Tranquil Great Lakes Elopement

Elopements aren't for everyone, but they do offer something every couple can benefit from on their wedding day, and that's the aspect of paring things down so that the essence of a marriage, of a couple's love for one another, isn't lost amidst the details and drama on the big day. Taking a cue from today's feature on Vale + Vine, I thought I'd share three things each couple can do while planning their wedding, that will help minimize distractions from what matters most.

Take your inspiration from the wedding day surroundings. Rather than bring all your Pinterest-worthy ideas together and slap them onto a location, spend some time with your planner, stylist, florist (or all of the above) and garner ideas and inspiration from the venue. The result will be more organic and less distracting both on the day of the wedding and in your photos as you enjoy them during the years to come.
Keep your palette restrained. By maintaining a limited palette, you'll have an easier time making decisions on everything from bridesmaids' dresses, to decor, to invitation suites -- this is a surefire way to help you weed out good ideas and focus only on the best ones. Take things one step further and work with a muted palette, such as these subdued blue greys and neutrals, and you guarantee that all eyes will be drawn to you as a couple, rather than the plethora of details easily amassed on a wedding day.
Choose quality over quantity. A beautiful location requires less decor, a well-tailored dress or suit needs less sprucing up with accessories, one exceptional photographer is a more worthwhile splurge than a mediocre photography team, or photographer with second shooter, who promises to capture everything and then some.

The ultimate lesson from an elopement: keep the focus on the promise, not the pomp.