Elopement Timeline
The beauty of Elopements is they can be as simple or as elaborate as you want them to be! To make the most of your amazing day you will want to plan out a few things, but unlike a traditional wedding there will be wiggle room for spontaneous change of plans.
There is a misconception that elopements are quick ceremonies. Thirty minutes to say your vows at the courthouse is not your typical elopement anymore. Your day should be a once in a lifetime experience and you deserve more than just a quick ceremony! It should be a day that reflects who you are, your relationship, your love and the start of your life together. Traditional weddings get an entire day, so why shouldn’t your elopement?
While every elopement day is unique and different, here are some common events that happen throughout the day.
~GETTING READY
Getting ready photos are one of those things that people sometimes think they can skip – but think again! There’s so much that goes on before the elopement day really begins. There’s the excitement of getting married to the love of your life, the pre-ceremony jitters, the “it’s really happening!” smiles. Some couples choose to get ready together, like Mason & Katie , and others do it separately, but either way, looking back on the photos of your partner being so excited to marry you will never disappoint.
~FIRST LOOK
Many couples decide that getting ready together feels more right to them, but if you get ready separately, I always love when couples do a first look. If you have guests attending your ceremony, the first look gives you a moment away from everyone to just be together. Even if your elopement is just the two of you, a first look creates a really exciting moment, and many couples say that seeing their partner for the first time on their wedding day was the moment that all the stress and anticipation of elopement planning melted away.
~ CEREMONY
The moment you’ve been waiting for! It’s time to say your vows and officially tie the knot. Most Elopement ceremonies last around 10 to 15 minutes. If there are any religious or cultural traditions you’d like included in your ceremony I would suggest planning on 15-30 minutes for the ceremony.
PHOTOS WITH GUESTS
While the whole day will be all about candids, it’s nice to get some formal photos with your guests (if you have any) as well. If you have more than a few guests, it can be really helpful to come up with a list of groupings or combinations prior to the big day to ensure that you don’t miss anything! I suggest planning on 2-3 minutes per group combination. For example, 10 groups will take 20-30 minutes. Trust me it will take this long.
ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURES
Whether it’s hiking to the ceremony spot, roasting smores, hopping into a kayak, exploring your favorite city, or your favorite National Park this is what makes your elopement day truly special. Each adventure will take a different amount of time. With hiking I suggest planning 1 hour for every mile of your hike. I know that sounds SO SLOW, but trust me it will average out to be that pace. If you’re touring around make sure to add drivetimes and a little extra just incase for traffic.
FULL DAY YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT TIMELINE
4:00 am – Hair and Makeup Begins
6:00 – Drive to Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
7:00 – First Look at Sunrise
7:30 – Ceremony
8:00 – Couple’s Photos at Grand View
9:00 – Drive to Yellowstone Lake for photos and brunch on the beach
9:30 – Drive to Old Faithful
10:00 – Arrive at Old Faithful. Tour lodge and other geysers until Old Faithful erupts
11:30 – Drive to Grand Prismatic
12:00 – Arrive and do hike to Grand Prismatic Overlook
1:00 – Tour Lower Geyser Basin and do lunch
2:00 – Drive to Grand Teton National Park
3:30 – Arrive at Colter Bay, Grand Teton NP
4:00 – Do Jackson Lake cruise
5:30 pm – Travel to Mormon Row
6:30 – Sunset Photos at old barns
Need Help with Your Timeline?
A big part of my job is helping couples throughout the planning process – so with everything from location recommendations, to permits, to – you guessed it – the timeline, I’ve got your back! So, if you’re ready to elope and plan your incredible day, contact me!
