80+ Elopement Activity Ideas for Your Elopement Day
Do you want to get married in a way that represents who you truly are, is stress-free, intimate, and is actually fun?! Maybe a traditional, big wedding just doesn’t feel like you. Instead of a big production, you would rather have an incredible experience that is an intentional celebration of your love. Maybe you want to say your vows in a beautiful place surrounded by the most incredible scenery imaginable. Maybe you want to spend your wedding day doing all of your favorite activities together or trying something new and exciting off your bucket list. You’re not alone.
There’s more than just one way to get married, and it’s entirely possible to have the exact type of day you’re looking for. You can elope!
But after the vows, what do couples actually do on their elopement day? This is probably one of my most frequently asked questions. So, I’m here to give you TONS of elopement activity ideas to help you create an elopement experience that will be authentic to your relationship and absolutely unforgettable.
First off, what is an elopement?
To elope means to get married in an intentionally, intimate, authentic way that represents your relationship as a whole. The focus of the day is truly on you two as a couple, rather than putting on a production. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. It doesn’t matter who is there. It doesn’t matter where you are.
People choose to elope because they want the type of wedding day that they truly enjoy—a day they want to relive time and time again. You can elope just you two or with your closest friends & family—the options are truly endless.
There are a TON of misconceptions when it comes to elopements, with one of the biggest being that elopements are “less than” a big, traditional wedding. That they are less important, less special, and deserve less documentation. I am here to say that these statements are completely and utterly false!
Elopements are just as important as traditional weddings & they deserve just as much celebration and documentation.
The way in which you say your vows to your partner and get married matters! Your wedding day will be your anniversary for the rest of your life—your elopement is so incredibly special. In fact, I think choosing to elope is the coolest decision. You are actively choosing to get married in an authentic way & focus on the meaning of the day, rather than bending to other peoples’ expectations.
You deserve to have your ENTIRE adventure captured—not just your vows and some quick portraits. Often times, photos are the only way to share with your loved ones who weren’t in attendance what your wedding day looked like! Not only that, but photos are your tangible memories of your wedding day for all the years to come—when memories themselves start to fade.
Why Should Your Elopement Last All Day? What Do You Even Do With All That Time?
Look, I completely get it. At first, the idea of having an elopement that lasts the entire day (and having a photographer there to document it!) sounds absolutely wild. But, I promise that it really isn’t! Time goes by incredibly quickly on your elopement day (cliche but it goes by in the blink of an eye!). While I have elopement packages that range from 4 hours to 2 days (Yes! 2 days! Great for backpacking elopements or if you’re eloping with family and have multiple locations you want to visit), the average packages couples book are my 8 or 12 hour packages.
And if the idea of being photographed for 8-12 hours makes you clam up—let me just be clear it is not an all day photoshoot AT ALL! As an introvert myself, I do NOT want that for you. Honestly, it’s not even truly about the photos—it’s about your experience. While that may sound weird at first, especially coming from a photographer (because, yes—you will get beautiful photos!), the most important part of your elopement is having an incredible experience and honestly having it be the best day ever.
So, you won’t have a camera in your face the entire time. Instead, you’ll be hiking, laughing, doing whatever adventures & activities you want, exploring some incredible places, celebrating your love for each other, and at some point along the way you’ll get married! Your elopement photos can be so much more than just your vows and some quick portraits—they tell the full story of your wedding day while you have the time of your lives.
Your wedding day deserves documentation, whether it’s just the two of you or with 200 guests.
It is standard for a traditional wedding to get full day coverage, from the getting ready photos to the big send-off, every moment gets to be documented. Is it really so crazy to have your entire elopement documented too?
So…what do you actually do all day?
Honestly? Anything you want. I know, I know, super helpful right? If you want specific activity ideas, keep reading to the end of this blog! But truly, the wonderful thing about elopements is that you are choosing to get married your way. There’s no pre-set expectations or standard that you have to follow, so you can do whatever you want and really create an intentional celebration. Make it the best day imaginable for you. Don’t let anyone else tell you how it should or shouldn’t look like and have a day that makes you feel full.
Really stuck on what a full day elopement would look like? Check out my tips for an adventure elopement timeline.
How to Start Dreaming Up Your Perfect Elopement Day
Close your eyes…and imagine your absolute perfect day from the time you wake up to the time you fall asleep. What does that look like? Where are you going and what are you doing? Are you on top of a mountain that you just hiked up? Or are you kayaking among icebergs in Alaska? Are you in the desert in Arizona watching the most incredible sunset after taking a thrilling helicopter tour? Or are you sitting on the beach in Washington with your toes in the sand, enjoying a wonderful picnic together?
Try and imagine the day—what are you feeling, seeing, touching, and tasting? What kinds of foods and drinks are you enjoying? What sorts of activities do you want to do? What does the scenery look like? Is it just the two of you or do you imagine your closest friends and family being there as well? Is there something or somewhere that’s meaningful to your relationship that you want to incorporate into your day? What have been the best days that you’ve had together as a couple—what elements from those experiences would you want to incorporate on your day?
Really dream big right now and try to let go of what feels “realistic” (you can worry about that later!). Focus on designing an experience that makes you both feel happy, in love, relaxed, and connected. You can design your elopement whatever way you want—there’s no right or wrong way, only what feels right to you!
I honestly believe that no two elopements look exactly the same—just like every single couple is different. So don’t limit yourself to what you’ve seen on the internet, social media, or loved ones! This is all about celebrating your love in an intentional, authentic way.
Pro-tip: This brainstorming exercise is best done as a date night! Grab some delicious takeout & your favorite drinks, go for a walk or cuddle up on the couch & talk it through together!
80+ Elopement Activity Ideas & Inspiration
While traditional weddings have a pretty standard set of events in the day, elopement care not limited to the same restrictions. Your wedding experience can be so much more than just exchanging vows and snapping a few quick portraits. Instead, think of it as an opportunity to create an entire day that is representative of who you are as a couple (and is a lot of fun!). Ask yourself, what are your favorite activities to do together—what do you do for fun? How can you incorporate doing what you love on your elopement day? Is there a new activity that you want to try together on your elopement day? Is there a new activity that you want to try together on your elopement day? If there’s something on your bucket list or something you’ve been dreaming about, now’s the time to do it—it is your wedding day after all!
Adventurous Elopement Activities
Hiking
Backpacking
Off Roading
Helicopter/Plane Rides
Kayaking
Glacier Trekking
Canyoneering in a Slot Canyon
Paddle Boarding
Cliff Jumping
Packrafting
Snorkeling
White Water Rafting
Sand Sledding
Snowshoeing
Skiing/Snowboarding
Zip-lining
Travel internationally to a place you’ve always wanted to go to
Extreme Adventure Elopement Activities
Mountaineering
Rappelling
Hiking a Via Ferrata
Rock Climbing
Sky Diving
BASE Jumping
Bungee Jumping
Scuba Diving
Relaxed Elopement Activities
Watch the Sunrise/Sunset
Hot Air Balloon
Relax in a Hot Spring
Dog Sledding
Walking or Laying on the Beach
Going on a Safari
Horseback Riding
Yoga
Write your Vows Together
Relax in a Hammock
Play an Instrument or Listen to Music
Dance Together
Have a First Look
Exchange Gifts
Plant a Tree Together
Bring your Dog!
Read Poems
Write letters to each other to open on an anniversary
Draw/Paint
Play a Board Game
Ride Bikes
Ride a Motorcycle
Relax in a Treehouse
Go Whale Watching
Jump in the water!
Go Boating
Snowball Fight
Build a Snowman
Ice Skating
Sledding
Fly Kites
Rent an incredible cabin or Airbnb
Nighttime Elopement Activities
Stargazing
Chase the Northern Lights
Have a Campfire & Cook S’mores (check for fire bans and be sure to extinguish properly!)
First Dance by Firelight
Sparklers! (again, check for fire bans and be careful!)
Soak in a Hot Tub
Night Hiking via Headlamps
Elopement Activities that Include Food
Make Breakfast Together
Have a Picnic
Go Wine Tasting or Wine Blending
Go to a Craft Brewery
Tour a Distillery
Pop Sparkling Water (it looks like champagne in photos but is much more environmentally friendly! Plus—more for you to drink!)
Drink Coffee/Tea
Go to a Fancy/Nice Restaurant
Cook food with each other or for your guests at your Airbnb
Hire a Private Chef
Enjoy wedding cake! (or pie, or cupcakes, or macarons)
Go to a Food Truck!
Grab your Favorite Fast Food
Elopement Activities that Include Family Members
Play Games
Eat a Meal Together
Split up your day, enjoy part of the experience with them and part of it just you and your partner
Ask them to speak during the ceremony or to give a toast
Dance party!
If they are not present:
FaceTime them while you get ready
Read letters from your closest friends & family during your day
Have them send congratulations videos to watch at some point during your day
Record a video to send to them later
What does your perfect wedding day look like? What can you imagine you and your partner doing? The options are endless—let your imagination run wild! If you want help planning your day and dreaming up ideas, I’ve got you. Reach out & we’ll get started!
