Congratulations on deciding to Elope! Whether you don’t want to be the centre of attention, you just bought a home, COVID changed your original plans or any other reason, you are not alone. An Elopement is about the two of you and your journey together! Couples beginning to go back to the roots of marriage are deciding to Elope or have a very Intimate Wedding instead. An Elopement can be whatever YOU want it to be! My job is to help make sure you’re educated, so I have created a step by step guide on How to Elope in Alberta. Keep in mind, this guide can work for all locations. Now, let’s get to the fun stuff!

1.Find Inspiration

Now that you have decided to Elope you will want to think about how you want the day to look! This day is all about your journey together and your day should reflect that. Write down your “Must Haves'' and keep those in mind when searching for inspiration. There are lots of places to find inspiration for your special day, like; Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and even Google!

I always encourage couples to find inspiration together, after all, it’s your journey as a couple! The best way to keep your ideas organized and in one spot is with a Pinterest Board. You can keep all of your inspiration photographs in one spot and it’s easily accessible! The best part, if you need to share the board with others, you can simply send a link to them. If you’re not huge on Pinterest you can create a Google document and insert photographs and write notes on your ideas. You’re also able to share this with others in the case you need to!

2. Set a Budget

Setting a budget is a very important part of the process. You do not want to put your life into a financial situation that may put a damper on your life and relationship. The best thing you can do is research different vendors and their pricing, then decide on how much you’re wanting to spend. Set the budget and try your best to stay within it!

Here are the Vendors to keep in mind when deciding on your budget;
- Venue
- Permits
- Ceremony
- Wedding Attire
- Hair and Makeup
- Rings
- Marriage License
- Officiant
- Wedding Planner
- Photographer / Videographer
- Decor & Florals
- Food & Drinks
- Travel & Accommodations


If you’re not wanting to spend a ton there are vendors you don’t necessarily need for your Elopement. It’s best to find out what is important to you both.

3. Where & When to Elope

There are so many options when it comes to deciding on a location to Elope! Here are some questions to ask yourselves to get you thinking on where to Elope;

What are your favourite things to do together?
Where would you love to go?
Where is your favourite place?
Do you want to go somewhere you’ve already been?
Do you want a new location to give meaning to?

Since there are so many amazing locations to Elope, plan for something you love as a couple!

Here are some ideas for you both:
✔️Go up in a hot air balloon
✔️Rent a helicopter and go for a tour AND/OR fly up to a mountain
✔️Mini Road trip through all of your fav places
✔️Dog sled rides
✔️You can chase waterfalls
✔️Visit your favourite breweries
✔️Have a picnic
✔️Rent a jeep and go off roading
✔️Take a boat ride to an island
✔️Rent a canoe and float around your favourite lake
✔️Go on a Hike
✔️Ski or Snowboard
✔️ Rent a cabin

If you’re still struggling on deciding where to Elope in Alberta, check out my blog post on 12 Places to Elope in Alberta HERE.


Now that you have narrowed down the locations of where you may want to Elope, let’s think about the weather! Being in Alberta the weather can be all over the place. Here are some questions you should ask yourselves to help you decide on when to Elope;

Do we want to Elope in the spring, summer, fall or winter?
If it rains, do we want to Elope outside?
What time of the day do we want to Elope?
Do we want a sunrise Elopement?
Do we want a sunset Elopement?

4. Decide on Vendors

Once you have found inspiration, set a budget, narrowed down where and when you are going to Elope, it’s time to decide on vendors! Some vendors book up quicker than other vendors, especially if you’re deciding to Elope on a popular date. When hiring vendors you will want to find ones that you love and are within your budget. If you’re spending most of the day with the vendor (example, photographer or videographer) you will want to find ones that you connect with! There is nothing worse than hiring a vendor that you don’t get along with, especially on such an important day. Most vendors book 6 months - 1.5 years in advance! If there is a specific vendor that you have been admiring for some time it is best to book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

5. Finalize the Details

Whooohoo! You have all of the vendors booked and now you are on the final countdown. It is time to finalize all of the details with your vendors. Some vendors will need to know where to be and when to be there, such as;

Photographers
Videographers
Hair and Makeup
Officiant
Florist

It’s important to make sure everyone is on time and at the right place for your special day! If you need help with the timeline of the day some photographers/videographers will help with that.

6. Sign the Papers

The day has arrived and it is very important to make sure those papers are signed! If you’re not planning to bring any witnesses make sure to ask two of your vendors to sign for you. Photographers/Videographers are usually happy to by your witness, you could also ask your hair and makeup stylist to sign!

Don’t skip this step ;)

7. The Announcement

Congratulations!! You tied the knot and it is official. If you’re deciding to share with your friends and family it is time to do the announcement.

Here are some ideas on how to announce your Elopement:

Post a Photo/Video - You didn’t hire a photographer/videographer for no reason. Share the AMAZING photographs or video of your special day and announce it to everyone!

Party Reveal - Gather your friends/family for a backyard bbq or campfire and announce you Eloped and tell them about how amazing your day was!

Have a Gathering - Invite your friends or family over for some cocktails and snacks, then you can announce the Elopement when they all arrive

Same Day Announcement - Right after you tie the knot have your friends and family at your favourite restaurant and announce you just Eloped and show up in your Wedding Attire!

There are so many different ways to announce your marriage to your friends and family. Find something that speaks to you as a couple and do that!

Elopement Checklist

☑️ Choose a location & date
☑️ Apply for marriage license
☑️ Book a photographer/videographer
☑️ Book an officiant
☑️ Decide on witnesses
☑️ Book travel & accommodations
☑️ Buy Wedding Attire
☑️ Purchase rings
☑️ Book a florist/decor
☑️ Book dinner plans

More Blog Posts About Elopements

12 Places to Elope in Alberta
7 Reasons to Elope

Want to hire me for your Elopement Photography?
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