Planning an Epic Elopement Day | Creating an All Day Wedding Timeline of Your Dreams
Are you wondering how to go about Planning an Epic Elopement Day by Creating an All Day Wedding Timeline of Your Dreams?
You’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what I’m going to share with you!
When you decided to elope, you probably knew you wanted a day filled with intentional decisions. Cookie cutter weddings is NOT what you’re about so the idea of being able to create a truly unique experience is what makes eloping so appealing.
Traditionally, many elopements consisted of going to the courthouse and signing a document. THAT WAS IT!
Not any more! Just like a traditional wedding lasts a full day, elopement days deserve the same. Setting aside a day (or two!) to celebrate the journey you’ve gone on as a couple and what has brought you to this moment properly marks the beginning of your married life.
Oh, and how much fun that day can be!!!
HOW TO BUILD A FULL-DAY ELOPEMENT TIMELINE
Before writing any numbers down, start with a list of MUST HAVES for your elopement day. It may be doing a first look, ceremony in front of parents, visiting a hot dog stand, riding in a helicopter, etc. While you might find you want some traditional elements, it can totally be non-traditional as well, so don’t feel limited by what you’ve seen done in the past.! It’s YOUR day!
Next, begin to think about how long each element will take so you can know how to best include it in your day. I’ve gone ahead and broken down some of the most common events I see on elopement days below with some time frames to give you an idea of how long it might take.
TIMELINE ELEMENTS
Getting Ready | 2-3 hours
Whether you’ve hired hair and makeup artists or are doing it yourself, allowing yourself ample time to get ready will help the rest of the day get off without a hitch. You can get ready together or separate, depending on if you want to do a first look or enjoy those exciting moments of getting ready together.
First Look | 30 minutes
Whether it’s at your lodging or a spot with an amazing view, the first look is that special moment when you see each other in your wedding attire for the first time. Don’t rush those moments, so allow at least 30 minutes to share the excitement you have for the day together.
Adventure Activity | 1-2 hours
If you love to try new things and just can’t sit still, finding an adventurous activity to do together or with your crew makes for fabulous memories. Paddleboarding down a river, off-roading in the mountains, or jamming together on guitars are just the tip of the iceberg of what you could add to your day.
Ceremony | 10-30 minutes
This is where your relationship can truly shine! If you’re music people, pick songs to have performed, jam out to a song together, or play your favorite pop tune via a bluetooth speaker that speaks to the journey you have been on. If you’re words people, share a poem, recite your favorite book quote, or say personalized vows to express your love. If you’re people of action, show your unity by creating a joint painting, include a handfasting ceremony, or plant a tree (if you’re on private property, of course!)
Family/Friends Photos | 15 minutes
If you’ve chosen to bring friends and/or family along to your elopement, getting pictures together is important. While it won’t take long, blocking off some time for those special photos and maybe even including an activity (champagne toasts, for example) helps create authentic moments of joy and celebration.
Couple Portraits | 1 hour
While your photographer will be snapping photos all day, setting aside an hour for specific couples photos is important. A location that you are completely enraptured with will provide a perfect backdrop to this time of connecting and affirming the love you both share. Doing this after your ceremony, close to when the sun will set is usually the perfect time!
Transition Time | Unique to Every Elopement
While driving time may be the first thing that pops into your head when you think of transitional time, we need to also consider the time in between walking to various spots and preparing a specific element of the day. Making sure there’s wiggle room to allow for a more relaxed schedule can positively affect the mood you create on your elopement day so always plan for a buffer.
If you’re still finding yourself brainstorming what it might look like, here’s a quick breakdown of some options for Creating an All Day Wedding Timeline of Your Dreams by time of day:
Morning -
Breakfast in Bed
Sunrise Hike to First Look
Video Call Friends and Family
Share Gifts/Notes
Afternoon -
Overlook Picnic
Action Sport (skiing, backpacking, rock climbing, etc.)
Helicopter, Boat, or Plane Ride
Jumping in a Lake to Swim
Evening -
Ceremony
Private Dance Lesson
Dinner by a Personal Chef
Karaoke or Live Music
Night -
Stargazing
Campfire
Night Hike
While you plan, remember it;s not about filling your day so that every moment something is happening. Instead, it’s about creating opportunities for you and your spouse to grow together and celebrate who you are as a couple.
The idea of looking back on a wedding day and feeling like everything just rushed by might be one reason you decided against a traditional wedding so keep that relaxed vibe front and center as you plan.
We’ve been talking about planning long enough so I’d like to go ahead and show you some examples of Planning an Epic Elopement Day Timeline.
As you read, put yourself in these elopements and notice what parts of the day you’d love the most!
SAMPLES OF EPIC ELOPEMENT DAY TIMELINES
Full Day Canyon Elopement Timeline in Georgia:
12:00 pm - Make your favorite iced coffee together while listening to jazz music play on your speakers
12:30 pm - Sip and talk about your 1st year of marriage bucket list and write it out in a leatherbound adventure book
12:45 pm - Enjoy cuddles and singing love songs together when one of you pulls out a guitar and serenades the other
1:00 pm - Get ready together (who needs a first look when you can instead help each other get ready for this special day?)
3:15 pm - Grab your essentials and get ready to head over to the park
4:30 pm - Hike down from the trailhead and begin exploring the canyon together (there’s no rush so you can truly just enjoy this time!)
6:30 pm - Decide on your favorite part of the canyon and exchanging vows
6:45 pm - Turn on a speaker and enjoy your first dance as a married couple
7:00 pm - Start your hike out of the canyon before the sun sets so you can watch it sink behind the trees before driving back
8:30 pm - Feel pampered during a private dinner prepared by a chef
9:30 pm - End your day reading letters from family members while cuddling by the fireplace
Full Day Sand Dunes Elopement in Michigan:
6:00 am - Arrive by Lake Michigan for your first look at sunrise
6:30 am - Exchange wedding day gifts while you take in the morning view
6:45 am - Commit your lives to one another during your private ceremony on the beach and pop some eco-friendly champagne to celebrate being officially married
7:15 am - Hike up a few dunes to reach an amazing overlook: talking, laughing, kissing, and snapping photos along the way
9:00 am - Drive to a local diner for some classic breakfast food before heading back to the dunes
10:30 am - Head to a new location drive dune buggies together across the sand
12:00 pm - Take a break from the sun and catch a bite to eat back at your rental by cooking your favorite meal together (you may want to change into more casual clothes but it’s totally up to you!)
2:30 pm - Ice Cream Floats at an ice cream parlor as you head back to the dunes
3:00 pm - Sandboard down the dunes and laugh as you both wipe out.
3:45 pm - String up a hammock and enjoy some cuddles
Full Day Waterfall Elopement in Tennessee:
11:00 am - Enjoy brunch of waffles and fruit with your family family
12:00 am - Start pulling on that fabulous outfit separately since you’re doing a first look
1:00 pm - Walk outside the AirBnB to a lovely forest for your first look and share your private vows
1:45 pm - Spend a few minutes video calling with friends unable to attend wedding
2:00 pm - Grab those last minute items before driving over to the trailhead
3:15 pm - Begin hiking to exploring two fabulous waterfalls by crossing several creeks
4:45 pm - Meet back up with your family at the final waterfall
5:00 pm - Make it official with a ceremony right below the falls with your immediate family
5:30 pm - Celebrate with a picnic as you all enjoy the views from the falls
6:30 pm - Hike back to the cars, say goodbye to your family, and drive to a nearby overlook
7:30 pm - Dance at an overlook with live musicians while you watch the sunset
8:30 pm - End your day with stargazing and s’mores over a fire
So now I know you’re SOOOOOO ready to jump right in and begin planning this EPIC day!
No matter what, the day you get married flies by (maybe that’s why some cultures decide to celebrate over multiple days!) It will be here before you know it so intentionally planning a whole day of adventure and love will provide so many lovely memories to look back on.
Having a photographer who can capture each of those moments will allow you to relive those moments again and again.
