Your Ultimate Elopement Timeline Guide – What Your Elopement Could Look Like

When you start getting closer to your big day you’ll want to start putting all of your plans down on a timeline. But what the hell is it? Don’t fret. Your wedding timeline is a realistic flow of what your day will look like. We help with all of that.

Sure, you can choose just about anything you’d like to fill your day, but we’ll put together how that will look like on paper. Logistically, we’ll create a timeline that is most efficient and free flowing.

But First a Few Timeline Tips

• Don’t fall for the planning fallacy, always schedule buffers.
  A planning fallacy is when we underestimate how much time a task really takes, and it happens all the time during weddings and elopements because people have little to no experience in these matters. The best thing to do is to add a 20/30 minute buffer after every point of movement so that you don’t fall into the trap.
• Time flies when you’re having fun.
  Trust me, even a seasoned professional like myself has the tendency to forget we have dinner reservations or somewhere else to be especially if we’re having fun together enjoying the moment. Buffers, buffers, buffers – they really do help.
• Schedule in time for relaxation and just taking it all in.
• If you’re having guests schedule in alone time.
• Don’t feel pressured to spend all of your time with your guests. For all-in elopements, you can spend time with families and friends separately so you can enjoy each group or family alone.

A 4 Hour Timeline – A Stroll Through the Forest

Klaire & Mitchell choose a quiet afternoon to enjoy their vows and some exploration. Their elopement timeline is simple. We consider this a “Just Us” elopement and many of our couples have chosen this style of elopement so that they can truly enjoy each other but enjoy more time privately.

3:00 PM We meet Klair & Mitchell at a pull off near a trail. They’re getting ready for their ceremony and sharing a joke as we approach them. They get ready on opposite sides of the car so they can share a first look at a location on the trail.

3:15 PM We head off to the trail and begin our descent.

3: 30 PM They tell us their plan to meet at a fork so we decide to observe from afar after having scouted the location. After they’ve met, they continue their hike and we catch up.

4:30 PM We get to a rock in the middle of a stream and they begin saying their vows. They have chosen to self solemnize so they keep it short and sweet so they can spend the rest of the time exploring together.

4:45 PM After completing their vows, they spend the rest of their time enjoying a dance together, popping champagne, and having a little picnic.

5:30 PM We begin our ascent to a location where Klaire and Mitchell would like to enjoy the sunset.

6:00 PM The clouds are gorgeous and the sky begins to turn purple and pink so they take their last hour exploring more of the trail as we head back to our vehicles.

7:00 PM Photographers head out!

This is what the couple had to say:

“Mari & Fabian were awesome. They just got us. Together, we planned the perfect hike for our 4 hour elopement. [Mari and Fabian] acted like flies on the wall while they guided us remotely by walkie talkie. They made us comfortable, they were supportive of every decision we made. The only thing we regret is only hiring them for 4 hours. With all that fun on our short hike, I imagine we could’ve filled our day with more amazing experiences.”

A 4 hour elopement timeline is ideal for couples who …

…Are doing a “just us” elopement. The less people in the mix means that you’re able to enjoy your time alone.
…Want a quick adventure (about a mile or two hike, for example) exploring one location and a quick treat to keep your energy up.
…Want to meet fully dressed and ready to say your vows.

An 8 Hour Timeline – A Half Day Celebration

2:30 PM Fabian and I arrive at an Air BnB that Susie & Jake rented with their 6 closest friends and family.

3:00 PM Susie & Jake get ready in different rooms while their tribe get ready and pack up for the day’s adventures.

4:30 PM Head to ceremony site.

5:30 PM Jake heads down to ceremony site for first look with Susie.

5:35 PM Susie & Jake’s ceremony begins.

5:50 PM They have their first kiss and begin their family and formal photos.

6:30 PM Finish off at their mountain ceremony with a last look at their day before the sun dips down beyond the horizon.

7:30 PM Since there were only 10 of us, the couple decided on a Fremont Street casual dining experience at Hennessey’s which seated us right away.

8:00 PM With all the formalities out of the way, the couple enjoys their first shot after dinner and encourage everyone to do the same.

9:05 PM We head out for a night on the town on Fremont Street. Grabbing drinks at every bar and taking photos.

9:30 PM After taking in the crowd and the sights, the couple settle with their parents at a bar where they all continue to take shots to celebrate. With their parents comfortable and entertained, Susie and Jake head out under the canopy with all of their friends to take in more sights.

10:30 PM Susie, Jake and their friends have drank all they can on Fremont. With everyone congratulating them it was hard to get through the crowds. They took the their last hour with us to take pictures everywhere, enjoy the street performers, drink more, and see all that Fremont has to offer with their very own Las Vegas tour guides and personal photographers.

An 8 hour elopement timeline is ideal for couples who…

…Are having a “just us” elopement or a microwedding of up to 20 guests.
…Want to have more coverage. For example, getting ready, important details, family formals, “reception” details, and partying, etc.
…Have up to 3 locations in mind for your wedding (ceremony location, dream couple’s shoot location, “reception” or group adventure location).
…Want a guided tour for their elopement.

A 12 Hour Timeline – A Beautiful Island Wedding

This wedding took place on Cozumel in Mexico, so their elopement timeline took place across a few days. Roma and Richard hired us to go on a cruise with them. They purchased the 12 hour timeline and split it up across not just a few days but a few events. Read more about their destination wedding here.

Day 1 – Boarding and Arrivals

This day was mostly for preparations to have fun. So although we provided a little bit of coverage for boarding and details, we didn’t count it towards their elopement timeline.

Day 2 – Party Time!

9: 00 PM We meet the couple and their guests at the piano bar where everyone is invited to belt their favorite tunes. Accompanied by a very talented piano player, cruisgoers are encouraged to make their requests. We hang with the gang while they enjoy a night together. The couple along with about 50 of their guests spend the night imbibing and joyfully singing together. We head out after an hour.

Day 3 – Key West & Rehearsals

3:00 PM As a result of hiring us when Roma and Richard run into us on Key West they get their own personal photographers. (Also not counted against for their hours). We explore the streets together to return to ship for dinner with their family.

6:00 PM This dinner before their wedding was meant to get everyone together to get to review the participating parties’ parts and responsibilities. We enjoy dinner together as Roma and Richard distribute parting gifts, we enjoy a performance by the waitstaff and a fancy dinner with all of their guests. We leave after 2 hours.

Day 4 – The Wedding Day

10:00 AM The ship approaches Cozumel and Fabian and I meet with Roma and Richard in their separate rooms for detail and getting ready photographs.

11:00 AM Richard and Roma start to get ready and put on the finishing touches. They double check their bags for anything they could be missing and head for the exit so they can disembark first.

12:00 PM Because they’ve spoken to cruise affairs they’re able to disembark ahead of everyone. So we’re tasked with rushing the port to make our way through the crowds of cruisers through the port and catch a taxi to HTL Rentals in the city of Cozumel.

1:00 PM We arrive to pick up the jeeps, the gentlemen follow closely behind us to pick up their own jeep. We head to the first look location at the tip of the island to meet for the first time that day.

1:30 PM We wait on the gentlemen who we send to the first look location first and then grab Roma from out of a bar and walk toward Richard. They have their tearful first look in a location none of us had set eyes on. Regardless, it’s beautiful and they decide to take some portraits on the rocks before we leave for the ceremony. None of these things were part of their original elopement timeline.

2:30 PM We arrive at the ceremony location and everyone starts with a drink before the ceremony. The ladies put their feet in the water and help Roma from getting wet. Roma’s parents freshen her up and Richard hangs with his crew while everyone begins seating.

3:00 PM Their untraditional Catholic beach ceremony begins.

3:30 PM Their ceremony ends and to begin their marriage, the mariachi commences their festive crooning to wish the couple their best!

4:00 PM As their cocktail hour starts, the guests enjoy appetizers while formal photos are taken of both family and friends.

4:30 PM Roma and Richard take some time to be alone with their wedding party thanking them for their participation and having a quick photo session with them.

5:00 PM They join the rest of their party and begin their reception. They share their first dance, dances with their mom and dads, and then their first meal together.

5:30 PM The tearful toasts begin and there isn’t a dry eye in the house. Soon after, they cut the cake.

6:00 PM Dancing begins and everyone turns up before we all have to leave to return to the ship at 7:00.

What this couple had to say about their experience:

“What can I say about the couple that joined us on a wedding that made all weddings just a wedding? They planned everything. How they found jeeps in a whole other country, I don’t even know how they did that, but they did. Without even seeing Cozumel, they created an accurate elopement timeline for us. Every shoot we hired them for they made us feel comfortable, which is why we brought them with us. There is no other pair of photographers that I would travel the world with than Mari and Fabian. They have this candid approach to their work and they know how to travel. When I look at our photos I don’t just see what happened, I feel it all over again.”

A 12 hour elopement timeline is ideal for couples who…

…Are having a “just us” elopement with lots of adventures or a microwedding of up to 50 guests.
…Want to have wedding day coverage and personal photography coverage for all other events.
…Are having a multi day celebration.
…Would like two seasoned travelers to help you through the process of planning and real time travel.

We are proud of the work we do for couples. Providing accurate timelines for days that are made up of your best memories is our way of providing a seamless, stress-free wedding experience. If you’d like help with your own wedding experience let us know by filling out the contact info below.