Planning the Perfect Elopement – Stage 4 – Finalize Details & Get Ready!

Dear almost happily married couple,

Yay!  You are now in the final stages of your elopement planning process and its getting exciting!  Now that you have the main parts of your plan set into place, stage 4 is all about filling in the details.

 Whats the best way to keep things organized?

With so many things to keep track of during this stage Ive put together and easy to follow format – like a checklist!   I recommend breaking up the many decisions into bite-size easy to handle pieces. You can set due dates in your calendar, or keep a running to-do list.

Planning Checklist  – Attire & Accessories. 

Dress/suit. 

Bridal shops are often strict with their timelines and most suggest shopping 6-12 months in advance with 3 fittings before your day.  Make sure to plan well in advance if you plan on shopping in a bridal store. There are also many great places to buy dresses online if you want a gorgeous dress but without a wedding price tag!

 Shoes.

If you have plans on adventuring outside all day, wearing comfortable shoes with good support and good tread on the soles will be super important!

Layers.

If youre eloping somewhere that might be chilly or windy, make sure to have fun warm layers that you wont mind being photographed in.

Jewelry & Accessories.

Make sure all jewelry & accessories you plan on wearing are safely secured either on your hair and body or in a spot for they are safely transported until you reach your destination.

Planning Checklist – Vendors & Details.

Photographer.

Your photographer should be someone you can personally connect with and is experienced with elopements.  If you havent already booked your dream photographer, please consider me as a potential candidate! Elopement weddings are one of my favorites to shoot and Ive got a lot of experience photographing in some of Humboldt Countys most remote and secret locations!

Hair & Makeup.

Are you doing your hair & makeup yourself or professionally? How will you touch it up?  I work with many talented hair & makeup artists that I would be happy to recommend!

Flowers.

How important is a bouquet to you and can you get one close to your location or do you need to pick one up in a bigger city before you go? I have also had a few brides make their own, or order artificial ones from Etsy that looked just as beautiful as the real thing, but hold up much better when exploring nature.

Officiant. 

Do you need/want an officiant?

Music/Musicians.

Do you want music?  If so, do you want a DJ or band?

Private Chef/Catering. 

What are your plans for food?  Will there be any? Will you have dinner with a small group of friends and family afterwards, or will you opt for cake and champagne with just the two of you at Sunset?

Planning Checklist – Activities & Fun.

Hiking.

If youre planning to hike to your location, youll need to bring some extra items.  Get a good quality backpack with good weight distribution and comfortable hip belts that will fit everything you plan to bring.  Its always a great idea to pack a trail map, headlamp, bug spray and plenty of food and water.

Other fun things to do. 

Your elopement day can look however you want it to!  Couples have been known to go skiing, kayaking, horseback riding, zip-lining, or even go scuba diving.  Whatever your plans are, just make sure you gather up any special gear or additional vendor support you might need!

Planning Checklist  – Ceremony & Timeline.

Finalize your ceremony.

Plan the structure of your ceremony by having your wedding bands ready, writing your vows and gathering up objects that are important to you.

Sketch out your timeline. 

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time for a relaxed day with no rushing or stressing.  Be sure to leave room to be spontaneoussome of the best elopement experiences are spur of the moment!

Planning Checklist – 1 Week before Checklist.  

Get packed.

Check the weather.

Finalize your timeline.

pick up your marriage license.

Take care of your body.

Planning Checklist – Day before Checklist.

Relax.

Eat well.

Stay hydrated.

Get good sleep.

With the details  handled and your checkoff lists nearly complete, your big day has almost arrived!  Stay tuned for the last part of this guide – stage 5 – Having the best elopement day!

~  Parkys Pics Photography