If you’re dreaming of a day that feels like you — a day full of adventure, connection, and intention, then you need a well-planned elopement timeline. A lot of couples I work with know how they want their wedding day to feel, but don’t quite know how to bring it all together. They tell me things like, “We want the experience to feel meaningful and fun, but we’re overwhelmed by how to fit it all in.” And, I get it!
Planning an elopement is exciting, but knowing how to blend your private adventure with a cozy celebration, while also structuring it in a way that allows for presence and peace, can feel challenging. That’s where a thoughtful elopement timeline comes in. In this post, I’m sharing my tips for how to create an elopement timeline that prioritizes your experience, whether you’re celebrating with guests or having your own private adventure (or a little of both!).
What is an Elopement Timeline?
Imagine your elopement day like a story. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and your elopement timeline is the outline that provides the structure to your story. It outlines the flow of your day (or days, if you’re having a multi-day celebration) and helps give you, your guests, and your vendors an idea of how your day will unfold.
However, an elopement timeline is not a rulebook. Rather than following a rigid schedule or attempting to cram everything into one short window, an elopement timeline should give you freedom and create space for presence, spontaneity, and connection. Instead of rushing from one event to the next, it allows you to move through your day in an organized way while leaving enough space for meaningful moments to naturally unfold.
How to Structure Your Wedding Elopement Timeline
When I start working with couples, the elopement timeline is one of the first big conversations we have. Our very first call dives deep into your wedding or elopement vision. We talk through all the activity ideas that excite you most. Then, from there, I create a few different timeline options based on what you shared and together, we narrow in on the details to find the timeline that most closely aligns with your vision.
As an intimate wedding and elopement photographer, I truly believe your timeline should reflect your priorities. For some couples, that means a slow morning and an epic afternoon hike, followed by a golden hour ceremony. For others, it means sunrise vows and a late-night dinner party with friends and family, with time to rest in between. There is no cut-and-paste elopement timeline template, just like there is no one way to elope. Every couple’s day is different, and crafting a timeline that prioritizes your experience is one of my favorite parts of elopement planning.
While I’m happy to take on the specifics of planning your elopement timeline, there are a few key questions I always like to ask my couples.
- How much downtime do you need to feel grounded?
- What kind of adventure do you want, and what activities do you want to include?
- Are you including guests, or is it just the two of you?
- How much time do you want to spend with others vs. just the two of you?
- Are you imagining a sunrise or sunset ceremony?
These questions help me understand what aspects are important and give you an idea of how much time you will need to account for in your elopement collection.
Sunrise vs Sunset Ceremonies: What to Know
One of the biggest decisions couples make when planning their adventure elopement timeline is whether to hold their ceremony at sunrise or sunset. This can be a really difficult decision to make (after all, both times of the day offer some pretty amazing benefits).
When guiding couples through this decision, I always encourage them to consider these three things:
- Lighting + emotion: Both sunrise and sunset offer dreamy golden light, but they give off very different vibes. Sunrise feels quiet, sacred, and fresh, while sunset tends to feel warm, celebratory, and romantic.
- Guest logistics: If you’re inviting loved ones, a sunrise ceremony might be too early for everyone to get to the trailhead. In these cases, I often suggest a private sunrise moment for the two of you and a later gathering with guests.
- Energy flow for the day: Some couples want to hold their ceremony early so they can rest, reset, and be fully present for the evening celebration. Others prefer to build anticipation and save vows for the end of the day. Consider what time of day you both operate best and consider designing your elopement timeline around those hours.
The beauty of elopements is that you get to decide what feels right. There is no “best” time of day; there is only the time that feels right for you.
How to Mix Adventure + Celebration
A few common questions I hear from eloping couples is: “Is it possible to have an intimate wedding but also prioritize time for just the two of us? And, if so, how do we include both a private adventure and time with guests without feeling like we’re rushing through the day?”
The short answer to the first question is a resounding yes (feel free to read this blog post for more information on how to create an experience that includes both)! And having this experience is where creating an elopement timeline with intentional structure and built-in breathing room comes in.
If you want to have a private elopement experience and a celebration with your favorite people, one of the ways we can achieve that is by splitting your coverage. Split day coverage might mean splitting your day and having rest time in between, or splitting up your days completely and having a day just for you and a day with your loved ones. Here’s how those options might look:
- Split full-day: A morning adventure followed by a midday break and a relaxed evening dinner. Your morning adventure can be for just the two of you, and your evening dinner can be reserved for your celebration with loved ones (or vice versa).
- Multi-day: A celebration where each day has a different focus. For example, day one is your ceremony and party with your people, and day two is a private adventure for you and your love.
No matter what option feels best for you, know that it is 100% possible to create space for both solitude and your community.
Example Elopement Timeline Templates
Ready to see what a real wedding elopement timeline looks like? Here are a few example timelines I’ve built for some of my past couples.
Full-day Elopement (10 Hours)
Perfect for: Just the two of you or a very small group. Prioritizes your experience and beautiful scenery.
10-hour Elopement Timeline
- 11:00 AM – refresh + get ready for the day
- 1:00 PM – first look + read letters together
- 1:30 PM – pack up and head out to your first adventure location
- 2:00 PM – sailing cruise around the lake complete with cocktails + snacks
- 4:00 PM – rest + early dinner at a local restaurant
- 6:00 PM – reset + touch up for your evening ceremony
- 6:45 PM – vows on top of a mountain as the sun sets over the horizon
- 7:15 PM – cake + champagne picnic
- 7:30 PM – quiet moments to dream together
- 8:15 PM – golden hour photos
- 8:45 PM – watch the sunset
- 9:15 PM – head back to your cabin
Adventure Elopement + Intimate Wedding Celebration (10 Hours Split Coverage)
Perfect for: Couples who want a private moment and a party.
10-hour Split Coverage Elopement Timeline
- 5:00 AM – sunrise hike
- 6:15 AM – get ready at the summit
- 7:15 AM – private vows at sunrise
- 8:00 AM – hike back down
- 9:30 AM – breakfast at your cabin
– Rest
- 2:00 PM – get ready at your cabin
- 4:00 PM – ceremony
- 4:30 PM – happy hour + charcuterie
- 5:00 PM – golden hour photos
- 5:30 PM – toasts + dinner with a private chef
- 6:00 PM – cake cutting
- 6:30 PM – dancing, campfire + s’more
Multi-day Elopement Timeline (Two or More Days)
Perfect for: Couples with a larger guest list, or who simply want to make the most of their experience.
Two-Day Elopement Timeline
Day 1: Lake Day
- 7:00 AM – morning walk through the forest + private yoga class
- 9:00 AM – slow morning moments at your cabin
- 10:00 AM – morning brunch with family
- 12:00 PM – afternoon swim with family
Day 2: Elopement Day
- 11:30 AM – get ready at your cabins
- 2:00 PM – short hike + vows on the summit
- 2:30 PM – champagne cheers + toasts
- 3:00 PM – head back to your cabin
- 3:30 PM – portraits with family
- 4:00 PM – kayak on the lake
- 5:30 PM – family dinner and speeches
- 7:00 PM – sunset + jump into the water
- 8:00 PM – campfire + s’mores
Final Tips for Planning a Smooth Wedding Elopement Timeline
Consider the time of year
The time of year and your elopement location will influence your timeline. Winter brings shorter days so while you may not need to wake up as early for sunrise, sunset will be earlier in the day (and vice versa for summertime). The summer months bring longer days which can be great if you are wanting more time for celebration, but keep in mind you may need to wake up earlier or stay out later for the most optimal lighting.
Allow buffer time
Always leave more room than you think you need. Even the most well-thought-out plans require buffer time. Hiking can take longer, the weather might shift, or you may just want to pause and soak in the experience a little bit longer. It’s worth adding in extra time so you can fully enjoy the experience, no matter what arises. Plus, in the event that we don’t need the extra time, we can simply use it to take more photos (or anything else you want to enjoy).
Create a plan that prioritizes your experience
Whether it’s a 6-hour elopement timeline or a 3-day elopement timeline, it’s not the time spent that matters as much as it is about the experience you have. The way you feel on your elopement day will largely depend on what activities you include, who you’re surrounded by, and how your day is structured. Focus on your experience first and the rest will almost certainly fall into place.
FAQs About Elopement Timelines
How long does the average elopement take?
Elopements can range anywhere from 2 hours or 4 hours, to two or even three days. It all just depends on the type of experience you want. Many of my couples choose a full-day elopement or split coverage to keep things relaxed.
What is a typical adventure wedding day timeline?
When it comes to elopements, there is no “typical”, and that’s part of what makes them so special. That being said, a common structure you will see in many elopement timelines is: getting ready, ceremony, and celebration with adventure photos sprinkled throughout. Everything else is details you get to choose!
How far in advance should we plan our elopement timeline?
Some elopements are planned in just two or three months, while others can take almost a year to plan! Think about how much time you would like to have to plan your elopement so you can enjoy the process. Once you have a date nailed down, I recommend reaching out to your elopement photographer or other vendors, as popular dates and locations can get booked up several months in advance.
Your wedding day is so much more than just a photo session or a checklist of things to do. It’s an experience that resembles the type of relationship you are building with your partner, and that experience starts with a well-crafted elopement timeline.
If your dream elopement day is one that honors your relationship, invites adventure, and creates space for you to be fully present, I’d love to help you bring it to life. Reach out below and, together, we’ll start planning your custom elopement timeline.
