100+ Unique Elopement Ideas
Choosing to elope is a big and exciting decision for couples. There is lots to plan and do, so it can sometimes be overwhelming to know where to start. That’s why I’ve written over 100 ways you can make your elopement day unique.
Destination Elopement Ideas
A Meaningful Destination
Choose a destination that holds a special meaning to both of you.
A New Destination
Choose somewhere neither of you has ever gone but always wanted to go.
Get Your Passport Stamped
You can travel to national or state parks and have your passport stamped.
Learn About the Difference Between Eloping in National and State Parks
Elope Somewhere International
When you like to travel, eloping internationally can be the spice you’re looking for.
Rent a Picturesque Airbnb
Why rent a venue when you can find unique Airbnb properties for half the cost?
Read about unique Airbnb’s to elope at in Arizona
Travel to a Private Island
There are very few feelings, like being isolated on an entire island.
Destination Elopement Location Ideas:
Santorini, Greece:
Imagine whitewashed buildings and crystal-clear waters overlooking the Aegean Sea with iconic blue-domed churches.
Banff National Park, Canada:
A nature preserve surrounded by snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and cinematic landscapes.
Maui, Hawaii:
Enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, waterfalls, and lush tropics.
Tuscany, Italy:
Visualize rolling vineyards, olive groves, and historic villas surrounded by the Italian countryside.
Patagonia, Chile or Argentina:
Consider the boldness of Patagonia, with towering mountains, glaciers, and remote wilderness.
Sedona, Arizona, USA:
Known for its spiritual energy and red rock formations, Sedona caters to desert lovers.
The Scottish Highlands, UK:
Experience rugged mountains, rolling hills, lochs, and historic castles.
Dubrovnik, Croatia:
Travel to Dubrovnik for its ancient walls, cobblestone streets, and Adriatic Sea views.
Cappadocia, Turkey:
Consider the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, known for its fairy chimneys, hot air balloons, and rock formations.
Elopement Ceremony Ideas:
Opt For or Include a Head Piece:
Incorporate flowers and other elements into your hair with a unique headpiece.
Adopt a Pet:
Adopt a pet instead of symbolically releasing birds or butterflies after your ceremony.
Have a First Look with Your Family:
Have an intimate experience with your loved ones as they see you in your dress for the first time.
Have a Live Painting Done:
Commission an artist to design a live painting of you during your ceremony.
Write Your Own Vows:
Take time to write your own vows to recite during the ceremony.
Invite Your Loved Ones to Attend Your Elopement:
Include your closest friends and family in your elopement.
Learn about eloping with family.
Handfasting Ceremony:
A Celtic tradition involves binding the couple's hands to symbolize their union and commitment.
Include Your Pets:
Include your furry, scaly, hairy, or otherwise loved best friends.
Learn about including your dog in your elopement.
Ring Warming Ritual:
Allowing guests to bless or imbue rings before exchanging them.
Include Quotes:
Include quotes from your favorite books, movies, and other materials.
Sand Blending Ceremony:
Pour colored sand into a single container to represent the merging of two lives that cannot be unbound.
Include Your Own Traditions:
Include the personal traditions you might have in each family.
Circle of Blessing:
Stand in the middle of a circle created by your guests and receive blessings and positive energy from those gathered.
Sword Arch Tradition:
Incorporate an arch with swords that symbolizes protection and good fortune.
Include a Live Musician:
Having live music changes the energy anywhere. Bonus if you play your guys’ song or have one written!
Love Letter Ceremony:
Write love letters to each other before the ceremony to be read on your first anniversary.
Elopement Celebration Ideas:
Have a Pre or Post-elopement Party
Include extended family members and friends or enjoy a special time with loved ones as newlyweds (or almost newlyweds).
Learn more about what to do after eloping.
Include Your Honeymoon
After your elopement, go right into your honeymoon.
Private Dinner:
Arrange an intimate dinner or hire a private chef to create at a scenic location.
Champagne Toast at a Special Location:
Enjoy a private champagne toast on a mountaintop, beachfront, or somewhere sentimental.
Spa Retreat:
Enjoy a couple's spa day or weekend to relax after your elopement.
Create a Memory Book or Scrapbook:
Spend time together creating a memory book or scrapbook filled with photos, notes, and memorabilia from your elopement.
Private Yacht or Sailing Experience:
Rent a private yacht or go on a sailing adventure and “sail into the sunset”.
Customized Adventure Book:
Create an adventure book (similar to “Up”!) documenting your elopement day.
Visit a Private Hot Spring:
Relax and unwind in naturally heated mineral springs.
Elopement Food & Drink Ideas:
Go Grape Stomping:
Learn how your favorite wine was made by going grape stomping together.
Have a Food Run
Before or after eloping, hit various popular food places around town (or the country!)
Picnic:
Pack a gourmet picnic basket to enjoy atop a mountain, cliffside, or somewhere special.
Culinary Experience:
Hire a private chef to prepare a special multi-course meal at a location of your choice.
Tasting Menu Dinner:
Enjoy a tasting menu with a variety of flavors and dishes. Bonus and include wine pairing!
Farm-to-Table Experience:
Dine at a farm-to-table restaurant where the menu features locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.
Elopement Water Recreation Ideas:
Swim in a Body of Water
Go swimming together in a secluded spring or lake.
Take Cold Plunge
Choose a safe body of water with supervision and conquer a cold plunge together.
Go Jet Skiing
Enjoy a thrilling ride to a destination or just have fun.
Visit a Waterfall
Choose a waterfall to travel or hike to.
Learn about waterfall wedding venues.
Go Fishing
Enjoy fly fishing near a body of water.
Underwater Vow Exchange:
A scuba diving or snorkeling ceremony where you exchange vows underwater.
Sunrise/Sunset Kayak or Canoe Adventure:
Plan a sunrise or sunset kayak or canoe trip together.
Go Skinny Dipping
Visit a nude beach or travel to a secluded destination for an intimate swimming experience.
Dinner on a Floating Platform:
Set up a private dinner on a floating platform on a serene body of water.
Elopement Winter Ideas:
Go Snowboarding or Skiing
Find a local ski resort and try your hand at skiing or snowboarding!
Go Sledding
For less intense action, find a park with hills and go sledding!
Go Ice Skating
Find an ice rink or a designated frozen lake for a romantic ice skating experience.
Build a Snowman
Venture into the cold and build a snowman together.
Snowshoe Adventure Ceremony:
Snowshoe in a snowy forest for ultimate Narnia vibes.
Igloo or Ice Shelter Ceremony:
Construct a temporary igloo or ice shelter for a unique and intimate ceremony.
Private Sleigh Ride:
Celebrate with a private horse-drawn sleigh ride through snow-covered fields.
Winter Yurt or Cabin:
Book a secluded yurt or cabin surrounded by snowy landscapes.
Northern Lights Ceremony:
Plan an elopement in a location known for its aurora borealis sightings.
Learn about eloping in Alaska.
Take Cold Plunge
Choose a safe body of water with supervision and conquer a cold plunge together.
Relaxing Elopement Ideas
Go for a Bike Ride
Gather your bike, basket, and kittens and go for a romantic and leisurely bike ride in the country.
Take a Scenic Drive
Go for a scenic drive through nearby canyons (or across the world, no wrong answers here!).
Go for a Hike
Is there a certain hike or trail you’ve been meaning to take? Now is the time to do it.
Go Sightseeing
Make a list of destinations you want to visit, and GO!
Private Spa Booking:
Book a private spa suite or resort villa for couples' massages, hot tubs, etc.
Secluded Beachside Hammocking:
Find a secluded beach location and hang hammocks for a private and tranquil experience by the ocean.
Forest Bathing:
Take a walk in the forest barefoot. Absorb the sunlight and feel the ground beneath you.
Candlelit Forest or Garden Dinner:
Arrange a private candlelit dinner in a forest or garden.
Couples' Sound Bath Ceremony:
Experience crystal bowls alongside other instruments to create a calming and meditative atmosphere.
Visiting Hot Springs:
Enjoy soothing warm, natural waters at official hot spring locations or hiking to find your own.
Couples' Reiki or Energy Healing:
Energy healing can promote relaxation and harmony before or after your ceremony.
Nighttime Elopement Ideas
Incorporate a Campfire
Enjoy a cozy campfire or dramatic bonfire on the beach or in designated areas.
Go Star Gazing
Find a local observatory or a dark sky reserve to enjoy space.
Moonlit Beach Vows:
Exchange vows on a moonlit beach.
Firefly Garden:
Hold your ceremony or gathering in a location where fireflies are found.
Bioluminescent Bay:
Gather near a bioluminescent bay that glows with natural bioluminescent light
Northern Lights Ceremony:
Plan an elopement in a location known for its aurora borealis sightings.
Elopement at a Moon Garden:
Find a moon garden, known for being filled with white or pale flowers that shine under moonlight and create a serene atmosphere.
Elopement Group Activity Ideas:
Go for a Walk:
Enjoy an afternoon or evening walk with your loved ones (including the furry ones!)
Group Adventure Challenges:
Plan an outdoor adventure challenge such as rock climbing, hiking, or obstacle courses.
Team Games and Competitions:
Play tug-of-war, relay races, or have themed quizzes.
Outdoor Movie Night:
Set up an outdoor movie screening with a projector and blankets.
Board Game Night:
Set up various board games for a relaxed and entertaining evening together.
Exciting Elopement Ideas:
Get a Tattoo
Choose or travel to a parlor and get a tattoo together!
Go Mountain Biking:
Rent your own and choose a designated trail or use a professional mountain biking service!
Rock Climbing:
Exchange vows at the summit of a mountain after scaling it.
Bungee Jumping:
Leap together on a cliff, bridge, or other bungee jumping adventure.
Hot Air Ballooning:
Take a private hot air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset.
Skydiving:
Arrange a skydiving experience or imitate it with an indoor flight experience!
Off-Roading:
Drive to a scenic off-road location using a tour service, a rented vehicle, or your own!
Paragliding:
Fly hundreds of feet in the air with a paragliding experience.
White Water Rafting:
Plan a white-water expedition at an iconic river location.
Heli-Skiing or Heli-Boarding:
Ski, snowboard, or sandboard down a remote slope accessible only by helicopter.
Canyoning:
Go for an exciting canyoneering and repelling expedition.
Elopement Accommodation Ideas
Rent a Unique Stay:
Stay at a one-of-a-kind property using sites like Airbnb and VRBO.
Learn more about unique properties in Arizona.
Go Cowboy Camping:
Camp in the backcountry using minimal supplies or build your own from natural materials.
Have a Glamping Experience:
If you enjoy camping, make it extra special by adding all the doodads and gadgets.
Treehouse Retreat:
Stay in a secluded treehouse tucked away in the forest.
Luxury Houseboat:
Book a luxurious houseboat and enjoy the serenity of the water around you.
Secluded Mountain Cabin:
Rent a private cabin in a location of your choice.
Underground Cave:
Stay in an underground cave for a unique and unforgettable experience.
Lighthouse:
Stay in a historic lighthouse keeper's cottage and watch the ocean waves break.
Hobbit-style House:
Rent a Hobbit-style earthhouse (or go straight to New Zealand!)
Glass Cabin:
Rent a glass cabin in an iconic location of your choice.
Wilderness Lodge:
Stay at a remote wilderness lodge for a rustic and secluded experience.
Elopement Transportation Ideas
Vintage Car, Motorcycle, or Vespa:
Arrive in style in a beautifully restored vintage vehicle or bike.
Horse-Drawn Carriage:
Go for full Cinderella vibes and use a horse-drawn carriage.
Luxury Limousine or Exotic Car:
Rent a limousine or exotic sports car for a stylish, sophisticated arrival and/or exit.
Helicopter:
Use a helicopter to arrive or exit from a scenic location.
Sailing or Boat Ride Ceremony:
If you’re near water, arrive on a boat, jet ski, or even become trained and enter with dolphins. The sky is the limit.
Off-Road Vehicle:
Choose a rugged off-road vehicle or a 4x4 to transport you.
Vintage Bus or Trolley Rental:
Rent a charming vintage bus or trolley.
Dog Sled:
If in a wintry location, arrive at your elopement venue via a dog sled ride.
With these unique elopement ideas, you are sure to design the elopement experience of your dreams. Remember that almost anything can be incorporated, and it’s about what you and your partner enjoy most. This day is about you and everything that helps make that special. If you need help, I can provide accommodations like destination locations (especially hidden gems!), help with permits, acquire appropriate information and licensing, and so much more.
Are You Ready to Elope?
Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been planning for a while, hiring a photographer is an important step to creating an elopement that is perfect for you and your special someone. Whether you want desert landscapes and a multi-day experience or a secluded and romantic getaway in the mountains of Switzerland, the world is your oyster, and I am ready to help you navigate it.
