Your elopement day is an experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime. Creating an elopement timeline is important to make sure everything runs smoothly, but there are a few main things to keep in mind to make sure that your timeline works for you and allows you to have a day that you love. Here are five tips to help you create a stress-free elopement day timeline.

5 Tips to Consider When Creating Your Elopement Timeline

Choose the Best Time of Day for Your Ceremony

Your elopement ceremony is one of the highlights of your wedding day. It’s a time for you and your partner to truly commit to each other and express your love. Elopement timelines are often created with this moment being at the center of everything else so finding the right time is crucial.

Lighting and weather both play a big part in your wedding day. Depending on the location you choose, you’ll want to select the best time of year to get the most ideal weather for you. Once you’ve landed on a date, you’ll want to consider when you want to have your ceremony. I always advise couples to consider planning their ceremony about 1 - 2 hours before Golden Hour starts. This is the time of day when the lighting is ideal and won’t cast harsh shadows. Couples can choose between sunrise and sunset and because these times fall earlier and later in the day, the rest of your wedding day can be spent filled with activities and things you love. 

Allow Enough Time for Preparation, Vendors, and Travel

No one wants to feel rushed on their wedding day. That just creates an added layer of stress that you should not have to deal with. The best way to avoid feeling rushed is to plan enough time for each activity. This doesn’t just include your ceremony and adventure photos, this also means allowing yourself enough time to get ready and travel between locations. 

In order to find out just how much time you’ll need, I always recommend checking with all your vendors to see how much time they need to help you prepare. If you’ll be getting hair and makeup done, how long will that take? Do you want getting ready photos of you and your partner? Are there any important moments with family or friends that you would like captured? Once you have an idea of how long everything will take, you’ll want to include some buffer time in case things take longer than anticipated. You’d be surprised how many times couples have struggled with buttons on a dress or had difficulty tying their bow tie and these aren’t reasons that should cause you stress on your big day. 

Another area that I always recommend adding buffer time to is your travel time. Traveling between your getting ready location, your ceremony spot, and your adventure photos all takes time and especially if you are planning an elopement with guests, you’ll want to accommodate for the amount of time it takes to get everyone ready in one place. Timelines can get off track very quickly which is why I always recommend adding some extra or buffer time. And hey, if you don’t need it that just means you’ll have more time for photos or any other activities you may want to enjoy. 

Incorporate Meaningful Activities & Down Time

Speaking of activities, this is one of the most fun ways to personalize your elopement. An elopement is all about creating a day that you love so ditch the traditions you don’t resonate with and keep the ones you do. Or, create a day that’s COMPLETELY unique to you! 

Some activities that couples choose to include in their elopement timeline are first look with partner or family members, a gift exchange, personal vows in a scenic location, or an adventure excursion (hiking, helicopter tour, kayaking, etc.). This by no means is a complete list, but just some ideas to get you started on planning your own unique elopement day. 

Something to keep in mind is that when taking time for the important parts of the day (like your ceremony), try to not look at your elopement timeline like a "task list" but rather an experience where you can remember how the day felt. When you first sit down to create your timeline, think about how you want to feel and create your plans based on that. Being able to fully enjoy and live in the moment will help ensure that you have a much more positive experience and helps ensure that your wedding photography doesn’t just feel like a photo shoot, but actually, a wedding-related activity that you enjoy.

There is something to be said for creating a good balance between wedding activities and being relaxed throughout the day. You may not want to pack your day full of activities and be constantly rushing from one thing to the other. Sometimes, it’s nice to experience the moment and enjoy the feelings throughout the day instead of thinking about what is happening next. 

Slowing down can not only help you enjoy the day, but it can also help create a safe elopement experience, especially when planning an adventure elopement. Taking your time and not rushing a hike can be super helpful when it comes to the overall experience of the day and it will allow you to take breaks along the way, whether it’s to rest, enjoy a snack, or take in the view. 

Oftentimes, couples find that when they get to their location, they want to enjoy the area for longer than planned. By slowing down and including that extra downtime, you’ll have the flexibility to do that with ease! 

Check with Your Photographer Before Finalizing Your Elopement Timeline

Before you finalize your elopement timeline, it’s important to check in with your photographer to make sure you both are aligned on how the day will unfold. Even better, create the timeline WITH your photographer! This is the best way to get the most out of your timeline and make sure your day is organized and arranged around the best timing for photos. 

A good elopement photographer will already be familiar with your location and have advice to share to help you make the most of the day. They will be able to help you determine the best time to host your ceremony based on your location as that can often have an effect. (ie - While Golden Hour might work best for a coastal/beach ceremony, late afternoon is more optimal for a location like the Redwoods.)

Fun fact: Here at “Will Khoury Photography” planning your elopement timeline and guiding you with your day is part of the photography service! In fact, as your photographer, oftentimes, I’m the only professional vendor present on wedding day guiding you and coordinating the day so the flow is super easygoing and relaxed for you and their guests (if present). It’s just one of the many ways to help you in creating an intentional experience for your wedding day.

Create Your Elopement Timeline, and Embrace the Unexpected

Having a solid elopement timeline is key to a great wedding experience. It is what will keep the day going and keep everything on track. But at the same time, making sure there is flexibility to adapt to changes and go with the flow is also very important. 

Everyone wants their wedding day to go as planned, but sometimes things come up that are completely out of our control. Family members may get sick, guests may run into traffic delays or have trouble parking, or the weather may change unexpectedly. No one wants these things to happen, but accepting and embracing unexpected delays or changes will help you navigate your elopement day with less stress. If everything runs according to plan, then that’s a win, but either way, your elopement day goes, my advice is to enjoy your day with loved ones no matter what comes your way! 

Need More Elopement Planning Tips? Check Out My Resources Below!

Remember, your elopement day is about experiencing and feeling the day, not just checking tasks off a list. Taking your time to enjoy meaningful moments will make a huge difference in how the day feels and is remembered. By following these five tips, you can create a stress-free elopement timeline that allows you to fully embrace and enjoy every moment of your special day.

Ready to start planning your dream elopement day?

I know just the photographer (wink wink) to help you capture all the important moments and details. Learn more about what planning an elopement with me can look like or, if you’re ready to get started, head over to my contact page!

I can’t wait to meet you!