What do I do on my Elopement Day?

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive about elopements is, "What do you do at an elopement ceremony?" The answer is simple: whatever you want! Don't worry about conforming to traditional ideas of what an elopement should be, instead focus on creating a day that is perfect for you and your partner. Consider your interests and hobbies - are you both outdoorsy, adrenaline junkies, or food lovers? Is there something on your bucket list that you can check off together?

Planning an elopement is like planning the ultimate date day. Every elopement is unique and there are no rules. It doesn't have to be a quick ceremony at the courthouse - make it an all-day celebration if you wish. After all, it is your wedding day. You could even turn it into a multi-day adventure-filled elopement if that's what you both desire!

Need some ideas? Here are some activity ideas

Outdoors

Have a Picnic: Pack a little picnic basket or whatever is easiest to carry and bring all the snacks to share with each other

Go for a Walk in the Park: Maybe you have a favorite park you both like to visit often, a park that means a lot to you both. Make some time for a visit.

Go Hiking: paying attention to the weather and how you would like to feel in wedding attire, go for a nice hike together. Hit the trials!

Go for a Bike Ride: Marquette and Mackinac Island come to mind for a Michigan Elopement. Great for bikes and mountain bike trails.

Go Snorkeling: If you choose to wear white or black, match that color with your bathing suit, and let’s get deep! I’d recommend planning this ahead of time as your photographer will need to prepare for underwater!

Build a Campfire and Roast Marshmallows: Oh that campfire smell!! Let’s get cozy and make some s’mores

Go Kayaking or Canoeing: I can already see how inspired I would be watching you both get cozy together out on the lake!

Go to a Festival Together: Yes! Please tell me what your vibe is and let’s do that!! When is your favorite festival? Is it around your elopement date?

Go Snowmobiling: Grab a pair of snowmobiles (whether you rent or own) and let’s hit the trails

Watch a Sunset: I’m not sure about you, but I personally am not a morning person so a beautiful sunset it is!

Go Rock Climbing: YES! you can do this in your wedding attire

Rent a Van and take a Road Trip: We rented from Cabana one summer and it was the coolest rental (with a bathroom!!)

Visit a Waterfall: There is seriously something about running water that really gets my creative juices flowing and relaxed energy vibes going.

Go to a Botanical Garden: You + Nature = Super Inspired Photographer

Explore a Cave: Umm…what!! yes, please! Grab the headlamps, check the battery, and let’s go!!

Build a Snowman: Definitely more of a spontaneous thing or rather on the spot. So if it starts snowing, let’s have a snowman-building contest! Don’t worry, get a little playful here.

Explore Nature: Explore and just see something new together for the first time. There are no limits!

Adrenaline

Go on a hot air balloon ride: Can you just picture this at sunset? Oh man…swoon!

Take a helicopter tour: …or maybe this is what you rent to get to your remote ceremony location. I’m thinking about some EPIC photos that truly will make your elopement unique.

Take a Jeep Tour: For those bumpy rides and Colorado trails!

Go to a Concert: Seriously…who is your favorite artist? One you would HAVE TO HAVE included?

Go Ziplining: My question to you is…sitting style or Superman?

Go Horseback Riding: Saddle up and hit the trials

Rappelling: You do your thing and I’ll do my thing ;)

Animal Lovers

Go to the Zoo: If having one animal is just not enough, include more and just spend a few hours at the zoo.

Swim with Manatees or Dolphins: Research locations, schedule a guided tour or book an excursion that offers this.

Take a Carriage Ride: Create a memorable experience through a scenic location

Go on a Safari: Embark on an adventure guided by rangers to observe majestic wildlife

Buildings

Go to a Brewery: Do you like craft beers or trying new beers? Maybe ordering a new beer flight together.

Get Tattoos: My favorite idea is getting tattoos of coordinates. Where your ceremony spot will be. That’s what I’m doing one day

Get Styled with New Jewelry: Make something together that will remind you of this special moment forever.

Tour a Winery or Brewery: Check out local places for tours and times! If tasting new beverages is your thing, this might be right up your alley.

Take a Cooking Class: Nothing like a good start to the marriage. An intimate cooking class where you both learn how to cook, gender roles aside.

Take a Glass Blowing Glass: Talk about trying something new! I wonder if anything is offered in the area you’re eloping?!

Chill

Get a Couples Massage: Couples massage…outdoors…wind is blowing…OH MAN!

Paint: Piggybacking off this, you could always paint you in your wedding attire in your ceremony location and gift it to the other at your first look.

Drink Wine: Bubbly and sunset vibes….or maybe like a snack and some beautiful glow in the sky?!

Do Yoga Together: If you want to start your wedding day completely Zen, be mindful of each and every moment.

Make Breakfast Together: Nothing like starting the day off right and strong

Have a Candlelight Dinner on the Beach: I HIGHLY recommend sincerelykandj for Michigan and lgcollective.co for Colorado

Soak in a Hot Spring: Oh man…all the chill vibes for this one, but like…not literally haha

Go for a Boat Ride: Whether you wanna drive the boat or not, up to you!

Enjoy a Small Wedding Cake: Cupcakes, donuts, cheesecake….pfft…cream puffs if that’s your thing! Just gimme sugar haha

Cozy up in a Hammock: Add some local pizza to the mix

Enjoy a Meal Made by a Personal Chef: Can you picture this for the whole fam, after a beautiful day, under the stars on a warm summer night?? I can…

Take a Train Ride: Harry Potter style or like through the mountains vibe? You decide

Help Each Other Get Ready: NO BODY wrote the rules for YOUR wedding. Be brave and do it if that is something you want.

Soaking in a hot tub: Bubbles and kisses, what could be better?!

Read Letters from Family: Have fam mail you letters, hand them to you in person, and save them for the big wedding day. Read them to yourself, out loud or to your future spouse.

Get Ice Cream: So like….are you going to share it together or “ALL MINE” haha

Ready To Book Your Elopement Photographer?

Hey, you two! I can’t tell you how excited I am that you and your partner have chosen to throw tradition to the wind, grab hold of what’s important to both of you and create an incredibly unique wedding experience that’s a true reflection of who you are. There aren’t many couples brave enough to follow their hearts instead of following the “rules,” so, I’ll just say it outright—congrats on being pretty badass.

The most amazing thing about choosing to elope is that you can forget all expectations, opinions, and obligations about what you’re “supposed” to do, and instead focus entirely on what matters most to you two, with nothing holding you back. All of this freedom can be a bit overwhelming though—when there’s no longer any “rules” or “formula” on what your wedding day is “supposed” to be, then how do you plan it?

That’s where me + this guide comes in—to help make the process of dreaming and planning your unique wedding day as simple and stress-free as possible. I’m here for you every step of the way. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the process of creating a wedding experience that you’ll love every minute of. I can’t wait to get to know you two better and help you create an incredible elopement day!

Working with me, your all-inclusive package will always include: One (Cool AF) Photographer, Travel Fees within the state of Michigan (up to) 20 guests, Custom Timeline Planning, UNLIMITED Email + Phone Calls, Detailed Questionnaires, 100 Page Elopement Guide, Location Recommendations and Location Scouting and Airbnb Recommendations!!

Catchfly Photography is a traditional wedding and adventurous elopement photographer based in Highland, MI. Julie Believes in the little details and in between moments. Nature completely inspires Julie, and she incorporates nature into almost every photo she takes. Julie travels to photograph traditional weddings and intimate elopements in Michigan’s Upper + Lower Peninsula and Colorado.