Eloping is a unique and memorable way to honour and celebrate your love and lends you the ability to create and cultivate a day that speaks to your soul as a couple. As elopements are becoming increasingly popular, there are many creative and inspiring ideas out there to make your special day truly unique! You can forget the traditional rules and make your elopement exactly how you want it to be. A day that will feel, at it’s core, genuine, intentional and just right.

If you’re looking to inject some extra fun and excitement into your elopement, here are 5 ideas to get the creative juices flowing!

1. Choose a Unique Location

One of the biggest decisions that is involved in the planning process is choosing the right location. I encourage you to explore different locations and places that might speak to the sentimentality of your relationship. Maybe somewhere that you experienced a significant “first” together like your first date or your first holiday destination together.

However, this doesn’t mean that your elopement can’t be at a destination that you’ve never visited before! On the contrary, if you’ve had a place on your bucket list that you’re both longing to see, what a more perfect excuse than your own marriage? If you’re feeling brave, why not spin the globe and go wherever it points? Of course, depending on the country you land on, there might be certain marriage laws or licenses that you’d need to adhere to, but the point is to be spontaneous and take a leap of faith!

If you’re looking for more information and guidance on the legality of eloping within Australia, do check out my blog post about it here.

2. Explore the Nearby Town and/or Local Landmarks.

Once you’ve selected your romantic elopement destination, why not take some time to uncover the rich history and culture of the area? Together, take a journey of discovery, wandering through the picturesque landscapes or quaint towns, perhaps even recalling some of your own special memories together.

Let the beauty and romance of your stunning location be your guide, as you explore with your partner and create new stories and adventures. Who knows, you may even discover a hidden gem to return to for anniversaries or other special occasions. Take the time to truly appreciate the intimate experience of your elopement, and the breathtaking scenes that come with it.

3. Incorporate Your Favourite Activities

You might think that you usual date-day activities or your weekend routine of having breakfast together might be a little mundane or boring for your elopement, but that isn’t the case! There is something intimate and romantic about incorporating your most cherished activities together on the day that celebrates your union! It could be something as simple as having coffee together and watching the sun rise, or making your favourite breakfast food!

If you both enjoy hiking and have always loved spending time in the great outdoors together, those elements can easily be included into your elopement from hiking to your ceremony spot or even spending the night camping underneath the stars.

Creating these activities for your elopement will help make memories that you can look back on and cherish for a lifetime. You could think, “I remember when we had a picnic after we said our vows, I was so happy!” or, “Every time we eat this meal together, it’s like reliving our wedding day over again.”

At the end of the day, you won’t ever regret spending time on your elopement day doing something that you enjoy doing together—it just further enhances the magic.

4. Do an Activity You’ve Always Wanted to Try

You and your partner have the freedom to do whatever you want on your elopement day, so why not make the most of it and try something you’ve always wanted to do? Whether it’s a thrilling activity like kayaking at sunset or something more subtle like dancing in the starlight, take the chance to explore your options and try something new if you can!

Going forward, you and your partner could make it a tradition to do this activity every year on your anniversary to commemorate your elopement. It’s a lovely way to celebrate the special day!

5. Pack an Adventure Kit

Don’t forget the essentials! If you’re going to opt for anything adventurous, whether it’s simply exploring the local community or spending the night camping and roasting marshmallows by the fire, bring along an adventure kit with you!

You and your partner should make sure to bring all the essentials for your special elopement—favorite snacks, card games, a first aid kit and most importantly, comfortable shoes! Enjoy each other’s company, play your favorite games, and indulge in your favorite snacks. Have an incredible time celebrating your love for each other!

Elopements are a beautiful way of honouring a couple’s unique love story. I encourage you to plan your elopement in an intentional and deliberate manner, with decisions made that will best benefit you both as a couple. Each elopement is a carefully crafted and special day that reflects your individual personalities, creating a truly memorable and cherished event. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to an elopement and no wrong or right decisions; you’re truly free to make decisions that are meaningful to you and to your relationship.

If you’ve still got some lingering doubts or have some misconceptions regarding elopements floating around in your mind, definitely check out my blog here that discusses and debunks a few pesky elopement myths!