A camping wedding or elopement is ideal for couples who enjoy adventure, want a relaxing experience, or want to create a special memory. In this article, I’ll discuss planning tips and the best camping wedding venues and locations. I’ll also answer common questions and share wedding and elopement packages.
As a wedding and elopement photographer who loves the outdoors, I’ve worked with many couples to capture their unique weddings in nature. My husband and I also spent a lot of time outdoors for our wedding and said, “I do” in a fern-filled forest in the North Cascade Mountains.
Below, I’ll help you start planning your dream wedding or elopement!
Why Plan a Camping Wedding or Elopement
I recommend planning a camping wedding or elopement if you’re hoping to enjoy a peaceful, authentic experience.
Unlike a traditional wedding, which is often stressful, a camping wedding allows you to relax, appreciate nature, and have intentional time with your partner and loved ones if they’re joining.
Camping for your wedding or elopement can also be more affordable than the traditional route because campsites and outdoor venues are much more budget-friendly than other accommodations and traditional venues.
If you and your partner like backpacking, you can also incorporate this into your camping experience—the perfect way to create a new memory as you start this next chapter.
How to Have a Camping Wedding or Elopement (Helpful Planning Tips)
When planning your camping wedding or elopement, use the following tips for a smooth and enjoyable experience.
- Book a photographer who offers planning support – Of course, you’ll want a photographer to capture the special moments of your elopement or wedding. The best part is that many photographers also help with planning. For example, I help couples scout locations, plan their timeline, and coordinate the day of.
- Create your guest list if you’re inviting loved ones – Decide who and how many people you want to attend to help you plan the rest of your wedding details. You can also have a just-us camping elopement for an intimate experience.
- Choose the time of year, then the destination – Knowing when you want to get married can help you choose an appropriate location based on climate and campsite availability. If you already have a specific place in mind, I recommend planning your timing according to the best weather.
- Reserve your campsite in advance – Book your campsite as soon as you can to ensure you have the perfect spot and enough space for everyone you’re inviting if you have a guest list.
- Get there early for first-come, first-served spots – Some campgrounds are first-come, first-served, especially free Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sites, which are mostly in western US states. If you can’t reserve your site in advance, be sure to get there before the weekend rush to snag a spot.
- Be flexible – While outdoor weddings offer an incredible experience, you can’t predict nature. Camping can also bring unexpected situations, such as rain or lack of cell reception. Being flexible and making the most of the experience when mishaps arise is usually where the best memories come from.
What to Pack for a Camping Wedding or Elopement
What you pack for your camping-themed wedding can make or break the experience. A good rule of thumb is that it’s better to over-prepare than under-prepare.
While your packing list will depend on your unique plans, you’ll likely need the following items:
- Tent supplies – If you’re tent camping, bring any items for comfortable sleeping, including a tent, air mattress, pillows, and bedding
- Lights – Be prepared to see at night with headlamps and lanterns
- Bonfire materials – If you plan to have fires, you’ll need wood, fire starters, and a lighter
- First aid – Have a well-supplied first aid kit handy in case of emergency
- Toiletries – This includes toilet paper, hand soap and sanitizer, quick-dry towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, bug spray, etc.
- Food and water – Bring more than you think you’ll need
- Cooking supplies – If you plan to cook while camping, you’ll need a camp stove, plates/bowls, and utensils
- Clothes – This might be the most important as you’ll need wedding ceremony attire, extra clothing in case you need layers or yours get wet, and rain gear
- Shoes – The more shoes, the better, including shower shoes, hiking boots, and sandals
- Activities – Make the most of your experience with fun and relaxing activities, such as card games, books, and hammocks
- Pet items – If you’re having a dog-friendly wedding, bring collapsible dog bowls, poop bags, a leash, a cooling vest, and any other comfort items
Camping Wedding or Elopement Ideas
Your wedding or elopement can be whatever you want it to be! Take time to visualize your dream experience and discuss with your partner what this looks like for each of you.
Here are some fun ideas you might implement for your camping wedding or elopement:
- Plan adventures – One of the best parts of a camping elopement is enjoying adventures with your love. Possible activities include hiking, biking, and kayaking.
- Go backpacking – If you and your partner really enjoy hiking, you could have a backpacking wedding. You can choose a long hiking trail to explore, stopping along the way to camp and having your ceremony at a beautiful spot along or off the trail.
- Relax together – If relaxing is more your vibe, choose a peaceful campsite for your wedding or elopement. You can also mix it up with some adventure and some relaxation.
- Tie in traditions – Although a camping-themed wedding or elopement is far from traditional, you can still incorporate traditions. For example, you can share vows during your ceremony and have a first dance.
- Make smores – Don’t forget the smores!
- Include loved ones – You might invite friends and family to join you or celebrate with them before or after. When my husband and I had our just-us elopement, I had a reception afterward and watched the video of our ceremony with our loved ones.
Best Places for a Camping Wedding or Elopement
As a wedding elopement and photographer and Colorado local who loves camping, it’s one of my favorite places for a camping wedding.
I’ll share some of the best camping locations and venues below. If you’d like help finding your dream location, contact me – I’d love to chat!
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado is one of the most magical outdoor places in the US. It has the tallest dunes in North America known and diverse landscapes.
There are several campgrounds around the park and fun hiking and backpacking opportunities. There are also gorgeous sites for your ceremony, whether you want to get married next to a glistening lake, in the forest, or on a dune.
Crested Butte
If you’re dreaming of getting married in a charming mountain town, Crested Butte is an excellent option. The scenery is gorgeous, and there are endless activities, including skiing, kayaking, and hiking.
Crested Butte is also less touristy than nearby mountain towns, so it’s perfect for couples who want a peaceful getaway.
Some of the best camping wedding venues in Crested Butte include Gunnison National Forest and Lake Irwin.
Buena Vista
Buena Vista is home to some of Colorado’s most beautiful outdoor attractions. If you love nature and exploring, it’s one of the best places to get married.
Enjoy picture-perfect mountain scenery, valleys, and lakes. There are also over 100 miles of trails, perfect for couples who love hiking.
Collegiate Peaks Campground in Buena Vista is an excellent location for a quiet camping wedding or elopement, where you can enjoy stunning scenery and various hiking trails.
Ouray
Ouray is an adorable mountain town in the San Juan mountains. It’s known as the Switzerland of America because of its 13,000-foot peaks and beautiful mountain scenery.
If you and your partner are hoping to enjoy an adventurous camping wedding or elopement, Ouray is the perfect location. You can enjoy off-roading jeep tours, hiking trails, and waterfalls.
While there are many camping opportunities, Ouray Riverside Resort is one of the most scenic places to camp or glamp.
Camping Wedding or Elopement: FAQS
Make the most of your wedding or elopement camping experience with answers to common questions below.
Can you have a tent wedding in winter?
Depending on the location, you may be able to have a tent wedding in winter. If you want to get married somewhere with cold winters, planning for summer or fall is best. However, warmer climate locations are suitable for a winter tent camping wedding.
How much is a camping wedding?
A camping wedding usually costs between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars, including the cost of the campground, venue, supplies, and photographer. Whether you’re planning an affordable elopement or want to splurge on your camping wedding, it’s possible to stick to just about any budget.
What to wear to a camping wedding?
It’s best to wear whatever you’re most comfortable in for your camping wedding. You can have a traditional wedding dress if you’d like, but bring a change of clothes and hiking boots, so you have one outfit for adventures and another for your ceremony.
If desired, I share a Pinterest outfit inspiration board with couples I work with to help them plan their outfits.
Camping Wedding or Elopement Packages
If you’re ready to start planning an epic wedding or elopement, I’d love to help!
I offer various wedding and elopement packages to fit your needs and budget, including mini, full-day, and multi-day adventures. Each package includes the following:
- A phone consultation
- Location scouting, timeline planning, helpful guides, and vendor recommendations
- Access to all-inclusive elopement planning resources
- Custom online gallery with all-edited high-resolution images
- 48-hour sneak peek photos
- Rights to printing
- My travel included anywhere in Colorado (I also travel to other states)
kinsley + caden
“Brooke was the perfect choice for our wedding day! We had a micro wedding at Sapphire Point in August. I had never been to Sapphire Point and Brooke was so helpful suggesting vendors, picture locations, parking, marriage license info etc. She was so kind and helpful before and during the whole process and was a large part of why the day went so smooth. She does so much more than just show up and take pictures, Brooke will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect! The photos are gorgeous and I keep getting so many compliments! I truly cannot recommend her enough!”
"Brooke was a large part of why our day went so smooth and will truly go out of her way to make your wedding day perfect!"
We chose Brooke to capture our Colorado elopement and she did exactly that and more. She made it easy to plan our day out with locations and timelines so that we could focus on ourselves. We decided last minute to change our afternoon/evening elopement to a 6am sunrise one so beat the heat of the day. Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise. She was kind and understood what we wanted in terms of our elopement and we are so grateful to have her capture the day. Our photos turned out beautiful and truly helped us relive the day. I would recommend Brooke to anyone wanting their special day photographed.
"Brooke accommodated us without hesitation and even created a new timeline for us so that we knew where to be for the perfect sunrise."
erica + stacy
kirstie + colin
Brooke not only photographed our mountain elopement beautifully, but she put so much thought into the details and knew all of the answers the questions I didn’t even know to ask. She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had. She even helped pick the perfect spot for us and advised us on the logistical details like securing a reservation at the mountain lake where we wanted our ceremony. She is SO easy to work with and very friendly and chill. My husband and I are super awkward in front of a camera but she made it so natural and easy - and the shots came out better than we could have imagined.
"She really puts a lot of thought into each photo and brings her expertise while still remaining very open to what we wanted and ideas we had."
amanda + jace
Brooke is many things; talented, calm, flexible, experienced/ knowledgeable, patient, incredibly responsive, organized, resourceful in a pinch, supportive, creative, professional yet a blast to work with, and goes above & beyond w her clients. Our wedding was a spectacular dream and we couldn't be more grateful that she made that single day last forever. Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be. We couldn't recommend her more and we look forward to booking with her for all of our vow renewals, seasonal and family pictures for as long as she'll have us.
"Whether she's photographing nature or an intimate event, her pictures tell a story of peace, love, whatever your vision may be."
linden + brent
Working with Brooke was a dream come true! Before we even met, my husband Brent and I were impressed by her portfolio. After meeting, we were even more convinced that her photography skills and knowledge, and her fun and easygoing personality were exactly what we were looking for in an elopement photographer. Brooke was able to take our vision and facilitate everything so that it worked out beautifully, especially when it came to finding the perfect location (the incredible mountains surrounding Ouray). Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible, and made it clear that her goal was for us to be 100% happy. In the end, her creativity and our happiness totally shine through in every single photo.
"Throughout the entire planning process, she was honest and flexible."
lauren + branden
I can't begin to express my gratitude for the intimacy and beauty behind Brooke's photographs. In capturing our wedding day, she went above and beyond to document our story, our families, and the depths of our love in ways that I'll forever be grateful for. Brooke has an eye for not only capturing the adventure and magic of your love, but deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way. She is truly an artist and tells your story in an authentic and creative way for you to look back on for years to come. We are forever grateful to Brooke for spending the time to get to know us, our story, and capturing the memories that we'll relive for years to come.
"Brooke deeply connects with your personal story, understands your relationship, and then gives that back in the most incredible way."
heather + jedd
“If you're contemplating which photographer to go with, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHOOSE BROOKE!!!! She is so so so talented and was able to capture our elopement exactly how I pictured and wanted! We eloped in Ridgway, CO this past September and she was so helpful figuring out picture locations, recommendations of timeline for the day, and just made the whole day feel so smooth. She schedules multiple check ins, phone calls, etc., leading up to the big day to ensure everything is as you want it. Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever after just the first time of meeting."
"Brooke has such a calming, down to earth presence and is one of those awesome people you feel like you've known forever."
christy + austin
Brooke is the absolute best. She truly went above and beyond for my fiancé and I to be able to get our engagement photos taken with the fall colors. Brooke is so sweet, fun, personable and incredibly talented. We could not be more in love with our engagement photos! Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever.
"Our engagement session with Brooke was such a special experience and a memory we will cherish forever."
