Creating an Elopement Timeline
Elopements were once known for being hasty, rushed, and impulsive — just a five minute ceremony in a Vegas chapel, and after exchanging “I do’s” you’d go on with the night. However, that’s not what eloping is about anymore. If you’re working with an outdated definition, it can be hard to imagine how you’ll fill up an entire day.
But here’s the thing, this is still your wedding day! This is a big deal, and that doesn’t change just because your guest list is smaller or because your venue is the great outdoors. In fact, , I think choosing to elope means that you’ve decided to make this day exactly what you want it to be, and the fact that your wedding day will reflect exactly who you are as a couple makes it even more meaningful—and that deserves way more than a quick ceremony with a few portraits afterwards.
So what actually happens on an elopement day? Stick around for my tips on creating an elopement timeline, and we’ll talk all about what goes into your day, and how you can make the most of it!
What Goes into an Elopement Timeline?
You’ve probably never planned an elopement before, and because eloping is a relatively new concept, most couples who set out to elope have no idea where to start! Let’s break down the parts of an elopement day, and what actually goes on the elopement timeline.
Getting Ready
I always encourage couples to spend some time together on the day of their elopement. A slow start to the morning—coffee and maybe some waffles—is the perfect way to relax and soak in what’s about to happen. Couples can sometimes get caught up in the moment—all that planning and excitement & they forget to be present. The day goes by faster than you expect, and taking time to slow down is important.
Once you’re ready to do hair & makeup and to put on your elopement attire, some couples choose to do this together, and others choose to do this separately. Do whatever feels right for you! If you have a professional hair & makeup artist coming, ask them how long their process takes—two hours is pretty standard. make sure to leave 15-30 minutes to get dressed.
First Look
A first look is the first time you will see your love all dressed up in their elopement attire. One of you will stand facing away, and the other will come up behind them and tap them on the shoulder. If you get ready separately, I always love when couples do a first look & think it is so beyond special! It builds so much excitement and leads to some really sweet moments. Most couples say all their nervousness completely melted away after they saw the other. Especially if you have guests attending your elopement ceremony, a first look is the perfect opportunity to take some time just for the two of you before joining everyone else. First looks take about 15-30 minutes, depending on if your photographer takes some couples photos after!
Ceremony
The moment you’ve been waiting for—the ceremony! A standard elopement ceremony consists of reading vows, exchanging rings, and a first kiss! It usually only takes about 15 minutes, but if you’re planning to include any special traditions in your ceremony, make sure to include time for this in the elopement timeline!
Photos With Guests
If you have guests attending your elopement, it’s important to take some time for formal photos! You’ll definitely have candids throughout the day, but use this time to get some group photos. If you have a lot of guests, I recommend making a list of photos & combinations you want taken so that nothing gets forgotten and no one gets left out! Depending on how many guests you have (and how easy they are to wrangle), this can take 30 minutes to an hour.
Couples Photos
You’ll need time for some photos of just the two of you in each location! Talk to your photographer about how long this will take and how much time should be added if you’re hiking or traveling to different spots throughout the day.
Adventures and Activities
An elopement is all about planning a day that reflects who you are, and starts your marriage off on the right foot. So whether it’s hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, cliff jumping, or anything else you can dream up, plan some time to adventure during your elopement day!
Celebrations!
If you have guests attending, you’ll likely want to celebrate with them!! Whether that’s setting up an epic picnic afterwards, renting a food truck for everyone to feast on, or having a private chef cater a backyard Airbnb elopement celebration—make sure to set aside some time for all the celebrations you would like to do. P.S. you can do all of these things if it’s just the two of you as well!!!
Sample Elopement Timelines
Here are some sample elopement timelines to get you inspired!
Half Day Lake Tahoe Elopement
11:00am - Getting Ready
1:00pm - First Look
2:30pm - Drive to Lake Tahoe
3:00pm - Ceremony
3:30pm - Photos with Guests
4:00pm - Couples Photos
5:00pm - Return to Cabin
5:30pm - Dinner & Cake
Full Day Glacier National Park Elopement
4:00am - Getting Ready
6:00am - Drive to Lake McDonald
7:00am - First Look at Sunrise
7:30am - Ceremony
8:00am - Couples Photos at Lake McDonald
9:00am - Drive to Grinnell Glacier Trailhead
9:30am - Begin Hiking
1:00pm - Arrive at Summit, Couples Photos
3:00pm - Hike Down
5:00pm - Drive to Bowman Lake
6:00pm - Sunset Photos
Two Day New Zealand Elopement
Day 1: 25 Guests
1:00pm - Getting Ready
3:00pm - Drive to Lake Tekapo for First Look & Ceremony
3:45pm - First Look
4:15pm - Family Arrives & Sets Up for Ceremony
5:00pm - Ceremony Begins
5:45pm - Ceremony wraps up, pop champagne to celebrate
6:15pm - Family photos
6:45pm - Family photos wrap up & family heads to town
7:00pm - Exploring & portraits with just the couple
8:00pm - Head to restaurant
9:00pm - Arrive at restaurant & meet family for dinner, toasts, and cake
11:00pm - Photo Coverage Wraps Up
Day 2: Just You Two
3:00pm - Meet at Trailhead in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
5:30pm - Arrive at summit, change into wedding attire
6:00pm Sunset portraits & exploring
8:00pm Begin hike back down, portraits along the way
11:00pm Arrive back at the trailhead, photo coverage ends
Elopement Timeline Tips
Now that you know what an elopement consists of, here are some things to keep in mind when you start working on the timeline!
Don’t Forget Buffer Time
Things like travel between locations will need to be included in your timeline, but buffer time is super important too! Buffer time is time between activities—the time it takes to load everything into the car, the time it takes to get all your guests out the door, the time it takes to set up your ceremony decorations. As a general rule of thumb, things tend to take longer than you expect. Leaving a little bit of extra time between every step on your timeline ensures that you’ll be able to relax on your elopement day, and not feel like you’re constantly rushing from one thing to another. It also gives you some wiggle room in case of traffic.
Hire an Elopement Photographer
What does an elopement photographer have to do with an elopement timeline?
Well, everything! Your elopement photographer is going to be the expert when it comes to lighting—so they’ll be able to answer any questions. you have about timing. They’ll also have tons of elopement experience, and will be able to tell you how long everything takes and how much time you should plan for everything.
It can be tempting to skip the photographer for the first portion of the day—you may think you don’t need photos of you getting ready, or that you just need coverage for the ceremony and a few photos after. But remember, this is still your wedding day!! Each part of it deserves to be documented, and some of those little moments that seem insignificant can actually become your favorite memories. Without photos, you might miss the way your partner looked at you as you got ready, and they were thinking about how excited they were to marry you. You might forget that pun they told while you were out hiking, and how you couldn’t help but laugh even while you were silently cursing the elevation gain.
As a photographer who specializes in adventure elopements, I help couples plan every party of their day—and that includes creating their elopement timeline! If you’re ready to start planning your most epic adventure yet, contact me!
NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR DREAM ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT? LET ME HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR IDEAL DAY!
Get in touch with me and let me guide you.
