As an elopement photographer, I’ve captured the most intimate and unforgettable moments. And I’m here to tell you that your elopement day deserves so much more than just a few hours. Just because your guest list is short (or nonexistent) doesn’t mean your day should be rushed. In fact, I believe that an 8-hour, 12-hour, or even multi-day elopement deserves to be cherished and savored!

Why an All-Day Elopement?

You see, an all-day elopement isn’t just about taking photos from sunrise to sunset. It’s about creating a day that’s tailored to your unique love story, your personalities, and your preferences. It’s about having the freedom to explore, to relax, and to enjoy every moment of your special day without feeling rushed or stressed.

The Benefits of an All-Day Elopement

So, what are the benefits of an all-day elopement? Well, for starters, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Explore Multiple Locations

With more time, you can visit multiple locations, each with its own unique charm and beauty. Whether it’s a scenic viewpoint, a secluded beach, or a picturesque mountain trail, you’ll have the chance to experience it all.

Enjoy a Relaxed Pace

Without the pressure of a tight timeline, you can take your time, enjoy the moment, and soak up every second of your special day. Even when you (or I, as your elopement photographer) do a lot of careful planning, things can go off the rails a little bit, so having buffer time relieves a lot of pressure!

Capture the Entire Story

An all-day elopement allows me to capture every moment of your day, from the early morning preparations to the sunset celebration. It’s a chance to tell the complete story of your elopement without any gaps or missed moments.

Make it a True Adventure

With more time, you can incorporate your favorite activities, hobbies, or interests into your elopement day. Whether it’s hiking, kayaking, or simply enjoying a picnic in a beautiful spot, you’ll have the chance to make your day truly unforgettable.

How to Fill Your Elopement Day with Adventure?

It’s actually really easy because time truly flies by! I’d say it can be more challenging to plan a shorter day because you might be cutting out things you would have wanted to do, and that’s a difficult choice to make! Here are some ideas for your elopement day:

• If you both love nature, incorporate a hike.

• Visit places that hold special meaning for you as a couple. Maybe it’s the spot where you had your first date, a favorite camping location, or a new place you’ve always wanted to explore together. In fact, a lot of my couples come from out of state and plan their adventure elopement in the PNW because they always wanted to visit here!

• You can do many unique activities together, like kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, hot air balloon rides, and horseback riding – SO MANY THINGS!

• In between adventures, take time to relax. Have a scenic picnic, enjoy a quiet moment together, or even take a midday break at a cozy cabin or Airbnb. 

Sample Elopement Timelines

When planning your elopement, the duration of your day can significantly impact the experiences you can include. For instance, on a 4-hour elopement, we can comfortably hike up to 3 miles round trip and include time for ceremony and portraits. However, fitting more than one location into this timeframe can be challenging. Here are a couple of examples for your reference!

SAMPLE MINI (4 HOUR) ELOPEMENT TIMELINE (SUNRISE)     

5:00am Photography coverage begins (meet at the trailhead in Olympic National Park)

5:00-5:30am  Lantern photos while hiking before sunrise

5:30-6:00am Pick out ceremony spot

6:00-6:30am Ceremony

6:30-7:00am Portraits along the trail

7:00-8:00am Drive to a second location by a lake

8:00-9:00am Portraits around the lake

9:00am Photography coverage ends

SAMPLE MINI (4 HOUR) ELOPEMENT DAY TIMELINE- SUNSET     

6:00pm    Photography coverage begins 

6:30-7:00pm Hike to ceremony location

7:15-7:45pm Ceremony

7:45-8:15pm   Charcuterie Board Picnic & Cake Cutting

8:15-9:00pm   Sunset Portraits

9:00-9:30pm   Blue Hour & Lantern Photos

9:30-10:00pm Star Portraits 

10:00pm   Photography coverage ends

In contrast, an 8 or 12 hour elopement timeline opens up possibilities for a more extensive adventure, such as a 7-mile round trip hike with ample time for a relaxed ceremony, portraits at multiple scenic spots, and perhaps even a celebratory picnic or exploration of a second breathtaking location. With longer timelines, it’s easier to include guests. And longer timelines also leave more room for spontaneity, like taking a break at a brewery to grab a beer and snacks!

Here you can also see that your elopement day isn’t an endless photoshoot! While yes, we will make sure to capture all those special moments throughout the day, you also get time to just enjoy yourselves! 

SAMPLE HALF DAY (8 HOUR) ELOPEMENT TIMELINE- SUNRISE

5:20am   Meet at Visitor Center Parking Lot in Mt Rainier NP

5:30-6:00am      Final Getting Ready images (putting on dress, shirt, tie, makeup touch ups)

6:00-6:30am      First Look and Portraits

6:30-7:30am      Hike trail stopping for portraits along the way

7:30-8:30am      Drive to cabin with stops along the way

9:30-10:00am    Coffee break  

10:00-10:30am  Ceremony

10:30-11:00pm   Family Portraits

11:00-12:30pm   Brunch with family at AirBnB

12:30-1:30pm    Cake Cutting, Dancing, Celebration, Fun!!!

1:30pm              Photo coverage ends

SAMPLE HALF DAY (8 HOUR) ELOPEMENT TIMELINE – SUNSET

1:00pm            Photographer Arrives at Airbnb

1:00-1:30pm    Detail Photos & Candids

1:30-2:15pm    Getting Ready photos

2:15-2:30pm    First Look, Individual Portraits

2:30-3:30pm    Drive to ceremony location

3:45-4:15pm    Ceremony

4:15-4:45pm   Sign marriage license, champagne toast with guests       

4:45-5:45pm    Portraits with family/guests

5:45-6:45pm    Couple Portraits

6:45-7:45pm   Drive to dinner location

8:00-9:00pm   Dinner

9:00-9:15pm    Toasts

9:15-9:30pm   Cake Cutting/First Dance

9:30pm       Photographer Leaves

SAMPLE FULL DAY (12 HOUR) ELOPEMENT TIMELINE- SUNRISE

5:20am   Meet at Visitor Center Parking Lot in Mt. Rainier National Park

5:30-6:00am      Final Getting Ready images (putting on dress, shirt, tie, makeup touch ups)

6:00-6:30am      First Look and Portraits (at a pre-discussed location)

6:30-7:45am      Hike a portion of a beautiful trail stopping for portraits along the way

7:45-9:00am      Drive to cabin with stops along the way 

9:00-10:00am    Drive ceremony location

10:00-10:30am  Coffee break  

2:30-3:00pm   Ceremony

11:00-11:30am   Celebrate with family & sign marriage license

11:30-12:00pm   Family Portraits   

12:00pm  Mid-Day Break

6:00-7:30pm  Dinner at Airbnb with guests

7:30-8:30pm Dancing and mingling

8:30-9:00pm Sunset Portraits

9:00pm Photo coverage ends

SAMPLE FULL DAY (12 HOUR) ELOPEMENT TIMELINE-SUNRISE & SUNSET

4:30am   Meet at Airbnb

4:30-5:45am      Getting Ready images (dress shots, hair & makeup, details)

5:45-6:00am      First Look at Airbnb

6:00-6:30am      Drive to a waterfall

6:30am   Start hike to the falls (some photos along the way but more on way out)

7:30-8:00am   Ceremony with private vows overlooking falls

8:00-9:30am      Hike back to trailhead, taking photos along the way

9:00-9:30am      Drive back to Airbnb

9:30-10:30am    Breakfast & coffee back at Airbnb family waiting

10:30-11:00am  Ceremony at Airbnb with guests

11:00-11:30am   Celebrate with family & sign marriage license

11:30-12:00pm   Family & Guest Portraits

12:00-5:00pm  Mid-Day Break

5:00-7:00pm   Catered dinner with guests at Airbnb

7:00-8:00pm   Sunset portraits on beach

8:00-9:00pm     Campfire on the beach with smores

9:00-9:30pm    Star/lantern/night portraits

9:30pm   Photo coverage ends

Let’s Plan An All-Day Elopement Together!

I can’t emphasize this enough – your elopement day deserves so much more than just a few hours! It’s not about filling the day with endless photos but about allowing the day to unfold naturally, giving you time to breathe, connect, and soak in every precious moment and enjoy your adventures together.

Hi, I’m Erica, an Oregon and PNW elopement photographer! If you and your partner want to plan an epic elopement, I’m here to plan and capture a day you’ll never forget! Be sure to check out my elopement packages and contact me via my inquiry form here! I can’t wait to explore the Pacific Northwest while celebrating you and your partner’s beautiful love story!