How to Make an Elopement Timeline

If you’re still in the early stages of planning, you’re probably wondering how this whole process works. Especially if you are now restricted to a smaller wedding - here are ways to keep you and your love as the center of the day.

Step 1: Plan an Experience

When you start to think about your elopement timeline, I encourage you to think about the experience before the logistics. Before you get into the details, think about how you two want to spend the day. You get to do what’s meaningful to you for your elopement, so start asking yourselves questions like:

When you travel, what experiences do you two love to share? If you two love hiking, spend the morning of your elopement trekking towards a lake or waterfall.  Or maybe you love exploring hot springs, or coasting along bike trails – whatever it is, do something you love on the day of your elopement!

Do you have meaningful routines built into your relationship? If practicing yoga or cooking breakfast together is a weekly ritual, why not make that part of your wedding day?  Think about ways that you nurture connection in your relationship, and incorporate those moments into your elopement timeline.

Step 2: What do you want to include?

Once your elopement vision starts to take shape, make a list of all the events and moments you want to experience on your special day. Common elopement timeline events include:

  • Getting Ready Photos

  • A First Look

  • Adventure!

  • Ceremony and Vows

  • Family Portraits

  • Couple Portraits

  • Champagne Toast

  • Dinner and Dessert

Step 3: Putting the Day Together

Once you know what you want to do for your elopement day, it’s time to figure out how it all comes together! Here’s where I come in: I’ll help recommend how much time to reserve for hiking to a ceremony location, how much time it takes to drive to a location to catch that perfect light, what time of day is best to avoid crowds and find privacy, etc. I always recommend that you pad extra time into your day for getting ready (it always takes longer than expected), and you set aside time for just the two of you if you have guests attending your elopement. But don’t worry, I’ll work with you to create a timeline that allows to relax and stay present, knowing that you have enough time for everything.

To help you see what it looks like when all the details come together, here’s a sample elopement timeline:

11:30 - 12:30: Morning Breakfast

12:30 – 2:00: Hang out with family at the reception location (this is a great time for me to capture candid moments!)

2:00 – 3:30: Get Ready

3:30 – 4:00: Head to the ceremony location

4:00 – 4:30: Ceremony, Vows, add a champagne toast!

4:30 – 5:30: Couples Portraits

5:30 – 6:00: Head back to reception

6:00 – ?: Celebrate! (BBQ, s'mores, IPAs, music, speeches, etc.)

Hopefully these tips help with your planning - if you need any other ideas or planning help, let me know!

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