HOW TO BEAT THE CROWDS

Ever see a cool picture on Instagram and think to yourself, “I need to go there”? Ever actually get to that place and leave wildly disappointed because the perfectly curated gram post did not depict the tourists waiting in line for hours to capture the aforementioned pic? As social media continues to command our lives we will see more influencers trying to catch that perfect picture but it will never be the kind of travel that fills my heart with meaning. My most favorite places I came upon by happenstance, from a conversation at a coffee shop, from scouring google maps, the thrill of the chase is where the real adventure lives. I have crashed a wedding in rural Peru while enjoying a homemade corn drink out of a bucket, drank beer in a bar in Nicaragua that had no power and was lit only by the flash of my camera, I discovered a speakeasy inside of a hot dog stand in Mexico that was so low-key— even the folks eating the hot dogs didn’t know it was there. I explored the Yucatan and landed on a white sand beach as sting rays danced around me. While you may leave the beaten path with that perfect picture it hits different looking back at it when it has that almost cheap feeling. Knowledge and wisdom lives in people, and life experiences, from trial and error, not in an Instagram tag, so… that being said, let the adventure begin, let’s explore. I want to discover the uncharted with you.

1. Consider State Parks: Most people head right for the National Parks, and don’t get me wrong, they are National Parks for a reason, because they are breathtaking. For me large crowds can pull away from being able to feel the actual energy of the place you are in. For your elopement check out a nearby state park outside or on the outskirts of some of the National Parks, you may find a diamond in the rough!

2. Start Early: If you are committed to a bucketlist location, we don’t have to rule it out, they are bucketlist for a reason! Try doing a hike in the early morning light to make an elopement that starts as the sun rises. There is some truth to the early bird catches the worm!

3. Consider a Weekday: Most people travel on the weekends and schedule their weddings for the weekends. With an elopement you have more flexibility, consider scheduling for a weekday as they will by default be less crowded!

4. Pick the Shoulder Season: If you are choosing a location that is seasonal in nature try picking a time of year that is the shoulder season. They are less busy and often the weather will still hold up and you can skip the crowds!