How to Plan an Airbnb Elopement
What do chapels, barns, golf courses, mountainsides and Airbnbs have in common?!
They can all serve as wedding venues!
While the first few on that list may be no-brainers, an Airbnb isn’t the first spot people think of when they think of wedding venues. But if you’ve found your way to this blog, chances are you’re a fan of the unconventional anyway, and saying your vows at a rental property could be the perfect fit for your dream wedding day! An Airbnb elopement is one of my favorite styles of weddings to shoot, since these cute rental homes often have as much personality as the couples themselves. There’s a wide variety of properties to choose from, ranging from simple and sweet to opulent and luxurious.
But how do you go about planning to elope at an Airbnb? There are some very important details you need to know about, and I’m here to break it all down for you. For the sake of simplicity, I call it an Airbnb elopement in this blog, but really it can be an Airbnb, a VRBO, a vacation rental or even a villa. The idea is renting a house for your wedding day, weekend or week and making it a one-stop-shop for all things wedding-related.
Read on to find out why I love this type of elopement, how to pick the right spot and what planning details you’ll need in a step-by-step guide to eloping at an Airbnb!
Why elope at an Airbnb
I specialize in adventure weddings. Outdoors, in nature, living for the view, having a wedding adventure rather than a wedding day – I’M THERE. So naturally many of my couples choose spots for their weddings that are off the beaten path, far from churches and ballroom venues. There are a few different options for couples who want to get married in an adventurous destination they love, from eloping in a national park to finding hip non-traditional event venues in the local area. One of my favorite options, though, is the Airbnb elopement.
Airbnb elopements have grown massively in popularity over the last couple of years as the pandemic demanded smaller wedding guest lists and social distance. But trust me when I say these types of elopements are here to stay! There are so many benefits to planning your wedding weekend at an Airbnb.
One stop shop for rehearsal, ceremony and reception
Having an Airbnb elopement eliminates the hassle of finding a separate place for your rehearsal, your ceremony and your reception. You could even plan your bachelorette and bachelor parties there in the week leading up to the wedding! Finding the right Airbnb means less moving pieces and a place to host all the big events of a wedding week.
Compare it to the cost of a venue plus lodging
With that in mind, think about the fact that you won’t have to pay an additional fee for a spot to host all those events. You’re paying one price and getting all the benefits of your venue and your lodging! Let’s be real, if you were doing a destination wedding, your accommodations would likely be pretty similar to the price of the Airbnb you’re going to hold your event at. Even if your perfectly aesthetic Airbnb is more than what you’d usually spend on lodging, you are saving thousands of dollars on renting a formal venue! Having an Airbnb elopement can be an extremely cost-effective way to plan a wedding.
Great getting ready photos
Not only do you get to use your Airbnb for all the major events, you also have a built-in spot to get ready! There are so many beautiful, aesthetic Airbnbs out there with lots of natural light. I love capturing the peaceful anticipation of elopement mornings in photos. Getting ready photos in Airbnbs are some of my favorites because your WHOLE day deserves to be documented. Getting ready may not feel all that monumental, but those sweet, quiet moments are just as important as the celebration.
All your people in one place
If you’re having guests at your elopement, you can opt for an Airbnb that fits everyone under one roof! This allows your wedding weekend to be a full-on wedding experience. You actually get to enjoy the week with all of the people you love instead of just briefly saying hello to them at a packed reception!
Typically less permitting than a ceremony on public land
Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE a national park elopement! But they do come with some hoops to jump through for permits. If this is the kind of wedding day you envision, then it’s totally worth it! But when you elope at an Airbnb, you can sometimes save yourself some trouble by saying your vows there and then heading to whichever outdoors location you love to take photos. Airbnbs aren’t restriction-free though, so we’ll touch on that part of the Airbnb elopement process.
How to choose an elopement Airbnb
Now that you’re convinced, let’s dive into how to make sure you’re selecting an Airbnb fit for an elopement.
Narrow down your location
First off, discuss where you want to get married with your partner. Somewhere that is meaningful to the two of you? Somewhere you’ve wanted to go that you can make a wedding-specific memory together? If there’s a particular place you want to make sure you get photos at, you’re going to want to be narrow with the scope of your Airbnb search. Few things put a damper on a wedding weekend like having to drive an hour between your lodging, your activities or your photos because you didn’t plan out which points of interest you wanted to hit.
You can also search Airbnb by unique stays and let the Airbnbs tell you where you should go! OR, you can check out my guides to getting married in places like the North Cascades, Olympic National Park, Big Sur or the Blue Ridge Mountains for cool Airbnbs handpicked by yours truly!
Find out if it’s event and photography friendly
This is the MOST important planning step when you want to elope at an Airbnb. Some Airbnb profiles don’t make it immediately obvious, but hosts can sometimes charge extra fees for you to hold an event there. I know it may be tempting to ask forgiveness rather than permission, but this is NOT a risk you want to take on your wedding day! Message the host ahead of time and ask about their event policies and any local ordinances you may need to know about, such as restrictions on noise or parking. You’ll also want to know if photography is allowed. Some hosts charge extra for their home to appear in photos. Most hosts will be happy to help ensure you have a dream day. If not, it’s better that you find out ahead of time and choose a different location rather than have a conflict with the host during your wedding week.
Find out if it’s pet friendly
I know lots of my elopement couples want to bring their fur friends along for their special day – which I wholeheartedly support!! But if you plan to do so, you want to make sure your Airbnb is pet-friendly. This is typically listed on the rental page, and if it isn’t immediately clear, you’ll need to ask. Again, forgiveness is NOT better than permission in this case.
Check the reviews
Reviews are so clutch when it comes to picking the right venue! Scan the reviews for feedback about parking, noise in the area, how big the home is in real life compared to how it appears in photos, which amenities are provided and which ones you’ll need to pack or general neighborhood safety. Airbnbs can be unpredictable and the last thing you want is to find out you can’t hear your partner’s vows because there’s a loud, busy freeway right beside your Airbnb.
Determine a weather backup plan
If the weather goes awry, is there a place inside the Airbnb that will work for your ceremony? Something like an A-frame with a large window wall can be a pretty backup plan for your vows if you’re forced to head indoors. Not to mention it can be a great rehearsal dinner spot!
Think about the lighting
As your elopement photographer, this is one of my TOP things to look for! Photography can make a lot of places look dreamy, but bad lighting is tough to overcome in photos. Pay attention not only to the lighting indoors, but also to the outside! Is the pretty mountain backdrop in the backyard backlit with harsh sunlight at the time of your planned ceremony? These are things to pay attention to while searching for your spot.
My elopement Airbnb is booked! Now what?!
Congrats!! You found your dream “venue” for your elopement. Next, you’ll need to follow up on a few details that are unique to this type of wedding.
Book vendors that get it
Great vendors are what make your wedding vision come to life. As an elopement photographer, I have a vast network of vendors who specialize in the same type of weddings as me. I’ll help you find all the best vendors who can design your dream Airbnb elopement!
Choose your ceremony setup
Keep in mind this isn’t the kind of wedding venue you can tour ahead of time. Unless you’re booking the exact same Airbnb prior to your wedding week to scope it out, you’re going to get married in your wedding “venue” sight unseen. Nonetheless, you’ll need an idea ahead of time of where you think is the best spot to say your vows based on the photos. The right vendor team can help!
Figure out logistics
There are a few more logistics to work out with an Airbnb elopement. Will your ceremony need lights, music or power? Where will your guests park? Who is staying in which bedroom? What’s the food plan for the week – will there be a shared cooking plan among guests? Will you have meals catered?Who is bringing groceries? How is everyone getting to the Airbnb from the airport? These are all important questions to ask.
Consider making a welcome bag for each guest’s room
If you’re hosting family and friends at your Airbnb for your elopement, one way to make it extra special for everyone is to include a welcome bag in everyone’s room. Choose things that are local to the area like a local honey, beer, or things that will help them on the trip like sunscreen or bug spray. It’s a way to make friends and family feel appreciated for traveling to celebrate with you!
Pulling off the best Airbnb elopement
With all the Airbnb options out there, there’s totally one (or 20) out there that fits the exact vibe you’re looking for on your wedding day. Whether it’s an A-frame in the woods, a yurt in the wilderness, a boho home in the desert or a cabin by the lake, you can turn any of these into the perfect venue!