6 Simple Steps to Plan the Perfect Elopement
So you’ve decided to elope… Congrats!
“What now” you ask? Don’t worry, I’m here to help!
While many weddings will take quite a bit of planning and preparation, your elopement can be as simple as the love you have for one another. In this guide I’m going to go over the 6 basic things to consider while planning your elopement. With these 6 simple tips, you could potentially have your entire elopement planned out in less than a week!
Let’s get started…
1 – DREAM BIG!
Pick an evening to sit down with your partner and pour a glass of wine, tea, whatever your beverage of choice may be. Both of you close your eyes and imagine the BEST day ever together. (ok you can open them back up now!)
It’s helpful to think of this as the ultimate date night. Or if both of your birthdays were combined into one day. If you could do ANYTHING with your soon-to-be spouse, what would it be?
Don’t think about what it will cost. You’d be surprised at how easy and budget-friendly it can be to have your dream elopement day. Just dream BIG!
Are you going on an epic guided tour of Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail? Or would you prefer a private chef makes your favorite meal at a luxury beach resort while enjoying a beautiful sunset? How about watching the sunrise from a hot air balloon going over Utah’s spectacular rock formations?
The world is truly your oyster when you choose to elope!
2 – Make Your Main Decisions
Now that you’ve mused about your dream elopement experience, it’s time to begin narrowing things down. Again, remember the big picture and imagine how you want to feel on your elopement day.
Here are 3 key questions to ask yourselves:
– Who will be there?
– Where will you be?
– How long will you be there for?
These questions will help you narrow things down like budget, activities, and overall vibe of your elopement day.
3 – Choose Your Details
This is one of my favorite parts to help with! Based on where / when / with whom you’ll be eloping, it’s time to research things like flights, lodging, vendors, activities, permits, attire, and begin putting together a packing list so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Vendors to consider:
– officiant
– photographer (hey that’s me!)
– videographer
– florist
– catering
NOTE: If you are choosing to elope in a national park or any public land you may need to acquire a “special use” photography permit which could be a 2 to 8 week process.
4 – Craft A Simple Timeline
Nothing is worse than feeling rushed through your wedding or elopement day so make sure you plan enough time in between big moments to really soak it all in. In my 13 years of experience I have never heard someone say they wish they had less photos or time on their wedding day so keep that in mind as you plan your timeline!
Now that all of your details are figured out, it’s time to map out the day. Which activities will you be enjoying together? Which spots will you explore? Meaningful items to incorporate, etc. Based on what you know so far, it helps to decide if you would prefer a sunrise/midday/sunset ceremony and work from there.
5 – Pack Your Essentials
Having traveled a lot myself, I find it’s easiest to make a list of ‘must haves’ and ‘nice to haves’ and start throwing them into your suitcase(s). Arrange them neatly once you feel like it’s all in there. Make sure to also communicate with guests (if any) to help them make their packing decisions as well.
Bonus Tip: Always *roll* your wedding attire. Never fold. This will help minimize any wrinkles.
6 – Enjoy Your Day!
Breathe, relax, and get married! Enjoy all the effort you’ve put into planning and dreaming up your perfect elopement. Remember to embrace the unpredictable, always be present, and focus on the fact that you get to promise forever to your very best friend while having an amazing, unique and fun experience together. Yay!
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