Real Elopement Activities to Make Your Elopement Memorable and Unique

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Your elopement deserves to be so much more than just a ceremony! By choosing to elope, you’ve already done the hard part and ditched tradition for something that feels true to you. Now, it’s time to create a wedding day that 1000% yours. A day full of connection, meaning, and intentional moments. 

If you’ve hired us as your elopement photographer, then you already know, we don’t do cookie-cutter anything. We’re here to help you plan and photograph a day that fills your heart and soul. During the planning process, we’ll help you plan your elopement timeline down to the last details, but if you are looking for ideas to get you started, that’s where this blog post comes in. 

We’ve rounded up some real-life elopement ideas from couples who eloped and made their day completely their own. These aren’t your typical “say vows and cut cake” elopement ideas. These are experiences filled with meaning and personality.

Why Elopement Activities Matter

Elopements are about more than just saying “I do.” Your ceremony is one beautiful part of a much bigger day. Adding intentional activities creates space for you to connect more deeply with your partner, fully immerse in the experience, and make memories that stick with you for a lifetime! 

Start the Day Your Way: Intentional Morning Moments

Want to know one of our biggest tips for making your wedding day unique and fun? 

Start your morning the way you normally do together.

It might seem simple, but beginning your elopement day with familiar routines, like sipping coffee, cooking breakfast, or going for a walk, can ground you and set the tone for the rest of your day. David & Keriann started their elopement with matcha lattes – just like they do every day at home, and this ritual felt like such a calm and grounded way to start their day. 

Here are a few other unique ways couples have chosen to start their mornings:

Cook Breakfast Together

A slow morning in the kitchen might sound small, but it can be one of the most grounding, love-filled parts of your day.

• Kahran & Gourav baked together before heading into the mountains, because cooking is part of their love language.
• Kaitlyn & Zoe cooked all the snacks for their intimate wedding reception.

Get Ready Side by Side

Who says you need a first look? Some couples choose to get ready together and help each other with their hair and makeup, or get into their wedding attires. The best part about eloping is that you get to choose how your day unfolds.

Write Your Vows Together

Write your vows in advance, then take the morning to handwrite them into your vow books together. This is an intimate, intentional elopement activity that always creates lots of emotion.

Wear Something Personalized or Playful

Matching socks with your pet’s face? Custom jackets? A patch sewn into your dress? Small touches like these make the day feel even more like yours. Other unique touches that can add personality to your elopement are:

• Custom jackets
  
• A loved one’s jewelry or accessories
  
• Matching socks featuring your dog’s face
  
• Matching t-shirts from your favorite band, place, or even inside joke

Play Card/Yard Games or Do a Puzzle Together

If your love language is quality time, playing a game or doing a puzzle together is a beautiful way to spend intentional, quality time together.

Listen to Music Together

Maybe music is more in line with what you are interested in. Listening to music together, whether during your first look, on your drive to your ceremony location, or while watching the scenery from your cabin, is a great way to soak in the moment and be present with your partner.

• Matt built a special playlist for Marion for their elopement and included songs from when they first started dating.

Take a Bubble Bath

Whether you want to relax before your adventure or unwind at the end of the day, a bubble bath is a fun way to connect with your partner and enjoy a little bit of intimacy along the way.

Want even more unique elopement ideas? Check out our blog post on How to Make Your Elopement Day Special and Personalized.

Elopement Activity Ideas That Are Anything But Ordinary (AKA: The Fun Stuff You Didn’t Know You Could Do)

These elopement activities are where the magic happens. It’s the little moments that often make for the most meaningful memories.

Surprise Each Other

Whether it’s a letter, a small gift, or something totally unexpected, these small surprises can create some big emotions, especially when it takes place on your wedding day.

• Airi & Nathan read emotional letters to each other before their first look.
• Jake gave Samantha a letter to read before they saw each other, which made for some heartfelt moments and cute photos.  

Couple’s Boudoir Session

Want to create some soft, romantic, maybe even steamy memories? Your elopement is the time to do it! 

• Kelsey & Joshua did a steamy portrait session that was full of connection, intimacy, and the most dreamy light! 

Get Matching Tattoos

Tattoos are a fun, permanent reminder of your special day. 

• Marissa tattooed Joshua during their elopement!
• Viet & Henry celebrated their vow renewal by getting matching tattoos.

Include a Meaningful Ritual

Whether it’s spiritual, cultural, or totally personal, rituals can add so much depth to your ceremony or day.

• Savannah & Quinn began their day with a smudging ceremony to honor their Native American heritage and center themselves before exchanging vows.

Plant Something Together

Planting a tree is a living reminder of the growth of your love and relationship. 

• Jennifer and Craig planted a tree during their redwoods wedding ceremony as a beautiful symbol of their growing love.

Adopt a Pet

This elopement activity might not be for everyone. But if it’s right for you, what a way to mark the moment.

Adventure Elopement Ideas

Looking for elopement ideas that go beyond hiking? These activities combine adventure with an epic experience!

Helicopter Ride + Glacier Vows

• Chelsea & David got to see five different locations during their elopement in Iceland because we used a helicopter to make the most of our travel time.
• Kim & Chris drank glacier water after their helicopter elopement ceremony in Alaska. 

Boat Ride or Kayaking

• Samanatha & Jake did a boat ride on day two of their Banff elopement, and it made for some of the most beautiful, magical moments. 
• Carley & Liz went kayaking at sunrise the morning of their Honduras elopement. 

Jump into the Water

• Joan and Keane kicked off their three-day elopement in Fiji by jumping off a waterfall cliff into the pool below. On day two, they went snorkeling for even more adventure time. 

Stargazing

Stargazing is a beautiful way to wrap up your elopement day. Bring a blanket to make your experience even more cozy and gaze at the Milky Way from your cabin or hot tub. 

Off-Roading or Jeep Adventure

• Kayla & Nick explored the backroads of Moab in their Jeep, making for an adventurous, wild ride through the red rocks.

Backpacking or Multi-Day Elopement

Instead of just one day, why not make your elopement a multi-day experience? Whether you plan a backpacking trip through the mountains or spend multiple days at your cabin celebrating with loved ones, turn your elopement into an entire getaway that tells your love story. 

Riding Bikes

Whether you’re biking around your resort hotel or through the winding roads around your cabin, biking together is a fun way to explore the area and spend time just soaking in the moment.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a great winter elopement activity that a lot of our couples have loved. It adds a romantic, but still active vibe to your wedding day.

• Sarah and Julian snowshoed (for the first time ever) to their ceremony spot at Mt Rainier National Park.
  

Luxury + Destination Elopement Experiences

Something people often get wrong about luxury elopements is that they have to look a certain way. To us, though, luxury isn’t about how your elopement looks, but about how it feels! It’s about having the freedom to do whatever you want on your wedding day. Here are a few ways to elevate your elopement:

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Take in the views from up high or watch the sun rise at eye level in the sky. 

Private Chef or Cooking Class

Turn dinner into an experience by hiring a private chef to cook for you at your Airbnb. This is a next-level and intimate elopement activity that many of our couples have loved! 

Planning a destination elopement? You could also take a cooking class and learn how to make a local dish or recipe. 

Catered Picnic

Another option is to have your food brought to you! A catered picnic is always a fun idea, and a professional planner can help you design a gorgeous setup. 

• Whitney & Ed had the sweetest picnic setup at Ruby Beach, complete with a gorgeous cake, rug, and flowers.
• Stevie & Alban enjoyed their beach picnic at La Push and celebrated with their daughter, which made for some sweet family moments. 

Soak in a Hot Tub or Book a Spa Day

Soaking in a hot tub is the perfect way to unwind before or after your elopement. If your Airbnb has a hot tub, the good news about this elopement activity is that you can enjoy it at any time, not just on your elopement day. 

Stay Somewhere Unique

Glass cabins, treehouses, or luxury off-grid Airbnbs can add so much to your elopement experience. Plus, they are often used as your getting-ready spot or even your ceremony location. Check out our favorite Airbnbs and micro wedding venues in the U.S., many of which offer luxury accommodations. 

Stop by a Street Vendor

If you are traveling abroad for your destination wedding, then you have to try some local food while you are there. Stopping by a local market or a street vendor is a great way to immerse yourselves in the environment and enjoy some tasty food.

Elopement Activities with Guests

Yes, you can invite people to your elopement and still have an intimate celebration. Click here to learn all about how to plan a micro wedding with guests. 

Here are some fun elopement activities to do with your guests during your elopement.

First Look with Parents, Kids, or Grandparents

This is a nontraditional elopement idea that we love! Whether it’s with a daughter/son or a parent or a grandparent, these first looks always make for heartfelt moments.

Personalized Drinks or Cocktails

Whether you want to do this elopement activity alone or with all your loved ones, making a cocktail or your favorite drink is a fun way to celebrate your elopement. 

• Megan and Todd made margaritas at their Salted Roots cabin using glacier ice from their ceremony spot in Alaska. 

Beach Bonfire + S’mores

What better way to wrap the day than with a beach bonfire and s’mores? This is an elopement activity that all your guests can enjoy!

Storytelling Circle or Family Toasts

Invite your guests to share memories, wishes, or stories about you. Not only does it bring everyone closer, but it also makes for some great photos.

FaceTiming Loved Ones

Not all loved ones can be with you on your wedding day. FaceTiming them after you’ve finished getting ready is a great way to show off your wedding attires and hear their heartfelt wishes before beginning the rest of your adventure.

Your Elopement is the Adventure

One thing we always like to share is that you don’t have to pack your day full of elopement activities. Your marriage is the ultimate adventure – what you do during your elopement day is just a reflection of the love you share with your partner. 

*Pro Tip – Rather than pack your day full of activities, consider choosing 1-3 meaningful activities that feel true to your relationship. This will allow you to enjoy the experience and all the quiet moments in between. 

Ready to Plan Your Own Epic Elopement Filled with Unique Activities?

At the end of the day, your elopement should feel like you. Whether that means kayaking, tattoos, breakfast in bed, or a bonfire with your loved ones, pick a few activities that make you feel connected to each other and celebrated.

Need help crafting the perfect timeline or dreaming up more elopement ideas? We would love to help you create an intentional wedding plan that brings all your elopement dreams to life.