35 Elopement Activities + Ideas for an Unforgettable Day

As someone who has photographed and helped plan more than a 100 micro-weddings and elopements, I’ve seen everything from simple elopements out in nature to intricate celebrations with a multitude of decor and complex setups. What stands out the most from every single wedding, though, is the activities that each couple incorporated into their day to make it their wedding authentic to them; activities that allowed them to prioritize their desires and create meaningful memories that would last forever. With tips on how to choose the right activities, as well as a list of 35 unique elopement ideas for you to start with, you’ll leave this guide ready to plan the day of your dreams.

Hi, my name is Autumn!

I’m your Idaho elopement photographer + planning bestie + experience greater

I help couples create elevated elopements and micro-weddings in the mountains. I’ve photographed and planned over a 100 intimate weddings for all types of love. I’m a Leave No Trace aware photographer and lifelong outdoor adventurer.

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Before we dive into how to choose the best ones for you, let’s chat about why activities are so important to the elopement experience you create, both for yourselves and for your guests.

They help you create an experienced-based elopement

I tell every couple I work with that when it comes to their elopement, spending time and money on experiences will almost always be more rewarding than anything spent on material items. Creating an experience-based elopement day takes the stress out of having your photos taken, and simply gives you a much more meaningful elopement experience. If you spend your entire day stressing over how you look, or how you want to pose for the next photo, you’ll be completely missing out on the excitement of the day that you’ve worked so hard to plan. Incorporating unique experiences into your celebration allows you to be present in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s climbing up a steep hill as you hike to some incredible views, or snuggling up on the couch at your Airbnb after the day is over.

They give you opportunities to relax and connect

Doing an activity together on your elopement day can also give you a great chance to relax and connect with each other. Oftentimes, elopements and weddings can bring a lot of stress, or they go by so quickly that you barely have a moment to take it all in. But when you intentionally incorporate activities into your timeline, you’ll set yourself up in advance for moments where you’re able to be present together, embrace all the emotions of the day, and breathe easy knowing that your day is everything you’ve dreamed of. If you know you may be easily stressed on your elopement day, or that you get anxious being the center of attention, try to find relaxing activities (such as the ones listed later in this guide) that will allow you to slow things down and reconnect to your partner when you need to!

They add structure to your timeline

Finally, doing activities during your elopement gives the day structure. Every couple is different when it comes to planning their timeline—some like to have a very intricate timeline planned down to the minute, while others prefer a loose timeline that allows the day to flow as it may. I recommend finding a happy medium by creating a schedule that includes timed events and activities, but also has a good amount of buffer so you can flex your plans as needed day-of. Having one or two activities on the itinerary, with specific meetup times, is a great way to ensure you’re arriving at the right places at the right time, and that you don’t fall behind or get too ahead of schedule. Again, though, be sure to add in extra time between each part of the day, because you can never predict how the day will go (despite careful planning).

Now that you understand why activities are such a key part of creating an unforgettable wedding experience, you may be wondering how to actually go about choosing those activities. How are you supposed to pick when there are so many incredible opportunities? I’ll give you my top tips based on my experience, and hopefully that’ll get you on the right track! 

1. Ask yourselves the right questions

Begin by giving yourselves some time to dream; to envision what your perfect day would look like, leaving money, time, and logistics out of the picture (just for now). The sky’s the limit here, so don’t be afraid to really get creative and wild with it, knowing that later you’ll have plenty of time to narrow things down and get practical with it! It can be helpful to ask yourselves a few questions about what your ideal celebration may include, how it would feel, what it would look like, and how you could achieve it. 

Here are four questions that may help you get a better idea of the kinds of activities you’d like to incorporate into your elopement:

• What are your favorite activities to do together? Think about what you might plan for a date together, or what you’d do on a vacation.
• What do you do for fun on a regular basis? When you’re not out on a pre-planned date or celebrating a special occasion, what does your free time look like together?
• What does your perfect weekend evening look like? Does it involve going out on the town? Getting drinks and a bite to eat? Cozying up on the couch and playing games?
• What does your perfect weekend morning look like? Do you start off with a hot cup of coffee before making breakfast together? Are you a couple that loves to get up before the crack of dawn and enjoy a sunrise hike?

As you answer each question, start to think about how you could incorporate these things you love to do into your elopement day. 

2. Consider your location & weather

Your elopement location and activities go hand-in-hand; each will have an impact on the other. You can go one of two ways:

1. Pick your elopement location, then choose activities that are available in that location
2. Choose your ideal activities, then choose a location that has those activities

It’s up to you which one is a bigger priority: your location or your activities. Are you really committed to including horseback riding in your elopement? Then make sure to choose a location where horseback riding is available, maybe somewhere in the mountains with gorgeous views you can enjoy as you ride! Or if your heart is completely set on eloping on a certain lake, then the activities accessible to you will likely be things like paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, etc.

When thinking about your elopement location and activities, you’ll also want to consider the time of year and weather. If your ideal elopement involves skiing and sledding, you’ll obviously want to elope during the winter, at a location that gets a good amount of snow. If you’d like to take a sunrise hike to a mountain top viewpoint, you’ll likely need to elope during the warmer summer months at a location where the snow has melted enough to access the mountain top. 

3. Stick to one or two activities

I know it can be tempting to try and cram a bunch of activities into your elopement day, but my advice is to stick to just one or two. Any more than two activities in a day can end up making the timeline feel rushed, which is never a great way to experience your wedding day. You want to have plenty of time to enjoy every part of your day without worrying about falling behind—another reason why it’s great to have extra buffer time built into your timeline in advance! If you’re really dying to plan a bunch of epic activities (especially if you’re traveling for a destination wedding and want to make the most of your time), you may want to consider a multi-day celebration with plenty of time to do everything you’re dreaming of.

4. Don’t be afraid to keep it simple

The list of ideas I’ve included in this guide does include quite a few adventurous or detailed activities that require intricate planning—but you don’t have to get crazy with your elopement activities in order for it to be incredible. While a sunset dinner cruise or a helicopter ride over the mountains is awesome, a simple picnic with your pups in a meadow is just as awesome. Don’t feel like you need to plan super flashy activities just because they seem “cool,” if they don’t truly feel authentic or right to you. If a cozy campfire at your Airbnb, surrounded by a few of your closest loved ones, feels more true to you than an action-packed ATV ride through rugged terrain, opt for the cozy campfire! Sometimes the best things in life are simple, and that goes for your wedding day, too. 

5. Be realistic about your timeline

When it comes to planning your elopement itinerary, make sure you’re realistic about what you have time for, and that you don’t try to squeeze in anything that doesn’t fit. As I mentioned earlier, sticking to one or two activities is the best way to do this—but no matter how many activities you have, it’s important to look at your timeline practically and think through how you’d like to experience your day. If you know you’d like plenty of time to relax and take a breather at your Airbnb, maybe add in a mid-day break instead of a mid-day hike. As your photographer, I’ll be more than happy to help you plan your timeline and let you know what, in my experience, is realistic to expect out of the amount of coverage you’re hiring me for!

6. Plan your activities in advance

Choosing elopement activities should be something that happens early on in the planning process, as your activities will have an impact on the flow of your day and what else you’re able to plan. Certain activities may also require advance booking, such as helicopter tours, boat charters, or ATV rides, especially if they’re run by tour companies who book up very early on. Planning your activities ahead of time will not only ensure you’re able to get the activities you want, but also that you’re able to get your timeline all laid out and sent to your friends, family, and vendors.

7. Pick experiences that you’ll cherish forever

Finally, and most importantly, you should pick activities that you’ll actually love doing. Don’t choose them just because they’ll make “cute photos” or because you saw somebody post their own elopement photos on Instagram. While you can absolutely take inspiration from other elopements, it’s a slippery slope that can easily turn into you trying to replicate things you’ve seen just for the sake of following trends. The beauty of elopements is that they are truly all about you, and allow you to prioritize what you want—so make sure your activities are actually what you want!

Ready to start thinking about what elopement activities you want to include in your big day? Here’s a big list of 35 elopement ideas to get you started, from thrilling outdoor adventures to laid-back indoor activities.

Getting Ready Elopement Ideas

A list of ways that you can make the morning of your elopement extra special, whether you’ll be seeing each other before your ceremony or having your first look at the altar.

1. Plan a sunrise couples session
2. Visit a hot spring before you get ready
3. Help each other get ready
4. Write your vows together
5. Exchange meaningful gifts
6. Have a first look

Adventurous Elopement Ideas

Craving an exhilarating adventure on your elopement day? Whether you want to head out on the water, into the sky, or stay on land, the world is your oyster when it comes to adventurous elopement activities.

7. Hike to your ceremony site
8. Hike to a scenic spot for portraits
9. Take a jet boat, plan, or helicopter tour
10. Find a mountain biking trail
11. Go rock climbing
12. Explore via horseback
13. Take an ATV or 4×4 tour
14. Go for a hike after your ceremony

Relaxing Elopement Ideas

Maybe you’re more of a cozy-up-and-soak-in-a-hot-tub type of couple—there are no rules that say your elopement day has to require any effort! Take the day to bask in your love, with some R&R added in there for good measure.

14. Go paddleboarding
15. Set up a romantic picnic
16. Enjoy your favorite beverage or sweet treat together
17. Play your favorite game
18. Go on a walk with your dog
19. Charter a sunset boat cruise
20. Take a sunset walk
21. Go stargazing
22. Relax in a hammock after your ceremony
23. Take lantern photos

Elopement Ceremony Ideas

Including rituals or special moments in your ceremony is one of the easiest ways to add more meaning to your elopement day!

24. Include a meaningful ritual/tradition
25. Invite your loved ones to participate
26. Walk down the aisle together
27. Include your pets

Elopement Activities With Guests

If you’re inviting guests to your elopement, why not give them an incredible experience, too? These are memories you’ll all be able to look back on for years to come.

28. Have loved ones write you letters
29. Play a sentimental photo/video slideshow
30. Treat them to a multi-course meal
31. Set up an intimate reception
32. Hire a private chef for your celebration dinner

Winter Elopement Activities

I love a good summertime elopement filled with hiking, biking, and swimming, but winter elopements can be just as magical!

33. Go snowmobiling
34. Enjoy a day of snowshoeing, skiing, or snowboarding
35. Take a sleigh ride

I hope you’re leaving this guide feeling hopeful and excited about all the opportunities available to you to create a once-in-a-lifetime elopement experience. There are many, many more activities and ideas out there if you allow yourselves to dream, and think outside of the box—but that list would’ve gone on forever if I kept adding more. Browse my Blog for additional elopement resources, tips, and location guides, and inquire with me when you’re ready to book a photographer to document it all!

Where to next?

I am an elopement photographer with a lot of free resources. Head over to my blog or check out these freebies next!

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Idaho Elopement Guide