Planning an elopement timeline requires balancing lighting, travel, activities and buffer time for the space between. This guide walks you through some key elements for building a timeline from half-day to multi-day adventures.
Why Elopement Coverage Matters
Gone are the days where I capture 1-2 hours of coverage. How on earth does this adequately capture this monumental moment in your life? This may be the route for some, but this is not what I offer. I believe your day should be truly celebrated. Not just a check mark next to your to-do list for the day. Ask yourself: Do you want your elopement to feel like a quick photo shoot or an immersive experience?
How Long do I Actually Need to Plan for my Elopement?
This all depends on what you want out of the day. The bare minimum package I offer is 5 hours which ensures you never feel rushed on your elopement day. 5 hours allows time for their not to be a camera in your face the entire time. It is never my intention to make it feel like a really long photo session. We craft a day that is worth capturing the memories and I allow you to relax between them.
PRO TIP: buffer time is the name of the game here. Buffer time for traffic, getting ready, picnics, star photos, etc. as to avoid it feeling like you are on to the next thing before the first has finished.
Activities You Can do to fill Your Elopement Timeline
Elements of the day that couples often include:
- Getting Ready
- Details
- Gift exchange
- First Look
- Vow Writing
- Ceremony/Private Vows
- Celebration
- Portraits
- First Dance
- Toasts
Elements of the day that add laughter and oomph:
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Mountain biking
- Have a beverage
- Have a picnic
- Hot Air Balloon Experience
- Off-Roading
- Helicopter Tour
- Climbing/Rappelling
- Sky Diving (I’ve been twice!)
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Tub
- Painting
- Fishing
- Snow Play
- Private Chef
- Astrophotography
Elopement Timeline Examples
12 Hour – Multi-Day Sedona and Flagstaff
This timeline does not have to be, but is normally broken down into 2 parts – 8 hours and 4 hours. This is the best of both worlds meaning you can have time to yourself, but set aside a little time to share it with family or guests. You could do something enormous like backpack from dawn until dusk with astrophotography in one day OR rise with the sun for private vows, take a nap, jeep to an epic location at sunset then have a small ceremony with your closest loved ones the next day. Sky’s the limit.
Sample Spring Elopement Timeline
5:00-8:30 am – Hot Air Balloon experience: Take-off, flight, touch-down, inside balloon, champagne toast!
– Break –
5:00 pm – Tattoo photos at the parlor
5:30 pm – Drive to ceremony site
6:00 pm – Hike to ceremony site with family
6:20 pm – Ceremony and marriage license
6:45 pm – Portraits with guests, then they depart
7:15 pm – Bridals and champagne
7:45 pm – First Dance
8:15 pm – Cake and beer with lanterns/headlamps until the stars come out
9:00 pm – Star Photos
9:30 pm – End Photos
8 Hour – Off-Roading Jeep Elopement in Sedona
Ideal if you want to include multiple locations, an adventure, family time and a private chef to end the night. This is often 8 hours in a row.
Sample Full Day Elopement Timeline
2:00 pm – Photographer arrives, greetings
2:15 pm – Details
2:40 pm – Getting ready photos
3:20 pm – First Look with groom then family!
3:45 pm – Load up the jeeps! Stop once for Jeep photos on the way up Schnebly Hill Road
4:45 pm – Arrive and walk to ceremony site
5:00 pm – Ceremony
5:20 pm – Champagne with guests
5:45 pm – Guest Portraits
6:15 pm – Bridals at and around Merry-Go-Round
7:15 pm – Leave ceremony site
8:00 pm – Private chef dinner
9:45 pm – Cake
10:00 pm – End Photos
5 Hour – Short Elopement
Perfect for getting ready, an easy to get to location and a short hike.
Sample April Sedona Elopement Timeline
3:30 pm – Photographer arrives, greetings, detail photos
3:50 pm – Bride and groom getting ready/finishing touches
4:00 pm – First Look!
4:15 pm – Leave for ceremony site
4:45 pm – Park and begin short hike
5:15 pm – Ceremony
5:30 pm – Champagne celebration, begin reading letters from family
5:45 pm – Picnic/cupcakes/cake for two
6:15 pm – Portraits on and around Baby Bell Rock
7:15 pm – Have a brew until stars pop out
8:00 pm – Star Photos
8:30 pm – End photos
*Most people leave here and head to a reservation at a restaurant or pick up pizza on the way back to their BnB!*
In Conclusion
As you can see there is a LOT of variety which may leave more questions than answers until you have a consult call with your photographer to begin hashing everything out. It helps to have several planning calls to get down to the nitty gritty of what is important to you. I often ask my couples to close their eyes and imagine their day from start to finish. I have them answer specific questions like are they visualizing waking up before the sun or sleeping in? Is it cold outside or warm? Do they want time alone and some with family?
My couples generally settle between 5-12 hours, but I am also having the joys of multi-day elopements all over Arizona! More on that in the next blog!
Head over the my Contact Page to inquire or if you’d just like to chat and see if we may be a good fit for your elopement!
-Clarice