A Dog-friendly New Hampshire Elopement at Sunrise 

Dog-friendly Elopement Ideas in New Hampshire | New Hampshire Sunrise Elopement | New Hampshire Adventure Elopement Photographer | White Mountains, NH Sunrise Elopement

In this post, you’ll read about:

1. How this couple planned  an intimate, dog-friendly, adventure at sunrise in North Conway, NH
2. Dog-friendly elopement ideas in New Hampshire
3. How to incorporate your dog into your elopement in unique, meaningful ways 
4. Reasons to consider a sunrise elopement ceremony
5. Tips on planning a sunrise elopement in New Hampshire

About the Couple

E+S have both spent the past three plus years grinding away in their medical professions, and man did I feel inspired by each of their dedication and tenacity in each of their stories. As we had our inquiry zoom session, they shared that they wanted to take this time to FINALLY honor their love, their love of nature, and their sweet pup Tilly by their side. They wanted to feel that “escape to the mountains of New Hampshire” at the core of their elopement, and other than that they were OPEN and READY for any suggestions / location ideas.

Then, we put our heads together and planned a three-location, intimate, JOYFUL sunrise elopement on a fall day in North Conway, New Hampshire. Documenting their humble, loyal, love was truly a blessing and helping guide them to locations that fit their visions meant that they were able to maximize their adventure without compromising or selling their story short. 

Top priorities for their planning experience was making sure their ANGEL dog, Tilly, could be part of their elopement magic. And boy was she a happy little star for the day 🙂 

Dog-Friendly Elopement Ideas in New Hampshire

When deciding on their sunrise elopement ceremony location ideas, they went with the highly accessible, stunning, Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, New Hampshire. This is a drive-up view where Tilly (and most people with accessibility considerations… including a 90+ year old grandmother for a previous elopement I did!) can walk with ease and minimal exertion. 

These two had Tilly girl at the heart of their planning, and some tips include:

  1. Finding a dog-friendly accommodation that is close to your location for logistical ease (I have a list of these for couples interested in bringing their dog)
  2. Choosing a walk/hike that is within the needs of the dog’s mobility, stamina, and skillset 
  3. Choosing a time of day where the temperature is conducive to the comfort of the dog 
  4. Including some break time to allow the pace of the day to feel active yet relaxed 🙂 Timelines are SO important for the flow of your day to feel organized, authentic to you, and intentional, well before your day even starts

Planning a Sunrise Elopement in the Fall in New Hampshire

Crafting an elopement experience at sunrise is one of the top tips I encourage couples to consider if they want:

  1. Maximum chances of privacy with
  2. Accessible and stunning views 

So, if this sounds like you, some considerations I recommend when planning your sunrise elopement:

  1. Book a photographer who knows the area well and understands the sunrise timeframe, location in proximity to the area, and climate trends at the time of year you’re considering!
  2. If you’re thinking of stargazing (highly recommend), consider moon phases (aka darker the sky the better) and plan to arrive to your location ~2ish hours before sunrise! 
  3. Layers, layers, layers- especially in the fall, New Hampshire sunrises are accompanied by chillier, often windier, weather. My advice is  “be overprepared” with packing layers, and have these be items you wouldn’t mind being photographed in! Some layering ideas include:
    1. Cozy blankets that match your colors/vibe
    2. Peacoats 
    3. hat/handwear 
    4. Handwarmers 
    5. Earth tone leggings underneath if predicted to be extra chilly 
    6. Capes! Think, like a veil but over the shoulders and SO picturesque 
    7. Hot beverages to warm up with and have as a sweet little morning picnic experience 
  4. Arrive early 🙂 I’ll go into this in the timeline section, but the whole point of an elopement is to feel present, at ease, and not rushed! 

A Half-Day Sunrise Elopement Sample Timeline

This is a sample timeline for those considering a fall elopement at sunrise in New Hampshire. Of course, your day will be uniquely yours, but this gives a nice preliminary idea of how to approach your timeline planning! This timeline example reflects the general flow of this elopement you’ll see in the gallery section of this blog. 

Dog-Friendly Elopement Ideas in New Hampshire

One of the reasons I am so passionate about New Hampshire (particularly White Mountains) elopements is that there is something for everyone, including dog couples. Take a page out of past clients’ books where they planned the following activities with their dogs:

  1. Trail walks (in all seasons)
  2. Hiking (with experience level and mobility considerations)
  3. Boating (yes there are dog-friendly boating options, especially in the Lakes Regions!)
  4. Cozy cabin time 
  5. Snow activities 

Dog-Friendly Activity Planning Links

For some resources on dog-friendly trails in New Hampshire, check out these links:

  1. AllTrails (compiled list of dog-friendly hikes)
  2. BringFido (compiled list of hikes and trails)
  3. BringFido (compiled list of ACTIVITIES, not just trails)

Dog-Friendly Lodging in New Hampshire

  1. White Mountain Hotel and Resort (a personal favorite) ; located in the personal fave of North Conway 🙂 
  2. Baker Rocks Luxury Camping (located between the Lakes Region and White Mountains)
  3. Airbnb with the “pet-friendly” filter (this list is White Mountains specific)
  4. Bretton Woods (I’ve personally enjoyed these pet-friendly cabins)

When Considering a Hiking Elopement With Your Dog, Make Sure You:

  1. Do your research. Safety for yourself and your dog are CRUCIAL and appropriate research can be life-saving. Please compare your and your dog’s experience levels with the hikes you’re considering, and know that a photographer’s suggestions for you tend to be curated to what they know about you, only YOU can decide what is best, safest, and most authentic to you. Research is everything!
  2. If you’re able to, try the hike before your elopement- take a visit to the area you’re considering if you’re more local, and try out the hike! Plus, this can be a great excuse to head this way and enjoy nature
  3. Packing preparation– this is something I go over with clients during our planning calls, but making sure you have the essentials for your specific hike will ensure a smooth, safe day
  4. Consider the weight of your pack (what you’ll be bringing, what season, and your strength level) and compare this to the type of hike; choose a hike that fits best with the amount of gear you’re bringing for an elopement day….my advice is to leave the  all-day, steeper hikes for a non-elopement day given how heavy your pack will likely be (unless hiking most of the day is your vibe and you’re an advanced hiker)
  5. For the “10 Hiking Essentials” packing list, click here. This will depend on the type of hike you’re going for, but is still a great resource 
  6. For New Hampshire hiking and safety tips, head to the State of New Hampshire Fish and Game website here.

A Gallery of a Dog-Friendly New Hampshire Elopement at Sunrise

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Hey, I’m Kayla! I'm a White Mountain and New England elopement + intimate wedding photographer.

My passion is turning the dreams of couples in love into a day that is true to them. We leave the rest out, we partner together, and we turn your marriage beginning into an intimate, adventurous, dream experience.