Elopements are the best thing ever, in our humble opinion. As elopement photographers, we love that our couples envision their wedding day as intentional, meaningful, adventurous and epic. One misconception in the industry is that elopements are shorter which IS NOT the case. In fact, we have a whole blog dedicated to Why Elopements are Smaller not Shorter – Photographer’s Version. We go over why your couple will need your help to expand their vision. After all, they only get this adventure once! Let’s get into our guide to booking 2 day elopements!

Set the expectation up front

We had an inquiry for Bozeman and on the consult call, we talked through what an adventure they could have with a two day wedding. Helicopter flight up the mountain. Hike to an epic place the second day. They hadn’t even thought of a two day wedding but we are bringing that dream to life. Basically, we give them room to dream about what their dream elopement experience could look like. Star photos! YES! Getting ready together? YES! First time you see each other? First dance while the sun is setting? Favorite meal? Sunset boat cruise? Hike to the view you’ve always wanted to see? 

How do you plan a sunrise elopement? By giving your couple a timeline for when they need to be at the top of the hike, when they need to be at the halfway point, when they need to leave their starting point, and by supplying them with muffins and some mimosas along the way! Also permits. Always got to be checking those permits.

What that means for you

It is more work to host a couple for a two day elopement, but it is soooo worth it. The look on their face like you’re freaking superwoman is totally worth it. Some of the ways that full day elopements require more from photographers include more location guidance with multiple location stops, permit knowledge, ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES, breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack plans, accommodation research for the night between the days, various photography gear for day shots and night shots and maybe that fucking awesome drone you have and, of course, a custom timeline. 

Guide to Booking 2 day elopements – Expert Location Matchmaking 

We send our couples a questionnaire for them to fill out to get an idea of places they may already want to go if they know it, or a direction to head in. A couple may say they want to elope in Moab! GREAT! This is more than we usually get TBH, BUT where in Moab? Island in the Sky? The Maze? The Needles? This is why we put together a Where to Elope in Moab Guide. Now this is only the intro guide, when a couple books with us, we send them closer to an 80 page guide with photos and even more info. We want to all be on the same page to provide the best experience ever!

Researching

Ahhh research. We love it… I think. The thing about researching, it’s a job never finished. If we book a Colorado elopement in 2023, that whole elopement could look different in 2025. The Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado fills up fast with elopements. Permit prices can change. Construction is always happening at national parks.

Have you been to Colorado? Weather is an absolute beast! Unlike Idaho or Montana where winter is winter. In Colorado, it can be snowing one day and literally sunny the next which means you have to be prepared for anything! Every place has its own unique set of challenges but also its own beauty. Just a word to the wise – don’t believe everything you read online (aside from this epic guide to booking 2 day elopements- promise we are legit). Don’t be afraid to call the chamber of commerce to get up to date information for your couples. You are the expert. 

It’s about the ADVENTURE! Guide to Booking 2 day elopements

In order to communicate to your couples what their adventure will look like with a 2 day elopement, you have to believe in the vision yourself! Here’s some examples to get your creative juices flowing:

fully planned Iceland two-day elopement timeline

Here’s what a magical, romantic, absolutely memorable two-day elopement could look like in Iceland:

DAY ONE: ROMANTIC CEREMONY

8:00 am: Couple starts getting ready; you arrive to capture sweet, intimate moments and details.

9:30 am: Couple has first look, pops a bottle of champagne, you take photos of them at their AirBnB while they swoon over each other. (I mean, check these out: Secluded Lake Home, Seaside Getaway, Garden Cottage, Luxury Glacier Home, Central Reykjavik Home. Hellooooooo!!)

10:30 am – 12:00 pm: You go for a drive with your couple, stopping anywhere and everywhere they want to explore and take photos, finding the perfect location for their ceremony as you go. OR – you head to their epic, adventurous, romantic ceremony location and take your time getting there, again, stopping to take photos. PAD YOUR TIMELINES TO ALLOW FOR RANDOM, SPONTANEOUS ADVENTURES! The magic lives in the spaces in between. 

12:30 pm: THEY. GET. MARRIED!!! You explore a little after their sweet ceremony and take photos of them as they enjoy marital bliss. 

1:30 pm: You make your way to a local hot spring, the two of them soak in all the details of the day (and the relaxing effects of the hot Spring!), you grab a few more shots and then leave the happy couple to enjoy the rest of the afternoon together.

5:30 pm: You meet back up for some seafood and celebration. Time for a celebratory toast, their first dance if they want it, and grabbing a bite to eat for dinner with the locals. You’ll capture their first cheers as a married couple and enjoy the night away!

It’s not over yet!

DAY TWO: ICE CAVE ADVENTURES

8:00 am: Meet in Reykjavik for a private natural ice cave tour.

8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Hop in the super jeep for a little off-roading to the ice cave.

9:00 pm – 11:00 pm: Walk through the caves with the guide while you take incredible photos along the way. You’ll explore a little after the tour and take a few more shots around the area before heading back.

11:00 pm – 12:00 pm: Ride back to Reykjavik, and your couple gets to finish out their vacation as a honeymoon – check out some of these epic tours they can take together!

OR

2 day Ireland elopement

DAY ONE: ARAN ISLANDS ADVENTURE

9:00am: You take a ferry to Inis Mor – the largest of the Aran Islands.

10:00am: Rent bikes to explore the islands. Stop to take photos along the way!

12:00pm: Eat lunch at the infamous Teach Nan Phaidi.

2:00pm: Head to Dún Aonghasa and obviously take all the photos while your couple takes in the magic.

5:00pm: You capture their romantic picnic at Kilmurvey Beach – you’ll take just enough photos then give the couple some space to take it all in.

7:00pm: They’ll enjoy a glamping set-up, AirBnB, or bed and breakfast and you’ll take photos with stars at night while they are sipping whiskey.

DAY TWO: CEREMONY ON THE CLIFFS

11:00am: They get ready while you take photos of their details, special moments (first look!), and pre-ceremony moments.

1:00pm: Ceremony on Inis Mor – lots of options here – they could have a traditional celtic handfasting ceremony, or decide to do their own thing! You’ll capture it all.

1:30pm: They’ll explore Inis Mor and the cliffs while you get some gorgeous photos. 

4:00pm: They’ll head over to Joe Wattys Bar for some live music, a celebratory cheers, a dance (or two!) and you capture the couple enjoying the bliss of being married.

See the full post on Where to Elope in Ireland! 

Guide to Booking 2 day elopements, make it hard to trim down

Now, you try and trim down either of those timelines. What are you cutting? Getting ready? Romantic picnic? EXPLORING THE GODDAMN ICE CAVES??? Right, you can’t cut anything. This is the vision you are sharing with your couples. You set them up from the start with their once in a lifetime, dream elopement. You communicate the value of the adventure and your role, not only taking GORGEOUS photos, but being the Plan A, B, and C director, the permit puller, the map reader, the umbrella in your car and champagne in your pack provider. This is an all inclusive two day elopement package. Give it to them! If you are looking for more ideas for what to include in an elopement timeline, Brides Magazine put together 34 Ideas to Make Your Celebration Special.

Need more? Adventure with us!

If you are like yasss chef, and onboard with the plan but still need help with the execution, Adventure with us. We have a three part program just for you, where you will come with us on an elopement, see how we interact with couples, go over YOUR business strategies and portfolio. Basically give you all the tools so you can confidently go out on your own and book your own two day elopements! The more couples that can experience this kind of marriage kick off, the better IMO. Schedule a FREE Consult Call. Happy planning!