More and more brides are choosing intimacy over extravagance, rewriting tradition in favor of deeper connection. At Dreamers & Lovers, we’ve spent over a decade dressing women who were never meant to fit in—and today, that looks like eloping on their own terms. From mountaintop vows to backyard promises, these weddings may be smaller, but the emotion runs even deeper.
The Shift Toward Smaller Weddings
Before 2020, most weddings followed a well-worn script—hundreds of guests, hotel blocks, formal seating, and a sea of expectations. But when the world paused, many couples realized they could do things differently.
What began as a necessity during lockdown became a conscious choice. Today, couples are choosing intimacy, presence, and connection over production and performance. And elopements? They’ve evolved.
At Dreamers & Lovers, we’ve seen a wave of brides creating soulful experiences with just 20–40 guests. Whether it’s a weekend in Tuscany, a backyard ceremony under string lights, or a sunrise hike to a hidden overlook, these weddings are smaller—but no less meaningful.
Many couples are surprised by how many of their guests say yes. People are craving beauty, intimacy, and authenticity. And while brides often simplify the rest of the day, they rarely compromise on two things: the photos and the dress.
Photography by Savannah Glasgow Photography
Bride Sara eloped in the quiet stillness of the forest, wearing our Josephine gown. The dress moved with her through the trees, the lace catching light like memory itself. These moments—barefoot, hand in hand, unhurried—remind us why so many brides are choosing intimacy over tradition. The beauty of eloping is that nothing is wasted, and everything is felt. Explore our full boho lace wedding dress collection, designed for kindred spirits who find magic in simplicity.
Adventure Elopements
For the bride who says her vows surrounded by wind and wilderness, the dress must rise to the moment. Whether you're exchanging promises on a mountaintop, beneath a canopy of trees, or along a cliffside coast, your gown should move with you and reflect the natural rhythm of the day.
Adventure elopement wedding dresses are all about lightness, flow, and grace. Think breathable cotton linings, soft lace that catches the breeze, and silhouettes that allow for movement without sacrificing elegance. A gentle train adds a touch of drama, especially when captured in motion.
Our Hayley dress is a favorite for these kinds of ceremonies—crafted for comfort, made to float, and unforgettable in photographs.
Courthouse Chic
For the modern bride with a minimalist heart, city hall ceremonies offer a quiet kind of power. There’s something deeply moving about walking into a courthouse in the middle of the day, dressed with intention and poise. Your wedding dress doesn’t need to be extravagant—it needs to feel like *you*.
Think refined silhouettes: slip dresses in crepe or silk, tailored midi gowns, or structured long sleeves with open backs. A statement veil, a bold red lip, or pearl earrings can transform a simple dress into a timeless editorial look.
Many of our brides who choose this path gravitate toward clean lines, soft structure, and emotional ease. The result? A wedding look that’s equal parts graceful and bold—just like the decision to do it your way. If you're searching for elegant wedding dresses for eloping, this is your lane.
We recommend browsing our long sleeve lace wedding dresses for styles that blend tradition and modernity, designed for small, unforgettable ceremonies.
Backyard & Airbnb Elopements
Home is where the heart is. And for many brides, that’s exactly where they choose to say “I do”—in a parent’s garden, a rustic cabin, or a thoughtfully styled Airbnb tucked into the desert or woods. These weddings feel grounded, soulful, and deeply intentional.
Backyard and vacation rental elopements open the door to more relaxed styling. Brides often choose bohemian silhouettes: romantic off-the-shoulder lace dresses, flowy skirts with pockets, and airy long sleeves that feel like poetry. These gowns are meant to be lived in.
Whether your setting includes chickens wandering through the ceremony or string lights twinkling above the dinner table, your dress should echo the charm of the space. Pair with sandals or bare feet, a flower crown or a loose braid—whatever feels most honest.
Our off-shoulder wedding dresses are perfect for these elopements: effortless, feminine, and unfiltered. These are gowns designed to photograph like a memory and feel like home. This is what freedom looks and feels like.
You don’t need a ballroom to feel breathtaking.
You just need the right dress and the freedom to be yourself.
Or read the story behind our designs: 13 Years of Soulful Boho Wedding Dresses
Should Your Dress Have a Train?
It’s a question we hear all the time—especially from brides eloping outdoors or planning to walk long distances to their ceremony spot. And while every bride has different priorities, our answer is almost always the same: if you feel drawn to a train, you should absolutely wear one.
A train adds visual presence and flow to your photos. It tells a story. There’s something undeniably cinematic about a bride walking slowly across a desert or forest path, her dress trailing gently behind her. Even a short train can bring softness, movement, and that quiet “this is my moment” energy.
But practicality matters too. That’s why all Dreamers & Lovers wedding dresses for eloping are thoughtfully designed with both form and function. Every gown includes a wristlet and bustle option—so you can let the train down for portraits, then gather it up as you move through the day.
Some of our favorite elopement photos are of brides holding their train at the wrist, walking freely and smiling. It feels relaxed, effortless, and deeply feminine.
If you know you want no train at all, that’s not a problem for our team, we can make any of our dress without a train.
Real bride wearing the Violetta dress during her Sedona elopement—barefoot, backless, and wildly in love.
Photography by Elizabeth Wells Photography
Why Wedding Dresses for Eloping Deserve to Be Extraordinary
Eloping doesn’t mean you’re doing less. It means you’re choosing to do only what matters most. And what you wear while making that promise—it matters. It always will.
Many of our brides choose to elope to keep the day intimate, soulful, and true to themselves. They may skip the big guest list or ballroom setting, but they never skimp on what holds emotional weight: the dress and the memories.
Your gown becomes the way the moment lives on. It becomes your photographs, your story, the image your loved ones will cherish. It deserves to be artful, intentional, and made to reflect your spirit. For brides who want something unconventional yet timeless, our non-traditional wedding dresses offer that same freedom—modern designs crafted for intimate celebrations like elopements, where authenticity is everything.
Bride Laura, shown here in the Lily dress, chose color and movement for her elopement. Her gown matched the joy of the day—not a trend or rulebook.
Try Your Dream Dress at Home
You don’t need to fly across the country or step into a crowded boutique to find the one. With our Home Try-On Program, you can slip into the dress you’ve been dreaming of—at home, in your space, on your time.
Whether you're eloping on a cliffside or in your backyard, we’ll guide you with personalized fit suggestions, styling support, and options to customize your length and sleeves. It’s the experience we’re known for—just delivered to your door.
Explore the Home Try-On Program →
