Deciding to elope means taking the reins and taking control of what your wedding day looks like – getting married in a way that actually reflects who you are! If climbing is a big part of your relationship or your lives together, what better way to celebrate tying the knot than with a rock climbing wedding?
In this guide, we’ll talk about how to plan a rock climbing elopement, what that means, and some tips for creating your dream day!
What is a Rock Climbing Wedding?
First things first, let’s talk about how to incorporate rock climbing into your wedding day, and what this can look like. Climbing can be as big a part of your elopement as you want it to be – some couples might choose to have the entire day revolve around it, while others might just want to include it as a portion of the activities they have planned for the day.
You can choose a ceremony location that you need to climb to, getting married after an epic route. Or, you can rock climb before or after the ceremony, as something to do together! This can be an especially good option for couples who are inviting guests to their elopement, because you can have the ceremony with them, then choose a route to climb just the two of you, which also allows you to take some time for yourselves.
Safety for Your Rock Climbing Wedding
Safety is an important part of rock climbing any day, but especially on your wedding day, there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing a route!
First, a rock climbing elopement is ideal for folks who have climbed outside before, and who feel comfortable at the crag. While I never want to discourage anyone from climbing or from trying something new, your wedding day may not be the best time to take on something that could leave you feeling like you’re in over your head!
When choosing a route for your rock climbing wedding, I recommend picking one that’s at least a little easier than what you usually climb, especially if you’re in a new area that you’re not as familiar with! It’s best to only do routes that you feel comfortable leading. We can talk about my elopement packages and which routes would be best from a photography standpoint too!
Choosing a Location for Your Rock Climbing Wedding
One of the most important things when it comes to your rock climbing wedding is choosing which route you want to climb! I recommend choosing a general area first, then narrowing it down further.
There are some really popular climbing spots in places like Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Moab, and while these are incredible, for a rock climbing wedding, it can be nice to go somewhere a little lesser known, so that you can avoid the crowds.
Arizona has some great rock climbing, especially in the Queen Creek Canyon area. Totem Pole is a really cool route that takes you up to the top of the tower, and Atlantis and The Pond are two other areas nearby with a lot of routes to choose from.
When you’re choosing a route for your rock climbing wedding, here are some things to keep in mind.
Difficulty
Of course, make sure that the route you choose is within your abilities, and that you know what to expect and feel comfortable and prepared! Choose a route that you feel comfortable leading, and keep in mind that you’ll have your wedding attire on, and it can be best to pick something a little easier than what you normally climb.
Experience
Along with difficulty, consider what you have experience with. Are you more comfortable with trad or sport climbing? Do you have a lot of experience climbing on sandstone, but not as much on granite? There’s nothing wrong with trying something that’s a little new to you, but don’t push it too much on your wedding day!
The Approach
Another important factor in where you want to climb on your elopement day is the approach – do you feel comfortable hiking in, or would you rather find something that’s easy to get to?
What to Wear for a Rock Climbing Wedding
You can definitely climb in your wedding attire! But, you’ll definitely want to keep a few things in mind while you’re shopping!
Dresses
Not every wedding dress is going to be a good elopement dress, especially for a rock climbing elopement where you definitely want more freedom of movement. When shopping for dresses, opt for styles with loose, flowy skirts. A-line silhouettes work really well, and anything that’s tight below the hips is going to be hard to climb in! It’s also best to choose dresses that are more lightweight, since something like a ball gown would be loose, but very heavy and still difficult to maneuver in.
I also recommend wearing shorts or leggings under the dress, so that you can climb without worrying about flashing anyone. Opt for something that either matches the color of the dress, or your skin tone!
Suits
Just like with dresses, a suit for a rock climbing elopement should be comfortable and loose enough that you can climb in it. Make sure the pants allow you to move freely, and ideally they’d even have a little bit of stretch. When you’re trying them on, move around a lot – I’m talking squats, leg kicks, big steps up, any and every movement that can test whether the pants will work for rock climbing!
Planning a Rock Climbing Wedding
When you’re incorporating rock climbing into your elopement day, it’s important to hire a photographer who climbs, and who can help you with the logistics of the day!
As an elopement photographer, I’m all about helping you create your unique adventure! I believe the day you get married should tell your love story, and if yours includes climbing, I’m all in.
I’ll help you choose the perfect elopement location, make recommendations for places to stay and things to do, help you find vendors who’ll make your vision come to life, and document it all!
If you’re ready to plan a rock climbing elopement, contact me!
