Embrace Eternal Love: Live Out Your Twilight Fantasy with an Enchanting Elopement
So the lion fell in love with the lamb… and you’re getting married!
Eloping is all about planning a one of a kind wedding day that reflects the two of you, so if Edward and Bella’s love story had you swooning, or you just have an affinity for vampires, a Twilight themed wedding can be a really fun way to celebrate tying the knot. Whether you go all out with fake vampire teeth, or just pull some inspiration from their fairytale-esque wedding in the woods, this guide will tell you how to plan a Twilight elopement!
Choosing a Location for Your Twilight Elopement
The location is one of the most important parts, setting the scene for your Twilight elopement. Edward and Bella’s wedding took place in a forest, surrounded by ferns and lush greenery - so your dream elopement location might be somewhere in the woods! Or, you can go in another direction, and get married at a moody beach, since there were a few of those in the movie too. Here are just a few ideas for where to have your Twilight themed wedding! The Pacific Northwest has so many stunning places to choose from that totally fit the vibe.
Forks, Washington
Twilight is set in Forks, a tiny town on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, known for rainy days and moody weather. Throughout the town, you’ll find several cute references to the Twilight series, like Bellas red Chevy truck, and this is a great option for a Twilight elopement! Nearby, you’ll find lots of forest land with woodsy elopement locations, and it’s a short drive to the moody beaches on Washington’s west coast.
La Push, Washington (... Or Ecola State Park, Oregon)
There are several references to La Push in the books and movies, and Bella and Jacob take a walk on the beach under cloud-covered skies. The real La Push beach is located in Washington, but the movie scene was actually filmed in a place called Indian Beach, located in Ecola State Park just south of Cannon Beach! So, either of these spots make a great location for a Twilight elopement.
Silver Falls State Park, Oregon
Several scenes in the movies were filmed in Oregon, mostly near the Columbia River Gorge and Silver Falls State Park. Silver Falls is a gorgeous elopement location, with thousands of acres of forest, with waterfalls, caves, and wildlife (no werewolves, though). It’s the perfect forested setting for a Twilight themed wedding!
Bella’s House
The charming 1930’s home where Bella and Charlie lived is available for rent! It’s in downtown St. Helens, Oregon, close to Portland and close to the Columbia River Gorge. It makes for a perfect place to stay during your elopement adventure, or to have a tiny ceremony!
But, this place is booked for a long, long time - so you’ll need to start planning your Twilight elopement early if you want to stay here!
Redwood National Park
This one doesn’t have much to do with the Twilight books or movies, but Northern California has that perfect moody weather and some incredible locations that perfectly fit the vibe! If you’re looking for a woodsy location, with lots of greenery, ferns, and a spooky fog that often hangs around the tree canopy, the redwoods make for a perfect place to say “I do.”
Decorating Your Twilight Elopement
Here are some fun ways to decorate to make the moment you tie the knot look like Bella and Edward’s ceremony in the movies!
An Arbor
Edward and Bella got married under an arbor - a rounded archway decorated with gorgeous white flowers. One thing to keep in mind is that depending on your elopement location, there might be some restrictions about what you can set up for the ceremony, so make sure it’s allowed before you do this! But, to recreate the gorgeous movie moment, talk to your florist about creating an arbor that you can stand under when you exchange vows.
Hanging Wisteria
The enchanted, fairytale vibe of Edward and Bella’s ceremony was amplified by the hanging wisteria plants. See if there are some overhanging branches that you can hang some plant life on to decorate your Twilight elopement!
Greenery
There’s a lot of greenery in their ceremony, because it’s a forest wedding! Ferns are stunning for lining the aisle, adding drama to a bouquet, and more, so they’re perfect for decorating a Twilight elopement. Moss is another great way to decorate your ceremony - and if there isn’t a lot of it at your location, you can glue some moss onto felt pieces, or get a fake moss rug!
White Flowers
The greenery is separated by lots of white flowers - the arbor, white petals down the aisle and white flowers around it, Bella's bouquet, Edward’s boutonniere. Incorporating white flowers is a great way to decorate your Twilight elopement, and adding some baby’s breath next to fern leaves can be a way to make this come to life.
Choosing Your Attire for Your Twilight Elopement
When it comes to your outfit, here are some tips for attire that’s similar to what Bella and Edward wore!
Suit
Edward’s suit is pretty classic - a black tux - but he makes it unique by having a white vest underneath, and a white bowtie. You can emulate this look for your Twilight elopement, or make it your own by leaning into the vampire theme - a maroon suit would really pop!
Dress
Bella’s wedding dress was designed by Caroline Herrera. It’s fairly simple in the front - an elegant satin dress with a sheath silhouette and long sleeves - but the back features a gorgeous lace design with buttons that come down to a long train behind her.
To get a similar style, look for sheath dresses with a subtle V neck and long sleeves - and some lace detail! Here are a few dresses that have a similar vibe:
Bella also accessorized with a long veil, and the hair and makeup was kept pretty simple. To recreate the look, opt for an effortless-looking updo with loose wisps of hair!
Ready for Your Twilight Elopement
If you’re ready to live out your Twilight fantasy, I’m ready to help you make that dream come to life! As an elopement photographer, my job is to make sure your day is custom made just for you - so if you’re dreaming of a vampiric wedding day, contact me to start planning.
