Elopement Planning Checklist | Plan Your Dream Elopement

Eloping is a beautiful and intimate way to get married, but it still requires some planning to ensure everything goes smoothly. Here’s my Elopement planning checklist to get you started. Elopements are all about intimacy and personal connection, so feel free to customize this checklist to fit your elopement vibe! If have already booked me for your adventure elopement, we’re already tackling your elopement planning checklist as planning is included in my packages.

Elopement Planning Checklist

1. Decide on the Basics

  • Date: First things first, determine which season, then choose your elopement date.
  • Location: Select your elopement destination (domestic or international).
  • Budget: Set a budget that will cover travel, accommodation, activities, ceremony, photography, and other necessary vendors.


2. Legal Requirements

  • Marriage License: Research the legal requirements for getting married at your chosen destination. Ensure you have all necessary documents. I guide couples that are traveling to the area on where to go to obtain their marriage license, so don’t worry! Some counties just require mailing, so it really depends on where you plan to elope.
  • Officiant: Decide if you’ll need to hire an officiant or have a friend to officiate your wedding. Getting ordained is so easy and can be done online at Universal Life Church.
  • Witnesses: Check if your location requires witnesses, and if so, arrange for them. California and Nevada require 1 witness. With my intimate elopement packages, I can be your witness if it’s just the two of you and I adventuring!


3. Travel and Accommodation

  • Travel Arrangements: Book flights, rental cars, or any other transportation. It’s always better to book early rather than later to guarantee flights that fit your traveling schedule.
  • Accommodation: Book a hotel room, reserve a place to stay, ideally close to your ceremony location. With my intimate elopement packages, I will provide you with lodging options based on where you will be.


4. Hire Vendors

  • Photographer: Hire an elopement photographer in the area you wish you have your elopement. We focus on Lake Tahoe and Yosemite primarily because we are very familiar with the locations. Also, make sure to find a photographer that offers planning as well. We offer elopement photography and planning packages to ensure a smooth elopement day and the images you have always dreamed of. We make it fun too, we like to make the experience fun and memorable for couples as it should be.
  • Flowers: Order a bouquet and boutonniere if desired. I can guide you on easy DIY bouquets if you wanted to save on costs, it’s really easy!
  • Hair and Makeup: Decide if you’ll hire a professional or do it yourself. Book appointments if needed.
  • Special Details: Bring any personal touches like letters, meaningful objects, or cultural elements. We’ll discuss this in your questionnaire after booking and start planning your elopement.

    Heads up, I provide vendor recommendations with all of my elopement packages. I keep things easy for my couples.


5. Ceremony Planning

  • Vows: Write your personal vows if you’re planning to have them.
  • Rings: Purchase your wedding rings if you haven’t already!
  • Attire: Choose your wedding outfits, including shoes, accessories, and any needed alterations. I offer styling assistance with every elopement package.
  • Permits: Some locations will require a permit. This is an easy process that can be done online and I will guide you through the permit process with every elopement package. Permits do need to be reserved by the client, but I will obtain all the necessary documents, communication with the park, all that tedious foot work stuff, so you can focus your time on something else!


6. Celebrate Afterward

  • Reception/Dinner: Plan a special meal or celebration for after the ceremony, even if it’s just the two of you. We’ll set up a little picnic toast with our top elopement package.
  • Cake or Dessert: Arrange for a small cake or special dessert to celebrate.


7. Notify Loved Ones

  • Tell Family/Friends: Decide how and when to share the news with your loved ones, it’s not easy I know, but family and friends just have to be understanding that this is your decision. The only thing that matters is what you want for your wedding day! Lots of couples elope these days as people seem to want a more intimate experience with little to no guests vs. a busy wedding day with a ton of guests. To have the best of both worlds, some couples will have a nice lunch or dinner with family and friends after returning home from their adventure elopement.
  • Announcements: Consider sending an elopement announcement or even share photos online if you feel like you need to include family and friends. Posting to Instagram stories may seem like a great idea, but I would refrain from social media on your elopement day this way you can be present. Your family and friends will get to see the professional photos soon enough!


8. Plan the Day’s Timeline

  • Create a Schedule: Outline a timeline for your elopement day, including getting ready, the ceremony, photos, and any post-ceremony activities.
  • Communicate with Vendors: Share your timeline with any vendors involved to ensure everyone is on the same page.

    This is where I come in! I offer planning with all of my elopement collections. I will plan, organize, create your timeline, communicate with vendors and line everything up for your elopement day. Even with elopements, there are still a lot of moving parts and I take the stress away for you.


9. Honeymoon

  • Extend Stay: Plan to extend your stay! Make it easy and save money by honeymooning in the location you eloped! There are plenty of activities that I can share with you. Some couples like to finish off their trip with a couples photoshoot with me which I offer as an a la carte item!
  • Separate Honeymoon: If you’re going somewhere else, start planning your honeymoon.


10. Elope!

The moment you have been waiting for.. your elopement day! All the hard work, visualizing, dreaming of your day has finally come. Be sure to be present with your love as you adventure together and get married along the way!

I hope you found my Elopement Planning Checklist helpful!

Ready to start planning your dream elopement? I am here to help! Contact us.

elopement planning checklist


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Kristin is the best photographer I’ve ever had. She pays such close attention to detail, and is so kind and creative! She has so many ideas and is a natural at what she does! She knows exactly where to place you for the best lighting. She cares about you as a person and listens to what you want. Thank you for making me feel so beautiful, confident, and happy!

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Kristin is outgoing, easy to talk to, down to earth, extremely professional, and hilarious!  Throughout the whole wedding, she made sure after every new pose that my dress was fixed, my hair looked good, and my veil was straight. The photos Kristin captured were all absolutely stunning, and I’m so happy that we will get to look at and cherish hundreds of so perfectly captured moments for the rest of our lives. 

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