February 22, 2026

How to elope: The Ultimate Guide

Over the last couple of years, the world of elopements has completely evolved. Eloping used to be running off in secrecy, or doing a very small "celebration." However, this has all changed. Elopements have become increasingly popular for multiple reasons, with some of the biggest reaasons being budget, possibilities, and the intimacy that elopements allow. Not only are we going to give you a complete guide for how to elope, we're also going to give you some inspiration for having a truly epic elopement!

Elopement Planner & Photographer

yASMINE

Owner of Love Uncharted, Lead Elopement Photographer, Videographer and Planner

Heyyy, I'm Emily! The founder of Love Uncharted and the OG elopement photographer of the crew!
When I'm not busy planning and documenting epic wedding days, you can find me exploring on two wheels, loving on my fur babies, or day-dreaming about my next adventure!

team!

MEET THE
LOVE UNCHARTED

Owner + Lead Elopement Planner, Photographer & Videographer

Emily

There are many different ways people would describe elopements. For us, however, it's quite simple- doing whatever your heart desires! Whether that's celebrating your closest friends and family in a place that is special to you, or seeking the wildest adventure in a destination you've always dreamed of visiting!
The number one thing you need to remember is that there are no rules, no expectations, and no limits when it comes to having a truly memorable elopement!

First things first... what is eloping?

You've been counting down the days for so long, and now- it's time!!
Soak in every second, embrace every bump in the road, and rejoice over marrying your best friend!! ALSO- Be sure to return your signed marriage license after your elopement!

Step eight: Have the time of your life!

It's getting close, the reservations are all made, the vendors are booked, and the excitment is getting unbearable! EEEKKK!
Take the last couple of weeks before your elopement to relax, to enjoy being engaged a little while longer, and to anticipate your epic wedding day! It all comes and goes so fast, so taking a deep breath and enjoying even the stressful moments is all a part of the experience!
Make a detailed packing list, as well as a to-do list, to ensure you have everything you need to bring and that you've done all of the necessary tasks that you need to complete before your elopement. Be sure to be extra careful to avoid scratches, cuts, bruises, and other temporary blemishes. Also, avoid using new hair, skin, and body products within the few weeks prior to your elopement. You don't want to risk any sort of reactions coming up right before your big day!

Step Seven: Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime!

Once you know what date you will be eloping and have a timeline for the day, you can secure your photographer/ videographer, hair and makeup artist, and other vendors that will be essential for having your dream elopement experience!

Step Six: Lock in your vendors, lodging, and transportation.

Before you lock in your vendors, flights, and lodging- you first need to consider what you want the day to look like! Important things to consider when you are creating a timeline for your day is any necessary drive time between locations and activities, as well as distance from your lodging. This will then allow you to determine what time frame your vendors need to be booked for, as well as what lodging and airports will be within your preferred distance of your locations and activities!
Our biggest piece of advice as elopement photographers is to choose either sunrise or sunset for your ceremony, and then build the rest of your adventure around your ceremony! Sunrise and sunset offer the best lighting, ensuring you will get those glowy and magical photos for your ceremony. Take into consideration the specific location of your ceremony to get a better idea of what time will be ideal, as some locations such as forests, mountains, beaches etc. will have differing times for ideal lighting.

Step Five: Create your itinerary.

Now that you've found the perfect destination and you've narrowed it down to a specific date, it's time to do the hard part- planning the trip! Determine what vendors (photographer, videographer, hair and makeup, florist, private chef, etc.) you will need to make your dream elopement happen smoothly, and start getting an idea of what flight, car rental, and lodging options you will have.
If you aren't familiar with booking flights, it's important that you sort of watch the available flights and their ticket pricing until it's the prime time to book. We typically recommend waiting to book domestic flights until about 2-3 months out, and international flights about 2-5 months out as we've found this is the best time frame to get a good balance of both availability and price. However, it's important to go back and keep an eye on ticket pricing as they very frequently fluctuate.

PRO TIP: Use an incognito browser or a different device every time you look for a specific flight. When you consistently search up a specific flight, they tend to show higher pricing than when you look on a private browser as they know you are interested in booking that specific flight!

Step Four: Research lodging, flights, and vendors.

If you're from the United States and planning to elope in a different country, you will want to plan on getting and completing your marriage license in the United States. If you are from the United States but want to elope in a different state than one you reside in, you have two options- file your marriage license in your home state, or in the state you plan to elope in!
One thing to consider if you are planning to elope in a different state from the state you reside in is what the state's marriage license requirements are, and if they require an appointment/ waiting period before your marriage license can be filed. Some states, like Alaska and oregon, require a 3-day waiting period before you can pick up your marriage license. However, some states may have no waiting period but may require an appointment in order to pick up your marriage license.
Ensure you have all of the legal documents (typically a valid photo ID) needed to pick up your marriage license, as well as determine if you will need witness or an oficiant. Some states, such as Colorado, allow you to sign your own marriage license, whereas some states such as Wyoming and Utah will require an officiant (and possibly 1-2 witness) to sign your marriage license.

Step Three: Determine where you will legally get married.

Now that you have compiled a list with everything you dream of, it's time to determine what destination can fulfill those dreams and when the best time of year is to make it happen. Our biggest piece of advice is to come up with a list of the top destinations, as most couples tend to have a season or specific date that they want for their elopement. We recommend this because different parts of the world experience entirely different seasons and weather patterns, and you want to plan your elopement to be in the best possible time of year to visit your destination!
Take into consideration things such as the destination's typical precipitation patterns and averages, as well as when your destination's peak tourism is. If your planning your elopement in the mountains, you'll want to avoid winter and early spring due to high likelihood of snow and road closures, and you won't want to be visiting the beach when it's time for school to be out! Try to find a destination/ date that offers you favorable weather, less crowds, and allows you to do the activities you want to do for your elopement!

Step Two: Figure out the WHEN and the WHERE.

Seriously- grab a pen and a notebook, and write down all of the things you've dreamed about. All of those "Imagine" and "I wish I could" moments. Think of who would be there on your epic day.
Would it be just the two of you, maybe your beloved fur babies, or even your closest family and friends?
Would you have a slow morning making breakfast together, or would you be on top of a mountain by the time the sun began to rise?
Would you be sipping wine on a sail boat or exploring on an ATV through the canyons?

Step One: Write down all of your wildest dreams!

There are a few questions you'll need to ask yourself and a few logistics you'll need to figure out before you can say "I Do." In this "How to Elope" guide, we're going to be breaking it down for the couples who are seeking a truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime wedding day!

So... how do you elope?

If you are planning activities (off-roading, tours, dinner etc.) be sure to purchase tickets/ make reservations in advance. This not only guarantees that you will be able to do the activity in the time designated in your itinerary, but also ensures you can get photos/ videos if your photographer/ videographer will be documenting the adventures!

Think Ahead:

When searching for vendors (specifically photographers, videographers, and HMUA's,) be sure that each vendor you are considering is not only within your price range, but that they also have a protfolio that aligns with what you are wanting. Each artist has a unique and signature style, so it's important that you will love your wedding glam and your photos/ film!

Research your vendors:

Designate a binder or notebook for all of your elopement planning. Write down every important website, note pricing for vendors and lodging, and keep a checklist of things you need to do while planning as well as a checklist for things you will need to bring with you when traveling.

Keep it Organized:

As experts in planning and documenting epic elopements, we have a few tips, tricks, and reminders for couples who are planning their own elopement!

Tips and Things to Remember when planning your elopement:

We've created detailed guides for our favorite states in the US for elopements, so that you can get a better idea of how to plan an elopement in these epic destinations!

Wyoming

Washington

Utah

Tennessee

Oregon

Montana

Hawaii

Georgia

Colorado

California

Arizona

Alaska

How to Elope in...

You will need to find lodging that will be suitable for your pets. Be sure to find a resort/ Airbnb that will allow you to have your pets for your elopement, with the adequate space and facilities needed.

Find Lodging that can Accomodate:

There's a high liklihood that you won't be with your pets during the entirety of your elopement/ trip, so having a solid plan of care for your animals when you will be away from them is extremely important. Consider hiring a local pet sitter/ care taker, or bring a family member or friend to help with your pets while you're away.

Plan for your time away:

Whether you're doing a roadtrip with your dogs or trailering your horses, there are several different ways you can include your pets into your elopement! The first step is to find a destination that will be suitable for your pets, with plenty of accomodations to choose from and local laws that will allow your pet to be present. If you're set on including your pets, national and state parks will probably not be the best choice due to having a lot of restrictions on dogs.

Find the Perfect destination:

the best guide for planning an elopement

If you're anything like us- your pets are apart of the family! If you can't imagine your big day without your beloved pets, make them a part of it!

Want to include your pets in your elopement?

There are hundreds and thousands of different hotels, resorts, campgrounds and rental properties to choose from when you choose your elopement destination- so how do you know what the right choice is for you?

There are a few key questions you will need to answer to determine what you will need out of your lodging:

Will we have family and friends with us? If so, will they stay with us or be responsible for their own lodging?
Will we have pets with us? If so, does the property have suitable pet policies, space, and facilities?
Are there any amenities we want/ need? Do we want a pool, hot tub, washer and dryer?
What level of privacy do we want? Do we want a hotel with others nearby, or do we want a rental property that is secluded?
What kind of view do we want?
What stores/ restraunts would we like to go to? What activities do we want to do during our trip? How far are we willing to drive?

Finding the perfect lodging for your elopement:

Don't spend part of your elopement googling places to go, prepare for the worst case scenario ahead of time so that no matter what may pop up, you have a plan! This will also help prevent the feeling of disappointment, as you can create backup plans that are still full of adventure and excitment!

When planning an elopement, especially in some of those "wildcard" months where there's higher chances of inclement weather or closures, creating a list of other locations is important. Trails can be inaccessible, roads can be closed, or other events could be happening at your desired locations that could prevent you from having the elopement you're dreaming of, so having alternatives on hand that you can quickly adjust to can help avoid stressful situations.

Consider other locations

When planning your elopement, you're obviously going to create the perfect day. however, being flexible is part of choosing to elope, as there are so many factors that play into an elopement that will be beyond your control. When you have created your primary timeline for your elopement, think of 1-2 other gameplans for your day in case there are excessive crowds, a burst of bad weather, or delays. We also recommend creating an entirely different timeline with different locations and activities to fall back on in the worst case scenario, that still gives you an epic and memorable day!

Create a few timeline options

When booking your lodging, take into consideration the layout, space, and location. In the case of severe weather, having an indoor location with good lighting and a good aesthetic is a great alternative.

Consider your lodging

Having a solid back up plan is crucial for elopements if you are anticipating epic views and fun activities. Between unexpected crowds, events, and inclement weather- there are several reasons why the original gameplan may not work. However, this doesn't mean your backup plan can't be truly epic and still give you the wedding day beyond your wildest dreams!

Creating a back up plan in case things take a turn:

We have spent years mastering the art of elopements in some of the most surreal and epic destinations across the globe!
While we're pretty good at documenting the adventure (if i do say so myself,) we also do SO MUCH MORE for our adventurous couples.

Some things you can expect when booking your elopement with us is:

Experts who have spent years planning unique elopements.
A team of two hype girls who are honored to celebrate your big day with you.
Expert advice on locations, weather, and other logistics.
A timeline that is designed to keep your day running smoothly (as well as a backup plan!)
Help booking other vendors, such as HMUA's, florists, private chefs, etc.
Recommendations on local activities that can add some fun to your elopement.
Answers to all of your questions!

You need a photographer who truly understands epic elopements

I'm ready to Adventure!

Pricing Includes Tax + Travel.

Experiences Starting at $3,400
Couples Typically invest $5,400

No Added Fees- All Travel Costs for the Whole Crew are Covered

In-Depth Planning to create your Personalized Elopement Experience

From 4 Hours to Multiple Days of Coverage that Preserves your Epic Day

What Every Elopement Experience Includes:

Photo and Photo + Video Packages Available.

ELOPEMENT PACKAGES

Not sure where to start when planning your epic elopement?
We are a team of adenture-loving elopement experts who have planned and photographed unique elopements across the world!
Click here to learn more about eloping with Love Uncharted!

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There are endless possibilities when it comes to planning a truly unique and epic elopement! While these are only a handful of adventurous ideas, there are no rules nor limits when it comes to what your wedding day can look like.
The most important thing is that your elopement makes your wildest dreams come true, and that the day truly aligns with you and your partner!