Easy 10-Step Guide to Planning a Last-Minute Elopement

Table of Contents:

• Can You Elope at the Last Minute?
• 10 Steps to Planning a Last-Minute Elopement
• Our Top 3 Tips for a Successful Last-Minute Elopement

So you and your partner want to elope, like, ASAP. . . how the hell do you make it happen? While we work with lots of couples who plan out their elopements many months in advance, we also thrive on helping couples plan last-minute elopements in just 1-3 months. We know, it sounds wild (and maybe a little unrealistic), but we promise you that it’s absolutely possible to bring your dream day together faster than you can even say elopement! 😉 

We’ll prove it to ya: we’ve taken our 11+ years of elopement photography experience and turned into one big guide to help you plan your perfect day in less than 3 months, and we’re showing you how to do it with ease. After all, why would you even want to elope if the entire planning process leading up to it was just filled with stress, overwhelm, and panic?! None of that here, promise. 

Ready to become a total pro at all things last-minute elopements, and feel confident bringing your dream celebration to life in just a few months’ time? Because we’re SO ready to make it happen with you.

Can You Elope at the Last Minute?

First, let’s address the big ol’ elephant in the room (or in this case, on the screen): is it even possible to elope at the last minute?

Because when you think about planning a wedding, you probably think of those massive celebrations full of grandeur, wildly intricate ceremonies, and hours-long receptions—and then your brain assumes that, because that kind of wedding probably takes at least a year or two to plan, all weddings must take that long to plan. Right?

Wrong! Elopements can absolutely be planned in just a couple of months, and often are, actually, due to their more spontaneous and flexible nature. You’ve heard us talk about this on and on by now: the beauty of elopements is that they can be whatever the fuck you want them to be, as simple or complicated, as laid-back or luxurious, as minimalist or intricate as you desire.

This means that if you’re not looking for some crazy complicated celebration with tons of decor, complex schedules, and a large venue, it actually becomes pretty dang easy to plan a last-minute elopement!

Without the need to book a venue way ahead of time, hire a long list of vendors, or invite a big guest list with enough advance notice, you have significantly more freedom to plan an elopement without all the bells & whistles—just the parts you want, and nothing more.

Why would you plan a last-minute elopement?

Here are a few reasons a last-minute elopement might appeal to you and your partner:

• You don’t want to spend months anticipating your ceremony—you’re ready to get right to it!
• You have a simple, laid-back celebration in mind that doesn’t require much advance planning
• You want to save time & energy by not planning for months on end
• You don’t need fancy decor, an official venue, or a large guest list
• You can’t wait to get married and want to say your vows ASAP
• You have a loved one who you want to be present on the big day (for example, a grandparent who, unfortunately, may not have too much time left with you)

How long does it take to plan an elopement?

There’s not really a clear answer to this, because every couple is totally unique. We’ve seen couples plan elopements anywhere from 6 months in advance to just 2 weeks ahead of their date. . . and everywhere in between! 

No matter what, it’s important to be realistic about how much time you’ll need to plan the kind of elopement you’re dreaming up. Here are a few important factors to consider when thinking about how long you might need to execute your vision:

• Budget: Do you have enough money set aside for your elopement, or do you need more time to continue saving up?
• Guests: Are you inviting any guests? If so, how much advance notice will they need in order to plan, take time off work, etc.?
• Location: Where might you want to elope, and does that location have any limitations/availability you need to be aware of? (e.g. seasonal closures, open hours, advance registration, etc.)
• Permits: Does your ideal location require you to apply for a permit? If so, how far in advance do they need your application submitted, and how long will the permit process take?
• Travel/accommodations: Are there flights, accommodations, etc. available for the dates you’re looking at? If not, do you need to push your date further out in order to have more options?
• Activities: What kinds of activities do you want to include in your elopement, and do any of them require advance booking or careful planning?
• Vendors: Are the vendors you want to hire, available on your desired date/at the last-minute? What do their payment plans look like, and how much are their deposits?

Can you get legally married last-minute?

Totally! It does depend on what state or country you’re in, though. In some states, you can get married in just a day, whereas others have a mandatory waiting period that requires you to wait a certain amount of days after getting your final marriage license. If you’re looking to elope as quickly as possible, it’s best if you can be flexible with your location so that you can find a timeline that works for you!

What is the quickest state to get married?

Here’s a list of US states where you don’t need any witnesses, and there’s no required waiting period—meaning you can make things legal pretty quickly:

• Colorado (no officiant required, either! You can do it yourselves!)
• Alabama
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia

10 Steps to Planning a Last-Minute Elopement

Now that you know a last-minute elopement is a totally viable option, where should you start when it comes to planning? We’ve got a 10-step list below showing you exactly how to plan a last-minute elopement, with a timeframe of 1-3 months.

1. Hire your photographer, videographer, and officiant

Wondering why we recommend hiring these three vendors before doing anything else? It’s not just because we’re biased, as a wedding photo and video team ourselves 😉 

No, it’s actually because these are the most important vendors you’ll be trusting to help bring your elopement vision to life, AND the ones that are most likely booked out the furthest. We often book elopements months and months in advance, meaning that when we get a last-minute elopement inquiry, we’ve gotta check our calendars and see if we’re available! To make sure you’re able to hire a photog & videog you adore, we recommend inquiring as soon as you know you want to elope in the next 1-3 months.

Want to work with an experienced adventure photo + video duo who knows their shit? We’d love to help you plan your last-minute elopement—reach out here to get started ASAP.

Officiants don’t always book out as far ahead of time, but they’re going to be your most important vendor in terms of getting legally married on your elopement day. Unless you’re eloping in a state where self-solemnization is legal, and you don’t need an officiant—in which case, that’s one less vendor to check off your list! Otherwise, definitely reach out to officiants as soon as you can to make sure you find someone who can perform the type of ceremony you’re looking for. 

Here are the states where it’s legal to self-solemnize your own marriage ceremony: Colorado, California, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

Did I mention that we offer officiant services in most locations across the USA to make your experience stress-free? 😉

2. Choose your date

The reason we added this one after hiring your initial vendors, instead of putting it first, is that you might want to be flexible with your date in order to hire a photographer, videographer, and officiant you love. If you’re super set on a date in the next couple of months, it’s probably going to be a lot harder to find vendors who are available—and the last thing you want is to have to resort to hiring vendors you don’t really vibe with because your original choices weren’t available. 

We’d usually include a lot of different factors to consider when choosing your elopement date, but in the case of last-minute elopements, you’re going to be a bit more limited, and that’s okay! Here are the most important things to keep in mind when planning a date for your big day:

• Travel costs/availability: When are there flights/accommodations available at your location of choice? Are there certain dates that are fully booked and would make it impossible for you to travel there in the first place?
• Your schedule: Obviously. If you need to take time off work or move things around on your calendar, make sure the date you choose gives you enough flexibility to do so.
• Permits: If you’re super set on a certain location, check to see if there are any permit requirements for ceremonies—and if there are, how long will it take to get the permit? This will affect how far out you plan your elopement, more on this in a bit.
• Weather: Since you’ll be fairly close to your elopement date, you might be able to more accurately predict the weather (even though you’ll never be able to totally know what to expect). What’s the weather looking like for the upcoming weeks, and what’s the historical weather data for the next few months? How will this affect your elopement and location, travel, etc.?

3. Choose your location

When it comes to picking a location for your last-minute elopement, the main things to consider are availability, accessibility, and permits. In our full guide to planning an elopement, we go over exactly how to pick your perfect destination.

Looking for inspo to get the ideas flowin’? Check out a few of our favorite guides that feature places we LOVE:

➡️ Top 20 Worldwide Mountain Elopement Locations

➡️ 8 Most Beautiful Tropical Elopement Destinations in the U.S.

➡️ 12 Best Luxury Resort Elopement Packages in the U.S.

4. Apply for permits

Planning to elope in a national park, or on other federally/state protected land? Make sure you’re familiar with the area’s permit regulations, and find out if it’s possible to get a permit in time for your ideal date. If not, you’ll need to choose a different location OR push your date further out! Most national parks require at least a month’s notice for permit applications, but some ask for more—we can help you look into this, no prob. Usually you’re more likely to be able to get a permit more quickly during a park’s off-season, rather than during peak tourist season.

If you’re considering a national park elopement, we highly encourage you to read a blog post we published recently about the National Parks Crisis in 2025, where you can learn about what’s happening to our beautiful parks and find actionable advice on how you can help.

5. Invite your guests + witnesses

If you want to invite any guests, now’s the time! It’s probably going to be harder with such short notice, but hopefully the people you want by your side will be able to make it happen for you. This is also the time to figure out who your witnesses will be, if you need any—and hint, hint, we’d be totally stoked to sign those papers for ya if you don’t want to invite anybody ✌️

6. Hire other vendors (florist, HMUA, etc.)

Now that you’ve got your date and location nailed down, as well as your permits applied for, it’s time to hire the rest of the vendors you want to help bring your dream day to life. Last-minute elopements are often on the simpler side, requiring fewer vendors than one with more advance planning or a larger, traditional wedding, but it’s totally up to you, your budget, and what matters to you most. We’ve seen couples hire a florist last-minute to create a gorgeous bouquet and simple ceremony setup, but we’ve also seen couples grab flowers from Trader Joe’s on the way to their ceremony spot. Whatever your vibe is, we’re here for it!

Here are some of the vendors you might consider hiring for your last-minute elopement, besides a photographer, videographer, and officiant:

• Florist
• Hair & makeup
• Cake/dessert

In lieu of hiring a caterer or a food truck like you might for an elopement with more time to plan, you could simply set up a romantic picnic, book a reservation at a restaurant of your choice, or cook a meal together at your Airbnb! There are tons of options that don’t require spending thousands of dollars on a vendor that you don’t care too much about, so don’t be afraid to think a little bit outside of the box.

7. Book your travel + accommodations

In the craziness of planning, it’s so easy to forget about the logistical stuff—such as booking your travel and accommodations. 

Travel and transportation costs could look like airfare, ferry tickets, Ubers/taxis, rental cars, trains, etc., and your accommodations could be at a hotel, Airbnb, resort, inn, shared hostel, you name it. Whatever your preferences and budget, just be sure to start looking into travel and accommodations far enough in advance that you have options to choose from.

8. Plan your timeline + activities

Next, you’ll want to put together your timeline, and plan any activities you’d like to include. This might be something like a hike, a helicopter tour, or a dinner reservation at a restaurant you’re dying to try—anything that might require advance booking. We’ll be right by your side to provide planning assistance and timeline creation, so no need to worry about doing it on your own.

Click here for a massive guide featuring 60 unique elopement ideas for your dream elopement day!

9. Shop for your outfits 

With less planning time comes less time to shop for your dream elopement attire, but don’t fret: there are plenty of ways to find outfits you love, even on a short time frame. Because you only have a month or two, you likely won’t have time to go into a wedding attire shop, get fitted, and order a custom piece sized just right for your body; you may have to opt for pieces on a store’s sample rack that fit, orrrr check out the following options:

• Thrift and consignment stores near you
• Facebook marketplace
• Online retailers with fast shipping, such as Lulu’s Weddings or Nordstrom
• Rental gowns, suits, etc.

10. Get your marriage license

Last but definitely not least, you gotta get your marriage license—duh. Again, the regulations and process will depend on the state or country in which you’ll be getting married, so you’ll have to look it up to get the right info! Lucky for you, we’ve put together a few resources where you can learn how to get your marriage license in our most traveled states: Colorado, Hawaii, and Iowa.

Our Top 3 Tips for a Successful Last-Minute Elopement

Finally, we wanted to share a few last tips for achieving an incredible, unforgettable last-minute elopement that you’ll be stoked about for the rest of your lives.

Focus on your top priorities

Because you’ll be limited on time, try to focus on your top priorities when it comes to your budget, and what you want/don’t want to include in your day. What matters to you most? What (or who) would you regret not having on your big day? What do you want to remember about the experience; how do you want it to feel?

When you bring your focus back to the two of you and what you care about most, it’ll be way easier to determine what you want your day to look like, and where you want to invest your time, energy, and money.

Plan a larger celebration later

Ever since the pandemic, we’ve seen SO many couples plan their own private elopement, followed by a bigger party later on—whether it be weeks, months, or a year down the road. This is an awesome way to enjoy your day just the two of you while still having an opportunity to share the love with your fam & friends at another date! If this sounds like your vibe, you won’t want to miss our guide to How to Plan an Epic Post-Elopement Party.

Make it just as memorable

Just because you’re planning your elopement with a little bit less time on your side, doesn’t mean it has to be ANY less memorable or meaningful. There are so many ways you can still incorporate everything you love into your elopement, whether it be activities, people, traditions, or memories you’re looking forward to creating. Maybe you just scale it back a little bit—e.g. Instead of hiring a private chef to come cook for you at your Airbnb, you opt to hit the local grocery store and cook a delicious meal together after your ceremony. Or maybe you incorporate a moderate 3-mile hike to a stunning viewpoint into your day, instead of an overnight backpacking trip. Don’t limit yourselves just because you’re planning at the last minute, there are still endless possibilities!

Alrighty, you’ve made it to the end of our last-minute elopement planning guide—hopefully by now, you feel ready to plan your big day in 3 months or less! Whether you’re eloping in a week or 10, we’d love to chat with you when you’re ready to follow step one of our guide: hiring your elopement photographer and videographer. Peruse through the rest of our website to see if you’re vibing with us, and then reach out to start planning your elopement ASAP.

Can’t wait to get the ball rolling on your special day 😎