Incorporating Your Hobbies Into Your Elopement

For many couples, shared hobbies is one of the many things that helped them form and build the relationship they have today. If it wasn’t for hiking, cooking and road-trips, I probably wouldn’t be married to my husband!

When planning an outdoor adventure elopement, there are endless possibilities on the hobbies and activities you can incorporate into your elopement day.

Incorporating your favorite hobbies and activities into your elopement can not only make your day incredibly unique from other weddings, but it can also help you turn your elopement into an experience, rather than just an event.

Prioritizing Your Hobbies

In one of my recent blog posts, where I talked about how to build your elopement budget, I talked a lot about how to establish your priorities when planning for your elopement. Being able to prioritize certain elements of your elopement day is what truly turns it into an elopement that you & your partner are absolutely in love with! 

If you and your partner thrive on adventure, love being outdoors, and strengthen your relationship each time you participate in a shared hobby or try a new one, incorporating activities is the perfect way to spend your elopement day! 

What Are the Possibilities 

If there is an activity you and your partner love, or have always wanted to try, it can definitely be added into your elopement to create an amazing experience!

Some popular elopement activities are …

• Hiking
• Rock Climbing 
• Canyoneering 
• Canoeing/Kayaking 
• Off-Roading/ATV
• Helicopter/Plane Rides
• Stargazing 
• Backpacking 
• Bonfiring 

Many of these activities can be combined and put into any elopement! 

You could …

• Hike to a rock climbing location
• Fly in a plane to a remote lake for kayaking 
• Off road to a hidden valley for stargazing 
• Have a helicopter take you to the top of a canyoneering route 
• Backpack to special location and have a bonfire celebration 

The possibilities are as endless, as you are willing to adventure! 

Is This Activity Right for My Elopement?

Any activity can be incorporated into any elopement day. But it all depends on your vision and what you want to experience that day.

For example, if the vision you have for your elopement is to stay perfectly clean, keep your wedding attire dirt free, perfect hair, no sweat in sight, then hiking on your elopement day may not be for you. 

Since hiking takes work and walking through paths of dirt for miles, staying in pristine condition is not very practical. There are many ways to combat all that, so no need to completely throw hiking out the window. But a helicopter or private plane ride to a remote and unique location is absolutely perfect for that! 

On the other hand, if you don’t mind getting dirty and bringing a part of your elopement day story home with you on the train of your wedding dress, and having a beautifully al natural blow-out, hiking is perfect for you on your elopement day!

If you are wanting to try a new activity on your elopement day, consider the practicality, gear needed and experience required to participate. There are some activities that may not be the best to try for the first time on your elopement day (such as canyoneering). Other activities, such as guided helicopter/plane rides or guided off-roaring tours, could be perfect for you! 

Before you plan (or disregard) any ideas for elopement activities, consider how that activity could affect your day.

How to Create An Experience 

I believe elopements are meant to be MUCH more than an event, where you happen to get married. But rather an experience that revolves around your relationship and helps you start your marriage off on the right foot surrounded by the people & things you love. 

When planning to incorporate activities & hobbies into your elopement, talk through these questions with your partner …

• Does adding this activity to our elopement positively add to our wedding day? 
• Is this activity feasible in the location we want to get married in? Or is there a location that will allow us to incorporate this activity into our elopement day?
• Is there anything about this activity that contradicts our vision for the day? Is there a way to combat that? Are we willing to change our vision to incorporate this activity?
• If we decide to bring guests, will we have them participate in this activity with us? Or will we do this on our own?
• How long will this activity take? 
• Is this something we love or a bucket list activity?
• Where does this activity fall on our priorities list?

Asking yourself many of these same questions when making any decision for your elopement is a great way to filter through ideas and create a unique experience for you and your partner.

Execution 

Once you’ve decided on an activity(ies) that you want to incorporate into your elopement, now it is time to start planning and executing this idea.

Most importantly, you need to either find a location that allows this activity, or ensure the location that you’ve chosen allows it or has the resources available for this kind of activity. In some cases, you may need to hire a guide or company to help you. 

Ensure you’re realistic about the timing of this activity, especially if a permit is required. Have backup plans in place, in case it is unsafe to participate in this activity the day of your elopement. 

Bring these ideas to your vendor team, especially your photographer, and your elopement planner (if you have one). Elopement vendors have nearly endless knowledge on how to incorporate these things in. They can help you place it into your timeline for the day and make sure you have an amazing time!

All In All

Incorporating the things you love most, or have always wanted to try, into your elopement, is one of the best ways to start your marriage! 

If you need help bringing these ideas and visions to life, I am happy to help you plan and to document this day for you! Reach out to me and we can start planning for this adventure!