16 Ideas for What To Do on Your Elopement Day
Okay, you’re eloping. You’re all set for the full day together. Yay! But then it’s like wait… what are we actually gonna do all day together? If you’re stumped on where to begin, where to go, and what to do on your elopement day, I’ve got your back. Here are 16 different ideas you can borrow, modify, or steal to round-out your day!
Whistler Adventure Elopement Ideas
If a life-long marriage doesn’t freak you out, but a full-day elopement photography very much does, this will help! Do some, do all, do none. Just make it allllll about you.
Elopement Day Ideas
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you can’t include some of the traditions of big weddings that you love!
#1 Get Ready Together
Sip mimosas or coffee and Bailey’s, get a little pampered, and just hang out together. Or, if you wanna surprise each other and build up that anticipation, start the day together with coffee and breakfast before getting ready in separate rooms.
#2 Make It Legal
Or don’t. Up to you.
#3 Exchange Private Vows
Even if you don’t make it legal, you can write or say something special. If you are making it legal, no one says you can’t still exchange private vows at a different time of the day.
#4 Exchange Rings
...or come up with something to exchange that’s equally meaningful to you.
#5 Have a First Dance
Whether it’s in your backyard by the campfire with a few family + friends, or at sunset in the mountains, or in your livingroom with sweats on, enjoy your first dance as a married couple.
#6 Have a Special Meal Together
Your day will probably fly by. Even an elopement, when it’s just the two of you, can sometimes just kind of slip away. Like, all of a sudden it’s midnight, and you’re married! So, it can be really nice to set aside time in your day for a quiet moment or meal alone, just the two of you. Something you can pause and take in together.
Keep it cozy by making your favourite meal at home, splurge on a fancy dinner out on the town, or make it a cheat day and order a smattering of alllll the foods you dream about.
#7 Share A Meal With Family
If you want to include family + friends, don’t feel bound by either a just-us elopement experience or a full-blown wedding! There’s so much in between. If it feels right to you, bring your must-have people along for the whole day or share a meal with them.
#8 Read letters from loved ones
If you’ve made the brave decision to have a just-us experience, keep your loved ones close to you by having them write you letters that you read together on your elopement day!
Adventure Elopement Ideas
You have the entire day to celebrate the day you commit your lives to each other, let’s include some of your favourite hobbies, activities or bucket-list adventures! Keep it low-key to ensure a relaxed day full of memories.
#9 Go On A Super Short Hike
Do a lap around a small lake together. If you’re in the Vancouver area, Rice Lake would be *chef’s kiss* perfect!
#10 Go On A Long Hike
...orrr go all-out and take an epic, long hike together.
Pros: Wicked views and photos.
Cons: You’ll need to plan for it and and require more photography coverage.
#11 Pop some Champagne!
Enjoy a bevvie post-ceremony and really soak in the fact that you are married!!
Pro Tip: Use sparkling water to keep things inline with the Leave No Trace Principles.
#12 Watch The Sunset Together
After a super-special elopement day, pack a picnic or a bottle of bubbly and end the day enjoying the view. Choose a beautiful lake and watch the sun dip behind the mountains, or enjoy a 4x4 ride up Blackcomb Mountain to catch the final rays of the day.
#13 Go Paddleboarding
The Whistler Valley lakes are perfect for including a little paddleboarding as part of your day.
#14 Go skiing or snowboarding
Winter activities more your jam? Let’s go do some laps and capture memories of doing one of your favourite winter activities on the day you say I Do!
#15 Splurge on a Helicopter Ride
Dreaming of seeing our amazing backyard from above?? Why not go for it on your elopement day! What could be more special than sharing two once-in-a-lifetime moments in one day and splurging on a heli-bump to a mountaintop to spend some time with your love?
Related: A Whistler Adventure Elopement Timeline
#16 Lake Hop On A Beach Cruiser
The Valley Trail makes it easy to hop from lake to lake. Start at one end of Whistler and hit all the lakes as you travel across the entire town.
Elopement-Photographer-Slash-Planning, At Your Service
If you’re thinking of eloping and you hire me as your photographer, expect me to go way above and beyond the call of duty.
What can I say? I just love elopements. Every couple I’ve ever worked with on an elopement has been very cool and super chill. You’re my people, and I want to give you the world.
I’ll help you to craft your entire day — the whole experience — into something that totally aligns with who you are and what you’d love.
I’ll ask you a few low-key questions (Do you want to make it legal? Any plans to invite the fam?), then turn all of your input and ideas into a custom location guide and super chill wedding day timeline.
Let’s Grab A Bevvy!
If you’re thinking that we’d be a match, then we should grab a (virtual) beverage of either the caffeinated or alcoholic variety! Check out my pricing page or click the button below for more info and to set up a time to chat!