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How To Plan A Meaningful Elopement Day
Congratulations! You’ve done it, you have decided to break tradition and plan a wedding that represents you both as individuals and together. You have decided that planning a big wedding is too stressful and doesn’t reflect what you want for the most important day of your life, so you have taken the plunge and decided to elope.
Now what? You’ve never done this before, so what does an elopement look like? Your elopement day could, and should, be absolutely anything you want it to be; there are no rules when it comes to planning an elopement. Whether you’re adventurous or not, I’m here to give you ideas on how to plan a meaningful elopement day that is unique, special, and perfect just for you.
Savor The Entire Day
Your elopement day is completely customizable according to what you enjoy doing with your love, whether it’s hanging out in a cozy cabin or seeking that adrenaline high. A lot of people think that eloping is only for the hard core adventurers, but that is simply not true. Elopements can happen in the city, on a mountaintop, in your parents backyard, or even a different country! The most important thing about planning an elopement day is to remember to cherish and savor every single second of it, no matter how or where. All that to say, here is a list of examples on how and what you can do on your elopement day.
getting ready
Whatever your day looks like, elopements always start out with getting ready for the day. Getting ready looks different for everyone, but every single moment of the day is worth capturing. Getting your hair and makeup done, putting on your dress, exchanging letters or gifts with your love while getting ready, or even including your closest family members in the getting ready process. As a wedding photographer, the getting ready process is actually one of my favorite moments to capture because this part of the day is especially emotional, intimate, and allows for so much creativity. However you decide to prepare for your elopement, I always encourage couples to make sure they have these special moments captured.
…what to do, what to do…
After getting ready, your options are completely endless on what you can do! Here are some good questions to ask yourself to help you decide how you want to spend your elopement day:
What does a perfect day look like to you? What do you want to wear? What will the weather be like, snowy or warm? What is the perfect backdrop of where you’ll read your vows, cityscape or mountains? Is there something on your bucket list that you have always dreamed of doing? Is there something incredibly special to you both that you want to incorporate? This could include a variety of things; family members, close friends, pets, a certain activity, or even a specific location!
5 ideas for your elopement day
#1 Have an off-roading jeep adventure at sunset
Go on an off-roading Jeep adventure in the mountains, stopping along the way to your ceremony location for some portraits. Absorb the mountain views with your love and say your vows in the backcountry while you watch the sunset over the rocky peaks.
#2 get married on a mountaintop and ski down as husband and wife
Do you dream about hitting the slopes? Go skiing or snowboarding with your love! A day that includes skiing could look like waking up and getting ready at a beautiful ski lodge or Airbnb, heading up to a mountaintop to say your vows and taking few portraits, then skiing back for a warm drink and dinner together. Maybe even hit up a nearby hot springs to enjoy a relaxing winter evening as a married couple.
#3 take a helicopter to your ceremony, because why not.
Are you a thrill seeker? Another idea couple include taking a helicopter to a remote location that only a handful of people have been, having your ceremony surrounded by incredible views, taking some portraits, then heading back to your home base for dinner and drinks. The top places to have a helicopter elopement are Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, or Wyoming!
#4 Night on the town
Not wild about adventuring in the wilderness? Have a night on the town by getting married in a favorite park, by a special monument (Eiffel tower, anyone?), or in a beautiful museum. Afterwards, head to your favorite eating spot for dinner and drinks.
#5 get married at sunrise and enjoy the entire day as husband and wife.
There is nothing compared to seeing a magnificent sunrise, no matter where. This idea consists of waking up crazy early (don’t worry, it’s worth it, and I’ll bring coffee), hiking to your ceremony spot, and saying your vows to one another as the sun rises. We’ll take a few portraits, spend a couple hours adventuring and exploring the area, then head back for brunch at a favorite local spot or even with a private chef at your Airbnb.
As you can see, the options really are endless! Horseback riding, skydiving, doing a sunrise hike to a breathtaking spot, having a picnic in the forest, you could bring a bluetooth speaker and do your first dance in a meadow or by the sea, have s’mores and a bonfire with your closest family members, hire a personal chef to cook for you and your love at a cozy Airbnb. You can do absolutely anything to celebrate, whether with just the two of you or with your closest family and friends, I’ll be there to capture every single moment.
10 hour Full day elopement timeline example
Having a traditional big wedding would mean hiring a photographer for 8-10 hours to capture the entire day, so why should elopements be any less special? Every single second deserves to be captured, no matter how or where you elope. Here is a rough timeline of an adventure filled 10 hour elopement day!
1:00pm — Get ready for the day by doing your hair and makeup, putting on your dress, and hanging out with family or just the two of you.
2:30pm — Finish final getting ready touches and head out to the first look location.
3:00pm — Have an intimate first look with your love and take a few pre-ceremony portraits
3:30pm — Hop in a jeep for an off-roading adventure, stopping along the way to explore.
5:30pm — Arrive at the ceremony location, explore the area and take a few portraits
6:00pm — Say your vows, share an intimate first dance
6:30pm — Pop a bottle of champagne and enjoy a picnic together
7:30pm — Enjoy the beautiful sunset views and take a few more portraits
8:30pm — Head back to the Airbnb
10:00pm — Arrive back at Airbnb or lodge and enjoy a warm beverage by the fire and s’mores
11:00pm — Photo coverage wraps up as you savor the moments from your beautiful elopement day!
COLORADO VENDORS AND ADVENTURE REFERRALS FOR YOUR BIG DAY
Jeep and snowmobiling Tours Colorado
Estes Park ATV and Jeep Rentals
Jeep Rentals Near Breckenridge
Lodges, Airbnbs, and Hot Springs
Telluride Mountain Lodge -- Hot Springs and Skiing
Get Married at Winter Park Resort
Buena Vista Hot Springs at Mt. Princeton
Breckenridge Airbnb Walking Distance from Gondola
Alpine A-frame Airbnb in Breckenridge with Mountain Views
Helicopters
Helicopter Tours and Proposals Near Pueblo
Helicopter Weddings in Telluride
private chefs and mixologists
Private Chef and Mixologist in Breckenridge
