Choosing to elope is one of the most meaningful decisions you can make. Some people think elopements are short and rushed, but that is not always the case. Elopements today often last several hours or even a couple of days! Because they are all about intentional experiences, couples are spending more and more time making their day so much more than just about signing paperwork. But, what can you do during your elopement and how do you create an elopement timeline that fits all the important moments? Well, keep scrolling, because whether your wedding day is a private elopement between the two of you, an intimate wedding with a few loved ones, or a vow renewal, we have a few elopement timeline tips to help you craft your dream wedding day.
What is an Elopement?
Here at Henry Tieu Photography, we view elopements as a day set aside [for couples] to focus on the intentional experience of having your wedding day the way you want.
Whether that means eloping with just the two of you, or with some friends and family members, elopements can look however you want.
You can choose to travel somewhere meaningful to your relationship, or to a completely new destination. You can choose to stay in a cabin in the woods, or take a helicopter ride up the mountains to share your vows. The day is truly yours.
Just because you decide to elope, doesn’t mean that you have to ditch all traditions. It just means that you can ditch the ones that don’t make sense and keep the ones that you truly value. If you want to cut cake or wear a white dress, do it! If you want to have a handfasting ceremony and skip the vows, go for it! There are no rules when you choose to elope.
Why an Elopement Timeline is So Important
A well-designed timeline can make the magic of eloping even more unforgettable. Not only will it allow you to truly immerse into the day without feeling rushed, but it will also help you focus and be fully present for each moment. As a result, your photographer will be better able to document you in the most honest and artful ways.
A lot of people think an elopement is just about saying vows, but the day you get married is so much more than that. Your wedding day is the start of the next chapter of your life and it signifies the continuation of your relationship. It will be the day you will remember for the rest of your life and your photos will be the story that lives on.
Whether you have guests or not, everything that happens from the minute you open your eyes in the morning til the moment you fall asleep in each other’s arms is a part of your experience. In order to make the most of your elopement day, it’s important to have a well-planned elopement timeline. Your elopement timeline will serve as your itinerary for the day. It will include all the most meaningful moments and the order in which they will happen. A good timeline helps you feel prepared going into your wedding day allowing you to focus on the experience of getting married and not the logistics of getting from one place to another.
An elopement timeline also helps everyone feel prepared and allow your guests and vendors to be on the same page. It reduces stress and allows for a more seamless elopement day overall.
How Long is an Elopement?
One of the most common myths about eloping is that elopements are short and rushed. This just simply isn’t true!
Elopements are so much more than a quick courthouse ceremony or a photo session and are about so much more than just showing up. Elopements are an entire day (or sometimes days) dedicated to you and your significant other. A day that is filled with moments of intentionality and experiences.
So when couples ask us “how long is an elopement?”, there is no one answer. Just as every couple is unique, so is every elopement.
When it comes to deciding how long you want your elopement to be, we suggest planning your day in a way that allows you to enjoy all the experiences you want to have and not feel rushed. An optimal elopement timeline is one where you get enough time to let your story naturally unfold, allowing the two of you to immerse into the experience of getting married.
At the very minimum though, most of our couples spend at least 6 hours with us. This allows us enough time to capture each experience throughout the day. From sipping your morning coffee, to sharing your first look, to hiking a beautiful trail and exchanging vows, we want you to experience it all and have each moment documented so you can relive it over and over again.
9 Things to Consider Including in Your Elopement Timeline
While every elopement timeline will look a little different, these are a few things we see included in most timelines.
Getting Ready & Detail Photos
Getting ready photos are one of the most important (and often overlooked) moments of an elopement day. You might think that these photos are unnecessary or don’t mean that much, however, there are some very important reasons to consider including these moments in your elopement timeline.
Getting ready photos are a good time for couples to ease into the day. Oftentimes, couples’ nerves are highest at this point in the day, so having some time set aside for these moments can help you feel more relaxed and feel better prepared for the day ahead.
These first moments are also a great time to get to know your photographer. You might feel awkward having your photos taken, so by having a few moments to transition into your wedding day photography and get to know your photographer in a casual setting, you allow for more relaxed moments throughout the rest of the day.
Typical Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
First Look
There are so many ways to do a first look! While the most common is a first look between partners, you can also have a first look with your parents, friends, or even your fur baby.
Doing a first look with your partner is a fun way to connect with each other before the rest of the day’s activities. It also can allow you to have a few private moments together. Some couples even choose this time to do a private vow exchange or exchange gifts.
There is no right or wrong way to do a first look, but oftentimes, we get asked “when does it happen?” Again, you can choose to do a first look whenever you want. Some couples get ready together and then head to their ceremony location to change and hold a first look there, while others get ready separately then hold it right outside their Airbnb. Typically, though, a first look happens during the first part of your day.
Typical Time: 15 – 30 minutes
Travel and/or Hiking Time
Whether you choose to go on a hike or include some other activities in your elopement, you will want to set some time aside not just for the activity itself, but also for travel time.
When eloping in nature, we recommend couples choose an Airbnb close to their ceremony location to reduce the amount of time spent on the road.
Depending on the hike or activity you choose, the time needed will vary. Your elopement photographer (hey, that’s us) will be able to help provide recommendations for how much time to include during the planning process.
Typical Time: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Ceremony
Your elopement ceremony is one of the most significant moments of your wedding day. While traditional wedding ceremonies often follow the same pattern, elopement ceremonies can look many different ways.
A typical elopement ceremony lasts around 15 minutes, however, we’ve done ceremonies from 15-45 minutes depending whatever else the couple has planned. Some couples choose to include special traditions like planting a tree, while others include cultural activities like a Chinese wedding tea ceremony. The length of your ceremony truly depends on what you would like to have for your day.
*Pro Tip – just because you invite friends and family doesn’t mean you have to share your vows during the ceremony. You can do private vows together and include more traditional vows or other activities during your ceremony with guests.
Typical Time: 15 – 30 minutes
Formal Portraits with Guests
As elopement photographers, we try to take as many candid photos as possible of you and your guests throughout the day. Sometimes the moments where two people are sharing a hug or laughing/crying, or taking a selfie together end up being some of the memorable moments of the whole day.
But as much as we love candid photos, we also believe that formal portraits are important. Years from now, you may want to look back at all the faces of the loved ones who showed up to your wedding day. For formal guest photos, we typically set aside some time after your ceremony to document all the important loved ones who came to celebrate you on your special day. The amount of time will vary depending on how many guests you invite so keep in mind that the more guests, the more time you will need.
Typical Time: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Picnic or Reception with Guests
Not all elopement days include a full reception, but most elopements include some type of celebration. Sometimes this looks like a light picnic or late night s’mores by the campfire. Other times, it looks like a formal catered meal complete with a private chef. The type of celebration you choose will determine how much time we need to set aside, but oftentimes, these moments of celebrations are some of the most relaxed time for everyone.
Typical Time: 1 – 2 hours
Adventure Portraits for You Two
Anytime we create an elopement timeline, we place your experience at the top of the list. Having some designated portrait time on your elopement day is a great chance for you to be fully present with each other and take it all in. That’s why adventure photos are some of our favorite moments from an elopement. We typically set aside a few hours for this portion of the day. Not only will we be sure to capture tons of beautiful moments with the two of you, but we’ll also be sure to include plenty of time for the two of you to share in-between moments and relax without the camera.
Typical Time: 2 – 3 hours
Travel and/or Hiking Time Back
If your elopement included hiking, the good news is that it often takes much less time getting back down than going up. Keep in mind that if you planned a sunset elopement, we may need to hike back down in the dark.
We may also need to include travel time back from your ceremony or adventure location, especially if you have other activities planned for your day.
Typical Time: 30 minutes – 2 hours
Buffer Time
Besides all the blocks above, we also include 10 – 15 minutes of buffer time between each event just in case. In our experience, things often run late more than they run early. Therefore, buffer time in your elopement timeline can ensure we have enough time even if we run a bit behind. In the event the buffer time is not needed, that means we can always add more time to your couple photos.
4 Ways to Plan Your Elopement
One of the things we love about elopements is that they are completely customizable to each couple! Here are 4 ways you can plan your elopement, but remember, anything is possible!
Half Day
If you are planning on visiting just one location and aren’t inviting many guests, then a half-day elopement is a great choice! With a 6-hour elopement, you can still get all the most important moments documented and experience your elopement day to the fullest!
6-Hour Elopement Timeline
12:30 pm: Photographer arrives at cabin for getting ready and detail moments
2:00 pm: First look & travel to ceremony location
3:30 pm: Intimate vow exchange ceremony
4:30 pm: Mountaintop picnic
5:00 pm: Sunset adventure portraits and private first dance
7:00 pm: Travel back to cabin
7:30 pm: Reception, eating, dancing, celebrating
8:30 pm: End of a beautiful day. Start of a whole new beginning!
Full Day
Full-day elopements, allow you to have a strong focus on the experience of eloping. Typically lasting around 10 hours, these elopements are great for sunrise, sunset, or a little bit of both (by splitting the coverage). This elopement timeline is great if you plan to invite more guests, or if you want to have some time for just the two of you as well as time with your guests.
Full-Day Sunset Elopement Timeline
10:30 am: Photographer arrives at cabin for getting ready and detail moments
12:00 pm: First look & travel to ceremony location
1:00 pm: Ceremony
1:30 pm: Formal portraits with family and friends
2:30 pm: Reception, eating, dancing, celebrating
4:00 pm: Travel/Driving/Hiking
6:00 pm: Private vow exchange
6:30 pm: Sunset adventure portraits and private first dance
8:30 pm: End of a beautiful day. Start of a whole new beginning!
Two-Day
A two-day elopement is another great choice for couples who want the experience of eloping while also having a celebration with their loved ones. Two-day elopements allow you to truly experience it all without feeling rushed or like you are missing out on any important moments.
Two-Day Elopement Timeline
Day 1: Intimate Wedding with guests
12:30 pm: Photographer arrives at cabin for getting ready and detail moments
2:00 pm: First look & travel to ceremony location
3:30 pm: Intimate vow exchange ceremony
4:30 pm: Formal portraits with family and friends
5:30 pm: Travel back to cabin
6:30 pm: Reception, eating, dancing, celebrating
8:00 pm: End of Day 1
Day 2: Private Adventure Elopement Portraits
2:30 pm: Getting ready together + cute indoor portraits
4:00 pm: Travel/Driving/Hiking
6:00 pm: Private vow exchange
6:30 pm: Sunset adventure portraits and private first dance
8:30 pm: End of a beautiful day. Start of a whole new beginning!
Multi-Day
Want to experience several activities or adventure around to multiple locations? A multi-day elopement is a completely customizable way to elope that allows you to focus on the things that you want without worrying about a specific timeline.
How to Choose an Elopement Package
With a traditional wedding, couples often know how many hours they need a photographer for. However, because of the nature of elopements where so many things can change, couples often don’t know the exact amount of photography hours they want to book.
Based on what you want to include in your elopement, your elopement photographer (aka us) will be able to recommend an elopement package that will best fit your needs, while also making sure you don’t feel rushed.
Elopement Timeline FAQs
How long does an elopement take?
When it comes to eloping, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each elopement is unique, so the timeline for each will be unique also. In general though, elopements with us can last anywhere from 6 hours to two days.
How far in advance should I plan my elopement?
We’ve worked with couples who planned their elopement in as little as a few weeks as well as couples who planned their elopement 18 months in advance. We typically recommend starting to plan a few months in advance and reaching out to your elopement vendors as soon as possible as oftentimes they can get booked up several months (or even years) out.
As far as planning your elopement timeline, we typically work with couples to plan their elopement timeline around 3 months before the event date. By this time, most couples have a pretty good idea on the guest list, location and activities they want to include on the day.
How much coverage do we need for our elopement day?
The right amount of coverage is an amount that lets your story unfold naturally while also allowing you to fully immerse into the experience of getting married. Depending on what you want to include in your elopement, we can help recommend a package that will allow you to live in the moment and experience everything without feeling rushed.
What can we do on our elopement?
When you choose to elope there is no limit to what you can experience on your wedding day! You can include guests or have a just us experience (or both!). You can travel to a new destination or go somewhere that you have been before. You can go hiking, ride a helicopter, visit a castle, read letters from loved ones, or do anything else you want to do!
Meet Your Intimate Wedding & Elopement Photographers
We’re Henry, Sergio, and Nick, the faces behind these honest, meaningful, and artful photographs of couples eloping in the most beautiful places. Since 2018, we’ve photographed more than 200+ intimate weddings and elopements all over the world and on 6 different continents. Our work has been published on Junebug Weddings, Green Wedding Shoes, Brides, Dancing With Her, etc…We’ve won international awards for best wedding photos but what’s most important to us is actually winning our clients’ hearts with our art.
With 15 years of combined photography experience, we’ve learned that the only way to a beautiful wedding experience & photos is through intentionality.
We’re here for you and with you from “let’s do this” to “I do”, one step at a time, each step of the way. We’re in this together
