Elopements, Destination Weddings, US Travel

Destination Elopements Anywhere in the US: How One Flat Rate Works

I’m Chasey Smith, a destination elopement photographer based in the Elizabethton / Johnson City, Tennessee area, and I keep this simple: one flat rate, anywhere in the US. You pick the place. I figure out how to get there. No travel fee math. No surprise invoice for my rental car three weeks before your date.

The Problem with Most Destination Pricing

Here’s how destination pricing usually goes: you get excited about a location, you get a quote from a photographer, and then you wait while they “run the travel numbers.” By the time the final total shows up, it barely looks like the price you started with. Flights went up. Hotels changed. There’s a line item for checked bags you didn’t know was a thing.

That might work for airlines. It’s not how I want to run your elopement. My way is one number, anywhere in the US. Desert, coast, mountains, or a random diner in Nebraska. Same price. You know the total from the start, and you don’t have to care how I get myself there. That’s my problem, not yours.

What the Flat Rate Actually Covers

My flat rate is built around two things: my photography coverage and my travel to get there and back. That’s it. You don’t see flights, hotels, or gas broken out as separate lines. You don’t have to approve anything every time ticket prices shift. You pay one number, and I handle the rest behind the scenes like a functioning adult with a calendar and a credit card.

On the photography side, you’re getting full coverage for your elopement or small wedding day. That usually means getting-ready moments, your ceremony, portraits, and whatever else you’ve built into your day: hiking in, grabbing tacos after, wandering through a city, hanging out by a campfire, or hitting three different overlooks because you can’t pick just one. I don’t nickel-and-dime hours while you’re trying to live your day. We build a timeline that makes sense, and I’m there for it.

On the travel side, the flat rate covers everything I need to physically show up where you are, rested, on time, with backup gear and a plan. Whether that takes one flight and a short drive or two flights, a long drive, and a questionable roadside coffee, that’s on me. You don’t get an extra bill because the closest airport is tiny and the flights were weird. The rate already accounts for that reality.

Why I Do It This Way

First reason: it’s easier for you to budget. You’re planning travel for yourselves, maybe a few guests, maybe a tiny Airbnb reception. You don’t need a moving target for your photographer on top of that. One flat rate means you can plug the number into your spreadsheet, notes app, or napkin sketch and know it’s not going to change because the airline had a mood swing.

Second reason: no surprise fees. No “hey, my rental car was more than I thought, here’s an updated invoice.” No extra charges because the weather forced us to stay an extra night. If I decide I need to arrive earlier to scout or build in buffer for storms, that’s part of the job. You’re not responsible for my risk management strategy. You hired me to show up and photograph your elopement like I’ve done this for years, because I have.

Third reason: I want you to pick the location you actually want. Not the place that’s cheapest to fly me to from Tennessee. You shouldn’t be weighing your favorite national park against a random airport hub just because flights are cheaper. You tell me where feels like “us” for you as a couple, and I’ll worry about how to get there without sleeping in my car. Unless that’s the plan and we’re all camping. Then we’re just leaning in.

Where Couples Go (And What That Looks Like)

As a US destination elopement photographer, I see couples pick all kinds of places. Some are big, obvious locations. Some are weirdly specific and perfect. Here are a few types of spots that come up a lot:

• National parks. Think big views, long trails, and a lot of rules. Many parks require permits for ceremonies and for photography, sometimes both. I can’t promise specific parks or permit approvals, but I help you figure out what you need, who to contact, and when to apply so you’re not filling out forms the week before you fly. If you’re curious about eloping closer to my home base, I also have a full guide on how to plan a ceremony there on my How to Elope in Great Smoky Mountains National Park post.

• Coastlines. Cliffs, rocky beaches, quiet coves, boardwalks, piers. Some couples want a sunrise ceremony with just the two of them and coffee after. Others want a small group on the sand and dinner at a local restaurant. Coastal spots often have tides, wind, and local rules to think about, and I help you plan around all of that so you’re not shouting your vows over surprise construction on the pier.

• Deserts. Wide open space, big skies, and light that changes fast. Desert locations can be hot, dry, and deceptively intense. We talk about shade, water, timing, and how far you actually want to walk in formal clothes. I’m there to keep an eye on the sun, the time, and the fact that sand gets everywhere, so you can focus on each other and not your shoes.

• Mountain towns. Little main streets, cabins, chairlifts, and overlooks you can drive or hike to. These are great if you want a mix of nature and creature comforts. We can do a quiet ceremony on a trail, then head back into town for drinks and food. As someone based near the Smokies, mountains are basically my home turf, whether they’re in Tennessee or across the country.

• Cities. Rooftops, courthouses, alleys with good light, neighborhood bars, parks tucked between buildings. City elopements are great if you want energy, variety, and easy access to food and drinks. We can wander, hop into cabs, and shoot in a few very different spots without ever touching a trailhead.

How Planning Your Destination Elopement Works with Me

Once you reach out, we start with the basics: where you’re thinking, what season, and how you want the day to feel. You don’t have to have it all figured out. That’s part of why you hire an all-inclusive elopement photographer who’s done this a lot. You bring the “we’re thinking desert in the fall” energy, and I bring the “cool, here’s what that actually looks like” part.

We talk through location options, timing, and the kind of day you want. Are you hiking in the dark to catch sunrise at the top. Driving to a lookout after a slow morning with coffee. Splitting the day in half and doing a ceremony early, then portraits at sunset. I build a timeline around light, weather patterns, and how much walking you actually want to do in real life, not in your imagination. There’s room for flexibility, but we start with a solid plan so you’re not winging it in a place you don’t know well.

I also help you think through backup spots. If your main overlook is closed, flooded, buried in snow, or full of people with selfie sticks, we have a Plan B and usually a Plan C. As a national park elopement photographer and travel elopement photographer from Tennessee, I’m used to places having moods. We plan for that. I’ll also point you in the right direction for permits and any location-specific rules. Some places care a lot about where you stand, how many people you have, and whether you’re allowed chairs, arches, or amplified sound. I help you read the fine print before it becomes a problem.

I’m also a licensed wedding officiant, so if you want one less person to coordinate, I can both marry you and photograph you. We can structure it so the legal part is quick and simple, and then we focus the rest of the time on the two of you and the places you’ve chosen. No need to bring in a stranger to stand in the middle of your tiny ceremony if you don’t want to.

Things to Think About When You Elope Somewhere Far

Destination elopements look effortless in photos, but the reason they feel relaxed in real life is because we plan for the non-glamorous stuff. Here are a few things I walk couples through when we’re building your day:

• Weather and seasons. The same location can feel completely different in June versus October. Some places have wildfire season. Some have monsoon season. Some have snow that lingers way longer than you think. We look at typical conditions, sunrise and sunset times, and what “cold” or “hot” actually means there so you’re not shivering in a thin outfit at 10,000 feet because the internet said “mild.”

• Altitude and hiking. If you live at sea level and you’re eloping somewhere high, your body will notice. So will your lungs. We plan your timeline with that in mind. Same with hiking: a “short” hike on paper might feel very different in formal clothes, carrying flowers, and trying not to sweat through your outfit before the ceremony. I help you pick routes and timing that match your actual comfort level, not your bravest day at the gym.

• Crowds. Popular locations are popular for a reason, and that means other people. If you want privacy, we talk about sunrise, weekdays, shoulder seasons, and less obvious spots that still feel special. We can’t clear a whole park just for you, but we can be strategic so you’re not saying your vows in front of three bus tours and a field trip.

• Travel days for you two. Build in buffer. Flying in the night before your elopement with a tight connection is asking for stress. I recommend arriving at least a day early so you can settle in, breathe, and adjust to the area. We’ll also talk about what you’re doing after your elopement day, especially if you’re driving long distances or hopping between locations. Your energy matters more than squeezing in one extra stop.

• Marriage license requirements. Every state has its own rules about where you can get a marriage license, how long you have to wait, and who can sign it. I’m not here to give legal advice, but I will remind you that you need to check the county clerk’s office in the state where you’re getting married and make sure you understand their process. Some couples do the legal paperwork at home and treat the destination day as their ceremony and celebration. Others do everything on location. Both are valid. The key is knowing the rules before you get on a plane.

Working with Me: One Flat Rate, Anywhere in the US

Here’s the part you actually came for: Destination elopements and small weddings with me are $5,000 flat, anywhere in the US. That covers my photography coverage, my travel, and my time helping you plan a day that feels like you instead of a copy of someone else’s Pinterest board. No extra travel invoice. No separate math for “near” versus “far.” You choose the location. I show up ready to work and ready to roll with whatever the day brings.

If you want to see more about how I approach travel, elopements, and small weddings, you can read through my Destination Wedding & Elopement page. It goes deeper into what it’s like to have me along for the day, how I photograph, and what you can expect from the experience beyond the flat rate. Think of it as the “who you’re actually inviting into this day” part of the decision.

When you’re ready to talk about your own plans, head over to my inquiry form. Tell me where you’re thinking, what season, and anything else that feels important. I’ll get back to you with availability, thoughts on your location, and how we can shape your day so it feels relaxed, intentional, and very you. One flat rate. Anywhere in the US. You pick the place. I’ll handle the rest like a grown-up who lives for this kind of thing.