50+ Elopement Activity Ideas
Eloping gives you the freedom to create a wedding day that is outside the box of tradition, and instead, fill it with meaningful choices. That means your day can omit anything that doesn’t feel like you and include the things you love instead! With no more rules to build your day around, you’re left with freedom to include anything you want in your day!
The only problem is that now you have too many options, and it can feel overwhelming to be left with endless possibilities.
Whether you’re seeking an adventure-filled elopement or a casual day, there are many amazing things you can include. These are the best elopement activity ideas for a personal wedding experience!
Wedding Traditions to Include in Your Elopement
- First look with each other after you get dressed in your wedding attire
- Exchange vows and rings
- Share your first dance as a married couple
- Unity ceremony (e.g., lighting a unity candle or handfasting)
Learn how to plan a first look for your elopement!
Adventurous Elopement Activities
- Hike
- Camp
- Take a boat ride
- Horseback riding
- Go on a helicopter tour
- Explore a National Park
- Go on a hot air balloon ride
- Explore a historic site
- Go kayaking or paddleboarding
- Take a guided Jeep tour
- Go backpacking
- Soak in a natural hot spring
- Rock climbing
- Go skiing or snowboarding
- White water rafting
- Sand sledding
- Go ziplining
- Ride a bike or mountain bike
- Jump in a lake
- Explore a ghost town
- Go waterfall chasing
- Rent a camper van
Winter Elopement Activities
- Snowshoeing
- Skiing or snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Ice skating
- Stay in a winter cabin
- Take a sleigh ride
- Have a hot cocoa toast
- Winter bonfire
- Winter picnic
- Visit a glacier via helicopter
- Go on a snowy mountain hike
Relaxed Elopement Activities
- Have a Picnic
- Watch the sunrise
- Watch the sunset
- Have your first dance
- Take photos on disposable cameras
- Go whale watching
- Relax in a hammock
- Play an instrument or listen to music
- Exchange gifts
- Draw or paint together
- Rent a cozy cabin or Airbnb (check out this list of unique Airbnb’s in Idaho!)
- Make breakfast together
- Play card games or board games
- Go on a scenic drive
- Write your own vows
Evening Elopement Activities
- Dance under the stars
- Have a bonfire and toast marshmallows
- Stargaze
- Take epic photos under the Milky Way
- Go on a night hike
- Go night skiing
- Explore by lantern light
- Watch the sunset
- Take dreamy blue hour photos
Elopement Activities Involving Food
- Hire a private chef to cook you dinner
- Pop champagne
- Go wine tasting
- Cook dinner for each other at your Airbnb
- Enjoy your wedding cake
- Cook breakfast together
- Go out to dinner together
- Have a picnic in a scenic location
Elopement Activities that Include Family
- Have a first look with family
- Have a virtual celebration with family & friends
- Have a silent disco
- Go on a picnic
- Have dinner with your family and friends
- Read Letters from your family and friends throughout your day
- Include family in your ceremony
Learn 17 ways you can include family in your elopement experience!
Why an All-Day Elopement?
What do you even do with all that time?
If the idea of an 8+ hour elopement day sounds a little crazy to you, that’s okay! Elopements have been undergoing a big change over the last several years, and the definition no longer means a short, courthouse wedding with no guests.
Eloping is all about freedom to create a personalized wedding experience, and usually takes place outdoors.
Learn about the modern definition of “elope”.
I always recommend dedicating a full day to your elopement. Why? Because this is your wedding day! And whether you decide to elope or have a more traditional wedding, it still deserves to be celebrated.
Plus, more time equals less stress.
Learn how to calculate how many hours of coverage you need.
The beauty of elopements is that you get to create a day that is all about the two of you. You get to have full control over where you get married, what you fill your day with, and who is with you (yes, you can absolutely still include your family or friends in your day!).
And no, this is not supposed to be an all-day photoshoot. Just like a traditional wedding, your photographer should be there to document your celebration, not posing you all day long. You don’t have to feel awkward or like you need to know how to pose, because you just get to live in the moment and enjoy your day while your photographer documents the day from the background.
Remember, your elopement day is about celebrating your unique love story. Choose activities that resonate with both of you and make the day truly special.
If you’d like help planning and documenting your elopement, I would love to hear from you!
Happy Eloping!
