How to Plan a Destination Elopement: Simple Guide + Checklist

As a destination elopement photographer who lives + travels part-time in a campervan, and has visited 19 countries + 39 states (and counting!), I truly cannot believe that it’s my literal job to show couples around some of the coolest places in the world. 

Whether you want to say your vows on top of a canyon, beneath the stars, or somewhere no one else has been before, having a destination elopement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you and your partner get to share. There are seriously infinite ways to create the most unforgettable, magical trip of your life, and tie the knot while you’re at it!

Here’s the catch: you do have to plan said destination elopement—and that can feel hella overwhelming at first😅 That’s why I’ve put together this guide to planning a destination elopement (either domestic or international), full of advice and tips based on my firsthand experience photographing couples around the globe. You’ll leave knowing exactly how to bring your dream experience to life, equipped with a simplified destination elopement checklist to make sure you don’t forget any key elements throughout the process. 

Pack your bags, cause we’re headin’ off into the world of destination elopement planning! ✈️

How to Plan a Destination Elopement: Step-By-Step

Before I get into the realllll nitty-gritty here, I want to add a disclaimer that every couple’s destination elopement is completely, 1000% unique. 

I might make a recommendation that doesn’t quite feel right to you, and that’s absolutely okay; in fact, I think it’s awesome to be so confident in what you want, and to trust that you’ll do what’s best for your one-of-a-kind relationship!

So just know that as you read through this step-by-step guide, you have my permission to take the parts that make sense for your dream day, and simply leave whatever doesn’t 🙂

1. Imagine your dream experience

I know it can be tempting to get straight to the budgeting, or the location browsing, or the Pinterest-board-creating. . . but trust me on this one: I want you to start by simply allowing yourselves to dream a little. If you rush to get the logistics figured out too fast, you won’t have a clear vision of what you want your experience to look like, and you may get lost along the way. Set a date and time to just have fun dreaming, and be okay going WILD with those dreams, as if money and time weren’t factors. 

A few questions to ask yourselves that may help you clarify your vision:

• What are our non-negotiables/must-have’s?
• What’s our dream backdrop/landscape/setting?
• What would make us feel calm, relaxed, and totally present in the experience?
• What are we most excited about?
• What would help us leave our elopement experience feeling grateful, joyful, and excited to begin this new chapter in our lives?

2. Set a budget

Once you’ve given yourselves some time to get excited about all the possibilities, you can start to get a little more practical with it. Budgeting can be a really scary topic for some couples, especially in a day and age where you’re expected to spend years’ worth of savings on your special day—but in reality, budgeting for your elopement is all about setting boundaries that will allow you to have the most incredible, stress-free, and aligned day ever. Setting a budget doesn’t have to be limiting; in fact, it should help you really hone in on your priorities and feel confident knowing that you’re spending your money exactly where you want to be!

Here are a few questions you can go through to get clear on your financial priorities:

• What do we value MOST about our elopement? What are we down to spend more money on?
• What do we value LEAST about our elopement? What are we okay spending less money on?
• What are our top 2-3 priorities? (this could be vendors, experiences, etc.)
• What would we like to have at our elopement, but aren’t necessarily must-have’s?
• How much are we each comfortable spending on our elopement?
• Would we rather put more of our money toward material things, or toward experiences?

3. Choose your location

I’ll be honest, I think the most fun part of planning a destination elopement is choosing where you want to do it! In the mountains? Desert? Forest? Across the world, or across the country? Maybe to you, “destination” simply means on the other side of the state you live in!

One of the first things you’ll need to do is choose between a domestic destination or somewhere abroad. Domestic elopements are generally easier to plan simply because they don’t come with quite as many logistics to pay attention to, but don’t let an international elopement scare you—it’s VERY doable to elope abroad and still have a stress-free experience.

Here are the most important considerations to make when deciding whether to have a domestic or international destination elopement:

• Visas: Certain countries require a specific visa for entry, so be sure to check on travel visa requirements for any destinations you’re considering. Generally you won’t need a visa for a short-term, personal trip, but it’s always good to check.

• Passports: This one might sound obvious, but it can be easy to forget that you need a passport to travel abroad if you don’t do it often! If you don’t have passports already, make sure you’ll be able to apply + receive them in time for your elopement. If you do, make sure they’re valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip (recommended by Travel.gov).

• Legalities: If you want to legally get married in a foreign country, there will be certain processes you need to follow & documents you’ll need to obtain that differ from your home country. You also need to check and make sure that your destination country allows people of your nationality to wed there. We’ll be diving deeper into this topic later in this guide, don’t worry!

• Blood tests/vaccines: Once again, this depends on where you’ll be eloping, but you may need certain blood tests and/or vaccines in order to enter a country. If your destination does require either (or both), it’s important to factor the correct timing of that into the planning process!

• Travel/transportation: Obviously, traveling further away will likely come at a higher cost. You’ll need to pay for airfare, transportation around your destination, accommodations, etc. And if you want to drive yourselves around, you may need an International Driver’s License to do so.

• Culture: Finally, consider the type of culture you want to experience during your elopement experience. If you’re not super experienced with international travel, you might have a little bit of culture shock when you arrive at your destination, and that’s okay! You just want to be prepared to respect and embrace the local culture that you’ll be a part of for a short period of time, and go into your trip knowing what to expect.

Now that you know the key things to take into account when choosing where to elope, let’s get into some actual location reccs, shall we? It’s always incredibly difficult to narrow down my suggestions, because there are just too many amazing places to explore around the world—though the good part about that is you can’t really go wrong!

Below, I’ve compiled lists of my favorite destination elopement locations worldwide, from the deserts of Utah all the way to the beaches of Southern France. If you see a location with a link attached, that means I’ve got a separate blog post that you’ll def want to check out, featuring that specific place.

Best Destination Elopement Locations in North America

• Moab, UT
• Zion National Park, UT
• Arches National Park, UT
• Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
• Canyonlands National Park, UT
• Dead Horse Point State Park, UT
• Lake Powell, UT
• Grand Teton National Park, WY
• Jackson Hole, WY
• Acadia National Park, ME
• Otter Point, ME
• Joshua Tree National Park, CA
• Yosemite National Park, CA
• Sedona, AZ
• Saguaro National Park, AZ
• Denali National Park, AK

Best Destination Elopement Locations in South + Central America

• Guatemala
• Patagonia
• Peru
• Nicaragua

Best Destination Elopement Locations in French Polynesia

• Bora Bora
• Morea

Best Destination Elopement Locations in Europe

• Iceland
• Barcelona, Spain
• Rome, Italy
• Amalfi Coast, Italy
• Portugal
• Southern France
• Greenland
• Scotland

Best Destination Elopement Locations in Asia + Africa

• Agra, India
• Cappadocia, Turkey
• Kenya
• Namibia
• Botswana

4. Pick a time of year

Now that you’ve got a potential location (or a few) picked out, it’s time to figure out what time of year you want to elope. If you’re having trouble with this, you can skip to step #5 first, and then get your photographer’s help + professional recommendations 🙂

The main things you’ll want to take into account when picking a time of year + date to elope are weather, crowds, and activities.

Weather conditions will have a big impact on what your elopement experience is like, especially if you’ll be spending the majority of your time outdoors. I always say that there’s no such thing as “bad” weather, because there’s always a unique beauty that comes with every type of weather condition—but you DO need to be properly prepared. Making sure you have the correct layers and clothing is key, and so is getting in the mindset of being ready to embrace anything that comes your way!

If you’re eloping somewhere that gets quite a few tourists, definitely consider how that might impact your experience; specifically, your ceremony. I doubt you want to be exchanging vows in front of hundreds of tourists who are all snapping selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower, haha, so I recommend finding a more off-the-beaten-path ceremony spot for that reason. Crowds will also affect the activities you book and any tours you want to take/landmarks you want to visit, so keep that in mind as you compare eloping in peak season vs. non-peak season.

Lastly, think about the types of activities you want to incorporate into your trip. If you really want to go backpacking in the mountains, for example, you’ll probably need to choose a time of year with warmer temperatures and less snow so that you can get higher up into the mountains! Or maybe you’re dreaming of a snowshoe elopement where you get to experience a magical, whimsical winter wonderland: opt for a winter elopement at a ski resort. There’s no right or wrong, it’s all about the way you envision your unique day unfolding!

5. Book an experienced destination elopement photographer

A question I always get is, “How far in advance should I book my destination elopement photographer?” 

Most of my couples book me between 8-12 months before their wedding date, as I tend to book out far in advance and most dates get taken up quickly. Plus, booking me early on means that I can help you out with choosing a location, vendor reccs, booking your accommodations, etc.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be significantly shorter if it needs to be! I always say that an absolutely beautiful elopement day can be planned in a much shorter amount of time, depending on where you’re traveling + how intricate you want your celebration to be, of course. Learn more about how to plan a last-minute elopement here!

6. Book the rest of your vendors

With a photographer you adore by your side, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect vendors to bring your dream elopement to life. Lean on your photographer here to help you out, since they should have tons of connections in the industry and know just the right people to fit your vibe! 

If you’re sticking with a fairly simple destination elopement, you will likely only need a photographer/videographer, planner or coordinator, florist, hair & makeup artist, officiant, and attire. And if you want to go a little more complex, you could consider hiring a stylist or designer, baker, calligrapher, cook, or any other professionals that would make your experience easier + more fulfilling. It’s up to you whether you want to hire vendors who are local to your destination, pay non-local vendors to travel there with you, or a mix of the two.

7. Decide if you want to invite guests

This can be a tough one! If you’re eloping, chances are you’ve already decided you value a day that’s completely, 100% focused on you. An experience that breaks tradition, disregards rules, and ignores expectations, fully customized to your unique relationship and what matters to you. Oftentimes that might mean you opt for a completely private elopement, without any guests, but for other couples, celebrating with family and friends is a must!

To make this part of the process a little easier on you, I wrote a guide featuring 11 ways you can include family + friends in your elopement—whether or not you decide to invite them to the actual day itself.

8. Book your travel

Obviously you’ll need a way to get to your destination, but it’s kind of up to you how far in advance you book it. I know that some people feel more comfortable having travel plans (e.g. airfare, accommodations, transportation) in place way ahead of time, but others might not mind booking closer to the date itself. As long as you don’t forget to do it and arrive at your location without a place to stay or a flight to take you back home, you’re golden!

9. Get your permits

Once we’ve figured out your ceremony location, we’ll see if any permits are required for our visit. Usually if you’re having a private ceremony with no (or very few) guests, you’re less likely to need a permit, but everywhere is different—national parks and federally-protected land are often the places that have more regulations in place. I’ll help you with this entire process, so don’t worry about having to do it on your own!

10. Decide between a legal or symbolic ceremony

Symbolic ceremonies are often the move for destination elopements, because foreign wedding processes can be a bit of a maze. Most couples opt to do the paperwork at home and then have a stress-free, meaningful ceremony at their location once they’re there, saving themselves a whole lot of time and stress. But it’s up to you, of course, to determine whether you want to make things legal during your celebration or not! I’d recommend looking into your specific country to see if you think the process is worth going through, or if you’d rather just keep it simple + symbolic. 

11. Brainstorm destination elopement ideas + activities

Your elopement is about SO much more than just exchanging your vows and putting a ring on it (though that is fairly important, haha): it’s about curating an unforgettable experience you’ll look back on for the rest of your lives. A huge part of that is incorporating activities into your day that you’re excited to do together! This could be as simple as having a romantic little lakeside picnic with finger foods you put together at your Airbnb, or as exhilarating as hot air ballooning over Cappadocia.

If you need a little help getting the ideas flowing, I put together a pretty killer list of 20 bucket list adventures to have on your elopement day, featuring epic experiences ranging from rock climbing in the deserts of Utah, to horseback riding in the mountains of Patagonia!

12. Create your destination elopement timeline

When you decide to elope, you have the freedom to do whatever feels right in the moment on your wedding day. When you aren’t tied to an itinerary, speeches, and societal expectations, you’re able to change plans at a moment’s notice.

As your elopement photographer, I’ll basically write your entire elopement day timeline for you (with your input and approval, of course)! I’m here to keep you on time for everything we’ve planned for the day. And I’m also here to let you know that we do have time to take it slow if you want to spend a little extra time enjoying a beautiful moment, or a breathtaking view.

Learn more about how to plan your elopement timeline here!

13. Pack your bags & hop on a plane!

The time has come to actually get ready for your trip, ahhh! I know just how stressful it can be to try and remember everything you need to pack—especially for something as big and exciting as your elopement—so below, I put together a list of the essentials you won’t want to forget:

• Elopement attire—dress, suit, tie, shoes, etc.
• Accessories—jewelery, hats, veil, cape, etc.
• Rings
• Vow books
• Other elopement details you want to include
• Outerwear & jackets
• Adventure clothing (for any outdoor excursions you may be doing)
• Toiletries
• Elopement day emergency kit—including items such as extra makeup, hair ties, bobbi pins, stain remover, floss, toothbrush, Band-aids, mints, tissues, etc.
• Any documents needed to get married
• Permits (if needed)
• Visa (if needed)
• Passport
• Outfits for the rest of your trip
• Comfortable shoes for walking/hiking
• Entertainment for the plane rides

All that’s left is to get to the airport on time, hop on the plane, and pass the time until you arrive at your destination. The anticipation will be crazyyy, but now it’s time to relax and enjoy the results of ALL your hard work leading up to your elopement. You deserve to celebrate!

Simple Destination Elopement Checklist

I know this was a long one, but good job for getting through all of it! I’ve taken everything I just shared and condensed it into one, simplified destination elopement checklist that you can easily copy & paste into your Notes app, or screenshot to refer back to later. I’m all about making your life easier where I can 😉

I won’t be able to fit nearly everything in this list, but I’ve done my best to cover all the key parts of your planning process that are essential to the way your elopement unfolds. 

• Define your priorities
• Set a budget
• Choose a location
• Pick a date
• Hire your vendors:
  • Photographer
  • Videographer
  • Planner/coordinator
  • Stylist/designer
  • Hair/makeup
  • Calligrapher/stationery
  • Florist
  • Officiant
  • Cook
  • Baker
  • Rentals
• Create your guest list
• Invite your guests
• Shop for elopement attire
• Check visa requirements
• Check passports & expiration dates (get renewed if needed)
• Check for any blood tests/vaccines needed for entry
• Check requirements for legal marriage
• Book airfare
• Book accommodations
• Arrange transportation
• Book activities & excursions
• Create your timeline
• Get your marriage license (if doing a symbolic ceremony abroad)
• Get your permits
• Check the weather forecast
• Gather your details
• Pack your essentials
• Check in with your vendors

All-Inclusive Destination Elopement Packages

I believe your destination elopement should be about you—not timelines, guest lists, or outdated traditions that don’t feel right—and I’m here to make it happen. 

With my all-inclusive destination elopement packages, I’ll be right by your side to support you in timeline creation, brainstorming activities, booking accommodations, hiring vendors, and so much more. Because planning your elopement shouldn’t be overwhelming: you should feel at ease, relaxed, and supported, knowing that you have an awesome team of people by your side to help make it happen.

Reach out about destination elopement photography today so we can start sharing ALL the ideas, inspiration, and dreams—I can’t wait to hear where you’re thinking of tying the knot!

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Want to be sure that every single moment of your destination elopement is documented to the fullest? Here are 5 reasons you should add videography to your elopement package.