Elopement Ceremony Ideas - What to Do in Your Elopement Ceremony
You and your partner have found each other, fallen in love, and have decided to elope! You have found the absolute perfect elopement location & have decided to take this huge decision to spend the rest of your life with the one you love most.
Annndddd now reality hits. Most people expect a traditional wedding. They expect the elaborate venue, greenhouses worth of flowers, and loads of food you’ll actually never get a hand on. They expect a lot. But nothing says you have to listen. You’ve never been a boring couple, so why would your wedding be any different?
So what do you do during an elopement ceremony? This question often pops up for couples who have been diving into the idea of eloping. The beautiful thing about an elopement ceremony is that you and your partner can do anything you want!
Check out my ideas for elopement ceremony tips and tricks below!
Elopement Vow Ceremony
Elopement vows are extremely powerful, no matter how they’re said or the words they contain. It’s so easy to get stuck thinking vows must be a strict copy-and-paste. Since it’s your elopement ceremony, feel free to create personalized, unique vows that speak to you as a couple! The process can take any form you want—some couples handwrite their vows, some prefer to follow their heart in the moment, or some work on their vows together. It’s all up to you & there is no ‘right’ way.
One thing I absolutely suggest is to write your elopement vows on paper or in a book if you are deciding to write them ahead of time. You deserve so much more than a screen for your vow ceremony! Etsy is a great place to look for cute, inclusive elopement vow books.
Ring Ceremony
Although not all elopement ceremonies require or include rings, most couples that decide to elope use rings as a symbol of their love during their elopement ceremony. Ring ceremonies signify a lot and are a long-standing tradition for both conventional weddings and elopements. The ring ceremony is one of my favorite parts to document because I love to capture the emotions of this beautiful moment!
The First Kiss
You made it through your vow and ring ceremony, promised to support each other through the good and the bad—now, who wouldn’t want to go in for a big kiss after such an emotional and exciting event! The first kiss in any ceremony is highly anticipated, as it often seals your vows and marks the beginning of a new life for you and your partner.
Celebrate Your Elopement Ceremony —
Your Way
One perk of eloping is how unique and personal elopement ceremonies can be. There are no expectations, no complaining guests—just you and your lover exploring an incredible spot! So this is the right time to do things exactly how you want & no other way. Some couples have an epic picnic, some climb a mountain, and some scream their excitement so loud that nature has no choice but to sit up and listen. It’s completely up to YOU.
Spend Some Quality Time Together Through an Activity
The real key to this part is picking something that feels like you two—that will make it even more special. I always suggest that couples think of an activity that they already enjoy doing together & find a way to incorporate it into their wedding day. Do you two love to camp? Let’s do it! Do you two love to play guitar together? We’ll find a way to include it. How about playing board games—let’s start off the morning doing that! The important thing is that it feels right to the two of you. Some couples choose activities that is deeply part of their relationship already or they choose to experience an activity like a helicopter ride for the very first time on their wedding day.
Unique Elopement Ceremony Ideas
Elopement ceremonies do not have to be a simple cookie-cutter ceremony of exchanging vows, then rings, then your first kiss! You can add more personal aspects to it if you would like, or you can keep it short & sweet. The beauty of all of this is, it is completely up to you. Below, I’ve listed some unique ideas to add to your ceremony if you’re looking to include something symbolic or personal.
Sage Smudging
This addition to the elopement ceremony is all about energy—transforming negative and bad energy into positive vibes. It only requires a bowl, a bundle of sage, and a means of lighting the sage. You and your partner can say a short prayer while lighting it or ask someone to pray for you.
Unity Ceremony
This is a highly symbolic elopement ceremony that involves joining two pieces into one. Some couples light unity candles, mix sand in a bowl, or combine red and white wine. I’ve also loved seeing couples plant trees together (environmentally friendly too!). It’s totally up to you to decide your symbol of unity. This is a meaningful elopement ceremony to include if you are blending families and would like to include children as well.
Cord Ceremony
This ageless Celtic tradition is one that has spread to different areas all over the world. It usually involves tying a braided rope around your joined hands, sometimes while reciting a prayer of dedication. You can decide to do it yourselves, allow the officiant to tie it, or ask a beloved guest to do it for you.
Whiskey Ceremony
Whiskey is a representation of happiness, hope, love, and delight, while also incorporating a bitter taste to represent life’s trials and tribulations. Including whiskey at the end of your elopement ceremony is fun for the day and a fantastic yearly tradition!
First Dance
This is one of those time-honored traditions that is highly popular with every couple. Bring some music, make some music, or just dance to the sounds of nature all around you. It’s another way to celebrate your marriage at the end of your ceremony.
Read Letters From Your Friends & Family
If you opted to elope just the two of you or if you simply had loved ones that couldn’t make it to the actual elopement day, you can have them write you letters before the big day! Then, read them aloud at your ceremony and you’ll feel the love from afar & I’m sure they’ll love being there with you in spirit. Another option would be to FaceTime or video call those special family members to share the moment with them!
Celebrate Your Culture
If you come from a culture that has special wedding traditions or ceremony activities, include those! Maybe you’re from Mexico and you want to follow the tradition of draping a beaded or floral “lasso” around the two of you. Or maybe your family is from the Philippines and you want to celebrate through the traditional of releasing doves at the end of your ceremony! Wherever you may be from, your elopement ceremony is such a great time to beautifully celebrate your culture
Religious Elopement Ceremony
Some couples may decide to add religious or spiritual elements into their elopement ceremony. If you want a pastor to officiate your elopement, you’ll have to work with them on the specifics. A lot of officiants work with the couples directly, so they can personalize their ceremonies. Couples also find religious or spiritual aspects of ceremonies to be super special if it is close with their belief system. Always include what is special to you and exclude what isn’t.
At the end of the day, elopement ceremonies are supposed to be super special moments, a moment you will look back on for a lifetime. If you want a secular elopement ceremony with a non-traditional setting, it’s totally fine! If you and your partner want an elopement ceremony but with a formal outline, that’s great too! It’s your day, so find whatever bits and pieces are unique to you and embrace them. After all, this is a single day that is a celebration of you, your partner, and the life you're committing to together.
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