Non-Traditional Elopement in Georgia

Aleia and Dylan didn’t want a performance and they didn’t want a room full of eyes or a timeline packed with traditions that didn’t feel like them. What they wanted was presence. A space to laugh, cry, explore, and say their vows in a way that felt deeply true to who they are. So they chose to have a non-traditional elopement in the North Georgia mountains, where they could explore waterfalls and forests at their own pace, giving room for connection. It was a day built entirely around intention, joy, and doing things their way.

Love Notes Before the First Look

The day began not with chaos or rushing, but with stillness and a surprise. While Aleia got ready, Dylan had one more thing planned: a video message for her eyes only. No cameras, no pressure, just his voice, speaking straight from the heart. As she sat quietly and hit play, her smile broke wide… and then the tears came. The kind of tears that aren’t sad or anxious, just full. Full of love, gratitude, and that deep “this is really happening” feeling.

That moment set the tone for the entire day. No matter where they were or what was coming next, the two of them were already showing up for each other in a thousand small ways.

Then they got ready together, helping each other into their clothes. Dylan smiled at Aleia as he zipped up her dress, knowing this was going to be his forever person.

I was so moved by the fact that they did everything their way. They wanted those intimate moments getting ready together, he wanted to help her into her dress, and they wanted to have a slow morning. I love when couples are able to truly embrace what it means to elope: to do things your way, to slow down, and be present. Aleia and Dylan did just that during their getting ready moments.

Tattoos, Truth, and Total Freedom

These two are the real deal. They both have hand tattoos with the acronym AIYDIWDWY which stands for, “And If You Die, I Wanna Die With You.” It’s raw, honest, and captures the depth of their commitment perfectly. Their elopement day felt like that too: fiercely loving, beautifully unfiltered, and full of real-life love. Messy, dirty, and a little bit wild.

Their “first look” wasn’t about showmanship; it was about seeing each other, really seeing each other, in their element. Aleia’s dress showed off her ink, his jeans and coat jacket worn with confidence. Then they did a first look of sorts to really see each other in their full attire. No expectations. No boxes to check. Just them experiencing their love for one another.

Waterfall Wandering, Big Smiles, and Doing It Their Way

After the first look, we made our way to a waterfall tucked deep in the North Georgia mountains. The kind of place that feels like a secret. Mossy rocks, rushing water, and not another soul in sight. It was exactly the kind of quiet beauty that matches the way Aleia and Dylan move through the world.

They changed into their fishing boots at the edge of the stream and helped each other wade into the freezing water. No hesitation, no worry about the cold – just pure laughter and unfiltered joy. They held onto each other for balance, but mostly for the moment. It wasn’t about the perfect shot. It was about being there. Together. Cold feet and all.

And then, I handed them my camera. They snapped pictures of each other from their own perspective, laughing the whole time. It was spontaneous, playful, and exactly right. There’s something so freeing about tossing out the expectations of what a wedding should look like. Their day was full of those kinds of choices – the ones that say, “This is who we are, and this is how we love.”

Whether you’re standing in a mountain stream or reading vows under the stars, the truth is this: your elopement can look like whatever you want! Non-traditional elopements require no script. There is no wrong way. Just your way.

Vows on the Mountain as the Light Faded

As golden hour crept in, we laced up our boots and started the final hike of the day up to a ridgeline that felt like it was waiting just for them. The air got cooler with every step, and the sky began that slow, soft shift into sunset.

At the top, there was no big setup. No arch. No chairs. Just wide sky, steady wind, and two people who knew exactly what they came here to say.

Aleia and Dylan stood side by side, holding hands and soaking in the mountain view in front of them. Then the vows came. Honest, raw, deeply rooted. They spoke of friendship that holds steady through every season. They talked about safety, about being fully known and fully loved, about laughter, and about the healing kind of love that brings out your truest self. There were tears, yes, but also so much joy.

It was sacred in the most human way. No performance, just the two of them and the quiet mountain listening in.

As the light slipped behind the trees and the wind picked up, they wrapped themselves in each other’s arms, held close, and took it all in. A wedding day with nothing to prove. It was the kind of elopement day that makes you feel like home.

Why This Non-Traditional Elopement Mattered

Aleia and Dylan’s elopement was a masterclass in doing what feels right. No pressure or expectations, but rather the freedom to show up exactly as they are. They didn’t follow a checklist or try to please anyone else. They followed their gut. And in doing that, they created something way more meaningful than any traditional wedding could have offered.

They honored their story with every choice: watching a heartfelt video over coffee, helping each other get ready, laughing through freezing water in fishing boots, taking photos of each other just because it felt fun, and crying through vows on a windswept mountain. Every piece of it was full of feeling, full of joy, and completely, undeniably them.

That is what made their day unforgettable. It wasn’t about chasing perfection, it was about choosing presence. And that’s what always makes the best kind of elopement day.

Aleia and Dylan, thank you for trusting me to witness it all. You reminded me that when couples follow what their hearts, magic happens.

Check out more real elopements!