On the day you marry the love of your life, every moment matters. Sometimes, choosing an adventure elopement is a double-edged sword. On one end, it’s a way for couples to ditch tradition, choose a wedding day that speaks to them, and pick a way to get married that makes them feel most alive. On the other hand, it can sometimes catalyze a shift in focus. 

Adventure elopements are epic–but they’re not just epic because of the crazy places you can go to tie the knot or the amazing images you’ll end up with after. They’re epic because they wholeheartedly focused on you making choices that feel right for you both. 

And that includes your elopement ceremony. 

I often talk with so many couples who think that on their wedding day, they have to go the traditional route–they have to hire an officiant to walk them through a ceremony, they have to say specific vows, or they have to exchange rings. 

Here’s something really important that I want everyone out there to know–just like you can choose an elopement over a traditional wedding, you can choose an intentional, meaningful ceremony that’s special to you both. 

Your elopement ceremony is one of the most meaningful (if not the most meaningful) parts of your wedding day because it’s the moment you’re choosing your partner. It’s an opportunity to express your love in the exact ways that feel right. 

It’s your chance to say or do whatever you believe is the best way to show your partner how and why you love them so much. If the idea of creating an intimate, meaningful wedding ceremony from scratch seems so beautiful but also so overwhelming, this blog can help. I’ll share a few of my favorite intimate elopement ceremony ideas with you.

 But first, let’s talk about why your ceremony is so important. 

Why Your Elopement Day Ceremony Matters 

If you’re someone who’s incredibly excited about the stunning wedding day images that go hand in hand with an adventure elopement day out in the wild, I need you to know that I’m right there with you.

As an elopement photographer, I’ll be the first to say that your elopement images absolutely matter. They’re not just captures of your day; they’re time capsules, heirlooms, and a way to do the impossible–preserve time in a freeze frame. 

But getting the perfect picture isn’t really what’s at the root of your elopement day–it’s about marrying the love of your life. And how you do that–how you make that promise of forever to your partner–is a beyond-words meaningful expression. 

Your wedding ceremony is your chance to cut through the noise of everything–it’s your shot to take your partner by the hand, do exactly what you want, and make sure they know what it means to love them the way you love them. More than that, it’s a chance to prioritize the connection you have with your partner, to plan something special and unique that you’ll always remember. 

Well-planned ceremonies can empower you to slow down, embrace everything happening around you, and help you tap into the real, raw emotions of your wedding day. In my experience, when couples carve out time to really invest in the intentionality of their wedding day ceremony, they’re able to soak in every precious second just a bit more authentically. 

Intimate Ideas for Your Wedding Day Ceremony 

Meditate on the Moment 

There’s something to be said about going into your elopement ceremony with a heightened sense of mindfulness. Even though adventure elopements are designed to put you both at the center of it all, sometimes the excitement of an elopement can start to make things fuzzy. Before your elopement ceremony, consider opting for a few quiet moments of meditation. 

Whether this just means taking a few moments of silence together to breathe intentionally or have an expert guide you through a meditation, setting aside time like this can help you refocus on the ceremony you’ve planned and the promise you’re about to make. 

Sand Blending, Handfasting, & Unity Symbols

Marriage, at its core, is about unity. It’s about the choice to blend your life with another person’s, to become their partner, and to create a team of two people who want the best for the other. There are hundreds of beautiful, symbolic rituals you can incorporate into your ceremony to honor that committment of partnership and unity–sand blending ceremonies and handfasting ceremonies are two popular choices. 

But these aren’t the only acts of unity you can include in your wedding day ceremony. Some couples play a board game, some create a beautiful work of art together–as long as you’re celebrating your unity, there’s no wrong answer here. 

Personalized Vows & Vow Books 

This is definitely a tried and true option, but it’s an incredibly meaningful one. Reading vows to your loved one can be an opportunity to include tradition if that’s what matters to you. But it can also be a chance to get introspective, think long and hard about your partner, and share what you love and cherish most about them. 

And here’s the best part of it all–vows can come in any form. You don’t have to write a few short sentences full of promises. 

Write your partner a poem. Express your love to them in the form of song lyrics. Say exactly what you want to say to your partner–because that’s what vows are all about. Don’t be afraid to be as heartfelt or as unique a you want. The only rule here is that you’re sharing what’s important to you on your wedding day.

Sage Burning 

Sage burning is a beautiful, ritualstic ceremony that’s said to cleanse the energy in a place, eliminating the bad and making room for the good. 

Though sage burnings are often used in new homes or buildings, burning sage as part of your elopement ceremony can be exceptionally symbolic and meaningful–you’re cleansing that energy surrounding you, making room for only good, beautiful things. To me, that sounds like an incredibly special way to begin an elopement ceremony. 

Gift-Giving 

Take this opportunity to give your partner something from the heart. It can be something you made, something from the past, something you’ve always wanted them to have–there are no rules here. 

Sharing a gift with your partner during your ceremony can show them how much thought and intentionality you’ve put into this moment–and it can be a fun, spontaneous way to surprise them, too. 

Experience a Sound Bath

Just like meditating, a sound bath can be a great way to give in, release stress, and refocus before or during your elopement ceremony. Sound baths are full-body listening experiences that are therapeutic, powerful, and gentle. 

Incorporating a sound bath into your elopement ceremony  can be an intimate way for you to immerse yourselves in the moments ahead and give into the raw emotions of the day, helping you connect your minds, bodies, and spirits as you marry your partner. 

Incorporate Music or a Reading 

Share a passage from your favorite book. Read your partner a poem. Recite–or play–the lyrics from a song that means something to you both. 

Incorporating art, music, and literature can be a beautiful way to express your love for your partner while ensuring it’s unique to your relationship. 

Do Your Special Thing 

Every couple out there says or does something that’s unique to their relationship. Think about it–what’s yours? What’s something you and your partner do or say that’s special to you? Do you have an inside joke? A favorite board game? A poem or passage from a book that means something to the two of you? A song that’s special to your relationship? 

Think long and hard about the things that are unique to your relationship–the things that make you pause and remember you’re lucky enough to be in love with your partner. Talk this over with your partner–or surprise them with something unique!–and incorporate these special couple-isms into your elopement ceremony–no matter what they might be. 

Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to have an elopement ceremony. It can be sincere and serious in one moment and hilarious and goofy in another–whatever you feel, whatever is on your heart, and whatever matters most to you both is what should be included in your elopement ceremony. 

Let’s Capture Your Intimate Elopement Ceremony 

No matter what you do during your elopement ceremony and no matter how you want it to unfold, the only thing that matters is making sure it’s meaningful and intentional for the both of you. 

Planning a ceremony that allows you to slow the day down and embrace the big, beautiful emotion of it all can help you prioritize your connection with your partner. If you’re looking for inspiration, encouragement, or help planning an intimate elopement ceremony that celebrates your love, I can help. 

Reach out to me anytime to learn more about how to elope, talk about your unique elopement, and more! I can’t wait to capture your one-of-a-kind wedding day.