10 Steps to Plan Your Elopement
Planning your elopement and have no idea where to start? You’ve heard about couples trading the traditional wedding for an elopement style wedding day and you love that idea of it. It speaks to your desire to have more privacy, only invite those who you really want to be there, spend money on the things that matter to you, infuse your personality into your day, and skip traditions that don’t matter to you. But while there are a million resources for planning your wedding, there is a lack of information on how to plan your elopement. Where do you begin? You now have have the freedom to create your day any way you want. But the endless possibilities is simultaneously exciting and overwhelming! Don’t worry I’m here to help. Here are the steps you need to take to plan your elopement day.
Have An Honest Conversation
Talk about why eloping will be a better option for your celebration. Keep in mind the following:
How do you want to feel on your day?
If you two had a free day with no limitations, how would you celebrate?
When you imagine saying your vows to each other, who is there?
What kind of landscape or environment would you want your wedding to take place?
What would you be happy to spend your money on?
What sounds FUN?
Start Dreaming about locations
What type of weather do you prefer, what type of landscape, what other additional activities do you want to do during your celebration, will you extend your time in the area? How close do you want to be to a city or airport? Nail down your top 3-5 choices.
Determine the time of year
Based on those favorite locations think about the seasonality in those areas - will some areas/roads be closed due to weather, what will the weather be like in each season, are you hoping for wildflowers to be in bloom, when is the busy season (you may want to avoid it!), when is the rainy season? etc.
4. DETERMINE IF YOU WANT TO INVITE GUESTS
Yes, you can invite guests even if you are eloping! Think through who is most important to have present, how much you want them involved (i.e., You can have a private ceremony and meet up with family later for an intimate dinner! You could celebrate one day just the two of you and the next day with family. There’s many ways to include them.) Also, consider any size restrictions at your chosen locations - some public areas only allow a certain number of guests.
5. REACH OUT TO YOUR MUST HAVE VENDORS
I suggest doing this before solidifying a date or location because if they are must have vendors you will want to maintain some flexibility on your date to guarantee you can work with them! They may have some expertise to share in terms of what you're hoping to accomplish for your wedding day. They’ll be a wealth of knowledge that can help you make additional decisions. (Even if you’re eloping, I still highly suggest hiring a planner or month out coordinator)
6. FINALIZE Location + Date
Once you've nailed down the top 3 locations, look into the nitty-gritty. Think: Do you need a permit or witnesses? What are the officiant requirements? Can you bring your dog? How many guests are allowed? Travel logistics. Are there any current closures? Compare your dates with your must have vendors availability.
7. Craft Your Elopement EXPERIENCE
Eloping isn't just a ceremony and a few photos. This is your chance to celebrate however you want. Decide what kind of wedding experience you want to have - hire a private chef, have a picnic with an insane view, go on a helicopter ride, rent a canoe, try something new.
8. BOOK PRIORITY VENDORS, ACCOMMODATIONS & TRAVEL
Time to start making it official!
9. CREATE A WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
Time to start organizing those details and creating a plan for your day. And the sooner the better because it will reduce so much stress. For my couples, that means I have a detailed questionnaire for you to complete so I can build you a custom timeline. If you’re working with a planner, they will be able to work with you to accomplish this as well.
10. Gather your details and get married!
Just a few weeks out, it’s time to wrap up the loose ends like final fittings, getting your marriage license, confirm bookings and schedules, order last minute items, gather emergency kit of items, create your checklist so you have everything you need. P.S. Want a free elopement packing checklist? Here you go.
Feeling better already? Good! Planning your elopement day should be exciting and fun! I hope this step by step guide on planning your elopement gave you a idea of how to get started.
Planning your elopement and ready to book a photographer who has experience with elopements and can guide you during the planning process? Let’s chat! I photograph elopements and intimate weddings for couples who love nature and are focused on having an intentional stress free day. I also equip my clients with an in-depth 60 page planning guide I created after working with numerous couples who had the same questions. I took all their questions and my expertise and created this planning guide that will deep dive into a lot of topics, giving you pros and cons and various tips to help you make decisions for your day.
Topics covered in the planning guide:
How to approach the planning process
How to involve family and friends
Deciding on locations
Deciding on length of your celebration
Booking travel
Choosing vendors
Choosing activities
Picking attire
Crafting your timeline
First looks
Planning your ceremony
Family portraits
Tips for getting the best portraits
Wedding day prep
and more!