How To Create A Timeline For Your Wedding or Elopement In 3 (Maybe 4) Steps

How many times have you searches ‘how to plan an elopement or wedding day timeline’, ‘how to make an elopement timeline’, or ‘simple wedding timeline template,’ and been completely overwhelmed after reading multiple articles, and still didn’t feel like you got any closer to getting an actual timeline put together? It can feel so overwhelming and like there are so many moving parts that it can be easy to get frustrated and shut-down. I have created a step-by-step guide and checklist that will hit on all of your questions and help you actually get a timeline put together. This article will cover topics from what time to start, choosing a location, what types of activities you can do for your elopement or wedding, the ceremony structure, helping you create a beautiful, memorable experience that is true to who you are as a couple. Elopement and wedding will be used interchangeably, but these tips are applicable to both. A lot of people wonder what qualifies as an elopement, and it basically can mean whatever you want. Typically an elopement involves a couple, and if they have any family or friends come, it is just a select few. Elopement and micro-wedding are often used interchangeably as well. The point it, you are creating a custom experience for yourself, and focusing on you as a couple, your closest loved ones (often somewhere at an outside destination with stunning scenery) and not throwing the wedding of your Aunt Susan’s dreams.

There are several things to consider when planning the timeline from should we do an all day elopement or wedding, how long should the ceremony be, what ideas can we do for our ceremony, should we do a first look, what activities can we do for our elopement, how long should we book our photographer for, etc, but let’s simplify this so you can come away from creating your timeline feeling clarity and peace of mind that there is some structure to your day, and excited about the custom experience you have created for yourselves and those who celebrate with you.

A lot of people aren’t sure what to do if they have an all day elopement or an all day wedding, and while there are a lot of possibilities, it’s helpful to work backwards on this one by deciding what types of experiences and activities you want to do on the day of the ceremony. This will not only help you get your timeline put together, but will also help you know how long you need to book your photographer for. Once you know what activities you want to do for your wedding, it’s MUCH easier to see if you are going to need more or less time for your elopement, micro-wedding, or wedding celebration. I’m going to include a list of meaningful activities and experiences that you can bring into your wedding day to make it a beautiful experience.

3 Step Formula For Planning A Meaningful Elopement or Wedding Day Timeline

This is literally the easiest way to figure out exactly what you need to create a clear, simple timeline. And yes, there are 4 steps, but 3 sounded catchy, AND the fourth step is actually just what you get when you add steps 1, 2, and 3 together. If you’re wondering how long and elopement takes, or a smaller, intimate wedding, you’re going to have an idea by the end of this process.

Step 1 | Choose Wedding Day Activities

I’ve created a list below of lots of ideas of activities and experiences that you can do as a couple and with your wedding or elopement guests. I have put them where I feel they fit well, whether it’s morning, during the ceremony, or the evening after the ceremony, but you are welcome to switch them around.

Step 2 | Decide What Time Of Day You Would Like To Do Them (Morning, During Ceremony, Evening)

Like I said, even though I have categorized them, this is your experience, and you can customize it any way you want. Try not to overthink it (easier said than done, I know), and let your hearts guide you to what really resonates with you and the experiences you want to have.

Step 3 | Determine How Long They Will Take

I’ve listed sample times for each activity, but it would be helpful to chat through this with your photographer to help determine more solid times, especially depending on how many guests will be there and the photos and what you are wanting photographed. It’s going to be a little different for everyone.

Step 4 | Step 1 + Step 2 + Step 3

You’ve now got the basics of what you need, and all of these things together will help you know what time you need to start your wedding day, and whether it’s going to end up being short and sweet, or an all day experience. This will help you when you are ready to book your photographer when they ask how much coverage you need.

Special Things To Do For An Elopement, Micro-Wedding, or Intimate Wedding

Grab a pen and paper, or print out the pdf I’ve put together and circle what really stands out to you and sounds like it would be meaningful for you to do on your wedding day. Each of these activities helps foster connection and presence on your wedding day, and all are beautiful experiences to be photographed. One thing to note—these activities can be moved around to different parts of the day. The key is to choose which ones stand out to you first, THEN if you want to swap things around you can.

1 | Morning Together Ideas

20 minutes per activity

Getting ready (can be done together or separately)
First look
Burn Sage
Read an excerpt from a favorite book together
Morning walk or yoga
Couple or individual bath
Candle burning + prayer
Private letter reading
Diffuse essential oils

2 | Ceremony Ideas

10-15 Min Per Activity

Sand Ceremony
Smudge Ceremony
Hand Fasting
Vows
Ring Exchange
Music (flute, guitar, singing bowls)

3 | Post-Ceremony, An Evening Celebration

30-60 Min Per Activity (Depends on size of group)

Family Portraits
Couple Portraits
First Dances
Campfire
Playing Instruments
Jump in lake, swim in hot springs

A Few Things To Consider That May Alter Your Timeline

Before you can decide what time your elopement, micro-wedding, or wedding should start, there are some things that often go overlooked when planning details that can require adding a little wiggle room to your timeline. Here is a list of things to consider when crafting your timeline:

Driving Distance

Be sure to pull up any gps details, and not only look at the distance, but how long it takes to drive that distance, or hike if you plan to hike to any areas for your wedding or any photos before or after the ceremony. How long does it take to get from point A to point B, point B to point C, etc. How long will it take you to get from where you are getting ready, to the ceremony site, to the evening celebration site?

When Is Sunset or Sunrise?

A lot of couple really want that epic sunset shot with the perfect light, and gorgeous scenery. If you are getting married at noon at that epic location, you aren’t going to get that. If you want to get married at noon, and do photos later, that will work. Just be sure to ask your photographer on how to best fit that into your day. If you’re planning on a sunrise elopement, you may need to plan to get up earlier than you think, especially if there’s hiking involved. For a helpful website in determining times of sunrise and sunset for certain locations, click HERE.

Add Some Wiggle Room

I have yet to see one wedding go exactly according to the timeline, especially if you don’t have a planner that is monitoring things. Give yourself some buffer time for activity transitions. Anticipate that it may take a little longer than you think. Is there somewhere you think you may end up running behind. Where do you anticipate wanting some space and time to breathe? This is also a great time to chat with your photographer to see if they can see any areas that are going to be cutting it close, and add a little time so you don’t feel rushed and stressed on your wedding day.

Sample Elopement, Micro-Wedding, or Wedding Timelines

One of the coolest things about eloping/micro-wedding is that you can focus the day to bring in the experiences to create the experience of how you want to feel on your wedding day. It can feel a little overwhelming but I'm here to help through that process.

With elopements/micro-weddings, they can be shorter and just focus on the main event plus some family photos, or they can be an all day thing where you spend the morning together with a bath, meditating, doing yoga, hiking or going on a walk, burning sage, getting ready together, etc.

Here are a few sample elopement or wedding day timelines. Keep in mind travel time will need to be considered if the ceremony/reception location aren't near each other, or if there is any type of hike to get to any of the locations. Also, the time may need to change depending on the time of year and when sunrise and sunset are.