How do you plan the perfect Vermont elopement experience?

So you’ve decided to elope - congrats! There are endless possibilities to make the day your own. The downside? There are endless possibilities to make the day your own.

Knowing where to begin can feel daunting when you don’t have a traditional framework to follow. I’ve found sharing a few tips and examples can help create a framework that feels less overwhelming. but is still infinitely customizable.

epic coupes portraits on mount mansfield during mountaintop elopement in vermont

When first considering what your day will look like, I always recommend keeping these three things in mind:

What does the perfect day look like? The biggest pro to planning an elopement is that the day is completely yours to enjoy, so make the most of it! When you start planning your celebration, take time with your partner to really consider what matters to you both and keep it focused on that. If you’re big into hiking and enjoy bringing friends along with your adventures, plan your day to do that to the max! If you’re a natural homebody and enjoy staying in, focus on crafting a beautiful space full of treats and activities that lets you enjoy that time being cozy together.
Consider travel time. When you’re building a timeline, you can easily jam-pack your day full of activities, so I’m here to remind you that things take more time than you’d think. Think about transition times when it comes to travel between locations, and adding in buffer time on hikes will ensure none of your day feels rushed. Having lots of time allows you to be wholly present and enjoy your day fully as it unfolds.
Be open to spontaneity. Building off the last point, giving yourself lots of room in your schedule gives you a solid framework of the day, but still allows moments you can never have planned for to happen. This is where the magic happens - truly being present and having fun happens when you’re not consumed with getting to the next event, and allows you and your partner to feel all those amazing feelings on the day you decide to get married.

couple looks off to foggy scenic landscape during sunrise hike on their vermont fall elopement

Example Elopement Itineraries

With that in mind, it can still be helpful to see some examples of how an all-day elopement can look like. Check out two examples below on two different approaches to an elopement, with lots of time built in to make it your own.

This guide is written assuming you already have locations and dates in mind. If you need location ideas, check out this blog post on my favorite places in Vermont to elope.

all-day elopement - Adventerous

2:00 am - wake up and get ready for an early morning hike together

3:00 am - travel to favorite Vermont hiking spot and meet Mo at the trailhead. Start hiking up to get to your elopement spot for sunrise!

5:00 am - arrive at the perfect elopement spot and watch the sun rise together

5:30 am - put finishing touches and get ready separately, and have a sweet little first look

6:00-8:00 am - start ceremony when it feels right to you, and take some intimate portraits together. Celebrate with a champagne toast and take it all in

8:00 am - begin hike back down

10:00 am - Mo signs the marriage license at the trailhead to make it all official

11:00 am-3:00 pm - celebrate your elopement with brunch at your favorite local Vermont brewery with your closest friends and family

All-Day elopement - Cozy

10:00 am - start getting ready at the cute little cabin you rented for the weekend - hair, makeup, the works.

1:00 pm - Mo arrives and gets detail shots and last minute touches of you getting ready separately

2:30 pm - Have a first look outside the cabin, then exchange your personal vows and have Mo document all the emotions. Mo witnesses and signs your license, and you celebrate after with a champagne toast.

4:00 pm - Travel to a nearby vista to take in the views, and have Mo document your just married awesomeness.

5:30 pm - Head back to your cabin, stopping along the way for any gorgeous photo opts. Arrive back to the cabin with a beautifully catered dinner waiting for you from the awesome vendors you hired for your day.

7:00-9:00 pm - Take portraits during golden hour at the cabin, start a fire, and get cozy together. Enjoy the start of you newly married life together.

bride sprays perfume while getting ready for intimate wedding celebration

groom stands poignantly for camera before first look during intimate vermont wedding

Final Thought - Don’t let anyone say what your day ‘should’ be

It’s incredibly easy to Google what an elopement day should look like and be convinced that you only ‘need’ a few hours to elope. It’s your day to fully embrace and enjoy, and it is no less valuable than a traditional wedding. People don’t bat an eye for traditional weddings to take all day, and your celebration is no less important. Give it the attention and value it deserves no matter what anyone else says.

No matter what your day looks like, remember why you’re doing this. You’re getting married because you love each other and are choosing each other, and on a day that important, give yourself the time to make memories that will last. Every moment deserves to be captured forever to look back on, and having a great team behind you to make that happen will be something you’ll value the rest of your life.