The thing love most about eloping is that you have all the freedom in the world to do anything and everything your hearts desire. 

Want to go for a long and beautiful hike up a mountain so you can say your vows on a vista? Go for it. Would you rather take a 4×4 ride into southern Utah to explore the desert together? Perfect. Want a quiet, river-side picnic just for you and the love of your life? You can do that, too. 

It’s the freedom that makes an elopement day so magical. 

But sometimes, that freedom can feel a little overwhelming–especially when it comes to planning a full-day elopement.

Of course, soon-to-elope couples often have questions about full-day elopements, like, “What’s the benefit of booking an all-day elopement?” Or, “Is a full day enough?” Or, my favorite, “What do we do for an entire day elopement?”

I have very good news, friends–I’m here to help. This blog is going to dive into the important details of an all-day elopement. 

We’ll talk about the benefits of opting for an all-day experience, how to plan an elopement timeline, and I’ll even share a detailed example of what an all-day elopement timeline could look like. 

Everything You Need to Know About a Full-Day Elopement Timeline 

The Full-Day Elopement Basics: Why Plan a Full-Day Elopement? 

If you’ve done a little research into elopements or elopement photographers, you’ve probably found that we all offer different ranges of “coverage.” Many photographers can be booked for four hours, six hours, eight hours, or even up to a few days. 

When you book an elopement photographer for a certain amount of time, that simply means you’re booking them to capture your elopement for that specific window. 

Does that mean you can’t have a much longer elopement day that goes beyond when you hire your elopement photographer? No way! Your elopement “day” can last a full week–call it a full elopement vacation if you want. 

We’ll just be there to document what you booked us for.  

As an elopement photographer who’s been in the industry for a while, I can tell you that the thing I hear most frequently from couples is that they were either:

1. So glad they hired a photographer to document all the details of their day 
2. A little bummed they didn’t hire a photographer for longer to document all the details of their day 

I am 100% in favor of couples choosing full-day elopement coverage. But you don’t just have to take my word for it; I’ve listed out the benefits of a full-day elopement. 

The Benefits of a Full-Day Elopement 

More Coverage for More Memories 

In theory, you could totally have an all-day elopement that lasts 8-12 hours and only hire an elopement photographer for half of that. But that half-day where your photographer isn’t there documenting your day means a half-day of beautiful moments not captured. 

The longer you have your photographer there, the more memories you can freeze–the more details you’ll remember from your wedding day every time you flip through your album. 

Time for All the In-Betweens 

More coverage means having the freedom to document all the moments–big and small. Not just your vows on a mountain top, but the funny moment when your soon-to-be spouse tied their shoes all wrong out of nervousness. Not just the first kiss, but the first almost slip ‘n’ fall into the mud on your hike up the trail. Not just the “I do,” but the last moments of the day, looking up at the sky together. 

Fewer Compromises 

More time means making fewer choices about what you can and can’t do on your elopement day. A four-hour window of time versus a twelve-hour window looks very different, but importantly, it feels very different, too. 

With all-day coverage, you don’t have to say no to things. You want to explore two or three locations together? You have time! You want to take a rest in the middle of the day in a beautiful spot? Do it–you have all day! 

You want to include family but also save time for just you and your partner? You have so many hours to spread your desires across–there are infinite possibilities! 

Less Rush, Less Stress 

I always say the greatest gift you can give yourselves on your wedding day is time. Time to breathe, time to be present, time to soak in all the small, slow moments. 

You know how people tell you their wedding day went by in the blink of an eye? It’s true. That can be how it feels. And it goes by even faster if you’re trying to stick to a tight schedule where the “end of coverage” feels like it’s always closing in. 

My advice? Give yourself the gift of enough time so you never have to think about your schedule. Let your timeline flow naturally, savor each moment, and find rest and joy in every second as it unfolds. 

The more time you give yourself, the more easily that can happen. 

Divide the Day the Way You Want it 

One of the greatest struggles couples face when eloping is determining if they should cling to that intimate, “just us” feeling or invite the people they love the most. If you’re planning a full-day elopement, you have the freedom (and time) to do both things. You and your partner can cut the day in half–the morning is all about the two of you, the afternoon is all about you and your people.

You could have a private morning ceremony, a sunrise hike, breakfast together, and time to reflect together–then head over to a ceremony with your guests and a reception in the evening. Or vice versa! You could intermingle your guests into sections throughout the day, and save a few of the most intimate moments just for yourself. 

Either way, you have the time to split things up–and that’s hard to do with something like 4 or 6 hours. 

Less Time Devoted to the Details, More Time for the Good Stuff 

When planning an elopement, it’s important to remember that everything (even elopement days) has logistics. You’ll need to account for buffer time, travel time, hiking time, etc.–all kinds of things you might not necessarily think take up that much time, but then end up taking more time than you imagined. 

When you have a longer window of coverage, that logistical time becomes a much smaller fraction of your day. As your photographer, I’ll be sure to document every moment of your day–even things that feel “logistical.” But with more time overall, you’ll have more coverage of the meaningful moments in the places you plan to explore. 

What’s an Elopement Timeline? 

So, you’re on board with an all-day elopement by now, right? I figured as much. 

Once you’ve decided on an all-day elopement, it’s time to create an all-day elopement timeline. 

An elopement timeline is exactly what it sounds like–a plan for the day that details all the logistics, helps you determine when to be where, and acts like a roadmap for your elopement. 

I know, I know–if you’re tapping into the “wild and free” elements of having an elopement, a timeline might make it feel like it’s a traditional wedding. But trust me, this loose guideline is just a way to make sure your day looks and feels like you want it to. 

And you know what? If you find that you want more time somewhere to soak things in, or you want to change plans mid-day–that can happen. Flexibility and freedom still rule elopements–a timeline just makes everything flow smoothly. 

How Do I Plan an Elopement Timeline?

Your elopement timeline should be a collaboration between you and your elopement photographer. 

It’s not a strict deadline or a manifesto for how every second of the day should go, just a way to ensure that everything you and your partner want to experience can happen.

Here are a few things you’ll want to consider when building out your elopement day timeline. 

• Make a List of Non-Negotiables: What are the things you absolutely want to include in your day? Even though it might feel impossible to narrow down your list of must-have things, you’ll gradually figure out what feels right to you as you plan. Make sure that you and your partner add all those non-negotiables to your timeline so you don’t miss them on the day of. 
• Consider the Events of the Day: Start thinking about the elements of the day: the locations, the ceremony, the reception, hike, etc. All the elements and events of your day need to fit into the timeline you’re building. 
• Don’t Forget About Getting Ready Time: Some of my best advice is to include coverage for when you’re getting ready. These “before the day” moments are special in ways you can’t imagine. Documenting them and having them for yourselves forever always ends up being couples’ surprising thing they’re so glad they did. 
• Leave Time for Nothing: I know this sounds confusing, but hear me out. It can be so tempting to cram non-stop activities and plans into each section of the day. But in my experience, the couples who leave chunks of time free in their day end up loving every opportunity they have to explore with each other, rest with each other, and just savor every second they have in an area. 
• Account for Buffer Time: Here’s a little logistical secret–everything takes longer than you think it will. Maybe a family member wants to chat a little too long, maybe someone gets lost on the way to the ceremony, or maybe the hike takes longer than you think. These things don’t have to be a big deal, especially when you plan for them. Add in a little extra time (I call it buffer time) into every part of your timeline so you can be “on schedule” even when you’re not.  
• Intimate Time vs. Time with Guests: If you’re planning a day with guests involved but also want to maintain a little privacy, you’ll want to think hard about where your “just us” time will fit into your day. Consider where you want to be, what you want to do, and how much of your day is going to be just the two of you. Then, try to build guests in around that. 
• Think About Hiking Time/ Driving Time: Just like you should consider buffer time, you should consider logistics like driving time and hiking time, too. Work those kinds of things into your elopement day so you can have a realistic picture of what your timeline will look like.  
• Consider “Plan B” Elements: Work with your photographer to establish some Plan B scenarios just in case things need to pivot. This is especially important if you’re having a day entirely outside. You know Mother Nature, she can be unpredictable. Having a plan ahead of time will relieve you of that stress so you can know what to do if you experience a hiccup in your original plans. 
• Focus on How You Want to Feel: Above all else, focus on the feeling of your day. Ignore what you “should” do to maximize your all-day elopement and plan a day that feels right for you. If you’re a couple who wants to see as many places as possible and absolutely thrives on a go-go-go kind of schedule, you can use your full day to do just that. If you want an all-day elopement that prioritizes intimate and slow moments in one location, that’s perfect, too. It’s all about how you want to experience your day and how you want it to feel–never forget that. 

Full-Day Elopement Timeline: A Moab, Utah Elopement 

Before we dive right into this example, I want to make a super important point–I call this an example for a reason. Your all-day elopement could (and probably will!) look totally different than this. 

Every couple’s day should be as unique and special as they are. And to me, that means no two days ever look (or feel) the same. 

But if you’re down to pretend and think about the hypotheticals, check out what a full-day elopement timeline in Moab, Utah could look like.

• 4:00 a.m.- 5:00 a.m.  

Hair, makeup, and getting dressed. I’ll capture these moments however you see fit; then when everyone’s ready, we’ll head over to Arches National Park. 

• 5:15 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.

We arrive at the Visitors Center Parking Lot in Arches National Park to get a game plan. Then, we’ll drive over to the parking lot for our first hike-to spot–Double Arch.  

• 5:50 a.m. – 6:15 a.m. 

With a little buffer time in place, we’ll start our hike out to an epic ceremony spot for the sunrise and wait for the sun to come up to start your ceremony. 

• 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.

It’s time for your ceremony. You and your partner will have all the time you want to share your vows or partake in any intimate ceremony you have planned. I’ll give you space to experience your day and document these moments. 

• 7:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

We’ll spend the next two hours exploring, hiking around, and documenting stunning photos of your wedding day. We’ll take lots of photos at Double Arch, hike over to Turret Arch and the Windows, and give you both plenty of time to adventure around and soak it all in together. 

• 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

We’ll take a quick drive over to another spot, Sand Dune Arch. 

• 10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Once we get to Sand Dune, it’s time to have a snack (maybe a second breakfast, some pastries, or another favorite treat), snag some coffee or tea, and soak in the desert morning views. Once you’ve refueled, it’s time to hike over to Sand Dune Arch to explore, capture more moments together, and see a beautiful area. 

• 11:25 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Back to our cars and into town! This might take 30 minutes to 1 hour, all depending on the traffic.  

• 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Sit down for a lovely lunch. Maybe you enjoy a quick picnic outdoors somewhere or eat at your Airbnb–whatever you decide, it’s important to eat something delicious and filling. 

• 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Take a deserved rest together! Lounge in the sun, take a nap, curl up and read–whatever your preferred method of rest and relaxation is, give yourself a little down time to take a break and get ready for even more excitement. 

• 4:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.

We’ll meet back up and drive out to an amazing overlook spot in Dead Horse State Park. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour, so we’ll leave lots of buffer time for the eventualities. 

• 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

We’ll spend the rest of the evening at Dead Horse. It’s time to celebrate, picnic with your favorite dinner, enjoy your favorite drinks, and have some dessert. We’ll explore and capture moments until the sun goes down. If it’s a clear night, we might even get some star photos.  

• 9:00 pm 

Our coverage together is over, but that doesn’t mean your elopement day has to be. Pop some more champagne, have another delicious dessert, and party into the night with your family members. Whatever you decide, enjoy every moment of this amazing day together. 

Let’s Plan Your Full-Day Elopement Together 

No matter what you want your day to look like or feel like, I’m here to help. As your elopement photographer, I’ll capture every beautiful moment of your wedding day as it unfolds–but I’ll also help you craft an all-day elopement timeline that feels like your perfect fit. When you’re ready, I’m ready. 

(P.S., Feel like a one-day elopement isn’t quite right for you? I’m here to chat about two-day elopements, too!)