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 15 different ideas you can borrow, modify, or steal to round-out your day!

Vancouver Adventure Elopement Ideas

If a life-long marriage doesn’t freak you out but a 12-hour elopement 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 Vows

Even if you don’t make it legal, you can write or say something special. If you are making it legal, freestyle your vows, write something in advance, or stick with the tried-and-tried words that come from the officiant.

#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.

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.

#8 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!

#9 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 maybe change.

#10 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.

#11 Watch The Sunset Together

After a long, super-special elopement day, pack a pic-nic and a bottle of wine and end the day enjoying the view. Bring your photographer with you for a few stunning sunset shots, or keep it to just the two of you.

#12 Go Paddleboarding

The sea to sky corridor is full of amazing lakes surrounded by epic mountain views. Enjoy some clear, glacier-fed, calm water as you paddle around the whole lake.

#13 Go skiing or snowboarding

Winter activities more your thing? Let’s go do some laps and capture memories of doing one of your favourite winter activities on the day you say I Do!

#14 Splurge on a Helicopter Ride

Got a bucket list item? 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.

Related: A Vancouver Adventure Elopement Timeline

#15 Fly to Victoria for High Tea

...because why not take a 45-minute seaplane ride to this island just to have high tea together?!

Elopement-Photographer-Slash-Planner, 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 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! Complete the form below to set up a time for a free chat! I’d love to hear more about your day and how best I can help!