Top 12 Elopement Airbnbs - How to Plan Your Airbnb Elopement in 2023
As elopements and intimate weddings are more popular than ever, more and more couples are looking for alternatives to traditional small venues. Airbnb weddings have become the perfect in-between for many couples. Whether you’re eloping without any guests and want to stay in a well-styled home, or if you are inviting your closest friends + family and want to celebrate without going to a restaurant—an Airbnb wedding might be exactly what you’re looking for.
The vast majority of my couples are not local to the area that they choose to elope in. Many of my couples opt to tie in their elopement with their honeymoon in a destination that they hold dear to their heart or have been dying to explore. I always highly suggest renting out an Airbnb instead of a hotel room to get the most local experience. These days you can use Airbnb to rent just about anything from a private island to a treehouse to full glass tiny homes to mansions—your imagination is really the only limitation here. (*While I refer to short term rentals as Airbnbs, there are of course other platforms like VRBO that you can use…more on that later)
With an Airbnb wedding, you’ll have separate rooms in the same area to get ready—or an adorable spacious area to get ready together if you’re looking into the more untraditional route. Instead of going out to a restaurant surrounded by other diners, you can hire a private chef to prepare a meal for you to enjoy with no one else around.
Airbnb Wedding Checklist + Planning Tips
Suitable For Events
When searching for Airbnb rentals for your elopement, you used to be able to filter by ‘suitable for events.’ However, in early 2020, Airbnb removed this filter & you are no longer able to search by this on their platform anymore.
VRBO still has an “events allowed” feature, so I actually recommend that you use their website instead of Airbnb if you are planning to host any part of your elopement day at the rental. Many properties are actually listed on both sites, so you can always find rentals on VRBO, then search for it on Airbnb if you prefer booking with them. This is the best way to find rental properties that allow hosting events, which is especially important if you will be having any guests. Most listings without this designation will have rules preventing anyone who is not listed on the reservation to be within the rental—this includes even your photographer.
However, if you do fall in love with a listing that isn’t under the “suitable for events” category, that doesn't mean you should give up. Airbnb listings will let you message the host before requesting to book. Use this to explain exactly what you’re looking for—whether it’s hosting a small private dinner for 10, having a short ceremony on the lawn, or simply just having your photographer come document the getting ready moments before you go elope somewhere else.
It’s always better to ask for permission—and have it in writing—than losing your security deposit after hosting your Airbnb wedding.
Location
If you are planning on getting ready at your Airbnb before adventuring elsewhere for your ceremony and portraits, I recommend waiting to book the property until after you have worked with your photographer to select your dream location. If you book your Airbnb first, you risk choosing one that is a far drive from any of the locations that you are interested in & spending a large portion of your elopement day driving.
Neighborhood, Noise Ordinances, & Parking
Look at any outdoor photos of the property to see if there are any nearby neighbors. Read the listing carefully to see if there are any rules about noise. Some Airbnbs have rules outlining ‘no outside talking’ at times as early as 7:00pm. That could be a total bummer if you are planning to host a dinner with guests.
If the listing doesn’t specifically mention the number of designated parking spots, ask the owner before booking. Some rentals only have 1 designated spot, meaning there would not be guaranteed parking for your vendors/guests. Make sure that there is parking for yourselves, guests, and all the vendors or parking that is very close by.
Find A Space That Needs Minimal Decorations
The sheer amount of options when searching for an Airbnb can be…..overwhelming. Try filtering by Airbnb Plus to see the best styled spaces, or Airbnb Luxe if you’re feeling extra fancy. Also, make sure the home has plenty of natural light. If the listing photos look dark—chances are your elopement photos will too.
Rent Tableware + Furniture
If you are having a dinner at your Airbnb rental, even if it’s just for the two of you, consider renting tableware. Many properties will only have basic IKEA plates and glasses, so having something a little more special for dinner can make a world of a difference. If you are hosting with guests, the furniture within the Airbnb already may not be enough for the amount of people expected. Consider renting a table + chairs to have everyone be able to be seated + eating at the same time.
For outdoor ceremonies on the property, you might want to rent chairs, rather than bringing furniture from the rental outside. If the property allows it, you can even rent a party tent and space heaters, and have your whole wedding outdoors without having a single worry about the weather.
Hire a Food Truck or Private Chef
One of the biggest draws of having your elopement at an Airbnb is that you have lots of options for dinner besides just going out to a restaurant where you are seated amongst many others. If you’re having guests, you can book a food truck or caterer to feed everyone or you can hire a private chef to feed just the two of you. If you want a private chef, make sure that the Airbnb’s kitchen has all the amenities needed to prepare a meal.
Consider A Wedding Coordinator
If you would like to adventure outside of the property on your elopement day, then come back to a well-styled reception setup with dinner waiting, I highly recommend working with a wedding coordinator. They can handle all of the styling and setup, bring and return any furniture or tableware rentals, and coordinate the arrival of your chef, all without you having to worry about a single thing. Many wedding planners offer affordable options for small elopements like this, and especially if you’re eloping on a weekday.
Stay With Friends and Family
Many couples choose to have an intimate wedding experience as a way to spend more time with their very closest friends and family, instead of having the obligation of hosting and entertaining hundreds of people at a traditional wedding. If spending time with your loved ones is important to you, consider renting a big Airbnb wedding venue with enough rooms for everyone to stay at together. It will be more expensive than a smaller home, but you can always ask others to chip in, or treat them to the stay as a thanks for traveling to your wedding.
Arrive Early
When you’ve found the perfect Airbnb for your wedding experience, make sure that you book the trip to arrive at least a full day before your elopement. You’ll want enough time to get settled in and get familiar with the whole property. Some of my couples have used this time to rearrange some furniture and hide any decorations that they didn’t want in their photos. Just take photos of what the space looks like when you arrive, so that you can put everything back the way it was before you leave. This cushion time also allows you to catch up on rest and become acclimated to the area. No one wants to feel jet lagged or altitude sickness on their wedding day.
My Top 12 Favorite Rentals
Fjord View Home: An Amazing, Scenic Elopement Rental in Norway
Conveniently located just minutes away from stunning fjord locations, this VRBO rental makes the perfect home base for a beautiful Norway Fjord elopement. This house sleeps up to 8 people, has a hot tub with incredible views, and an outdoor seating area with a gas fire pit and outdoor grill.
Desert Oasis: Joshua Tree Elopement Rental
This property is strategically placed among an abundance of Joshua Trees—allowing you to get married amongst the iconic desert tree in complete privacy. This home is fit to sleep 5 and has an outdoor hot tub, outdoor fire pit, outdoor dining & lounge area, and a modern stylized interior.
Greek Luxury: A Classic Style Santorini Elopement Rental
Located in the heart of Santorini, this rental provides the beautiful, Greek white architecture while offering insane panoramic views. This rental sleeps 8 people, and has a scenic infinity pool, outdoor lounging, outdoor dining area, and a clean, modern interior.
Lakeside Mountain Cabin: Beautiful Iceland Elopement Rental
This gorgeous cabin is remote, yet still has close accessibility to the main ‘golden circle’ road and south coast. It has private access to the lake nearby, so you can have your entire elopement wedding experience completely private with amazing views. This home sleeps 7, has direct access to the lake, has a hot tub, mountain views, outdoor grill, and is located to see the northern lights (time of year dependent).
California Forest: Luxury Elopement Rental Outside of Yosemite
With the Wawona Visitor Center in Yosemite National Park being only a 3 minute drive from this rental, it makes the perfect home base for couples looking to elope in this iconic national park. The rental is fit to sleep 9 people and has beautiful modern styling with PLENTY of natural light.
Tropical Getaway: Thailand Beachfront Elopement Rental
With this rental having direct access to an absolutely stunning beach, couples have the option to have incredible scenery for their ceremony in complete privacy. This space sleeps 6, has direct access to the beach, an in-ground pool, a hot tub, and a modern interior design.
Serene Coast: Oregon Coast Elopement Rental
Located directly on the coast, this rental has insane views without even leaving. This rental is incredible for couples looking to have an Oregon coast elopement. The space sleeps 12, has an outdoor fire pit with views of the beach, outdoor dining area, a hot tub, an outdoor grill, direct access to the beach, and clean interior.
Luxury Mountainous Cabin: Telluride, Colorado Elopement Rental
This spacious cabin located just outside Telluride, Colorado has close access to the San Juan mountains (my favorite in Colorado!). The home sleeps 12, has a hot tub, mountain views surrounding the home, and is even pet friendly!
Ocean View Villa: Amalfi Coast Elopement Rental
This rental is amazing for any couples looking to elope on the iconic Amalfi Coast in Italy. This rental sleeps 12, has an ocean and cliff view, in ground pool, outdoor lounging, hot tub, panoramic balconies, outdoor dining area, and spacious interior.
Peaceful Riverside A-Frame Cabin: Washington Elopement Rental
This rental is located close by to Snoqualmie & the North Cascade Mountain range, making it a fabulous rental for a Washington mountain elopement. The cute A-Frame cabin is situated right on the river & is surrounded by beautiful forest. The space sleeps 6, has an outdoor fire pit, and is cutely styled.
Beautiful Mountain Chalet: Dolomites Elopement Rental
This beautiful home is located less than 30 minutes from some of the most iconic Dolomites sites, which makes it a great option for couples seeking to elope in this beautiful mountain range. The space sleeps 8, has an outdoor grill, sauna, and a stunning mountain view.
Red Rock View Home: Sedona Elopement Rental
This rental located just outside the main town of Sedona offers insane views of the surrounding red rocks, sleeps 16, has a huge infinity pool, indoor gym, outdoor grill, hot tub, putting green, and outdoor lounging.
Hey, I’m Sally! I’m a destination adventure elopement photographer based in Washington, but traveling worldwide!
