Hey there!! If you’re new here and don’t know who I am, let me introduce myself real quick. I’m Erin, and I’m an adventure elopement photographer based in North Carolina!! I help couples plan an intimate, meaningful and fun elopement day in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I recently became a Leave No Trace Aware Photographer by completing the LNT Course through the Center for Outdoor Ethics.

This past summer I moved to NC, and as I explored the area, I became more and more aware of how the increase in photographers is affecting the environment. For example, spots that used to be harder to find are now easily accessible through a location tag on instagram. In addition, photographers are tempted to go off trail to get the perfect shot, without realizing that they could be damaging the land, trash gets left behind, and parks put more and more restrictions on these places to help preserve them.

As someone who spends a lot of time outside, it made me extremely sad to see some of my favorite spots destroyed. Nature is my studio, therefore, it’s my responsibility as a photographer to be educated about how we can make sure these beautiful places last and continue to thrive for years to come. Throughout my time learning and studying the principles of leave no trace, the topic became increasingly important to me. It lit a fire in me to help and educate couples on the ways we can practice Leave No Trace during their elopement.

If you’re considering getting married on public lands, it’s important to be aware of your impact on nature and follow the principles of Leave No Trace to ensure that you leave the area better than you found it.

So What Exactly is Leave No Trace?

Leave No Trace is a set of ethics and practices we should follow to enjoy and protect the outdoors, as well as leave less impact. There are 7 principles outlined by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, that they describe as a “framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors”.

1. Plan ahead and prepare

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces

3. Dispose of waste properly

4. Leave what you find

5. Minimize campfire impacts

6. Respect wildlife

7. Be considerate of other visitors

How Do These Leave No Trace Principles Apply to Your Elopement Day?

In this section, I’m going to break down each of these principles and how each one applies to an elopement day in the outdoors, so that you can plan a fun, memorable elopement and show up with the knowledge you’ll need to leave the area better than you found it!!

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

The first step to planning a LNT Elopement is to plan ahead and prepare for any possible situation. When you choose a location, make sure to review the rules and restrictions for that area. For example, The Blue Ridge Parkway does not allow you to use live flowers/bouquets, because it could introduce harmful insects to the park. You can read the full list of rules for the BRP here.

Here’s a preparation checklist:

• Review the 7 principles of Leave No Trace in more depth here.
• Choose a location and review the specific rules for that area.
• Apply for any permits you’ll need.
• Hire vendors (photographer, planner, etc.) that are knowledgable and share the same values as you.
• Research hiking and trail conditions & pack the necessary gear. Click here for REI’s 10 Hiking Essentials.
• Always bring an emergency/first aid kit!! Click here for a first aid kit checklist.

 

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Stay on an established trial as much as possible. Staying on trail reduces your impact. By going off trail, you could be damaging vegetation. Going off trail can also cause others to follow when they see that someone has already done it, causing a domino effect of impact.
• Stay on rock, sand, and gravel. These surfaces are the most durable and can withstand foot traffic. Avoid stepping on vegetation such as live plants, meadows, fields and wildflowers.
• If you plan to camp during your elopement, you can read more about camping on durable surfaces here.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

• Pack it in, pack it out!! Whatever you bring with you on trail, you should bring out.
• If you pop champagne, find the cork after you pop it, and pack it out with the the wire cage & wrapper as well.
• Bring a trash bag with you.
• Inspect the area before you leave to make sure you’re not leaving anything behind.

4. Leave What You Find

• Leave the area just as (if not better!!) than you found it.
• Avoid throwing confetti.
• Avoid damaging trees and plants. Don’t carve anything into trees, and refrain from collecting rocks, sticks or flowers. Picking one flower may seem harmless, but imagine if everyone after you did the same thing. Pretty soon there wouldn’t be any flowers left. Remember that although each of us is only one person, we set an example for everyone who comes after us.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Ending your elopement day with s’mores around a campfire sounds absolutely perfect, right? Campfires are one of my personal favorite ways to end an elopement day. If you plan to have a campfire during your elopement, make sure you’re familiar with the specific rules and regulations for the area.

• Have fires within an existing fire pit.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Thoroughly extinguish the fire.

Want some more elopement day ideas? Click here for 10 Things to do on Your Elopement Day.

6. Respect Wildlife

• Don’t disturb wildlife. Although it may be tempting to get a photo with a dear you see along the trail, refrain from moving too quickly towards them or making a lot of noise. These things will often scare them, so observe from a distance!!
• Don’t feed animals. Feeding animals can cause them to depend on humans for food. As a result, making them more aggressive, and less afraid to go up to people for food.
• If you plan to bring your own pet for your elopement, keep them on a leash so that they’re not tempted to chase after other animals.

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

• Be aware of the amount of space your group is taking up. Let hikers pass, and be considerate of everyone on the trail.
• Let others take photos and enjoy the views too!! Refrain from staying in one area for too long so that everyone around you has their turn.
• It’s okay to ask other’s for a turn as well!! Politely ask others if you can step in for a quick photo, and move quickly so that the next person has a turn.

 

Now you’re ready to plan your Leave No Trace Elopement!! If you want to learn even more about Leave No Trace, visit the website here!! If you’re looking for a Leave No Trace Aware Photographer for your elopement, I’d love to help you plan the day of your dreams out in nature!! Click here to contact me. Thank you so much for reading, I hope this was helpful!!