Four-Day Adventure-Filled Guatemala Elopement
Four-Day Adventure-Filled Guatemala Elopement
One of the great things about adventure elopements is that they can look so many different ways. Planning an adventure-filled wedding day can mean hiking in the mountains, taking a helicopter ride to a glacier, or exploring a city in a new destination. I’ve always said that there is no right way to elope - there is only your way.
When M&T met, their connection was instant! Not only did they share a love for outdoor adventures and travel, but they also bonded over their mutual love for coffee, good food, and unique experiences. All of these things played a part in building the foundation of their relationship so when it came time to plan their elopement in Guatemala, the couple decided to get married in the place where they fell in love and they chose to incorporate all of these meaningful aspects into their day, making for a truly adventurous Guatemala elopement! Keep reading to see how to plan an adventure elopement and see the best Guatemala elopement locations we explored for M&T’s special day.
What is an Adventure Elopement?
Elopements are a non-traditional way of getting married (click here to learn more about what it means to elope) and adventure elopements take things one step further. Adventure elopements usually include an amazing (or multiple amazing) experience that oftentimes takes place somewhere outdoors. These adventures could be something new that you want to experience together as a couple or it could be reliving an activity that you already love doing together. Adventure elopements are typically structured around a specific event or activity and the timeline is then created around what works best for the location or excursion you have chosen (i.e. - crowds, accessibility, time of day, etc.).
3 Locations to Consider for Your Guatemala Elopement
1 / Antigua, Guatemala
Not only does Antigua, Guatemala have stunning Spanish colonial architecture, but it’s also one of the oldest city planning areas in Latin America. The basic grid plan (which originated in 1543) is still maintained today, and it gives a natural charm and coziness to the city. Antigua is a UNESCO world heritage site with a unique climate, and views of Fire and Acatenango volcanoes.
When planning M&T’s Guatemala elopement what we didn't realize at the time is that it would be Holy Week/Easter Week during their elopement week. What this meant is that visitors from all over Guatemala would come to the city and pray during Holy Week. There would be parades, prayers, and special events taking place throughout the streets all week. As their big day approached and we worked to figure out the details and found ways to navigate and adjust the plan to be respectful of the local culture and not disrupt any of the daily events that were taking place. Waking up at sunrise and having their first look at the hotel was key to making sure we didn’t interrupt anything.
2 / Pacaya Volcano
It’s not every day you get to visit a volcano, let alone an active one! Pacaya Volcano is an active volcano located about an hour and a half away from Antigua. The volcano has erupted 23 times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala, and the last eruption took place in 2021.
Because the volcano is an active volcano, we needed a professional tour guide with us at all times. The hike can be quite difficult, so to make things easier, we rented a horse for M to ride. While we were hoping for a view of surrounding volcanos, we were instead met with heavy fog when we got to the top, which gave it an other-worldly feeling that was magical in its own way. After exploring the volcano, we stopped for lava-cooked pizza right there on the volcano’s edge. It was delicious and added such a fun and unique element to M&T’s adventure elopement.
3 / El Paredon
Best known as a surfer town, El Paredon is a secluded and remote area that sits right on the Pacific Ocean and has many little restaurants and boutique hotels. It’s a great place to practice surfing, especially if you’re a beginner, and if surfing isn’t your thing, it’s the perfect town to sit back and relax, which is exactly what we did during M&T’s Guatemala elopement.
We spent the last two days here for M&T’s elopement in Guatemala, enjoying the area, the beach, and the sunshine. This is also where the couple exchanged their vows at sunrise and it was easy to find a private setting on the beach for the couple to share in this special moment together.
M&T’s Four-Day Guatemala Adventure Elopement
From the moment they reached out, M&T knew that their elopement was not going to be your "typical" wedding experience. In fact, they didn't even care about how many hours they needed, or when we started or stopped each day. Instead, all that mattered to them was that the whole experience was captured through photos that would allow them to relive these moments over and over again. Together, we created an on-the-go approach for their adventure elopement in Guatemala. What started off as a one-day excursion, turned into four amazing days exploring this beautiful Central American country.
M&T’s Guatemala elopement structure was like nothing I've done before and it quickly felt less like a photoshoot and more like simply hanging out with old friends and chasing new memories and adventures. Not only did we get to travel together for multiple days, but we also shared in the excitement and celebration of the start of their marriage journey together.
DAY 1
Day one of this four-day Guatemala elopement kicked off with a casual ATV tour to Finca La Azotea, a sustainable coffee plantation. This 150-year-old coffee farm was the perfect place to kick off M&T’s adventure elopement as it was not only a fun activity but also symbolized the couple’s shared love for coffee. After the tour, we traveled up the mountain and visited Hobbitenango, a hobbit-style resort area with stunning views of the valley where we took sunset portraits with a blanket of clouds surrounding us, making for the dreamiest backdrop.
DAY 2
Day two was when the wedding festivities began. At sunrise, M&T shared a private first look at their hotel in Antigua followed by a few quiet moments of exploring the streets and ruins of the city before the crowds filled the streets. After an afternoon break, we continued the adventure to Pacaya Volcano where we rode horses, and hiked (and biked) the active volcano finishing the day with lava-cooked pizza, which I can attest is as incredible as it sounds!
DAY 3
After a full day of adventuring, day three was all about relaxing. We traveled to El Paredon where the couple had rented a private Airbnb on the Pacific Ocean. There, we spent the whole day lounging in the pool, running around the beach, and of course, taking photos to document these special moments.
DAY 4
The fourth and final day of M&T’s Guatemala elopement was reserved for the couple’s vow exchange. At sunrise, we headed down to the beach where M&T promised their love to each other with the golden glow of the sun lighting up the background. Afterward, the couple ran into the ocean water (wedding attire and all!).
M&T’s adventure elopement in Guatemala was a jam-packed, adventure-filled experience full of activities that were meaningful and unique to the couple. It’s not often I get to spend four days with a couple celebrating their love, and this Guatemala elopement was definitely one for the books and is the perfect picture of how to celebrate your elopement your way!
I also want to say that this Guatemala elopement would not have been possible without the help of the incredible team at Epic Adventure Guatemala. From arranging the activities to assisting with transport, airport transfers, adventures, and bookings, they helped make this adventure elopement in Guatemala a more seamless and enjoyable experience.
Kind words from M&T
First off, wow! Will was amazing and did not fail to deliver. He was prompt, professional, and had great communication throughout the whole process. Our pictures where absolutely stunning and more than I could have ever dreamed of. We eloped in Guatemala and he spent 4 days really capturing the highlights of our adventures. He went above and beyond to make everything perfect and I can honestly say he became more than just our photographer, he became our friend.
Elopement Vendors
Photography: Will Khoury Photography
Venues: Hobbitenango / Hotel Eterna Primavera Antigua / Finca La Azotea / Rancho Palmarenasurf
Cake & Desserts: Panaderia San Antonio
Dress: Something New Boutique
Tour Agency: Epic Adventure Guatemala