If you are wondering how to plan the perfect destination elopement then you are in exactly the right place! Planning a destination elopement can seem overwhelming at first, but it is so exciting to know that you are getting married YOUR way in a place that brings you an incredible amount of joy. Eloping no longer means running away to get married in secret. It now means running away to get married in the way that brings you the most joy. Not sure how to choose that place or plan your perfect day? Don’t worry, I’m here to help every step of the way.
What Is an Elopement?
Elopements and weddings may both celebrate love, but they dance to different beats. Eloping used to mean sneaking off to get married in secret. Now, it just means getting married in an intimate way. Elopements ditch the fanfare of a big wedding and focus on the entire reason weddings happen in the first place – the love between two people. Eloping means turning the focus 100% on you and your partner. There are no rules, no expectations – just pure, unfiltered love. So, if you’re craving an experience that’s as unique and authentic as your bond, consider trading the fanfare for an elopement. It’s your love story, after all – why not make it truly authentic to you.
How To Know if Eloping is Right for You
Alright, let’s chat about eloping and whether it’s your jam. First things first, take a good look at yourselves as a couple and what you both really want. Are you all about the big parties and having everyone you know there to celebrate? Or do you prefer something more intimate and low-key? Think about what truly matters to you when it comes to saying “I do” – is it the fancy venue, the epic party, or just being together in a meaningful moment? Consider your personalities, your relationship dynamic, and what kind of experience you want to look back on. And hey, if the idea of planning a big wedding makes you break out in a cold sweat or just doesn’t feel like “you,” then eloping might be the perfect fit. Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer here – it’s all about what feels right for you two as a couple. So trust your gut, have those heart-to-hearts, and go with whatever makes your hearts sing.
The Knitty Gritty: How to Plan Your Dream Elopement in 10 Steps
Step 1: Imagine Your Perfect Elopement Day
The first step in planning your destination elopement is truly the most important, and it starts with simply imagining your perfect day. Sit down with your partner and imagine what your perfect day would like from start to finish. Where would you wake up? What would you eat for breakfast? What activities would bring you the absolute MOST joy? What kind of view would you want? What would make you feel the most in love? These questions are important guiding questions to lead you toward crafting the best day of your lives. You don’t need to know all of the answers, you just need to know what you love. Here is an example of what I would consider mine and my husbands perfect elopement day if we were planning an elopement:
- Wake up in the Serengeti (Tanzania) overlooking the plains that are filled with animals
- Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti where we see the incredible herds of antelope and zebra running across the plains as the sun rises.
- Land in the middle of the Serengeti for a private breakfast surrounded by elephants.
- Do a morning game drive
- A private catered lunch with views of the animals
- Get ready
- Say our vows and get married just before sunset
- Sunset portraits
- Soaking in a hot tub under the stars
Step 2: Choose Your Destination (broad and the exact spot)
Choosing your destination can feel like an overwhelming process, but there are a few questions that can really help you guide your decision or at least narrow down your options! The questions below are a great starting point, but if you are still struggling to decide, that’s ok! I am an adventure elopement photographer who not only captures the best day of your life, but helps with the entire planning process including helping all of my couples with location scouting and finding the absolute perfect location for them. Just contact me if you want to chat more!
Questions to Ask Yourself To Help Choose the Perfect Destination:
- What kind of view do I want in the background when I say my vows (Mountains, beaches, animals, stars, a city skyline, a glacial lake, waterfall, glacier, snowy forest, etc.)
- Where have I always dreamed of traveling?
- What level of activity am I ok with doing (am I willing to hike to my location? am I ok with riding in a helicopter to get to the spot? am I wanting to incorporate something I love like rock-climbing into the process?)
- How much time can I dedicate to my elopement? Do I need to get this done in a day or could I celebrate for a week?
- Do I want to combine my elopement with my honeymoon? Where do I want to honeymoon?
- Where would be the coolest possible place I could imagine getting married?
These questions will help guide you toward the type of elopement and locations that will be perfect for you.
If you are looking for an epic beach view, eloping in Big Sur, California, like this amazing couple could be an option for you!
Step 3: Decide on a Date
The next step in your destination elopement planning process is to narrow down a date or time-frame for your elopement. If you are using a photographer or elopement planner to help you decide on timing, you can save this step for later.
Tips for choosing the perfect date for your elopement:
- Decide what season you want to elope in (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Look ahead at your calendar and decide what month would be best for your schedule and the schedule of anyone you may be inviting
- Look up your destination and research what it looks like in different seasons and what is accessible (or ask your photographer)
- Check for any cultural/local festivals, holidays, or parades that may be taking place on your ideal dates as these may complicate your elopement
- Look up the weather in your destination during that time of year. This can impact how comfortable you are on your wedding day
Step 4: Hire Your Vendors
The next step in your process is to hire your most important vendors. When planning a destination elopement, your vendors list will likely be much smaller than if you were planning a wedding, but there are still some vendors that you don’t want to forget about!
- Photographer – your photographer should be the first vendor that you hire for your elopement as they are with you every step of the way. When planning an elopement (especially a destination one), your photographer is not only a photographer, but also an elopement planning resource. For example, I help my couples with choosing a location, planning their ceremony, choosing their activities, choosing their accomodation, and so much more. I even create a customized location guide for each couple. This is why the earlier you hire your photographer, the more relief you will feel in the planning process.
- Elopement planner: If your photographer doesn’t serve as an elopement planner as well, hiring one can really take the stress of planning off of your back
- Florist: Remember to follow Leave No Trace Principles when choosing florals for your day (Keep scrolling to learn more). Some people opt for a bouquet or floral headdress, others opt for no florals at all.
- Officiant: Some places allow you to self-solemnize (marry yourselves) while others require an officiant. Some photographers, like myself, are ordained and able to perform your ceremony so that you don’t need more people around you on your big day. If you are unsure of whether or not you need an officiant, just ask your photographer!
- Videographer: If you would like video of the best day of your life, don’t forget to hire a videographer
Step 5: Book Travel and Accommodation
Once you have narrowed down a date and location, it is time to book travel plans! If you’ve hired me for your photographer, I will provide you with accommodation recommendations as well as flight and activity help. Below is a list of some of the things you want to make sure to book for your destination elopement!
- Flights (to and from)
- Accomodations (book the most “sought-after” first in case they book up)
- Travel Insurance (This is a must)
- Activities (doing a glacier heli-hike? make sure to book that soon and include a spot for your photographer/videographer!)
- Rental Car/Transport
- Dinner reservations/private chef (optional)
- Any other necessary reservations
Step 6: Decide on the Number of Guests and Inform Them
Some people choose to keep their elopement as intimate as possible and make it be just the two of them, and some people decide to invite a few select family members or friends. Whatever you choose, make sure that you are only inviting the people who truly bring you joy and make you feel loved. Don’t forget to let them know of your plans as far in advance as possible so that they can book their own travel!
Step 7: Check the Legal requirements/research marriage requirements, witnesses etc.
Every location that you get married in will have its own specific requirements for how to make that marriage legal. When thinking about how to plan a destination elopement, you have two major options when it comes to making it official.
- Option 1: You get “officially” married at a courthouse local to you (if you are in the United States) or follow the local paperwork procedures in your country. I like to think of this way as the “let’s get the paperwork over-with the easy way so that we can focus on enjoying our wedding day.” People who choose this path then consider their elopement their real wedding day, but it is usually just labeled as a “symbolic ceremony.”
- Option 2: You get officially married on the day of your elopement. This requires doing a little bit of research (or working with an elopement planner/photographer that offers help with this) to figure out what the legal requirements of each location are. Every location varies in terms of witnesses required, paperwork required, whether or not you need an officiant, etc.
Step 8: Obtain Necessary Permits
Depending on where you choose to elope, many places require a specific permit to elope there. For example, if you want to elope in a US National Park, each park will have its own specific permit requirements. Often you will need to apply for the permit yourselves, but your photographer should be able to walk you through the entire process as well as help you figure out what permit you may need.
Step 9: Plan Your Activities
The next step in your elopement planning process is, in my opinion, one of the most fun! This is where you get to decide HOW exactly you want to spend your time. I always tell my couples to think of the coolest possible thing they could be doing on their wedding day and go from there. Some people choose to extend their elopements into multi-day events so that they can have one day dedicated to the actual ceremony, as well as a few days dedicated to having the the adventure of a lifetime. Your options are limitless, but here are some ideas of cool activities that you could incorporate into your destination elopement.
- Going on a hike to an epic view
- Kayaking on a lake
- Going on a Safari and seeing animals
- Hiring a private chef to make your a multi-course intimate dinner
- Horseback riding
- Scuba Diving
- Riding a helicopter to the top of a glacier
- Watching the sun set over the ocean
- Soaking in a hot tub with an amazing view
- Rock Climbing (or doing a Via Ferrata)
- Riding in a hot air balloon
- Having a picnic somewhere special
- Atving
- Going on a sailboat or private yacht
- Exploring a castle
- Going to a restaurant that is important to you (even if its Waffle House!)
Most importantly, make sure that the activities are the kind of thing that would bring you and your partner the most joy on your big day. If it’s not authentically you, then it’s not the right choice.
Step 10: Enjoy It!
Now that you’ve put in all the work figuring out how to plan your perfect destination elopement, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the best freaking day of your lives. The whole reason for planning a destination elopement is so that you can get married to the person that you love more than anyone else in the world, in the coolest place in the world to you. Now it’s time to embrace all the love, joy, and moments that come along with that. (And please make sure to hire a great photographer so that you can relive those moments again and again)!
Want to talk more about how to plan your destination elopement? Send Me a Message.
