One of the most common questions I get asked is “What do we do for a whole day for our elopement”? And the short answer is: whatever you want! A large majority of the time in a traditional wedding is spent waiting on other people- dressing up the bridesmaids and groomsmen, wrangling family members for photos, bridal party and family giving speeches, greeting guests, and carrying out traditions and processionals for the sake of the performance- and it takes a ton of time out of the day! Now imagine you spent all that time focusing on other people doing something you actually enjoy. It can be going on an adventure, doing something you’ve never tried before, doing an activity you both enjoy, or celebrating in a way that feels best to you. Elopements are all about doing things your own way and breaking tradition, so get creative! Start a new tradition. Think about what kind of story you want to tell from your day.

Why You Should Do Something Amazing To Make The Most Of Your Elopement

1. It’s your wedding! If there’s ever a time to go all out and do something you’ve dreamed of, there’s no better time than when you’re tying the knot

2. It’ll help you remember the day better. Psychologically speaking, the memories we tend to remember the best are the ones where something really special happens- a surprise, an exciting rush of adrenaline, an event you’ve been anticipating for a long time, etc.

3. It’s a good way to commemorate the day. What better way to celebrate the best day ever than to do something exciting, something you love, or something you’ve never tried before?

Your elopement day is a day of celebration that is entirely about you, so you should do whatever feels the best for you and your love. What float some peoples’ boats might sink others’, so don’t let the trends and traditions of other peoples’ perfect day define yours. To help you brainstorm and dream about your day, I’ve compiled a master list of 45 of the best ideas I’ve witnessed. Let these ideas help you imagine a day that will best serve you.

1. Go on a hike

Okay, I’m sure you’ve already thought of this option because it’s pretty popular for elopements, but it’s worth mentioning anyway! It’s definitely not for everyone and not a possible option for some depending on physical abilities, but if you’re willing and able, a hike to your ceremony location or just for fun can take you to some epic and secluded places that just aren’t accessible by car. If you want to have the most amazing scenery to yourself, I can recommend some of the most stunning hikes out there no one else knows about and help you prepare by giving you tips on how to transport your clothing, fix your hair and makeup in the wild, and pack your bouquet. Pro tip: Photos look best at sunrise or sunset, and that’s also usually when less people will be around, so be sure to coordinate that with your photographer and HMUA.

2. First Look

A lot of couples do a first look on their elopement day and then go to the ceremony site together. You can find somewhere scenic with a nice little overlook, and then tap on the shoulder of your partner (or run up and hug them, or tell them to turn around, or do whatever feels good to you) to show off your cute little face and hot bod. Or you can keep it traditional, and have your partner see you for the first time walking down the “aisle” or whatever it is you’re walking down.

3. Go Jeeping

If you’re not fond of hiking, the next best way to get to beautiful remote locations it to take off-roading routes. These routes can be pretty hazardous sometimes, so a 4x4 and high clearance car like a Jeep is usually recommended. There’s no better way to see Colorado (and a bunch of other scenic states) than to drive above the alpine to see blue lakes, glaciers, and mountains peaks away from the hoards of tourists.

4. Rent a Sweet Ride

Whether it’s a motorcycle, a Jeep, an ATV, or a Vespa, rent something cool (or in some cases, necessary) to take on an adventure wherever you plan on going for your elopement.

5. Go for a Swim (Wedding Attire Optional)

Take a dip in an icy alpine lake, soak in some secret hot springs, take your dress into some gatorade blue water or skinny dip in the ocean!

6. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Maybe you wanna do something exciting, but not quite as exciting as skydiving- hot airballoons are the next best thing. There are hot air balloon festivals across the country where you and your love can admire all the different designs together, or you can hire an individual one close to where you’re getting married.

7. Have a Picnic

Keep things simple, pack up some sandwiches or a pizza, spread out a blanket, do a little cheers of your favorite drink, and take in the beauty of your surroundings.

8. Exchange Gifts

Either with your partner or with other folks attending your elopement. It’s really common to give or receive gifts that are bought, handmaid, or passed down through generations to make the day extra special, so if that’s in the plans, take some time out of the day to savor the thought that went into wedding day gifts.

9. Read Letters

Either write a letter to your partner, to/from your family, or read letters from folks that couldn’t attend. Instead of reception speeches, you get to read a personal letter meant just for you and your love.

10. Have a Private Dinner

Some restaurants (especially since covid) have private spaces you can reserve for you and your partner and whoever else attends the day. Rent out a little igloo, tent, greenhouse, or room for you and the special people around you to enjoy a small catered dinner.

11. Snowmobiling

If you’re getting married in the winter, snowmobiling is a super fun activity to not only pass the time, but it’s also a good way to get to some of those snowy, secluded ceremony sites if you aren’t too keen on hiking or snowshoeing.

12. Get a Tattoo

If you’re the type to cover your body in decals, then a good way to make a permanent declaration of love is to get tattoos together- something small on your ring finger, matching or coordinating tats, or something completely different that shows your love in a way that’s unique to the two of you are all option on the table.

13. Skydiving

Skydiving is kind of the epitome of adrenaline and adventure. If you and your love are adrenaline junkies that are always looking for something new or fun to do to get the heart racing, then skydiving is the obvious option for all your crazy desires.

14. Horseback Riding

Either ride a horse just for funsies, or ride a horse to get to your ceremony site. If you want to marry somewhere on a hiking trail, but you don’t want to get all sweaty and out of breath, riding a horse on the trail (if they’re allowed) is a good way to travel and help carry anything you might need.

15. Stargazing

If you’re marrying somewhere really remote in the mountains or desert, take some time to stop and admire the stars in all their glory. If you can, have your photographer stay until after dark (or arrive before sunrise) to get some photos of you and your partner underneath the stars- it’s really cool, trust me!

16. Canoeing/SUPing

There are some lakes that have canoes and paddle boards available for rent, or just free to whoever wants to use them. Take a serene little paddle across the waters of wherever you’re visiting.

17. Skiing/Snowboarding

If you and your partner are into shredding the gnar, then incorporate it into your day! You’ll honestly look cool as hell going down the slopes in your wedding attire- just be sure to hire a photographer who can keep up.

18. Cook Together

Cook a pancake breakfast together before the day gets started, celebrate your day by making your favorite dinner, or cook something over the campfire. If cooking is how you and your partner love to spend time together and show love for one another, then do it for your favorite day.

19. Make a Bonfire

Follow local guidelines and be sure to put the fire out completely of course, but what better way to celebrate a good day than lighting a bunch of stuff on fire? Just be sure not to start a wildfire in the forest, I’m begging you.

20. Snowshoeing

If you want a winter wonderland wedding somewhere secluded, snowshoeing is a good (and sometimes necessary) way to get to pretty spots- Hike up your skirt and tramp through the powder.

21. Ride a Helicopter

If you’ve always wanted to do something special like this, then your elopement day is a perfect time to finally do it! As someone who’d been on a helicopter before, I can vouch that it’s honestly super cool- 10/10 recommend. Helicopters can take you to places not accessible otherwise- like glaciers in Alaska- or they can take you to see places like Hawaii in a way you’d never be able to see on the ground. In places where helicopter rides are really common, they’re actually a surprisingly affordable adventure to take.

22. Create Some Art Together

If you and your partner have arts-related interests, then incorporate them into your day! Play guitar and sing a song, paint together, recreate that scene from Ghost where Patrick Swayze makes pottery, or do whatever makes you happy.

23. Take Photos/Videos of Each Other

Bring a Polaroid camera, a super 8 video camera, an old cam corder, those disposable cameras that you used to bring with you to camp, make a Tiktok, do whatever to document the day! Obviously your photographer will be documenting everything for you, but sometimes nothing really beats a home video or blurry Polaroids.

24. Facetime/Call Family and Friends

If some people couldn’t make it to your day, or if you and your partner wanted to elope alone, but still want to include family or fiends, a good way to include them in your day is to call them! Call with video if possible, so they can see you all dressed up and looking cute.

25. Grab a Beer

If beer is your drink of choice, go to a local dive bar, a brewery, or the place you and your love met. There’s no shortage of local, craft, or even really shitty beer in Colorado.

26. Ride a Gondola to the Top of a Mountain

If you’re getting married near ski resort, find some good views by riding the gondola or chair lift to the top of the mountain. You can sometimes even say your vows at the top.

27. Go Camping/Glamping

If camping is your thing, then incorporate it into your day! Either rent out a nice tent or yurt to sleep in, or set up camp somewhere pretty in the forest and build a fire, sing songs, tell scary stories, and sleep under the stars.

28. Dogsledding

Dogsledding is one of the most fun and more unique activities that you can find in a lot of mountain towns if you’re getting married in the winter. Hang out with some doggies who really love the snow, and get a lift to your ceremony site- what better guests at your wedding than a bunch of huskies?

29. Scuba Dive or Snorkel

If you’re marrying somewhere on the ocean wit cool reefs, check out the scenery by going underwater. There’s a bunch of sea life and reefs that you just can’t see or find without a guide or without local knowledge.

30. Boating

If you’re near a body of water, take a boat to some secluded locations, to ski or tube, or just to hang out on the water drinking beer.

31. Pop Champagne

If you drink alcohol, nothing says “yeehaw we’re married!” like a good ol’ fashioned champagne pop.

Pro Tip: Bring two bottles- a cheap one to pop and spray everywhere, and a nicer one to actually drink.

32. Visit a Museum

If you and your partner are particularly fond of art, history, or science, run around a museum that suits you fancy- you can even get married in some museums around the US.

33. Wine Tasting

If you’re marrying in or near wine country, then it would simply be a sin not to taste the local wines.

34. Hang Out With Some Animals

Go on a nature walk, find some wildlife to admire, bathe an elephant, visit a zoo, or rent a horse, alpaca, or donkey or ride or hang with on your wedding.

35. Adopt a Pet

Fuck it! Get a dog! Or cat. or Parrot. Or a spider or something if you’re really freaky. Commemorate your love by adopting another love. My suggestion would be to get a rescue instead of going through a breeder or mill, and also maybe really think through the pragmatic logistics of this decision so you don’t end up rehoming your new lil baby.

36. Have a Boudoir or Indoor Session

Before you get ready, or after the ceremony, take some time to get some photos of you and your partner lounging around your cool Airbnb or your house. Cook breakfast together, snuggle on the bed, dance in the kitchen, do whatever you want. It can be as sexy or modest as you please.

37. Go to a Concert

If you and your partner are really passionate about a band or artist, what better way to celebrate your day than to go to a concert to dance to the music that makes your heart sing? You can even elope at a festival if music is really you jam (pun intended).

38. Play a Board/Video Game or Cards

Bring your Nintendo Switch with you, and assert your dominance in the marriage by absolutely destroying your partner in Mariocart. Or play some board games with your family at the end of the day- if you’re camping, always bring a deck of cards.

39. Tube or Boat on a River

Grab some beers and put on your sunscreen for a float down the river. Wedding attire optional.

40. Go Surfing

If the tides are aligning for your coastal elopement, then throw on those swimmies, grab your boards, and head out for a surf, either before getting all ready for your elopement, or in your wedding hair and makeup-why not!

41. Watch a Movie

Go to a drive-in, set up a projector in the backyard, build a pillow fort, watch your favorite rom-com or campy horror movie, or find something new. Whatever it is, snuggle up, get some snacks and wine, and end your elopement day with a movie.

42. Dance!

Dance a lil jig, have a first dance, do a traditional cultural dance, whatever it is , and wherever you are, the age-old way to celebrate is to dance- so pick up your skirt and do a couple twirls.

43. Get a Couples Massage

There’s so few opportunities in most working peoples’ lives to simply take time for peace and to relax. Spend a portion of your day decompressing together before or after you’re to be married.

44. Take Part in Local Traditions and Culture

If you’re traveling to a different country or state, take time to really enjoy the culture of wherever you are. Taste the local cuisine, take a class and learn a craft like weaving from the local artisans of the area, watch Native ceremonies or dances, or have a local officiate your marriage using whatever ceremonious traditions are common for the area.

45. Have a Party!

If you want a private ceremony, you can still include all the people you know and love and have a party! It’s really common for couples to save all the personal lovey stuff for one another while still celebrating with everyone afterwards. Either hold a reception later the same day, or party at a later date after you’re done soaking in the fun of your elopement.

Bonus:

Make It Multi-Day or Go Backpacking

If backpacking is your thing, then what’s better than going deep into the wilderness to some place no one has ever said their vows before? Say your vows somewhere totally remote in a place where no one else has. Go to that one place that’s special to the two of you deep in the mountains- just be sure you hire a photographer that is capable of accompanying you for this adventure. Alternatively, you can also have a multi-day elopement. It’s common in some cultures for weddings to last several days, and sometimes it’s just logistically more convenient. Sometimes the timeline of your wedding or elopement day can already be full, so it makes sense to spend the following day or the day before doing something special with your love. Take the day to adventure or get more intimate photos with just you and your love without the pressure of a timeline, ceremony, or celebration with family.