Adventure elopements have proven to be the favorite choice for couples who no longer want to host their weddings at crowded venues but prefer to marry in the mountains, beside alpine lakes, with a sunrise ceremony. However, many couples tend to repeat the same mistakes when planning adventure elopements.
According to Sean Oblizalo, founder of Vows and Peaks, the biggest problem is that couples often focus on the wrong things first. They spend hours scrolling through social media looking for beautiful photos. They search for locations. They compare scenery. But they forget that an elopement is still a wedding day that requires planning, logistics, permits, timing, and experience.
Sean has photographed and guided more than 450 couples through Colorado elopements. He helps couples build their entire day from the ground up, handling everything from locations and permits to timelines, vendor coordination, and, of course, photography. In his experience, most couples struggle because they underestimate what it takes to make an adventure elopement feel effortless.
The Biggest Mistake: Hiring Only a Photographer Instead of Hiring a Guide
One of Sean’s strongest opinions is that many couples approach adventure elopements the wrong way.
They believe that they are hiring someone for photography.
In reality, they need to hire someone who knows how to put everything together.
Adventure elopements occur in distant locations. They entail weather conditions, terrain, permits, sunrise times, transportation, and backup plans. Photography can provide great shots, but proper guidance can help put together a day that really works.
Sean often describes himself as a trail guide, planner, coordinator, and photographer all at once. His work begins well before the big day. Sean helps couples choose a location that suits their requirements and abilities.
This makes all the difference.
Couples Spend Too Much Time Chasing Locations
Most couples begin planning with this question:
“Where can we elope?”
According to Sean, this may not be the right way to start.
Having a nice view doesn’t necessarily mean having an awesome experience. The mountain that looks spectacular online may require some tough climbing. There may be too many people at a well-known viewpoint. There may be some permits required that will take months.
First, Sean asks about the couple themselves.
He needs to learn about their adventurous spirit and the memories they would like to create. Some couples want to watch a sunrise and climb a mountain. Others just want a simple ceremony, a few drinks, and to be surrounded by their family.
The Myth That Elopements Require Less Planning
Many couples think that going on an elopement entails skipping the planning process entirely.
Sean thinks otherwise.
Even with fewer guests at a mountain elopement, there are still logistics to consider, such as permits, weather, time frame, transportation, accommodation, and coordination with vendors.
This is one of the reasons Sean developed a planning method that consolidates everything in one place. The plan includes timelines, permit tips, vendor suggestions, checklists, and resources for planning elopement adventures.
Why Experience Matters More Than Couples Think
Another frequent misconception Sean runs into is when people think all elopement photographers have the same amount of experience.
But mountain experience cannot be gained by browsing Pinterest.
Sean started as a landscape photographer and spent many years photographing Colorado’s mountain landscapes, including its trails, lakes, and other hidden spots. Now Sean uses the knowledge acquired over those years to make sure couples don’t run into any issues.
Sean’s knowledge of Colorado will help suggest alternative locations, deal with permit issues, plan for bad weather, create realistic timelines, work with reliable vendors, and adjust to changes rapidly.
This experience is very useful when things don’t go according to plan.
Building Better Adventure Elopements
With years of experience leading couples on adventures through Colorado’s mountains, Sean Oblizalo has developed strong views on adventure elopements. Mistakes are usually made well before the big day. Couples seek location over experience, and instead of using planners and guides that accommodate everything, they use photographers with only photography experience and limited knowledge of the mountains. People tend to think that adventure elopements do not require any preparation, but that is quite the opposite.
Through Vows and Peaks, Sean has addressed these issues by attending to the things most couples overlook, helping them prepare for one of the most important days of their lives.