Creating an Elopement Timeline
Are you ready to plan your elopement timeline but aren’t sure where to start? This blog is a great starting point for planning the perfect timeline for your elopement day! I will give you two examples of elopement timelines and things to consider when building yours. I help all of my couples build the perfect timeline for their elopement day, so they don’t have to worry about it! I help location scout, find activities to include, and plan the best elopement timeline.
Elopement Timeline Examples
Elopement Timeline #1
This timeline is a standard hiking elopement timeline where everything happens right after the next.
12:00 pm - Vendors arrive at the hotel
12:30 pm - Get ready at the hotel
1:30 pm - Drive to the first look location at the waterfall
2:00 pm - First look at the waterfall
3:00 pm - Drive to the trailhead for the ceremony hike
4:30 pm - Begin the 2-mile hike
5:00 pm - Arrive at the summit & get ready for the ceremony
5:30 pm - Ceremony & pop champagne!
6:00 pm - Take portraits on the summit
7:00 pm - Have a picnic on the summit
7:30 pm - Take portraits as the sunsets
8:30 pm - Begin the hike back to the trailhead
9:30 pm - Head back to the hotel to celebrate more!
Elopement Timeline #2
This timeline is a perfect option if you want to break your day up into two sections.
5:00 am - Wake up & get ready for a sunrise hike
6:00 am - Drive to the trailhead
6:30 am - Begin the 2-mile hike
7:30 am - Arrive at the summit to watch the sunrise, eat a light breakfast, and take portraits
9:00 am - Hike back to the trailhead
10:00 am - Drive back to the Airbnb
*break*
3:00 pm - Vendors arrive at the Airbnb
3:30 pm - Get ready at the Airbnb
4:30 pm - Have the first look outside the Airbnb
5:00 pm - Drive to the trailhead for the ceremony hike
5:30 pm - Begin the 1-mile hike
6:00 pm - Arrive at the summit & get ready for the ceremony
6:30 pm - Ceremony
7:00 pm - Pop champagne & have a picnic on the summit!
7:30 pm - Take portraits as the sunsets
8:30 pm - Begin the hike back to the trailhead
9:00 pm - Head back to the Airbnb to celebrate more!
Things To Consider When Creating Your Elopement Timeline
Plan the day YOU want
One of the best tips I can give is to make your elopement day the way YOU want it to be. Your elopement day is about you, your partner, and your love for each other, so you should spend the day focused on doing things you absolutely love! If something in your timeline doesn’t make you happy, then ditch it. You should look at your elopement timeline and get butterflies because you are so excited for it all!
Ceremony timing
The best times to photograph are around sunrise and sunset because midday has very harsh light. I always recommend planning your ceremony near sunrise or sunset, so the lighting for your photos is perfect! If you aren’t sure how to create your elopement timeline, you can plan your ceremony time and work around that. You also want to make sure you leave time after your ceremony for portraits!
Activities you want to include
Your elopement timeline will depend on what activities you want to include! After you figure out where and when you want your ceremony to be, the next step is to plan your timeline around activities. If you want to hike, you should make sure to allocate plenty of time to get to the trailhead and hike to and from the spot. If you want to rent a boat and watch the sunset from the water, you should make sure to allocate plenty of time to get to the boat and drive to the spot on the water.
Allow extra time and be flexible
One of the most important things to do when creating your elopement timeline is making sure you add more time than you think you’ll need. I recommend allocating at least 15-30 minutes extra for each item on your timeline. And of course, it’s important to be flexible! Sometimes things happen, so having extra time built into your timeline and having the flexibility to adjust it as needed is so important.
Avoid crowds
If you are eloping in a popular area and want to avoid crowds, I recommend creating your elopement timeline on a weekday. If that isn’t possible, sunrise and sunset are great times as well!
If you are looking for information on creating your elopement timeline, this blog is a great place to start! I help all of my couples build the best timeline for their elopement day based on what they want to do and where they want to elope.
Ready to plan the elopement of your dreams?!
Let’s chat about what you are envisioning! I am here to help plan and photograph every moment of your beautiful day and make your dream elopement day come to life!
Hi there,
Elopement & Wedding Photographers
My name is Alex, and I am an adventure enthusiast, travel addict, and your dream-making wedding photographer! I am a New Hampshire elopement photographer and wedding photographer but will travel well beyond New England to capture your elopement or wedding day.
I got my start in photography capturing stunning landscapes around the world but realized my true passion was capturing beautiful photos of a couple’s love. There is something about the magic of love that draws me to couples like a magnet.
Over the years, I have met so many amazing couples, and I am so excited to get to know YOU! I am here to provide you with beautiful photos of your elopement or wedding day, so you can look back and relive those memories forever!
