Elopement Dress Guide; The best dresses to elope in
Big Sur and California Coast Elopement Dress Guide
The perfect dress is always the one you feel the best in! If you are confident and feel beautiful your photos and experience will be too! But having photographed a few dresses in a diverse landscape I have a few tips to keep in mind before you decide on “the one!”
Why would you choose a different dress for your adventure elopement vs your wedding day?
Typically an adventure elopement takes place outside, on the beach, through the redwoods, or in a beautiful field. Maybe your even planning on a short hike or beach picnic on your day. You are going to want to be able to sit down, climb, stand in the wind or hike up a mountain if you see one. The biggest regret I see when people choose a gown is when the gown prevents their experience on their wedding day. From wanting to cuddle on the beach and not being comfortable sitting down to not being able to stand on a cool rock formation you don’t want the dress to be the reason you can’t do something!
Do the squat test!
Squat down in that dress, lift your legs up, try to run, and sit down. Can you do those things? GOOD!! That’s what you want in an elopement Dress.
My personal preference; short dresses look amazing in City Hall ceremonies and manicured locations, and long dresses always look more romantic and dramatic in wild locations.
SEASONS
California has a diverse climate for adventure elopements from hiking in Yosemite to the beaches of Big Sur to the palace of fine arts and city hall in San Francisco. Are you eloping during the winter or summer, are you considering the different climates of northern California vs. southern? Northern California can be cold and windy while southern California has more heat. A lot of people believe all of California is warm and sunny, that is MYTH!
It’s important to think about how your dress will look in the wind vs an inside location like city hall. If your adventuring outside for sunrise or sunset a fun jacket or long sleeve dress may be more comfortable than going sleeveless. Keep in mind that some dresses can look rather boring on a hanger but amazing in the wind of Big Sur, while trying on dresses, walk in them, sit and bend!
Accessories
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a train, cape, awesome earrings, or veil. Veils are easy to pack in my own backpack and put in and out as needed for pictures throughout the day ( just keep your hairstyle in mind and have your hair and makeup artist know you will be putting in and removing it as needed.) I always suggest a long cathedral-length veil for wild places (it will look good in the wind) places like city hall or more manicured locations any vail length works!!
When do I Change?
There are a few options here depending on your day. If we are hiking to get to an epic location you can always change at the end of the hike, the hardest part here is hiking with your dress, so it’s only an option if your dress is easily packable in a backpack. The other option is to change at the hotel and hike wearing the dress, if you're taking off on a sunrise hike you can wear nude leggings under your dress, and a warm jacket and we can tie your dress up into your backpack so it doesn’t drag and is easy to hike with. Most likely your dress will still get some dirt on it, in any rugged climate. I love this aspect of an adventure elopement and always photograph how badass the dirt ombre is.
Shoes
If you're eloping outside in California chances are you DO NOT want to wear heels. Beaches, dirt paths, and rocky shores often lead to the best locations, come prepared!! From hiking boots on the rocky coast of Big Sur or trails of Yosemite to flat shoes in the redwoods and sandals on the beach, come prepared so you can have the experience and images you imagine! I would have your dress hemmed with the hiking shoes in mind and think about the movement of the dress if you don’t want your shoes showing.
BELOW IMAGES ARE NOT IMAGES OF Flora Gibson Photography
mywony
Muse by Berta
Muse by Berta
Nordeen
Brands I love:
Nordeen: Classic silhouettes with options to add on movement with attachments
Rue Desine Bridal: Funky cool and colorful options that are SO different from anything traditional.
Daci Gowns: Great simple designs that can be customized, the shoulder veils and capes are amazing.
Mywony Bridal: From Ukraine with an affordable Etsy shop. These gowns look so gorgeous !!
Muse by Berta : obsessed with every muse dress I’ve shot. just make sure it’s one you can bend and move in.
Trends are changing and I’m seeing more and more simple silhouettes on my brides.
Sarah Seven and Savin London have been two of my favorites Savin has lots of delicate details and capes!
Brides who are drawn to a more sexy look; I will always prefer see-through to skin-tight, yes even the stretchy kind. I personally love the way the light looks through a breezy dress much more than anything skin-tight.
This year most of my brides have brought more than one dress, ( one even changed 7 times!). it’s fun to have a few different looks if you are struggling to pick. Some of my brides have found major luck with finding their dresses secondhand if there is a designer that is slightly out of budget. Some dresses they’ve found were never even worn. I do feel like a beautiful dress is worth the investment.
Hi!
I’m Flora your elopement photographer and guide. I love to travel and help couples plan their elopements. I grew up in California and want to share my favorite places with adventurous lovers!
