Once you’ve made the bold decision to include loved ones in your elopement, it’s time to make sure they’re ready to join you on your adventure. Whether you’re heading to a remote location or celebrating in a unique setting, “prior proper preparation” will make the day run smoothly and keep it enjoyable for everyone.
Here’s how to ensure your guests are perfectly prepped for your big day.
Prepping the Essentials
- Flexibility: Elopements come with a certain amount of uncertainty when it comes to relying on mother nature and outside factors beyond your control. Preparing your guests for an element of spontaneity and the possibility of needing to pivot will keep the day upbeat and fun.
- A Good Attitude: When you’re working with a small group, one grumpy vibe can ripple through the entire day. Set expectations early on about the flow of the day, so everyone is there to support and celebrate your new adventure as a couple.
- A Little Intro to Enjoying the Great Outdoors Responsibly: Just because you two are so into venturing into the wild that you want to do it for your wedding day doesn’t mean that your guests share your same vigor and knowledge of the basics. A quick run down of do’s and don’ts when it comes to safety and leaving things as you found them (or better!) is a great way to keep the day light and stress free.
- Timeliness: In an elopement, timing is everything. Whether it’s limited parking, traffic delays, or needing to walk out to a remote ceremony location, one late guest can hold up the whole show.
What to Wear
Your elopement location and activities will set the tone for what your guests should wear.
- Inspiration Helps: Share a mood board or inspiration photos to help guests visualize the vibe. Specify whether the attire should be casual, nature-dressy, or follow a solid color theme. If you’re open to personal style, let them know as well!
- Keep It Comfortable: Recommend clothing and footwear suitable for the terrain and weather. For example, sturdy hiking boots for a mountain elopement or lightweight fabrics for a sunny desert day.
- Proper Footwear: Ok, so this is a little repetitive, but it’s the #1 overlooked detail. Flats with good traction, no spiked heels—even for standing. Chunky heels or thick wedges are fine for ceremonies and photos but suggest changing into them on location. Rubber-soled men’s dress shoes or a backup pair are a must. Nature is not forgiving, and we want to avoid slipping or rolled ankles!
- Layer Up: If your ceremony is outdoors, remind guests to dress in layers if the forecast looks like there will be changing temperatures throughout the day.
- Practical Extras: Suggest bringing items like hats, gloves, or scarves if the location might be chilly. Umbrellas are also a great idea—useful for both sun and unexpected rain.
What to Bring
Packing smart is key to enjoying the day without stress. Encourage your guests to bring:
- Essentials: Water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray are must-haves for most outdoor locations.
- Extras: Items like hand warmers for colder climates, a compact first aid kit, and personal comfort items like tissues or chapstick.
- Personal Keepsakes: Encourage guests to bring small meaningful items, like a handwritten note or a token that symbolizes their connection to the day.
- Keep It Simple: Encourage guests to fit everything into one easy-to-carry bag—the “one bag to rule them all.” This minimizes clutter and ensures belongings aren’t scattered, especially in the wild outdoors.
How to Celebrate the Day
Your elopement day should feel magical and stress-free for everyone. Share these tips with your guests to set expectations:
- Pre-Ceremony Activities: Let guests know which parts of your day they are included in. This can be a confusing part of the day if they are used to a more traditional timeline, so it’s important to make sure they know if there are getting-ready images or other activities before the ceremony and what times they are.
- Getting to the Ceremony Location: Do you have any guests with physical limitations? Elderly, recent surgeries, kiddos? Make sure you have a plan on who is going to help them get to the ceremony location and think ahead about having a spot for them to sit if standing for long periods is difficult for them.
- Seating: Let them know whether seating will be provided or if they’ll be standing during the ceremony. Some locations may have restrictions on setting up chairs. Even locations that do not allow setups are generally ok with a camp chair for grandma.
- Music: Inform guests if amplified music is allowed or if they should expect to keep the vibe quieter and more intimate. Many places will allow live music at a lower decibel, so adding an acoustic guitar player or violinist is a fun touch to consider.
- Personalize the experience: Include traditions or rituals that resonate with your group. I’ve seen couples do a short reading, a song, letter readings, a ring-warming ceremony, sand pouring, and other unique ways to include guests to make the moment memorable.
- Toasts and Refreshments: A group toast is a great way to celebrate after the ceremony. If you’re planning a toast or refreshments, emphasize using non-glass options like metal or plastic to keep the environment free from broken glass.
Leave No Trace Guidelines
Respecting nature is a crucial part of any outdoor elopement. Help your guests understand these key principles:
- Stay on Designated Trails and Durable Surfaces: Remind them not to “bust the crust” by stepping off trails, especially in areas with fragile ecosystems like cryptobiotic soil or alpine tundra.
- Carving is a No-No: Make it clear that carving initials into rocks or trees is considered graffiti and is harmful to the environment.
- Send-Off Festivities: No flower petals, confetti (even ones marked as bio-degradable) streamers, non-native bird seed, smoke bombs, sparklers, candles, etc. Anything that will leave evidence we were there or potentially cause a fire is a giant nope. Bubbles, LEDs, or handheld streamer wands are a great alternative.
- Rock Throwing? Not Today: Explain that tossing rocks can damage the area and disturb wildlife or potentially hit other hikers in the area. Encourage everyone to admire the scenery without disrupting it.
- Pack It Out: Remind guests to take everything they bring, including trash, to leave the area better than we found it for future visitors. Having a couple trash bags ready makes this easy.
Destination Logistics
- Travel Info: Include the nearest airport, transportation options, and any local car rental agencies.
- Accommodations: Suggest nearby hotels, cozy Airbnbs, or even camping spots if it’s a wilderness elopement.
- Weather Check: Provide details about expected temperatures and any items they should bring to stay comfortable.
- Parking: If guests are driving to the ceremony, be sure they have parking passes, have directions to exactly where to park, and know to arrive early in case they have to wait for a spot.
- Restrooms: Most trailheads will either not have a restroom or only have a vault toilet on site. Many have no running water to wash up. Come prepared.
- Download offline maps: If your elopement involves traveling, share the essentials ahead of time so your guests can plan stress-free: Encourage all drivers to have the directions and area downloaded in Google or Apple Maps in case they lose service. It’s also great to have Alltrails Pro maps downloaded to avoid anyone getting lost getting to and from if they get separated or stop to smell the flowers on the way back to parking.
Bonus: Include a list of must-see local attractions or dining options for guests to explore before or after the ceremony, especially if there will be a larger break in the day before you see them again.
After the Ceremony
The celebration doesn’t end with the vows! Help your guests stay organized and enjoy the rest of the day:
- Plan the Way Back: If guests are splitting up after the ceremony and before transportation, make sure they’re prepared with clear directions and instructions for getting back to their accommodations or the next meeting point. Providing printed maps or pre-downloaded GPS directions can be a lifesaver if cell service is spotty.
- After-Celebration Plans: If you’re meeting at a restaurant, let guests know the time, location, and any special instructions (e.g., dress code or parking details). If you’ve hired a private chef for a dinner celebration, ensure the chef has access to the venue, keys, or anything else they might need to get started. Double and triple check that they’re prepped with all the necessary supplies and instructions before you split up so you can focus on celebrating.
- Delegate Setup Duties: If there’s a setup involved—like arranging tables, decorations, or lighting—make sure someone trustworthy is handling it. Whether you’ve hired someone or put a family member or friend in charge, make sure they have a clear idea of what you are wanting. Leaving it as “do whatever you think” sounds nice, but actually leads to additional stress because they are trying to make you happy without a tangible goal to aim for.
Final Thoughts
By taking the time to prepare your guests, you’re taking the guesswork out so everyone can fully enjoy your elopement day. Clear communication and thoughtful planning make all the difference. Removing the uncertainty eases nerves and allows both you and your guests to be present in the moment. With these steps, you’re set for a stress-free, joyful day centered on love and connection.
FAQ’s – Answers to common questions
Hello! I’m Shannon Durazo
and I would love to be your Wedding Photographer!
I specialize in outdoor-centric weddings of all sizes—from two-person elopements to 150+ guest garden celebrations. If you are a nature lover and want to embrace that through your wedding story, I would love to help capture your day!
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