How to Practice a Leave No Trace Elopement

How to Practice a Leave No Trace Elopement

Adventuring on an elopement amidst the grandeur of nature is an exhilarating experience! In order to preserve this feeling for generations and generations to come, it is vital to practice a Leave No Trace elopement. This information will ensure that your elopement day honors both your love and our planet!

What is Leave No Trace?

Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor ethics that promote responsible recreation and conservation practices. The 7 Leave No Trace principles depict how to minimize our impact on the environment and be inclusive of all adventurers. By following these principles, we can preserve wildlife habitats, protect our ecosystems, and maintain the pristine beauty of our natural world. At its core, Leave No Trace encourages a mindset of stewardship, responsibility, and respect for the Earth.

Plan Ahead & Prepare

In order to plan ahead and prepare, research your elopement location, assess your experience level, and prepare with the proper gear. Whether you’re hiking to a remote mountain peak or exchanging vows on a beach, know what the physical demands are for your adventure. Remember that higher elevations require extra preparation: hydration, healthy food, and acclimating to elevation ahead of time are all ways to help ready yourself. Eloping doesn’t mean you have to push your limits or overexert yourself. You can elect to partake in activities that are comfortable for you.

Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces

To travel & camp on durable surfaces, only walk, hike, and set up camp on designated trails and areas. Also, avoid trampling fragile vegetation. Remember, the arctic tundra above the tree line is delicate and particularly vulnerable to damage. Even just walking upon high alpine surfaces can cause severe damage to the land despite no immediate or perceivable changes. If you encounter restoration barriers, do not cross them. They’re in place to protect weaker ecosystems and to help restore their strength. If you plan on setting up an arch, make sure it’s secured on healthy and stable ground.

Dispose of Waste Properly

To dispose of waste properly, carry anything back that came with you. Any wrappers, food waste, containers, or trash should be picked up and securely removed. Even organic items like apple cores and orange peels can take years to decompose and may harm the environment if left behind. These scraps can blow into nearby water sources and contaminate the water.

Moreover, use bags to remove your pet’s waste. If you need to go to the bathroom on your elopement, bury any human waste by digging a cathole at least 6 inches deep, 6 inches wide, and 200 feet away from any water sources. You can bury your toilet paper with your waste or carry it out in a separate bag. It is likely your hope that this doesn’t happen, but just in case, be prepared with a small shovel and toilet paper!

Leave What You Find

Leave what you find, and resist the temptation to take objects such as rocks, flowers, or plants. Removing any natural element disrupts local ecosystems and diminishes the natural beauty. Alternatively, you can photograph your favorite flowers and plants, paint or draw the landscapes to which you’re most drawn, or write a poem or journal entry about the beauty you see.

Furthermore, did you know that over 3,200 species of wildflowers live in Colorado? These colorful friends are the best little photo bombers and make great company on your elopement day! In addition to not cutting wildflowers, remember to avoid stepping, sitting, or laying on them. They are even more fragile at higher elevations.

Minimize Campfire Impacts

If there aren’t any current fire bans, use designated fire pits and follow local regulations to minimize campfire impacts. Always extinguish your campfire fully before leaving the area. You can do this by waiting for the fire to naturally calm down and subsequently pouring water into the fire pit until no embers remain and smoke dissipates. Avoid using candles or other open flames that can become hazardous. Generally, cigarettes are prohibited in outdoor locations. If you regularly smoke cigarettes, bring a non-combustible way to consume tobacco.

Respect Wildlife

It’s essential to respect wildlife by maintaining a respectful distance and refraining from feeding any animals. Introducing food that is unnatural to the environment to a native animal can cause confusion and even create an unsustainable reliance. Furthermore, minimize noise levels to avoid startling wildlife and disturbing their natural behavior.

During mating season, animals are more sensitive to human distraction. In order to reproduce, they often need all of their energy spent on doing just that, especially in winter. Keep extra safe distances from nesting areas, and do not disturb any natural shelters or habitats. Avoid using flash photography, as it can startle wildlife and interfere with their natural rhythms. Native plants and trees are also part of the wildlife. This really goes without saying, but do not carve into tree trunks.

Be Considerate of Others

Outdoor spaces are shared by everyone, so always be considerate of others! Even though it is your elopement day, you are no different in the eyes of Mother Nature. Share the trails as you normally would; if you have a large skirt on your wedding dress, do your best to keep it out of the way from other visitors. Keep your collective volume to a respectful level, and avoid overcrowded areas by choosing less popular times like sunrise during the middle of the week. This ensures a more intimate experience while minimizing potential disruptions from other visitors. Keep your pets under control and on a leash.

Minimize Environmental Impact

Before setting up any chairs, tables, or arches, verify that you are permitted to do so. You may even consider alternatives to traditional decorations that can harm the environment. Avoid using glass decorations, bubbles, confetti, rice, or lavender, as these items can have negative effects on the natural landscape. Moreover, refrain from using smoke bombs, as they can cause stains and release harmful chemicals into the air and surrounding areas.

Instead, opt for eco-friendly alternatives such as ribbons, fabrics, or collecting already fallen leaves to use as confetti. You could even use long pieces of string and rope to create a decorative canopy or have your guests make a human tunnel. For further inspiration and examples of eco-friendly alternatives, check out the links provided below.

Tag Responsibly on Social Media

It is critical to tag responsibly when sharing on social media. If you share any of your photos, refrain from geo-tagging specific locations. Overcrowding can cause environmental damage and lead to area closures. Some spaces are closed indefinitely while others only allow visitors who make online reservations ahead of time. Additionally, never go off trail or somewhere dangerous to get a photo. If a photo is posted of someone leaving no trace, someone else will likely follow in the wrong footsteps.

Instead, just focus on the purpose of your day and your celebration of love and nature! By exercising caution and responsibility when posting photographs, you can help protect our planet and maintain its health. How cool is that?! Oftentimes, forest and park services do not have the support or infrastructure to handle big increases in visitors (which is largely influenced by social media).

Educate Your Guests

One way to educate your guests is to simply share this article with them. Create an open and honest conversation about Leave No Trace principles. Be aware on your elopement day, and take initiative to speak with anyone not abiding by the seven principles. By adhering to the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, you can ensure that your elopement is a celebration of love and a testament of your commitment to preserving the natural world.