Elopements include a lot more planning and preparation than they once did (you know, back when they were considered just running off randomly to get married). Now, elopements can be epic adventures and unique experiences to signify the beautiful vow to marry your partner. They are truly an intentional and authentic way to get married, and the planning can look a little different than a traditional wedding timeline.

When you are crafting your ideal elopement, there are a lot of aspects to consider including in your day. The following resource contains all of my tips and tricks for planning your elopement timeline, including some sample timelines to give you an idea of how this looks in-action.

Where to Start

Elopements are a customizable experience. You’ve decided to throw away the wedding rulebook, so there is no right or wrong way to plan an elopement. The biggest advice I can start with is to sit down and talk about what is most important to you two, and what feels like the right way to celebrate your marriage. Incorporating your passions and your sense of adventure while you commit the rest of your life to your partner will make your elopement an unforgettable experience.

The activities that fill up your wedding day will be the starting point on how to plan the timing. Travel time from your accommodations to your elopement location, ceremonial events, and fun celebratory activities will all have to be included in your elopement timeline.

An all-day elopement? How much photography coverage do we need?

You deserve to have the wedding day of your dreams. Typically, a traditional wedding day will automatically encompass a bare minimum of 8 hours, and you deserve to have just as grand a celebration for your elopement.

I recommend your day should be documented in its entirety. Having your day captured from start to finish will allow you to look back on it in the future and share the day with your loved ones wholly. If you thought of the best day with your partner, and planned out your dream day together, what would it look like? And think big, this is your wedding after all!

Most couples who work with me end up planning for a minimum of 8 hours, because the day fills up quickly! Once you plan for a few fun activities and getting to and from them, it is not difficult to run out of time pretty quickly. That’s why it is important to make sure you have a clear timeline for your day so you know what to expect.

Creating the Timeline: Tips and Tricks

The first thing that you need in order to start creating your timeline is a list of your activities. Do you want to include a first look? Are you taking a helicopter tour to your location or hiking? Are sunset photos your priority, are you including a private chef or cooking with each other?

Start by picking your primary activities of the day, and then work backwards to surround them. It is easiest to start by planning around your biggest events. Write down the events or activities you want to include first and foremost. If you are hiking, my rule of thumb is to estimate about 1 hour per mile in order to include stopping for pictures, snacks, changing clothes, etc.

Pro tip: use a Sun Tracker and plug in your location and date. This will give you an estimate of the sunrise and sunset times of your day in advance. Here’s an accurate one: Sunrise and Sunset Times

Always, always plan a few extra minutes on either end of an activity and travel time. You want your elopement day to be as stress-less as possible. Giving yourself a few spare minutes will help to relieve any stress that might be caused, from unexpected traffic/weather to adding time for spontaneity.

Sample Timelines

So now that you have some ideas on how a full a single day elopement can be, I’ve created a few sample timelines to show how the day can come together. Each sample shows varying photography coverage, activities, and amount of guests to give you a better idea of what this might look like for your elopement package. While no two elopements ever look the same, this resource is great to start brainstorming your own.

Final Tips

Remember, your elopement is your wedding day, and it should be special! Elopements are such a beautiful way to express your love to your partner and begin the rest of your lives together, so make sure that you plan enough time and space in yours to do so in a fun and relaxed way.

The biggest tips to remember:

• Don’t forget to include travel times
• Work backwards from your main events or activities
• Sunset or sunrise makes for the best lighting for photos
• Add a cushion of extra time around each activity
• Be flexible, and allow for some spontaneity in your plans

Elopement planning is a unique experience, and creating your elopement timeline will be individual to your own plans. Every elopement looks different, so allow yourself to be creative and have fun with it. Customized timeline planning is a part of all of my elopement packages, reach out today if you’re ready to get started on yours.