A Guide to Building Your Day-Of Elopement Timeline
Published: June 26, 2021
Updated: January 27, 2026
It might seem like an elopement timeline can be thrown together easily, but if you’re dealing with guests, vendors, and schedules, you’ll really want to put together a timeline. Now, it doesn’t mean your schedule has to be set in stone, however, it’s always nice to have even a loose timeline so that you don’t feel lost throughout your day.
Index
What is a day-of elopement timeline?
Who needs a timeline?
What should be on your timeline?
How to build your timeline.
Who needs your timeline?
Sample timelines
M + R – Las Vegas, NV : 4 Hour Elopement
M + M – Las Vegas, NV: 8 Hour Elopement
L + E – Juneau, AK: 16 Hour Elopement
Moral of the story
Contact us
What is a day-of elopement timeline?
In layman’s terms, a day-of elopement timeline is simply a schedule for the day of your elopement. Whether you follow it strictly or not is completely up to you, but if you plan on filling your day to the brim with all of the things, having one is probably a great idea.
Who needs a timeline?
As an elopement photographer, I feel like many couples underestimate the need for a timeline. It happens, not many people have eloped before. But that’s ok, that’s what I’m here for. So you’re going to want to build a timeline if you:
Are doing more than just having a ceremony
Have vendors involved, i.e. photographer, chef, florist, driver, mobile officiant, etc.
Expect same day deliveries or set ups, i.e. arbor, chairs, etc.
Are expecting guests
Have made reservations at restaurants, courthouse, bar, etc.
Plan on having a multiple day elopement.
What should be on your timeline?
Everything. Anything you’re doing the day of your elopement should be on there. Even if you’re not setting a time to that thing, if you want to do it, make sure you have it on your timeline so that it gets done.
Here are a few essentials to have on your timeline no matter what you’re doing:
Buffers. Build in 10-20 minute buffers for every time you’re moving. Driving, walking, getting ready, leaving a place – add a buffer. Also, add buffers for anything that will be happening with guests. Moving 2 bodies is easy enough, but making sure everyone is where they need to be at once is like herding cats, so add an extra 20-30 minutes for those types of interactions.
Rest and relaxation. Really, this is what the buffers are for. You want to be able to move in a leisurely fashion on your elopement day. And if you’re really wanting to take a relaxed approach, schedule actual time to relax. Swing in that hammock, sit around the bonfire, take a nap, but schedule it in.
Alone time if you’re having guests. Your guests don’t have to be part of every part of your day. I’ll talk more about this in the next section.
Vendor drop-offs and pick-ups.
Arrivals and departures. I’d typically only add these before and after any of the essential events, ones where there will be guests or when you’re on a schedule.
All of the ways you want to enjoy yourselves.
How to build your timeline
Every elopement is different. If you’ve been on my website long enough you’ll know that you don’t have to follow any kind of template or pattern when you’re eloping, therefore, I’ll leave you with tips on building your timeline rather than giving you a full run down of what your timeline should look like. It’s your rules. Here’s how to build your timeline, explained to you like you’re 5:
You’re going to write down every hour of the day(s) you’ll be spending celebrating your elopement.
Now list all of the things you plan on doing and want to do. Everything. From what time you want to get up, getting ready, your ceremony, the celebration parts, the adventures, the time to relax, the time to have fun, driving, walking, time to eat. All of it.
I said earlier that you don’t need to follow this to the tee. It’s true. It’s really just an emotional support schedule, so that when you feel like you’re lost on what to do, you can look at your timeline and remember, oh yah, that’s what’s next.
Now, start putting all of the big events on your schedule – your ceremony, meals, adventures, guest time, fun stuff, etc. Match them up to the times you’d like to complete them.
Add drive/walk/travel times. If you’re dealing with specialty vendors like pilots and helicopter charters, obviously some of these things will happen on their time, but it’s essential that you ask how long the whole process takes and have them walk through it all so you know what to expect.
Look at a map and think logistically for everything. Let’s say you know you’ll want to grab coffee for that afternoon pick me up, or before you get your day started, think about when you’ll be passing your favorite cafe and add it to your timeline. Do things in the order that it makes sense logistically so you’re not wasting time going back and forth. Be efficient. Even if you’re having a loose schedule, it’s always best to mark everything on a map so that you can get an idea of where everything is in relation to all the things you really want to complete on your day.
Finally, add buffers for the planning fallacy. You know, that thing that happens when you underestimate the time it takes to do things when you don’t really know how long it actually takes. Remember: Time flies when you’re having fun, but if you’re building in buffers, you won’t miss a thing. You might even find yourself way ahead of schedule.
Who needs your timeline?
A couple-only elopement requires that you and your partner have the timeline so everyone knows what’s happening.
Anybody else spending even part of the day with you only need to know the timeline for the parts they’ll be with you.
For example, guests should have the times they’re expected to be there and where. Vendors should know when they need to do drop-offs or your photographer should know what your timeline looks like for the times they will be there, unless, of course, that photographer is me, and I build the timeline for you.
Timeline Samples
Every timeline will look different, but here are a few examples from couples we’ve worked with in the past.
M + R had a few must haves they communicated with me.
1. R needed locations with wheelchair accessibility.
2. They wanted to make sure their ceremony happened at sunset since they were doing it outdoors.
Our 4 hour elopement packages include 2 locations with only 30 minute travel time between locations. And both had to be wheelchair accessible, so here’s what we put together.
15:45 Meet at Dry Lake Bed and begin prepping. They left some details for “getting ready” images on the the Dry Lake Bed.
16:15 Ceremony begins. Their ceremony included their own vows and an exchange of rings.
16:45 Ceremony ends. They have their own private champagne pop and toast as they take in the scenery of the Dry Lake Bed and watch a motorglider fly around and land not too far from them.
17:15 We begin our drive to Fremont Street
17:45 Arrive at Fremont Street and park.
17:55 Quick bathroom break
18:10 Stop at Lucky Day for a few drinks, Facetime the kids, and some connecting.
18:45 Head to Fremont Street to dance the night away and grab more drinks!
This couple came from Australia with 20+ of their friends and family. They wanted a little bit of everything and to bring their entire guestlist with them, so that’s what they got.
14:00 Arrive at The Signature to capture everyone getting ready.
15:30 First look with the family.
15:50 Party bus pickup.
16:20 Red Rock arrival.
16:45 Ceremony starts.
17:15 Ceremony ends.
17:20 Family photos start.
18:00 Party bus to Graceland Chapel.
18:30 Graceland Chapel ceremony (because they wanted 2 ceremonies!).
19:00 Leave for Andiamo’s reception dinner.
19:20 Arrive at Andiamo’s.
20:30 Leave Andiamo’s.
20:45 Party the night away on Fremont!
22:00 Photographers depart.
E surprised L with a Juneau elopement, one where they’d be hopping on a helicopter to get married. I mean, come on! That was only the beginning of their elopement, he had so many more surprises for L. Here’s how it went.
Day 1
12:00 The couple get ready at the The Baranof Hotel.
13:30 First look on the downtown streets in front of the hotel.
14:00 Limo pick-up to grab marriage license and head to airport.
14:45 Arrive at airport. Get weighed, do safety briefing, and don crampons.
15:15 Hop on helicopter.
15:35 Arrive at Herbert Glacier.
15:40 Ceremony begins.
15:55 Ceremony ends. Champagne pop.
16:00 Explore the glacier.
16:05 Leave glacier
17:35 Arrive at airport, leave for hotel.
17:50 Drop-off
Day 2
14:00 Glacier Gardens Rainforest Tour.
15:00 Hike to Nugget Falls at Mendenhall Glacier.
16:30 Coffee pick-up before.
17:00 Goldbelt Tram ride up.
17:10 Shopping and trekking through the snow.
18:10 Goldbelt Tram ride down.
18:20 Dinner at Tracy’s King Crab
Day 3
09:00 Waterfall chasing along the Gastineau Channel.
10:00 Photographer out.
The Moral of the Story
There is no order of operations when it comes to eloping. You can have a day of galavanting and keep a loose timeline. Or you can make sure that timeline is working for you so that all of your vendors and guests are on time.
Here’s how we help with this:
We create a timeline for you, your guests, and other vendors.
All day-of things are our responsibility and we make them appear like magic. You get an idea of the timeline, but we make sure it’s all happening when it needs to.
We help guide in all logistical matters or just do it all for you.
