Leave No Trace (LNT) Wedding Guide: Tips & Resources

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I hope that this blog post finds you thriving and crushing your wedding planning goals! This week I am tackling the topic of Leave No Trace, one of my favorite topics to talk about. If you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you’re at least a little bit familiar with the term. But if not, don’t worry because in this email I’m breaking it all down for you and giving you allll the information you need to make sure your wedding follows the principles of LNT! 

What even is Leave No Trace? 

Leave No Trace (LNT) is a program that aims to empower people (you, me, everyone!) to protect the outdoors. Some of their main focuses are, among others, trashed natural areas, polluted water, lack of inclusivity in the outdoors, and wildlife at risk. By educating people on these and other important topics, LNT sets an example for how we can protect and enjoy nature responsibly. 

LNT has seven principles that provide actionable steps we can all follow no matter where we are. The steps are:

1. Plan Ahead & Prepare
know the regulations and any special concerns for the area you plan to visit

2. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
this helps to prevent damage to the land, foliage, and waterways

3. Dispose of Waste Properly
pack it in, pack it out

4. Leave What You Find
take photos, not souvenirs

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
if you aren’t confident in your ability to start and put out a fire responsibly, don’t start one

6. Respect Wildlife
enjoy wildlife from a distance, and never feed them

7. Be Considerate of Others
interact with others in a way that maintains an enjoyable outdoor experience for everyone

These seven principles are an amazing starting point for anyone spending time outdoors in any capacity, and if you’re planning to have your wedding or elopement at an outdoor location you need to understand these principles inside and out. 

Why is Leave No Trace important?

You might be thinking “What difference can just one wedding make?” Intimate weddings and elopements in remote locations, national parks, and wilderness areas are extremely popular right now (for good reason), but unfortunately with an increase in human traffic also comes an increase in the destruction of those wild and beautiful locations.

One location specific example is Arches National Park in Utah. Did you know that a single footstep off the trail (LNT principle #2) in Arches NP can destroy hundreds of years of soil growth (yeah, the stuff’s alive) and can take 50+ years to recover – and that’s under the best circumstances (read why cryptobiotic soil is important). Another example is Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. A single step off the trail in MRNP can damage the fragile soil and decrease its ability to support wildflower growth (read why the wildflower fields are important).

These are only two examples of how just a single person (let alone everyone involved in even a simple elopement) can have an impact on the environment, but they’re also a reminder that every outdoor location is susceptible to harm by humans. In order to recreate responsibly we must learn ahead of time how we can best protect and steward the land we will be visiting (LNT principle #1), and I find it helpful to also learn the why behind the rules of an area – sometimes they can seem so arbitrary, but they’re always there for a reason. 

For me personally, if I don’t do everything in my power to protect a beautiful place I have the honor of visiting, then I don’t feel like I have the right to be there. When I visit a cool place, I want to see wildlife and wildflowers and crystal clear streams and trash free trails. I don’t like when other people ruin my experience there, and therefore I don’t want to ruin anyone else’s experience there (LNT principle #7).

How can I make sure my wedding follows Leave No Trace principles? 

1. Research Your Ceremony & Reception Locations

Do your research on everything from the weather to wildlife patterns to any special considerations for that specific area. Google is always a good place to start, but don’t stop there! Even if you’re not getting married in a state or national park, check the websites of – or reach out to – any nearby parks for tips on how to protect the local environment. Be sure to obtain any permits required to get married at your chosen location – if you’re getting married in a national or state park you will most likely need a permit. 

2. Follow the Principles of LNT

This tip goes hand in hand with the first one. Learning and following the 7 principles of Leave No Trace will help you minimize the impact your wedding has on the earth whether you get married in a remote location or at an established venue. 

3. Hire Wedding Vendors Who Support Your LNT Efforts

If a wedding vendor prioritizes LNT, chances are they will talk about it on their social media or website. When inquiring with vendors, let them know up front that you are planning a LNT-friendly wedding. A simple message such as “Following the principles of Leave No Trace is very important to me as I plan my wedding. What measures does your business take to help me achieve this goal?” can open up the conversation and help you find vendors whose values align with yours. 

4. Educate Your Guests

You’ve done the research for yourself, but you can’t assume that any guests you’ve chosen to include on your wedding day have done the same. Letting them know ahead of time that you are planning a LNT-friendly wedding and how they can contribute to the vision you have for your wedding day is key. Let them know what wildlife they can expect to see in the area and how they can avoid disturbing them. Instead of just telling them, explain to them the reasons behind the rules and regulations at your wedding location. Break down the principles of Leave No Trace for them to follow. The people you choose to include on your wedding day care about you, and that means they will care about what you care about.

Where can I find more resources?

I’m so glad you asked! The Leave No Trace website is an amazing resource for anyone spending any time outdoors. I could seriously spend all day browsing their website, so if you’ve never visited it, have a look around. Other great resources are city, state, and national park websites – but what may be even more helpful is to call, email, or visit those departments directly with any specific questions you have. ALSO, when you sign up for my email list you will have access to so many great freebies, including a wedding and elopement specific LNT informational sheet that you can send to guests to help educate them and make your LNT wedding dreams come true! 

I have such a passion for this topic, and I can only hope that this post is helpful for you as you plan your wedding or elopement. LNT is also just a good policy to have in our day-to-day lives, regardless of if you’re planning a wedding or not. As always, if you have any questions or comments about this topic, leave me a comment down below!

*All my blog posts contain a selection of images that I’ve taken. If you are interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!

I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook and sign up for my monthly newsletter to get exclusive wedding planning advice and access to all of my new (and old) freebies! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!

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