50 Elopement ideas to make your day unique!
from an international elopement & small wedding photographer
Many couples hire me knowing they want a day unique to them and their relationship but aren’t exactly sure how to do that! Here are some questions to get you thinking on what a unique day could look like for you.
What are some activities you enjoy doing together?
What are some unique ideas that come to your mind?
What do you want to do for your Elopement day?
I always suggest to write down a list of the things you love doing together. From there think about if you would want to incorporate that activity/thing into your day! A misconception about eloping is that you have to do the same as another couple and that simply isn’t true. Your elopement is about the two of you so make it as special and unique as you’d like, there is no right or wrong to eloping!
-
Your Elopement Photographer
Indoor activities
Outdoor activities
Summer
Water
Winter
Since eloping includes no guests or almost no guests it makes it so much easier for you to create your day exactly how you want and you likely will have more funds to do something incredible for your day!
I’ve curated a list of 50 different elopement ideas to make your day unique and authentic to your love story! If something pops out to you then you already know that’s something you should try to incorporate into your day.
Your Elopement Photographer
Hey, I’m Allie!
I am an adventurous Elopement and small wedding photographer based in Alberta, Canada capturing love stories all over the world ✈️
Indoor Elopement Activity Ideas
If you’re looking to celebrate part of your indoors (or all of it) there are some amazing ways to incorporate activities without having to be in nature. The nice part about doing things indoor for your elopement is that you don’t need to stress about the weather as much if it is a concern for you!
Cooking / Baking
Spend the morning or afternoon cooking or baking your favourite snacks together especially if this is something the two of you enjoy. Besides, putting a bit of flour on each others noses can be cute and everyone loves a good snack!
Painting
If you want to bring your inner artist out you could spend time together painting. You could paint each other, the location you will say your vows or whatever you’d like!
Pottery
You can enjoy each others company by creating a piece of pottery together. This can be something you cherish from your Elopement day for a long time to come! Perhaps you mold a ring dish to hold your rings for the future.
Tattoos
One amazing way to remember your special day is to get tattoos! Some couples get matching tattoos and others just get something that is symbolic to their day and them. A great idea is to get a tattoo of the coordinates of where you said your vows!
Read & Write Letters
Write each other a love letter to read on your anniversary or to read later in the day. Spend time reading letter from friends and family members!
Grab a Drink
Go to your favourite pub or place to grab a drink, you could also try somewhere new!
Stop at a bakery or fav restaurant
Grab a pastry or some food at your favourite restaurant to enjoy your company together.
Dance in your living room
Turn on your favourite tunes and spend time jammin’ to some music!
Start your day off at the spa
Book a massage or spa treatment to enjoy some quality time together relaxing! Everyone loves a good massage or mud bath to help them relax.
go to the arcade
Have a friendly competition playing arcade games together! They arcade usually has a photo-booth which could be a lot of fun as well
museum/Art gallery
Check out a new museum or art gallery or go back to one of your favourite ones that you’ve enjoyed previously together
Outdoor Elopement Activity Ideas
Couples typically spend a decent amount of their Elopement day in the outdoors, especially when it is nice out! There are so many incredible activities you could incorporate into your day to make it extra special. Some of these ideas have a bit more physical activity than other but there are so many different incredible options to help you decide on what to do.
Summer Activities
Pop champagne
Celebrate your day by poppin’ some champagne together wherever you desire! Don’t forget to pick up the cork after if it goes flying.
How air balloon
Start your married life off by floating in the sky in a hot air balloon. To add some extra fun, say your vows up in the sky!
horse back riding
Go horseback riding somewhere new that you haven’t gone before. Horses can get you to locations quicker than hiking if you want to find an awesome spot but don’t want to hike!
Off roading
Rent a quad or side-by-side to splash in some mud puddles or to get to a new spot you’ve never been before.
helicopter
Go on a helicopter ride and land on the top of a mountain to get incredible photos and an awesome experience
water plane
If you’re eloping near water there may be the option to go on a float plane! Heck, maybe they will be able to take you lake jumping
ride a bicycle
Ride a bike down the coast on the beach, through the forest or downtown the city you’re staying at!
hiking
Hike to a new location, a hike you’ve done together before or to the top of the mountain.
gondola
Try out the gondola and when you get to the top you can say your vows together or just soak in the views
camping
If you enjoy camping together you can set up a tent or rent a camper van to spend the day and/or night camping!
stargazing
Spend the evening stargazing together. It can be wherever your heart desires, perhaps its a place that is special to you or it’s a spot you want to create new memories at!
picnic
Enjoy a picnic together of your favourite foods or dessert sometime during your day. It’s a great way to get some food in!
campfire
Warm up together with a campfire! You could roast marshmallows, cook hot dogs or just cuddle up to keep each other warm.
dancing
Find a spot to have your first dance or to just bust out some moves because you’re so happy and exciting to be married
rent a fancy car
Have you always wanted to drive a fancy or old school vehicle? This is the perfect opportunity to do this
plant a tree
One amazing way to celebrate your new journey together is by planting a tree! Perhaps it’s in the spot where you said your “I do’s” if theres a spot to do so or you find the perfect spot elsewhere.
blow bubbles
Blow some bubbles together or at each other, lol
sparklers
Light some sparklers for evening photos and dance around! Make sure to clean them up after
play instruments
If both or either of you play instruments you can play them together and just soak in the love
golfing
Love hitting golf balls? You could do mini golfing or normal golfing! Besides, who doesn’t love driving a golf cart around
Water Activities
Paddle boarding
Spend the afternoon paddle boarding around a lake
Canoeing
Take a canoe out to a lake and paddle to the other side (or middle if the other side is far away) and soak in the views around you
Hot Tubbin’
Spend the morning or evening in the hot tub together with mimosas or a bevy of your choice!
Sea-dooin’
Rent sea doo’s and spend time out on the water together
Wake boarding / surfing
Hit the waves by wakeboarding or surfing together! Maybe one of you can surf and the other can teach how to
boating
Rent a boat or hire someone to take you boating in the ocean or lake to enjoy the views. There may be some wildlife you get to see as well
fishing
Spend your afternoon or early morning fishing together. Enjoy the process of fishing and don’t feel like you need to catch anything!
swimming
Go swimming in a lake or an outdoor pool together to cool off in the case it’s hot outside
hot springs
Go to hot springs or find hot springs in the outdoors to enjoy together
Cliff /Dock Jumping
Jump off a cliff or off a dock together! Maybe it’s a fear of yours and you want to face them together
Parasailing
Spend time together parasailing and enjoying the views from above together
scuba diving
Go underwater to see and find creatures! It’s a whole different world under the water
Winter Activities
Skidooing
Put on your winter gear and go ski-dooing to the side of the mountain or hill
skiing/snowboarding
Hit the snow hill by skiing or snowboarding together. At the top you could exchange rings
snow shoeing
Snowshoe together to a spot you’ve gone before or a new spot you’ve always wanted to go to
sledding
You can sled down the hill together and enjoy having time together
I hope this list of unique elopement activity ideas helped you decide on something to include in your special day! You get to decide how special you want your day to be. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer to how you want to spend your day!
