Elopement Tips to Help You Plan the Perfect Day

Let’s be honest – even though you decided to downsize, ditch the traditional wedding, and make sure that you get married in a way that actually reflects who you are, planning an elopement is a lot of work! There are so many things to think about, logistics to consider, challenges that come with tying the knot outdoors (especially if you elope somewhere as wild as Alaska), and unique considerations that your friends who had a traditional wedding may not be able to help you with! As professional elopement planners, we’ve helped countless couples create their dream day – so we’re here to share our elopement tips to help you plan your perfect, adventurous wedding.

Elopement Planning Tips

Here are some things to remember as you start planning!

Hire an Elopement Planner

This first elopement tip is probably the biggest one! Hiring a professional to take over the planning is the absolute best way to take that stress off of you, and ensure that you get to kick back and focus on the fun stuff – getting married! An elopement planner will help you with everything, and will make every part of the process easier for you. You probably haven’t planned an elopement before, but we have! We’ve got everything you need, with all inclusive elopement packages that ensure you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Remember That This is Your Day

This elopement tip can feel like a no-brainer, but the truth is that when it comes to planning the day they get married, a lot of couples do actually have trouble keeping this in mind! The wedding industry comes with a lot of pressure, and even after you’ve decided to elope, it can be hard to stand up to that pressure, to make decisions that feel right for you, and to let go of other people's expectations.

Throughout the elopement planning process, keep in mind that your day should be a reflection of who you are as a couple, what you want to do, and how you want to get married. Whether that means eloping with a few loved ones around, tying the knot just the two of you, having a peaceful day in a cute cabin, or having an epic adventure in a helicopter, make sure that you really follow your gut and make decisions that feel right for you. As your elopement planning team, we’ll get to know you so that we can personalize your day for the two of you!

Make a Guest List Early On

One of our elopement planning tips is to decide on a guest list pretty early on in the process. After you and your partner decide to elope, take some time to really think about who you want there with you– and it’s totally okay if the answer is that you want it to be just the two of you!

The reason that we recommend making this decision early is because it might affect the rest of your plans. For example, if you elope with family, you’ll need to think about their needs when you choose your elopement location. You’ll also need to decide when and how to break the news to your loved ones - whether you want to keep them in the loop or keep this secret to yourself until after the knot is tied - and your guest list will impact who you tell, and when!

Your Elopement Should be a Full Day

There’s a super common misconception that elopements are nothing more than a quick ceremony, lasting just a few minutes, followed by some photos. While this might be what eloping meant in the days of Vegas chapels and last-minute courthouse marriages, your wedding day deserves so much more than that!

In fact, your elopement deserves a full day.

Now, if you’re wondering what you’ll do all day, you aren’t alone. It can be hard to imagine how your elopement can last a full day, especially if it’s just the two of you - but trust us when we say that it goes by so much faster than you think!

A full day elopement has so many benefits. First, it allows you to get married and celebrate your day without feeling stressed or rushed. It gives you time to be spontaneous, to change the plan if you decide that’s what you want to do, and to be able to really enjoy the day without having to run from place to place or stress about getting everything done.

A full day elopement allows you to celebrate your wedding day in a way that truly makes it the best day of your life – there are pretty much unlimited options for what you can do and how you can get married! Your wedding day can include getting ready at your Airbnb and starting the morning slowly with coffee together, it can include a helicopter ride, a private boat, a hike, a scenic drive, or whatever way you decide to get to your elopement location, and there are so many adventures to have on your day! Remember, our job is to personalize a day for you, so we’ll get to know you and figure out exactly what works for you.

Have a Back Up Plan

The truth is that outdoor elopements often have a few more moving parts than traditional weddings – and things like weather, trail closures, and more can affect your original plan! If your ceremony location is outdoors, it’s important to have a back up plan.

This is another reason why it’s incredibly important to have an elopement planner – we’ll always be prepared with a plan B, C, and D – so that you can switch gears and have an incredible day no matter what happens!

Along with having a backup plan, one of the most important elopement tips is also to remember to just go with the flow! Remember what really matters on this day - marrying your best friend. Even if the original plan doesn’t go exactly as you, well, planned, the beauty of eloping is that it gives you so much flexibility! Tying the knot doesn’t have to be stressful, and if you relax and enjoy whatever the day brings, you’ll have an amazing experience, no matter what.

Ready to Plan Your Elopement?

If you’re ready to tie the knot with an incredible, once in a lifetime adventure, we’re ready to help you plan it! We have absolutely everything you need for the perfect day. We’ll give you personalized location recommendations, find unique things to do, help you handle travel and lodging, provide florals, feed you dinner and dessert, help you get legally married, and bring absolutely everything you could possibly need on the day you elope - we’ll plan everything, so you don’t have to!

Contact us if you’re ready to adventure!