Elopement Activities: Including Personal Adventures into Your Day

Looking for inspiration for elopement activities?! You’re in the right spot.

Imagine your wedding day as the ultimate “you” day—a celebration that feels as natural and joyful as your favorite adventures together. This isn’t just about saying “I do.” It’s about saying YES to creating a day that’s entirely your own. You’re not bound by timelines or traditions. Instead, you’re free to focus on what makes you and your partner light up inside. Because this day? It’s not just a milestone—it’s a memory you’ll revisit for years to come, a reminder of the moment you chose each other and the life you’re building together.

So let’s dream big and craft an elopement day that’s as unique as your love story. Here’s how to incorporate personal adventures into your elopement and make your day truly unforgettable.

Why Meaningful Adventures Make Your Elopement Unforgettable

The beauty of eloping is the freedom it gives you to create a day that reflects your relationship. This is your chance to ditch the traditional playbook and say, “What do WE want to do?” Think about it: the moments that make your relationship special—those goofy, sweet, or adventurous things you always love—can take center stage on your elopement day.

When you include activities that are meaningful to you, your day becomes so much more than a ceremony and photos. It becomes a celebration of you. These moments will anchor your memories, creating a day that feels deeply personal and wildly fun.

And ya know what else?

• They Create Genuine Connection: Shared activities naturally bring you closer together, allowing you to focus on each other and the moment rather than worrying about a timeline or outside expectations.
• Your Photos Tell a Deeper Story: Adventure and activities add layers to your elopement story, turning your photo gallery into a narrative of laughter, movement, and intimacy.
• They Help Ease Nerves: Having something to do can calm wedding-day jitters, giving you a focus beyond the camera and “getting everything perfect.”
• It Becomes an Experience, Not Just an Event: Instead of a single day, your elopement transforms into a cherished memory of the time you spent together doing what you love.
• You Can Create a New Tradition: The activity you include—whether it’s a hike, picnic, or stargazing—can become a tradition you revisit on anniversaries or other special occasions.
• It Reflects Who You Are as a Couple: Including activities ensures that your elopement feels authentically you, giving it a personal touch that resonates deeply.
• You Get to Explore Together: Whether it’s discovering a new trail, visiting a hot spring, or trying an activity for the first time, your day becomes an adventure of exploration and discovery.
• It Allows for Unscripted Magic: Activities create opportunities for surprises, like spotting wildlife, seeing an incredible sunset, or experiencing a spontaneous laugh-out-loud moment.

How to Brainstorm Your Perfect Elopement Day

Not sure where to start? Let’s break it down with a few simple questions to guide your planning:

• What are some of our favorite memories together? What comes to mind first when you think about the adventures, quiet moments, and big milestones that make you smile.
• What do we always have fun doing? From cooking to kayaking, consider the activities that bring you closer.
• What’s so us? What makes your relationship unique? Maybe it’s your shared love for craft beer, favorite games, or maybe it’s your tradition of taking sunset walks.
• What’s something we’ve always wanted to try? This could be a great day to make brand new memories together! Maybe even check something off your bucket list? And get professional photos while you’re at it!
• Location-specific ideas. Is there something special to the area or region that would be fitting? Like landing a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska, or off-roading to an alpine lake in Colorado.

Grab a journal, pour a glass of wine, and brainstorm together—it’s a fun way to start visualizing your day.

Ideas for Elopement Activities to Spark Your Creativity

Not sure what adventures to include? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Checking something off your bucket list (like a hot air balloon ride or paddleboarding)
• Playing a favorite game together
• Ride a tandem bike down a scenic bike path
• Hiking, off-roading, or taking unique transportation to your ceremony site (check out my favorite Colorado elopement locations here)
• Having a romantic picnic
• Soaking in natural hot springs
• Go horseback riding
• Stargazing under a blanket of stars
• Enjoy a campfire
• Create, paint, write, make art together!
• Visit a local brewery, go whiskey tasting, or head to a vineyard
• Hiring a private chef to spoil you with a custom meal
• Hire a local guide or outfitter to take you climbing or on an excursion
• Reserve a private sailboat ride (you can even do this in Colorado on Lake Dillon!) or just get out on the water in a canoe or kayak!

While you’re thinking about it, check out my list of 10+ Unique Elopement Photography Ideas for even more inspiration.

You Deserve an Elopement Day That’s Truly Yours

At the end of the day, your elopement is about choosing you. It’s about prioritizing your relationship, your values, and the experiences that matter most. When you look back on this day, you’ll remember not just the vows you made but how you made the decision to celebrate in a way that felt true to your story.

So go ahead—dream big, say YES to the adventures that light you up, and create a day that’s entirely your own. You deserve it.

Meet Your Elopement Photographer (and Activity Idea Machine)