Making It Yours: How to Incorporate Personal Touches into Your Elopement

Your elopement is more than just a ceremony; it’s a reflection of your story, your values, and the love you share. When you incorporate personal touches into your elopement, you create a celebration that feels like you from start to finish. Whether it’s just the two of you or a few of your closest people, small details can turn a simple moment into a lasting memory.

At Elope Outdoors, we’ve helped couples create elopements that feel deeply personal, quiet, meaningful celebrations that reflect their story and values. Whether it’s a private vow exchange, a favorite heirloom tucked into a bouquet, or a custom ceremony written just for them, every detail matters. Today, we’re sharing how to incorporate personal touches into your elopement to make the day truly your own.

 

 

Tips for Personalizing Your Ceremony

One of the most powerful ways to incorporate personal touches into your elopement is through the ceremony itself. This is your moment, the heart of the day, and it should feel like you. Our team includes experienced, nature-loving officiants who work closely with you to create a custom script that speaks to your relationship and values.

You can include:

• Personalized vows written in your own words

• A favorite poem or reading from a book, song, or letter that holds meaning

• A handfasting or unity ritual, like blending sand or tying a knot

• Special quotes, spiritual elements, or cultural traditions from your background

We’ll help you shape a ceremony that reflects your voice, tone, and love story. Want to keep it short and sweet? That’s beautiful. Want to include a moment of silence for a loved one or share the story of how you met? We love that, too. This is your space to be seen and celebrated just as you are. If you’d like, your officiant can also include a quiet nature moment, pausing to hear the wind in the trees or birdsong around you, making your surroundings feel just as much a part of the ceremony as your words.

Want even more ways to make your elopement feel personal? Read our post on what to expect when hiring an all-inclusive outdoor elopement planner and see how we help bring every detail to life.

 

 

Meaningful Locations and Timing

The Blue Ridge Mountains offer stunning backdrops, from mountaintop overlooks to quiet forest trails. We help you find a location that’s not only gorgeous but also meaningful. Maybe you want to say “I do” on a misty morning surrounded by trees, or at golden hour with the sun dipping below the ridgeline. Whether you’re drawn to waterfalls, wildflower meadows, or panoramic views, we provide location consultation and coordination to help you choose a spot that feels like home.

We mostly use public lands like national parks and forests, so we follow Leave No Trace principles. While you can’t plant a tree or alter the landscape, you can still honor your love for nature. Consider activities like reading a shared journal entry at the summit, placing a small stone to mark the spot (and taking it back with you), or simply holding hands in silence and soaking in the view.

Looking for a setting that feels true to your story? Read our guide to the top-rated places to elope in Asheville and find the perfect backdrop for your personal touches.

 

 

Adding Symbolic Elements

Symbols can say so much with so little. They help ground your ceremony in memory and meaning, creating touchpoints that reflect who you are and where you’ve come from. Here are a few ideas that we’ve seen couples use to incorporate personal touches into their elopement:

• Wearing heirloom jewelry, like a grandmother’s locket or a father’s cufflinks

• Including a loved one’s photo in your bouquet, honoring someone who can’t be there in person

• Bringing handwritten letters to exchange privately after the ceremony, for a quiet, heartfelt moment

• Using a small family keepsake, such as a coin, charm, or embroidered cloth, as part of your vow exchange

• Adding symbolic colors or fabrics, inspired by your heritage or shared memories

• Tucking in a flower or plant that reminds you of home or a meaningful place

Every package with Elope Outdoors includes a bouquet and boutonniere from our favorite local flower farm, thoughtfully selected based on your preferred colors and seasonal blooms. These aren’t just pretty additions; they carry intention and emotion. Whether your bouquet features soft wildflowers, bold florals, or natural greens, we’ll help it match both the scenery and your personal style.

And yes, you’ll also have a professional elopement assistant on the day to make sure everything flows with ease. They’ll deliver your florals, help fluff your dress or straighten your partner’s collar, manage any guests, and ensure your symbolic touches are in place and ready to be captured.

See how our vendor dream team helps incorporate personal touches into your elopement.

 

 

Incorporate Personal Touches Into Your Elopement Styling and Decor

You don’t need a big setup to make your day memorable. The key is to incorporate personal touches into your elopement with details that feel authentic to you.

Our picnic and cake setups are perfect for couples who want a quiet moment to relax, toast, and reflect. We provide the essentials: artisanal cake, champagne or craft beer, real plates and flutes, so you can simply enjoy. Bring your favorite blanket or a handwritten note to read together, and the moment becomes even more personal.

Your wardrobe is another way to express yourself. Wear hiking boots with your gown, add a jacket with a custom patch, or include a meaningful accessory. And don’t stress if your dress gets a little dirty, it’s part of the adventure and a reminder of the day you made your own.

Need some more packing tips? Check out our guide on what to pack for your adventure elopement in Asheville to make sure you have everything for a smooth and personal day.

 

 

Work With a Photographer To Document Your Personal Touches

You’ve planned deeply personal moments, and your photos and film make sure those memories stay with you.

Every Elope Outdoors package includes a professional photographer who understands that elopements move differently than traditional weddings. There’s more stillness, more emotion, more connection to the landscape. Our photographers know how to move quietly, noticing the way light filters through the trees or how your hand reaches for your partner’s during the vows. They’re there to document, not direct, the moments as they unfold.

Rather than stiff posing, we use natural prompts and gentle guidance to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera. That way, your photos reflect who you really are. We’ll be there to catch the nervous joy of your first look, the wind lifting your veil on a mountain ridge, and the quiet glance you share during the ceremony. We’ll photograph the laughter that happens during your picnic or toast, and the way the light softens as the day winds down. Elopements are intimate by nature, and that slower pace allows us to notice the small, meaningful moments, the ones that often end up being your favorites.

Want to see personal touches in action? Read about this elegant autumn elopement at Buck Springs Gap for inspiration from a real couple’s day.

 

 

How to Incorporate Personal Touches Into Your Elopement and Make It Truly Yours

Incorporating personal touches into your elopement turns a beautiful day into something deeply meaningful. Whether it’s through your vows, the location, small details, or the way the moment is captured, each choice adds to the story you’re telling together. When your day reflects who you are, it becomes more than a celebration; it becomes a memory you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.

Ready to start planning your Asheville elopement? Reach out! Let’s create a day that feels like you. Share your vision, and we’ll help you bring every personal detail to life.