Elopement bridal dress ideas perfect for your intimate, dreamy elopement

Planning your PNW Elopement 

There really is no experience quite like having an elopement or intimate wedding in the Pacific Northwest. Whether it’s in the mountains or on the Oregon coast, my couples have magical experiences that become lifelong memories. 

Despite an elopement being much simpler than a traditional wedding, it actually takes some planning to make everything come together. Part of that planning includes finding your attire for the day. While you might want to forego the large guest count and other typical wedding factors, it’s worth choosing a wedding dress that will make you smile when you see it in old pictures. 

The below elopement bridal dress ideas are great for the bride who’s dreaming up a romantic, ethereal experience. Most of my couples venture out into the wilderness for their ceremony, and these elopement bridal dresses are the perfect fit for that. 

Want more inspiration for planning your elopement? Check out my couples and wedding blogs here.

First things first: imagine your adventure with these elopement dresses

Remember that your day is all about the experience! 

Remember that this day is going to be special because you and your partner experience it together – not because of nice or shiny things that you have on that day. My couples who decide to plan an elopement or intimate wedding are really all about the experience over making sure their dresses stay perfect. Keep in mind that when you’re planning this celebration you should plan for your dress to get fairly dirty. We’ll potentially be walking through leaves, pine needles, sand, mud, and ocean waves, so choose a dress that you love but that you’re comfy with getting a little dirty! 

Here are some questions to ask yourself when dreaming up elopement bridal dress ideas:

How much do you want to spend?

Wedding dresses quite literally range from $150 – $10,000+ so it’s important to narrow down on what you want to spend. Most of these dresses are very approachable in price, which is a nice thing about intimate weddings and elopements!

What kind of climate are you getting married in?

You’ll want to think about the type of terrain and climate you’ll be adventuring in. Will there be a lot of walking? Do you need to walk through sand, dirt, or mud? Is there a chance that your dress will get wet, from the ocean, rivers, or rain? Make sure you’re choosing something that’s going to be comfortable all day long and won’t weigh you down.

What could the weather be like? Super hot? Rainy?

Think about this along with the climate and terrain. If it’s going to be super hot on your wedding day, you’ll probably want to consider a dress with lightweight fabric. If it’ll be colder, it might be worth considering long sleeves or layering something over your dress. Plan to pack for layers anyway – you can bring a jacket and remove it when we get to your ceremony spot.

Do you want to add a little color or have a white/cream/ivory dress?

Neutral tones look great in photos, but make sure that whatever you choose makes you happy! Most of my brides will choose something along the lines of white/cream/ivory just because neutrals look so good in photos. However, consider if you want a tint of color or if you ever want to go bold and wear full color.

 

Here are some other logistics to consider for your elopement bridal dress:

If you’re flying on a plane, is it easy to pack?

Even if you’re driving, make sure you have a way to easily transport it in your car! A large number of my couples fly out to the PNW for their elopement, so this is something to consider.

Is your dress’s fabric lightweight?

This is important for temperature and also ease with moving around for hikes, walking on the beach, or even just wearing it all day long. You’ll probably want to avoid too many details like beads and sequins that can make your dress feel heavier.

Is the silhouette easy to move in?

Try to stay away from silhouettes that feel restrictive and don’t allow you to move around a lot. For example, mermaid styles can be popular for traditional weddings, but they won’t be as comfortable if you’re adventuring through the woods and sand. Make sure you can easily move your legs and won’t feel limited during the day. We want you to be comfortable!

Budgeting for your elopement dress

Like I mentioned earlier, the range for pricing with bridal dresses is vast. This is a special day, so feel free to splurge to what you’re comfortable with, but keep in mind your overall budget for your elopement! If you can plan for it, look into your dress early so that you have time to save or to purchase it and still afford the other details that you want on your day.

You’ll want to keep in mind the overall investment you’re making in your celebration. Consider how it your dress expense will fit with these other costs you might have:

• Your photographer and videographer. Check out my packages here! 
• The venue, if you’re booking one (also consider small fees like park fees, renting your Airbnb, etc.)
• Travel related costs
• Florals
• Cake/food
• Reception costs, if you plan to have a small party or dinner around the same time as your ceremony! 

Here are some budget-friendly elopement bridal dresses

If you’re going for a more budget friendly dress, check out these options:

Lulu’s
This shop is a super popular options with tons of romantic, boho styles: 

• https://www.lulus.com/categories/3502_6281/luxe-bridal-dresses.html

Reformation
This shop is focused on budget friendly and sustainable dress options. So many of these have a beautiful minimalist field that can go with any elopement setting:
https://www.thereformation.com/bridal/brides?_gl=1*10t9o7z*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjw8diwBhAbEiwA7i_sJdUU7vR1ldwCQybYBNUtLPYWJhZuH1HesUWEnNwAtyslCM0hQ1XYyhoCSLoQAvD_BwE

JJ’s House
This shop has gorgeous gold and white options that will add a romantic feel to your look:

https://www.jjshouse.com/shop/wedding-dresses?pos=nav-bride

Azazie 

This online only shop has quite a variety of dresses that work for nearly every budget. They even have a try-on program which adds some flexibility to your shopping experience:

https://www.azazie.com/bridal?subsite=bridal

Here are some high end elopement bridal dresses:

Even if you’re throwing a smaller celebration, it’s a big deal for you and your partner! Some couples like to spend more on their attire since this will likely be the only time you wear a wedding dress. 

Here are some great options if you have a larger budget:

Daci Gowns:

This is a great choice if you’re going for a romantic and slightly bohemian look: https://www.dacigowns.com/bridal-collection/lily-wedding-dress

Perfect for the romantic, light, and airy bride:

https://www.dacigowns.com/bridal-collection/mila-wedding-dress

Vagabond:
This shop has a variety of dresses, ranging from more simple to more playful. They even have several physical locations across the country if you want to go and try your dress on in-person!
https://aandbebridalshop.com/designer/vagabond-wedding-dresses

Rue de Seine:
These dresses are stunning and cover a broad range of styles. There are also several physical locations for you to go in and try your dress on:
https://aandbebridalshop.com/designer/rue-de-seine-wedding-dresses

Elopement dress styles to consider

Short dresses vs long dresses

Most of my couples decide to go with the long dress route for their elopements, but short dresses are great too! 

If you’re going for more of city hall or courthouse elopement vibes, check out these options from BHLDN: https://www.anthropologie.com/bhldn-city-hall-bride. BHLDN tends to offer regular discounts on their dresses, so keep an eye out for a good deal!

Where will your elopement be?

As mentioned above, the location and time of year of your elopement might influence the weight and type of fabric you choose. You also want to consider how the style of your dress goes with the location. Many of my couples get married in the forest, on beaches, or in the mountains, so dresses that evoke a romantic, wanderlust, flowy kind of feel are common choices. 

Consider what elements are important to you – silk, satin, lace, floral details? Take your time to browse around and find a dress that feels right to you. 

Think through your elopement bridal dress accessories

Your shoes:

Hiking boots, rain boots, or Doc Martens are a common option but some brides go for other options too, like comfortable flats, ankle boots, short heels, cute tennis shoes, or sandals. Just keep in mind that you could be walking a ton and will be walking through dirt and sand!

Jewelry

A lot of my couples love to go for a timeless, minimalist kind of look for this. Make sure you and your partner of course bring your wedding rings so that we can get some pictures of those! If you have a meaningful piece from a family member or friend, be sure to bring that too.

Hair accessories or veils

Most of my brides love to go with a natural, romantic hair-down look, but a sweet hair piece or veil can add a unique touch to your outfit! When you pick something, make sure you’ll feel comfortable in it all day. A floral crown or floral hair piece can also add a romantic fun feel! I recommend shorter veils as they’ll be easier to move in, and try to avoid super heavy pieces that will give you a headache later. 

Some tips for finding the perfect elopement dress without the stress:

1. Do some early research to figure out what you like
2. Register for a couple shops to keep an eye out for discount codes
3. Try to online shop and try a few at home. Some shops even offer ways to try on a dress before having to pay in full, like Azazie’s try-on program
4. If you go shopping in person, keep your circle limited to just 1-2 really trusted people. This will keep your experience more focused and stress-free
5. Pick something that will make you smile when you look back on your wedding photos for years to come! 

Ready to get started planning your elopement or micro wedding?

If you’ve been dreaming of getting married in the PNW, we might be perfect to work together! I know my way around the Oregon Coast, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. We’ll create an intimate experience that feels really unique and special to you and your partner. I have tons of tips for my clients to make the planning process so much easier. 

Reach out and we’ll start planning your adventure!