The Ultimate Elopement Planning Checklist

Stuck with where to start when trying to plan your elopement? It is hard! That’s why it is essential to follow the ultimate elopement planning checklist to make your life way easier.

Don’t worry this is just the start! The best way to plan the elopement of your dreams is to find your photo/video team to help walk you through every step of the process. In fact, your photographer and videographer become much more than just two strangers that show up on your big day to capture it.

They become your partners, friends, and leaders to remove the stress, and just enjoy your elopement day like you should… celebrating the love between the two of you.

Everything You Need to Know to Plan YOUR Elopement

Step 1: Figure Out the Perfect Location

First, find your location! Not much can be done until you have an idea of where you want to elope. The only limiting factor is where you can officially get married, depending on permits and accessibility. Otherwise, go wild with unique locations!

Step 2: Determine Your Budget

Not exciting but crucial. Picking a budget is important for location, vendors, and filling your day with the right activities.

It is important to sit down with your partner and define a realistic idea. The rest of your planning process will be much easier with this in mind. Roughly outlining your max cost will help to figure out what you can spend for each category, like meals, accommodations, and your ceremony.

Sticking to your budget will save you tons of time, stress, and help you set realistic expectations for your elopement.

Step 3: Find Your Vendors

The first step is to find your photographer, videographer, and an elopement planner. The rest of the process will be simple with an awesome team helping you plan everything!

An elopement is a much more involved process, as you will be with your vendors the entire day. So, as important as their work, you must also find people you’d like to hang with. The vibe is super important for having an awesome experience on your elopement day!

Step 4: Plan the Major Outline of Your Day [With Your Vendor Team]

This step can be substantially different between couples. However, make sure to give this some thought in advance, especially if you think you want to plan a certain activity.

For example, do you want to rent a catamaran, or some dirt bikes? Well, the best way to make this happen is to start planning this step as soon as possible. You definitely do not want to wait until the last minute to work this out on your elopement day.

If you are stuck, try writing down the top 5 activities you and your partner love to do. The goal is to incorporate as many of these as possible into your day!

So, if you both love hiking and coffee, a sample start to your elopement could be a sunrise hike followed by a stop at a local coffee shop for a mid-morning break. The possibilities are limitless!

Step 5: Book Your Accommodations

When you elope, go all out on your accommodations. Try staying at your favorite type of bed and breakfast, or check out renting a unique Airbnb treehouse with a hot tub.

Places book up quickly, so once you determine your locations get busy searching!

Step 6: Gather All Your Elopement Details

You still have a ton to think about. Make sure to decide about your ceremony, attire, vows, meals, decor, personal items, etc.

Step 7: Make Your Ceremony Official

Here’s the fun part… just kidding but it’s very important. You need to make sure you do everything to make your marriage official.

Marriage license, location permits, and an approved officiant.

The Ultimate Elopement Planning Checklist

Are you looking to take away the stress of planning your elopement? Reach out to us, By The Harpins, for help researching, planning, and booking your adventure!

You are just steps away from creating one of the best days of your life!