California Elopements - 2020 Year in Review by Elopement + Intimate Wedding Photographer Kept Record

eloping in 2020 and beyond

As an elopement photographer, I’ve definitely seen a surge in the last few years towards intimate weddings and elopements (and not just the run-off-to-Vegas kind!) but 2020 was certainly...something else! In California, maybe more than anywhere else, elopements became extremely popular. This year I’ve worked with couples in nearly every stage of the elopement process: couples who had intended to elope already (prior to the Coronavirus outbreak), couples who had intended on having a large wedding but shifted to an elopement or intimate wedding, and couples who eloped in 2020 but are still hosting a large wedding in the future. No matter where you fall in this spectrum, I hope you’ll find this 2020 recap helpful as we move forward into 2021!

Before becoming an elopement photographer - and then an intimate wedding + elopement specialist - my husband and I eloped in Joshua Tree, California! The unconventional process was extremely insightful (and at times, difficult) but the experience of promising our lives to each other - unheard by a single other soul on Earth - was one of the most profound, defining moments of my life. The philosophy behind eloping felt deeply aligned with my personal values, and since then I’ve been helping people elope in California ever since! (p.s. Want more Joshua Tree goodness? Click here.)

This year, my business coach this year at one point called me a “Silver Lining Specialist” and I think that absolutely applies to the mindset I shared with my 2020 clients. Throughout each unexpected twist and turn, I helped guide my clients however I could - as a photographer, as a wedding industry expert, and in a more general sense as a friend, towards creating a wedding experience that felt significant and special… even if it wasn’t what they’d originally planned. I’m passionate about photography, but even more than that, I truly do care about my clients having a really wonderful day. The bonus: when you’re less stressed, you’ll look less stressed in your photos too!

while 2020 wasn’t exactly the most positive year in history - it certainly was NOT a bust!

There was sadness, grief, and fear. But there was also love, joy, and vulnerability. There was curiosity and hope. There was so much resilience. SO many good things happened, and they still deserve to be shared!

I’m typically very strongly against the idea of sharing a “highlight reel”-- but in this case, I’m going to make an exception. The California elopements, small weddings, and engagement shoots I photographed this year - the role I’ve played with dozens of people navigating the rollercoaster of getting married in a global pandemic - these truly have been many of the highlights of my entire year!

scroll to the bottom of this post for FAQs about eloping in California!

Hey there! I’m Morgan.

I’m an elopement + intimate wedding photographer for different + daring couples seeking an effortless wedding experience.

I’m the owner + lead photographer at Kept Record, a dedicated dog mom to two rescue huskies, and a former Joshua Tree elopement bride! My husband and I love road trips in our Jeep, spoiling our dogs, and binge-watching obscene amounts of Food Network in our spare time.

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One of my favorite things to come out of 2020 was the free kit I made to help couples plan their elopement or intimate wedding. Interested? Click the button below!

grab the free kit!

looking back on 2020 elopements

This year I had the amazing opportunity to photograph 14 couples in 10 cities throughout California (okay, one wedding was in Las Vegas, Nevada!). I traveled to new cities, met dozens of new people, and grew deeper roots into my creative community. I attended a workshop in San Francisco (pre-pandemic), virtual masterminds and courses like The Elopement Photographer Course by Adventure Instead, and more zoom calls than I can count. I invested in my business through time, money, and education. I became one of the first-ever Leave No Trace - certified Elopement Photographers, I read forty books, and I stepped into new entrepreneurial roles while the ground shifted beneath my feet. If you’re reading this, thinking I’m just bragging now… yes. You’re right! Remember, I told you this was going to be a bit of a highlight reel! All of this was in the effort to return to business post-pandemic stronger than ever, able to serve the couples I work with by offering packages tailored to their needs! The elopement and wedding packages I offer are tailored for adventurous, travel-loving couples.

I’ll say it again: 2020 was not a bust.

This year brought hardship and grief in ways I’ve never experienced - but I refuse to let it be chalked up to a total loss. I’m here, and if you’re reading this it means you’re here, too! We’ve made it through. And on days you don’t feel like you have anything good to find looking back on 2020, making it through is enough.

If you’re getting married in 2021, all I have for you is hope, optimism, and absolute faith that no matter the circumstances you can have a special, meaningful, incredibly fun wedding day!

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Learn more about eloping

elopement faqs

Will elopements continue to trend in 2021?

Yes! More and more people are choosing to elope, as it really lets you personalize your day so it’s more about the experience rather than feeding + entertaining guests (some of whom you might hardly know!)

Where should we elope in California?

One of the many perks of eloping in California is that you have so many locations to choose from! The best location to elope in is one where you can be yourself and really enjoy your day. You can elope beneath big redwood trees or onon a peak in Yosemite; in the middle of the Mojave desert, at the edge of the Pacific Ocean at Sutro Baths, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge at SF’s Baker Beach; in the middle of a vineyard or on top of an empty city parking deck with the LA skyline behind you.

Before you decide, ask yourself: Where do you feel most connected with your partner? Where do you feel most connected with yourself?

When we work together, I’ll create a custom location suggestion list based on the general area you’ve decided, complete with Leave No Trace considerations, permitting information, activities you want to include, accessibility, weather, etc.

Northern California Elopement + Wedding Resources

Joshua Tree Elopement + Wedding Resources

Should we elope now + have a big wedding or a reception later?

This is definitely a possibility! For some couples, celebrating with a big crowd is a priority - and if that’s you I say GO FOR IT!!! I wrote about this being one of the options of planning your elopement in this blog post on What Eloping Really Means. For others, the option to elope is a fairly recent concept and it feels totally right for them. If you want to elope now and celebrate again later, you 100% can: but I encourage you to approach your elopement not as a “Plan B” but as a unique, significant, special experience on its own. Whether you’re shifting plans, postponing, or adapting your day in any other way you may need help with your invitations: check out this blog post for advice from Los Angeles stationery expert, Invitation Maven.

What are the benefits of eloping?

There’s definitely a lot less stress and a lot more personalization! For me, it felt like I was released from the inner conflict many introverts face: wanting to get married but feeling incredibly overwhelmed by immense pressure. Other benefits include saving money (but no - that does not mean that eloping is cheap), saving time and energy - there’s a significant difference between elopement planning and wedding planning, and reducing stress! I love helping my couples minimize stress - in my elopement packages I offer timeline assistance and creation, location scouting, and vendor recommendations!