How to Leave No Trace on Your Elopement Day
While eloping is absolutely the more eco-friendly option, weddings (regardless) are notoriously wasteful. And if you choose to elope out in nature, there’s a high chance you’re a major outdoor lover. With that love comes an understanding of needing to leave a place exactly as you found it. Unfortunately, there are a multitude of things that can have a negative impact on nature that many people don’t realize. If you are not familiar with Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, it’s time you were acquainted. In order to sustain and protect natural landscapes across the country (and world), it’s vital to understand how to best care for the environment for anyone who makes their way outdoors at any time throughout the year. And this is especially important for elopements.
In order for land across the country to continue thriving for many years (and for future eloping couples to enjoy, as well), practicing Leave No Trace is a non-negotiable for elopements. If you want to plan a responsible elopement, let me tell you all about Leave No Trace, why I believe all elopement photographers should practice it, and how you can follow the program’s guidance while planning your dreamy elopement in order to protect our lands.
What is Leave No Trace?
Leave No Trace is an outdoor initiative program put in place for outdoor enthusiasts to practice principles ensuring the land, animals, and habitats they enjoy continue to thrive. It is a tool for anyone who enjoys the outdoors to use as an ethical resource for preservation. On the LNT website, there are seven principles outlined for the public to follow. You can go to their website for more in-depth information on each one.
These principles include:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Practicing these principles gives future generations a greater chance at enjoying the same natural landscapes we all know and love.
Why Should Elopement Photographers Practice Leave No Trace?
As an elopement photographer, it’s important to me to practice LNT principles and help educate all of my couples on sustainable, earth-friendly practices. Most elopement photographers like myself are insanely passionate about the outdoors; being able to photograph couples with the most incredible backdrops is one of the best parts of the job. But if our lands are being destroyed, there won’t be any beautiful places left for us to enjoy. The good news is that LNT has a course dedicated to wedding and elopement photographers! The course allows you to become educated in-depth about LNT practices and how to apply them to elopements—something all elopement photographers should understand.
How to Have a Leave No Trace Elopement
How can you actually practice Leave No Trace during your elopement? Here are some of my tips and advice:
- Create a plan. Want to make a difference? Don’t just say you’re going to have an earth-friendly elopement, understand what it entails before hitting the trail. This means, coming up with a plan for disposing of trash, preparing for emergencies, getting the right permits, educating yourself on the trails, and so much more.
- Follow the LNT principles. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s necessary to become crazy familiar with them. I suggest heading to the LNT website and printing out a copy of their principles. This way you’ll have easy access to them, you can really learn what each one entails, and you’ll be better equipped on your elopement day.
- Use a LNT certified photographer. If your photographer understands the LNT principles, you’re gonna be in good shape. Especially if you love the outdoors, but don’t get out much and you’re not too familiar with having an ethical, earth-friendly elopement.
Planning your dream elopement doesn’t have to compromise the environment (and it shouldn’t). As an outdoor lover and elopement photographer, I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to preserve the beauty of our lands so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy them. If you need help planning your elopement to align with the Leave No Trace principles, I can help! Let’s plan your perfect, earth-friendly elopement together—contact me today and let’s see if we’re a good fit!
