIES Just for fun! Remember, your day is WHATEVER YOU WANT. These are some ideas that are out of the box and meant to inspire you to connect with your partner and have a memorable epic day. Some of these ideas are more family friendly/kid friendly/pet friendly than others, keep your guests in mind as you plan this part of your day.

Get a tattoo Kayak/canoe/tube/raft down the river Campfire Hike to a mountaintop Helicopter/small plane tour Skydive Rent ATV's Scenic motorcycle drive on skyline Road trip! Sailboat ride in the Chesapeake Bay Zip line Rent a Jeep and ride with the top down Hot Air Balloon ride Snowshoeing Rock climbing Skiing/riding a ski lift Backpacking Camping Making Coffee Picnic Have a private chef prepare a meal for you

Stargazing Watching the sunset Swimming Surfing Skateboarding Train Ride Chase waterfalls Hammocking Dog dock jumping at Maggie Malick's Wine Cave Leaf peeping Paddleboarding Horseback riding Brewery Tour Vineyard Tour Explore somewhere new First dance in an epic location Ropes course Off road Segway tours Go to our local Casino to win some money! Ghost tour Eat local

KEEPSAKES Remembering those tiny details. These are some of our favorite parts about elopements. Keepsakes might be the most special thing about your wedding. Besides your photos, keepsakes are things that remind you of your elopement, they can go in a scrapbook, a wooden/glass box, and even be an heirloom for your own children someday. You can reach out to your dress maker/dress shop on packages that include dress preservation, they not only dry clean your dress but they provide a bust and box so when you store your dress it will be just as it was the day you wore it. You can wear your dress again for your vow renewal, a trash the dress divorce party or hand it down to your children to wear on their special day. There are many ways to preserve your bouquet and boutonnieres. You can ask your florist shop about what they offer or you can actually do this fun step yourself. We've seen so many creative ways to preserve a bouquet including pressing the flowers between two pieces of glass with a frame to hang on the wall, coasters, glass coffee tables, jewelry, paperweights with your flowers inside or even just a fancy box. Check on etsy for more creative custom ideas for your bouquet after your big day. You can even start with a DRIED flower bouquet and keep it just as is forever. There's a tradition with your wedding cake. You are supposed to keep the top or a piece of your wedding cake to eat on your 1st wedding anniversary. Wrap it up tight and keep it in the freezer. Let us just warn you, we LOVED doing this with our own wedding cake, however, it does not taste the same! LOL! Still worth it though, maybe you'll preserve yours better than we did! Wedding photo albums/prints Vow books Jewelry Dress Hanger Heirlooms from family Invitation suites Perfume Flowers Shoes Rings Dress Top of cake hand drawn map of the town/city/national park where you eloped Signed guest book Glass vile of the dirt from your ceremony site Glass vile of the water from your ceremony site Signed bottles of wine/champagne to open on your honeymoon, 1, 5, 10 year anniversaries

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO JOT DOWN SOME IDEAS IN THE ELOPEMENT PLANNING SECTION AT THE END OF THIS GUIDE!

ELOPEMENT ATTIRE Chances are you've never been married before so you've probably never bought a wedding dress or suit before. We love being able to help our couples pick out the right attire for their day. We just want our couples to feel AMAZING, gorgeous and 100% comfortable. So this page is all about setting your minds around picking something that feels right to you and also right for your style of wedding. Besides your dress or suit you'll also need to think about accessories. Using accessories like faux fur coats and vests can help you stay warm during those winter month weddings. Here are some other accessory ideas for your elopement attire: Veils or capes Tie, Bowtie, Bolo Ties Pocket squares, suspenders Hair accessories/head pieces like combs, beaded crowns/headbands, jewels Jewelry (they make back necklaces for those backless dresses!) Shawls, robes, jackets, sweaters, wrap Gloves Belts/Sash Purse/Clutch Socks Shoes Cuff links Garter Traditional items like heirlooms, something old, something new and something blue

BRAND RECOMMENDATIONS DRESSES + SKIRTS Daci Gowns - dacigowns.com Dreamers + Lovers - dreamersandlovers.com Rue De Seine - ruedeseine.com Claire La Faye - clairelafaye.com Reclamation - wearereclamation.com Daughters of Simone - daughtersofsimone.com Free People - freepeople.com Keepsake Jewelry: Mignonne Handmade etsy.com/shop/mignonnehandmade TLC Bridal - tlcboutique.com

SUITS + TUXES Asos - asos.com The Black Tux - theblacktux.com Suits for Women: Madewell - madewell.com Suits for Women: Wild Fang - wildfang.com Bolo Tie: Look Out Bolo - lookoutbolo.com

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TIMELINE? TIME TO PLAN A DAY AROUND YOU. A lot of people eloping think they might only need an hour or 2 hours with us. While that could be 100% true, we also truly think it's possible to photograph an elopement for 10 hours depending on the plan. So in this next section, let's go over how to plan your timeline. Some of the reasons you will need to create a timeline are needing to figure out meals, activities and how much time you'll ultimately need with us! By creating a timeline and seeing how you want your day to go, it'll create a more stress free day and a way less rushed feeling. Any amount of time you book with us will be amazing, we will capture as much as we possibly can within that time. If you find maybe you booked too little or too much time we can always adjust your package before the big day! Your timelines are going to look a little different if it's just the two of you or if family and friends will be present for any portion of your day. On the next page we have given you some examples of timelines with and without family so you can visualize how your day could look.

6 HOUR ELOPEMENT:

8 HOUR ELOPEMENT WITH FAMILY:

3PM - PHOTOGRAPHERS ARRIVE AT AIRBNB FOR

2PM - PHOTOGRAPHER

FINISHING TOUCHES ON

ARRIVES AT AIRBNB FOR

GETTING READY PHOTOS

FINISHING TOUCHES ON GETTING READY PHOTOS

4PM - FIRST LOOK PHOTOS AT AIRBNB OVERLOOKING

3PM - FIRST LOOK PHOTOS AT

HARPERS FERRY

AIRBNB OVERLOOKING HARPERS FERRY

4:30PM - HEAD TO CEREMONY LOCATION NEARBY

3:30PM - HEAD TO CEREMONY LOCATION NEARBY

5PM- BEGIN CEREMONY AND TAKE COUPLES PORTRAITS

4PM - BEGIN CEREMONY

AFTER 4:30PM- FAMILY PHOTOS + 6:30PM - COUPLES PORTRAITS

TOASTS WITH FAMILY

AT THE OVERLOOK AND WATERFALLS

5PM - COUPLES PORTRAITS AT THE OVERLOOK AND

7:30 PM - WRAP UP SUNSET

WATERFALLS

PHOTOS + PIZZA DINNER AT HFB

6:30 PM - POP CHAMPAGNE AT THE RIVER

8:30PM-STARGAZING IN THE PARK

7:30PM - DINNER WITH FAMILY BACK AT THE AIRBNB

9PM -PHOTO COVERAGE ENDS 9PM- CAKE CUTTING 10PM - PHOTO COVERAGE ENDS

SUNRISE OR SUNSET? Such a fun topic and SO important for elopements. This is your day, you get to choose, that's the best part about eloping! Depending on your location sunrise or sunset may be better. For example: If you are eloping on our beautiful east coast beaches, sunrise is definitely better, the sun is right over the water, the beaches are empty and the seashells are ripe for the picking. Sunsets are usually more crowded no matter where you go and this is especially true for any city. Here are some other reasons you might want to choose sunrise or sunset.

WHY SUNRISE? Seclusion, less crowded Beautiful light at certain locations potentially better weather Fog or smoke on the water, this happens from October through January the water temp is lower than the air and it creates this incredible fog right over the water It's a great way to start the day More time for adventures the rest of the day Cooler temperatures in the summer Less chances of a thunderstorm in the summer Hair and makeup will be fresh If you are morning people and want to enjoy a cup of coffee out there on the trail

WHY SUNSET? You get more sleep That golden glow in your photos Photos with the stars Warmer weather It's a great way to end the day Less crowded at the top of the trail, most people don't want to get stuck coming down a trail in the dark. We do have headlamps and recommend you get some as well Better lighting in certain locations You've warmed up to the camera Happy hour! Cheers!

There is nothing stopping you from experiencing both, but chances are the hours you've booked with us are limited. If you're having trouble deciding, we can help you decide whether a sunrise or sunset will make sense for your locations while keeping in mind your personalities.

HOW TO INCLUDE YOUR BEST FRIEND WITHOUT THE CHAOS

Your fur baby, you love them. They are the center of your universe and you'd like to include them in your day but not take over right? They are needy, sometimes loud, and they might just drag you right down that aisle. Here are a few tips on how to include your best friend even if they aren't the best behaved. If you want to include them, you will need a "doggy wrangler" for the day. This can be a family member the dog is familiar with or a service like our besties over at Furever and Fur Always fureverandfuralways.com They provide onsite doggy day care and work with us to get your pup dressed and where they need to be for the ceremony and photos, but after the sun goes down, they are feed, walked and put to bed all while you are enjoying your reception. Even if your dog is super well behaved and you think they will just follow you around all day, let me tell you, they will not, we've seen entire wedding cakes DEVOURED by "well behaved dogs" okay? You cannot stress about keeping an eye on your baby every minute with people and food and schedules to keep. Assign someone doggy duty. Practice! If you want your pup to wear something special like a tuxedo or pillow on their back, it's going to take some practice and treat training to get them to wear it AND walk down an aisle with exciting people to greet. Their Special Place. Have a place for them to go. If you are getting married at a hotel/inn, that special place will probably be your room. If you aren't staying at your venue, this might be your "getting ready room" and we recommend a crate if they are crate trained. There are going to be times in your day where they might need some quiet time, space and a nap. If you are having fireworks this is especially true. Either way, they are going to need a place to rest at the end of the day while you are dancing the night away.

FUR BABY CHECKLIST: Food & Water Bowls & Leash Toys, something to chew on during quiet time, they might be anxious in a new place Treats for photos (carrots/green beans are great if they are on a diet) Wedding "outfit" Poop bags Crate filled with blankets with a familiar smell

GETTING READY This is where a lot of couples try to get photographed less so they can save their time for their ceremony and portraits. But sometimes these moments of getting ready either separately or together, eating breakfast, writing your vows into your books can be so intimate and special. Usually the first thing we do when we show up is photograph your details. Have all your details like your rings, vow books, jewelry, flowers, invitations/announcements, cufflinks, heirlooms etc in a bag ready to go. As soon as we are done shooting your details we will return them to you and photograph the two of you in the final steps of getting ready, at this point your hair and make up should be done and we will just be taking those final photos of you putting your shoes, veil, jewelry and other details on that we just returned to you. We usually then step out so you can get dressed and if you have family or friends or you're getting ready together we will photograph someone zipping your dress up, this can be a pretty emotional moment especially for parents or siblings. It's such a cool experience to see your couple get ready together, helping each other into their wedding attire. But it can also be so intimate to stay separated, build up that anticipation for your first look. Either option is amazing, choose what feels right for you! Whether you choose to get ready separately or together here are some ways you could make this time more special. Write your vows in your vow books Exchange gifts with each other Write and exchange letters Read letters from friends and family Facetime with friends and family Have a moment of silence for the people who you've lost Have a prayer together, if you're staying separate you can hold hands around a door/corner

YOUR GETTING READY CHECKLIST: Declutter your getting ready space Gather your details in one bag Have your favorite calming or hype music playing Eat Have drinks made like coffee or mimosas How much time do we need for getting ready photos? That depends if family and friends are there and what you plan on doing during that time. Usually we can capture your details and the tail end of you getting ready in about an hour.

FIRST LOOK If you spent your getting ready time separately, now it's time for that big reveal! If you are eloping just the two of you, there won't be that down the aisle moment when you see each other for the first time, so a first look is so important. You can do this so many different ways, here are just a few examples of how logistically we can work out a first look: Outside your airbnb Travel to your ceremony location separately Travel to your ceremony location in different clothing and change into your wedding attire in our pop up changing tent Blindfolds or placing one of you around a corner

FIRST LOOK WITH FAMILY If you are having friends and family there, first looks with your parents or entire family are the BEST. If family helped you get ready and zipped up your dress then that's where your first look will take place. If Dad is walking you down the aisle, we do this shot when he comes to meet you. If you want to do a first look with each other first and then do a reveal with your guests all at the same time, that's super special as well, we get the best reactions with family!

PLANNING YOUR CEREMONY When planning a ceremony there are SO many things to factor in. The legal side of things changes so much depending on what state you are eloping in, so make sure you've done your research. If you've hired an officiant, especially any of the officiants we recommended, they will know exactly what to do so you don't have to think about it. If you do need witnesses (Maryland does not) and it's just the two of you, guess what? We are witnesses and we will be honored to sign your marriage certificate. Did you know you can actually "self solemnize? That means you won't need a third party to oversee your ceremony. However, this can only be done in a few states, locally Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. it is legal to just marry yourselves. You DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT of DC. You'll just need a proper ID and if one of you is not a US citizen you can show your passport. You will have to step off courthouse grounds to hold your ceremony, so this option is perfect for an adventure elopement. Another option besides hiring an officiant or self solemnizing is to get married the old fashion way up at the courthouse. We have done this many times, we will meet you at the courthouse, depending on the clerk they may allow your ceremony to be outside on the courthouse steps or in some sort of grand hallway. We will document your ceremony there, friends and family can come too. Then we are off on your adventure and we head somewhere epic to take photos or have a picnic with cake! Remember, no matter which of the 3 options you decide on, what matters is that you are legally happily married at the end of the day, whatever happens in between is just gravy.

CEREMONY IDEAS Write your own vows Ask someone special to you to officiate Signing of your marriage certificate Handfasting ceremony Incorporate music Gifts Ring warming ceremony Plant a tree in a pot or on your own property Take a shot of alcohol together Light a unity candle Sand ceremony Water Blending Tie the God's knot Blanket unity ceremony Light a fire together Time Capsule Wine ceremony Unity Tea Whiskey Barrel Create your own ceremony tradition

PORTRAITS This is our personal favorite part of your day 100%. Your portraits will be the ones you hang on your walls, the ones you show your family for generations and the ones your parents will hold as keepsakes. For some people, this might be the part of your day that makes you the most nervous. This part of the day is actually the most relaxed and least structured. We are 10000% going to be there for you and have your back while we make you look your best. You will need our help with posing and directing and we will do just that. We tell you where to stand to capture the best light and scenery behind you. We will pose you when we want those super posed shots and we will tell you about all the little games you will play together to get those authentic candid moments. We will help you relax. By this point we will know more about you and that will help us capture YOUR story.

HOW TO HELP US BEST CAPTURE YOUR STORY: Let us in, trust us, we will ask about your relationship along the way like how you met, how you knew she was the one, just be open and honest with us We love to play music, create a playlist and we will hook your phone up to our bluetooth speaker If you have a "good side" let us know which you prefer! If you have a side part we usually pose you with the side that has the most hair Bring a blanket to wrap yourselves up or use it to sit on ALCOHOL. Listen, if you are drinkers we can drive you around, sip on some wine or whiskey while we take photos. Pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate and take turns drinking out of the bottle Fur babies! If you brought your pet along, this is their time to shine, let us know about them and what they like, are they toy or treat driven, do they have a special trick? Relax and just play around with each other, we are going to make you play some pretty silly games together. Be present in the moment and look around, soak it all in Interpret our posing direction in a way that makes it feel like you. Body language is so unique to you and tells a lot about someone's personality. Do you. Our poses are more like guidelines and not to be taken literally Trust us, we are here to make you look good!

CELEBRATORY MEAL OR PARTY Every elopement is completely different and that's how it should be. It's an expression of your personalities and celebrating your relationship together. As this pertains to a meal or party, this could mean just the two of you having pizza and beer around a campfire or inviting close friends and family to a fancy restaurant for dinner. It could be something simple like having cake and a glass of champagne on the river bank and then going through a drive-thru on your way to your honeymoon location. Here are some more ideas to get you thinking: Go to your favorite divebar Catered dinner outside your airbnb with twinkle lights Nice restaurant Pizza on location or at Harpers Ferry Brewing around their bonfire Drive thru on your way out of town (for some this is a guilty pleasure) Donuts and coffee when you reach the top of your hike Picnic with a charcuterie board and wine Picnic with take out from your favorite restaurant Private chef cooks a meal for you at your airbnb Make it personal, make it your favorite food and drinks, make it memorable for you!

HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT? TIME TO MAKE A LIST OF WHAT TO PACK. Okay, here we go! It's time to elope, let's make sure you have everything you need for your road trip, flight or just your local drive to your elopement! Here is a check list to help make sure you don't forget anything!

CHECKLIST: NECESSITIES Permit (if needed) All important travel ID's & Documents Marriage License Water bottle & water Snacks Sunscreen Bug spray Extra socks Boots/shoes with good tread WEDDING ATTIRE & CEREMONY THINGS Vows Rings Ring box Paper invites, announcements or postcards Flowers Wedding Attire for Partner 1 (dress, suit, jumpsuit, skirt, undergarments, etc) Wedding Attire for Partner 2 (dress, suit, jumpsuit, skirt, undergarments, etc) Accessories Partner 1 (Jewelry, veil, cape, watch, cufflinks, tie, bowtie, socks, pocket square, lapel pin, hair piece, suspenders, belt/sash etc.) Accessories Partner 2 (Jewelry, veil, cape, watch, cufflinks, tie, bowtie, socks, pocket square, lapel pin, hair piece, suspenders, belt/sash etc.) Perfume or Cologne Makeup & Hair supplies Garment bags for wedding attire during travel Champagne or sparkling water Plastic champagne flutes Tissues or hankies

READY TO ELOPE? TAKE A MOMENT TO LET IT SINK IN. Let's have a heart to heart here. All this brainstorming and planning has lead you to your big day. Take the time to let it sink in, be present in that moment and soak it up. It's going to be the best experience, the best day ever and you are going to get the best photos ever because we are going to be there with you! One less thing to worry about! Story time, our wedding was INSANE. My bridesmaids got in a huge fight, the cops were called, there was a thunderstorm right in the middle of the day, there was a huge issue with the chairs and seating arrangements. At the time, we kinda wished we had just eloped instead. But ya know what?? We laugh SO hard about it now years later. The lesson we'd like to share with you is, no matter what happens on your day, it will be the story you tell everyone about how you got married, it will be a part of you, good or bad. If it rains, awesome, part of the crazy story you tell and don't worry we will be there in the rain standing right next to you capturing all it's messy crazy beautifulness.

DAY AFTER SESSIONS We love day after sessions because it's a more relaxed, no pressure, more adventures and more memories! A lot of couples take this opportunity to do a few more epic wedding attire photos, but ALSO some casual ones so they have more variety of photos to print for their homes and albums. Maybe you want to go kayaking down the river and you didn't have time on the same day as your elopement. Are you honeymooning in the area, let's capture that! Maybe you want to capture something completely opposite of your elopement like the beach. If you wanted to jump in the water in your wedding attire but you had to go out to dinner with the fam on your elopement day, let's do a day after session and you don't have to worry about staying clean on your day after adventure. Want to include your fur babies but your elopement day would have been too much, too stressful, here is your opportunity to capture it all!

WHAT NOW? LET'S TALK NEXT STEPS IN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US. You did it! You're all married and shit! What next? In the first 1-3 days after your elopement we will text or email over a sneak peek of 1-5 of your most epic shots so you can share your "just got married bliss" with friends and family who couldn't be there and/or post it on social media right away. Your final gallery will be delivered to you 3-6 weeks after your elopement. You'll receive an email with a link and instructions for your online gallery. Your gallery not only serves as a display for your epic photographs so you can share with family and friends easily, it also includes a shop! Click the shop option in your gallery menu and you will see options to buy prints, displays, keepsakes and it even has a whole album creator suite where you can personally design your own album or parent album. Your online gallery will stay up for at least 5 years so your photos are always within reach! If you eloped just the two of you, it's a great idea to send out announcements to friends and family with your shiny new photos of your epic elopement. You have the option to download your photos to any device the high resolution so you can print them anywhere on anything or the web resolution files so you can easily share across all social media platforms. Please back up your photos to a usb drive and the cloud just in case!

PRINTS AND ALBUMS REMEMBERING YOUR DAY FOR YEARS TO COME. It's easy to forget to ACTUALLY print your photos out. They are on your phone and you've shared them with family and friends, posted them on social media....and then what....life gets CRAZY, we know, we struggle with the human experience as well. We promise it will be 100% worth it when you see your photos on your walls. or when you flip through your wedding album on your anniversary. We will be sending you coupons and discounts for your store throughout the year and especially on your anniversary so keep that in mind as well, we are all about saving you some dough!

CREATIVE WAYS TO SHARE AND DISPLAY YOUR PHOTOS: Albums, we offer several different types, materials, colors and ways that you can personalize it. You will have an album creator suite inside your gallery store so you can see all your options and create and edit your own! Prints for the wall, matted and framed Gallery boards you can lean on a wall shelf Calendars Magazines-these make great gifts for friends and families Hard cover books-these are great parent albums Greeting cards Metal prints Canvas prints Glass box with stack of prints Wooden box with stack of prints Panoramic prints Ornaments

THANK YOU! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOUR DAY! You are awesome, you just made it through this entire guide, we hope it's a resource that you can utilize. We know it's a LOT of information, but it's also super valuable in helping you curate your dream day. Even if you didn't read this entire guide front to back, if you ever get stuck on something in the planning phase leading up to your elopement you can always come back to the section you need. Thank you so much for choosing us. We are so looking forward to capturing you tying the knot! This isn't a rule book but something we hope you take to heart because we pour so much of ourselves into each elopement. We are so stoked to spend time with you both and your friends and family if they make it too. We can't wait to capture YOUR love story soon!!!

CHEERS TO THAT, CHRISTINE & DANNY

P.S. THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE MEANT TO SERVE AS A SPACE FOR YOU TWO TO BRAINSTORM AND PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY. USE THESE FOR NOTES, CREATING A MOODBOARD + TO DO LIST, AND KEEPING TRACK OF VENDOR INFORMATION! 57

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OUR PERFECT DAY

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