The wedding industry spent decades pushing bigger as better. The bigger venue, the bigger guest list, the bigger floral install. And then something shifted. More couples started asking: what if we just did this for us?

Intimate wedding ceremony just the couple
Intimate doesn't mean understated — it means every detail gets the attention it deserves

Why Couples Are Choosing Elopements

What I'm seeing in my own inquiry inbox reflects a broader cultural moment. Couples in their late 20s and 30s — many of whom have attended 15+ weddings and seen what happens when the experience gets sacrificed for the spectacle — are choosing differently. They want to remember their wedding day as the best day of their lives, not the most stressful.

An elopement or intimate wedding (typically under 30 guests) removes almost all of the logistical complexity. No bridal party coordination. No table plans. No anxiety about whether guests who barely know each other will have fun. Just two people, their people, and a day that feels entirely, completely theirs.

Small intimate wedding ceremony outdoor
The ceremony — just the people who actually matter
Couple after intimate ceremony walking together
After the ceremony — space to just be together, no performance required

The Photography Advantage

Here's something most couples don't realise: elopements and intimate weddings are often more photographically rich than large celebrations. When the guest list is small, the day is slower. There's more time for portraits, more room for candids, and a fundamentally different emotional texture to the day.

I've photographed intimate ceremonies where the couple spent 45 minutes walking through a garden together afterward — just talking, laughing, being newly married. Those are the images that become heirlooms. Large receptions rarely allow that kind of breathing room.

Couple portrait after intimate ceremony golden hour
Post-ceremony portraits — with no timeline pressure, we can follow the light

Where to Elope on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is one of the best places in Canada for a meaningful elopement. The options range from legally simple (a courthouse ceremony in Victoria) to deeply personal (a sunrise vows ceremony on a remote beach accessible only at low tide).

Some of my favourite elopement locations: the Totem Pole Trail in Tofino for dramatic coastal backdrops; the summit of Mount Work for a 360-degree island panorama; the gardens at Hatley Castle for a heritage aesthetic without the heritage constraints; and the shores of Juan de Fuca Strait for couples who want raw, powerful nature in their images.

Coastal elopement Vancouver Island Tofino
The Tofino coast — where the Pacific does all the decoration
Sunset elopement portrait Vancouver Island
A sunset elopement — that last light of the day, spent exactly right
Garden elopement ceremony Victoria wedding photographer
Garden elopements — the intimacy of a private estate with none of the guest list pressure

Making It Feel Like a Wedding, Not a Courthouse Visit

The most common concern I hear from couples considering an elopement: will it feel like a "real" wedding? The answer is entirely in the details. A ceremony location that matters to you. Flowers, even if it's just a bouquet. A photographer who treats your 15-person day with the same seriousness as a 150-person day. An officiant who takes time to personalise the ceremony rather than reading from a script.

One of my couples last year hiked to a viewpoint at dawn with their officiant, their two witnesses, and me. They wrote their own vows. When they kissed, the Pacific Ocean was crashing below them. It was, without question, the most extraordinary wedding I've ever photographed.

Couple hugging after elopement ceremony sunset
That moment after — just two people, a lifetime ahead of them, and a whole lot of light
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If an intimate celebration is calling to you, I'd love to be part of it. Reach out — even just to talk through what an elopement day could look like for you.