Congratulations on deciding to have an elopement! You're choosing to cast tradition aside and plan a wedding that's uniquely and totally you. While planning an elopement may seem like an easy task - after all, you're not coordinating dinner for 200 people - it's important to remember that there are still some details you won't want to forget.

To help you through the elopement planning process, we've created a checklist to keep you on track. The beauty of elopements is that you can make them as simple or extravagant as you wish. Feel free to add any steps we may have missed or skip some if they don't apply to your unique day.

Elopement Planning Checklist:

Set A Budget:

Setting a budget is an important first step in elopement planning. Your budget will depend on what you and your partner envision for your dream day. While elopements are generally less expensive than traditional weddings, it's still a good idea to be prepared to spend in the upper 4–5-digit range. The big difference between elopements and traditional weddings is that eloping couples have more flexibility in how they allocate their funds.

To start planning your budget, sit down with your partner and discuss what's most important for your elopement day. Ask yourselves questions like:

Are we inviting anyone?
What time of year do we want to elope?
What activities do we want to include? Hiking, rafting, soaking in a hot tub? Anything is possible on your special day!

Choose Your Elopement Location:
Choosing your elopement location is ultimately one of the most important parts of the planning process! If you are already an Ohiopyle Wedding couple, congratulations – you’ve got this part figured out! If you don’t have a specific location in mind, don’t worry. While Pinterest may make it seem like you need a jaw-dropping mountainscape or the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert as your elopement backdrop, you don’t! Don’t get us wrong, those options are stunning, but they are not for everyone and often come with a hefty price tag. There are many other beautiful options out there that won't break the bank.

Pennsylvania is home to some breathtaking sights, including Ohiopyle State Park and the surrounding Laurel Highlands. These locations offer spectacular views without the added expense of plane tickets and travel. Keep in mind that eloping doesn't necessarily mean trekking out west to massive national parks or traveling abroad - there are plenty of “wow” worthy options right here in Pennsylvania.

Decide Who Will Do The Planning:

While elopements require less logistical planning than traditional weddings, they still require planning. At some point in the planning process (usually early on), you'll need to decide who will handle this: an elopement planner, day-of coordinator, DIY planning, or a combination of all three. The choice is yours to make based on your preferences and budget.

Shop For Elopement Attire:

Elopement attire is all about making sure you feel comfortable and confident on your special day. You don't have to follow the traditional rules of a white dress and suit if that's not your style! Comfort for some might mean traditional wedding attire, but for others that might mean rockin’ a white jumpsuit or stepping out in a bold color suit, bolo tie, and cowboy hat. If you need inspiration or guidance for picking out your wedding attire, check out our blog post “Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Day Attire” for some Ohiopyle Weddings wedding day attire tips.

Research Legal Requirements For Your State:
Did you know that Pennsylvania is one of the few states that allows self-uniting ceremonies? This means that you can marry yourself, no ordained officiant required! How cool is that? All you need are two witnesses over the age of 18 and a different marriage license. When applying for your marriage license, simply request a self-uniting marriage license. If you're not familiar with self-uniting ceremonies, check out our blog post on “Self-Uniting Ceremonies: What are they and how do you perform one?” to learn all about this unique wedding ceremony and get advice on how to create your own self-uniting ceremony.

Hire any vendors you wish you include in your day.

The vendor list for an eloping couple is entirely up to them, depending on how they choose to allocate their budget. Although there is more planning flexibility with elopements and you could potentially plan one in a short amount of time, we always advise planning as far in advance as possible. While there are vendors who solely work with eloping couples, many vendors specialize in both traditional weddings and elopements. If you are wanting to work with one of these vendors, make sure to book them as soon as possible since traditional weddings tend to book out further in advance. The most common vendors eloping couples tend to hire include an officiant, photographer, videographer, hair/makeup artist, florist, baker for an elopement cake, and rentals/decor.

Book all necessary accommodations:

One of the perks of having an Ohiopyle Wedding is that we will help you with this part! Our Ohiopyle Vacation Rentals are the perfect accommodations for your wedding experience.

Make travel arrangements to and from your elopement destination.

Laurel Highlands is a mountainous region, make sure that your vehicle is capable of driving and weather conditions!

Make day of travel arrangements

Although we don't provide planning services for your elopement day, we can offer guidance on the distance between your accommodations and ceremony location. Do you plan to have a first look? If you don’t wish to see each other before your vows plan accordingly for travel to your ceremony spot! The

Decide on and Book and Honeymoon Location:

We suggest extending your trip to the Laurel Highlands and turning it into a mini-moon or full honeymoon. This way, you won't need to go through the planning process all over again, which is a win-win situation! Additionally, having an extra day or two after saying "I do" to bask in the newlywed bliss before returning to the real world is a special time. If it's feasible for you, we highly recommend extending your stay!

Determine Who is on Your Guestlist:

We understand that this part of the planning process can be challenging for eloping couples as choosing to elope or have an intimate wedding can sometimes cause tension among family and friends. However, it's essential to remember that your guest list is entirely up to you.

Some couples who elope choose to have a "just us" wedding experience, while others may include a small group of close loved ones to share in this milestone moment. If you opt for a "just us" wedding, keep in mind that two witnesses over the age of 18 are required to legally wed in Pennsylvania. These witnesses can be family members, friends, or even your photographer, videographer, or day-of coordinator if you want to keep it truly intimate.

For advice on how to inform family members of your decision to elope or how to incorporate family into elopements (both when physically present and when having a “just us” wedding” check out our blog post, "Who’s Invited: Tips to Help You Determine Your Elopement and Intimate Wedding Guest List”.

Purchase Your Rings:

This may seem like a no-brainer, but we have seen too many Rom-Coms to leave this off the checklist.

Purchase Remaining Elopement Day Attire/Accessories

Consider your whole elopement day and what you might want to include. We have provided a list of common elopement day accessories/attire in case you are stuck.

Robe/PJs
Undergarments
Hiking clothes, boots
Wedding shoes
Jewelry, cuff links, bolo ties
Hats
Hiking backpacks

Purchase Miscellaneous Meaningful Items for the Elopement:
- Custom vow books
- Special wedding day present for your partner
- Any food or drink you wish to incorporate into your day that cannot be provided by your caterer or baker.

Apply for a Marriage License:

The rules for applying for a marriage license in Pennsylvania differ from county to county, but you can obtain your license in one county and use it in another. Here are some standard rules and things to consider when applying for a marriage license in Pennsylvania, but as always, be sure to do your own research!

Both parties must be over the age of 18
If you are divorced, you must bring a copy of your divorce decree
If you’re widowed, you must bring a copy of the death certificate
Both parties must be present when applying in front of the Register of Wills
Valid photo identification is required
The cost of marriage certificates varies by county. In Fayette County, it is $50 and cash-only. Make sure to check if they accept cards or cash-only payments and prepare accordingly. If you are looking for a Self-Uniting marriage license, it may be more expensive.
There is a 3-day waiting period once you apply for the license before you can wed. Marriage licenses are only valid for 60 days.
Check the Register of Wills office's opening hours, closing time, and lunch break. Nothing is worse than driving somewhere only to find the office closed!

Determine How You Want to Celebrate Post-Elopement:

We suggest taking some time to celebrate after exchanging vows! Take a moment to cherish the experience you just had. You can do something as simple as reserving a table at a local restaurant (we recommend Stone House Inn & Braddock's Restaurant and Tavern) or go all out with a catered meal for two at your Ohiopyle Vacation Rental. Stone House Inn Catering can prepare something delectable, and Wild Roots Events or Windswept Promotions can provide you with a stunning tablescape to elevate your post-elopement celebration!

Make arrangements for a pet sitter:

This point is important and often forgotten. If you wish to include your furry family member in your special day, go ahead and do so! All our Ohiopyle Vacation Rentals are dog-friendly, so bringing your best friend along is definitely an option, but if you want them to remain at home, make sure that you have secured a pet sitter to watch your best bud while you’re away.

Purchase any hair or makeup supplies that will not be provided by you makeup artist or hair stylist (if you are choosing to hire one).

Organize the Details You Want your Photographer to Capture:

We highly suggest organizing all your detail items such as rings, floral stems, accessories, shoes, vow books, elopement announcement/invites, etc. into a labeled box called "Photography Details." This will save you from scrambling to find everything on the day of your elopement and will guarantee you get the desired detail shots.

Do a styling run or book a hair and makeup trial with your artists if you have not done so already. Make sure to purchase any hair or makeup supplies that will not be provided by you makeup artist or hair stylist prior to this trial so that you can bring it with you!

Select Wedding Music:

Elopements are often more low-key than a traditional wedding and many couples don’t spring for a musician/DJ. However, creating a Spotify playlist with your favorite songs and connecting it to a Bluetooth speaker is an excellent way to enhance your elopement day. Private first dance in a field of wildflowers? That’s a BIG “YES” from us!

Confirm plans/bookings with all vendors

Confirm travel plans with witnesses and guests

Schedule any final fittings

Create a day-of timeline:

If you're not familiar with the area, we at Ohiopyle Weddings can provide you with ideas of how long it would take to get to different locations throughout the Laurel Highlands. However, we do not create day-of timelines. If you're hiring an elopement planner, day-of coordinator, and/or photographer, they can likely help you generate a timeline.

Write Your Vows:

For an extremely intimate wedding experience like eloping, we suggest skipping the traditional vows that you often hear at most weddings and instead speak from your heart. Our favorite tip has been to download a voice memo app onto your phone and whenever you feel moved, record your thoughts about your future partner, your past, your upcoming marriage, your future together, your promises, etc. When you sit down to write your vows, use these recordings as an outline.

Lay out all clothes and items needed for your wedding day the night before and rest easy knowing tomorrow will be the best day of your life.

Enjoy your elopement day. Relax and remain present. This is the start of your adventure.

After your “I do”

Announce your Elopement:

If you're planning to elope, you might be wondering how to announce your big news. There are countless ways to share your elopement with loved ones, so don't be afraid to get creative! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Get inspired on Pinterest by searching for elopement announcement ideas
Ask your photographer for suggestions based on what they've seen other couples do in the past
Browse Etsy for unique and personalized elopement announcement options. Whatever you choose, make sure it reflects you as a couple and your unique love story!
Plan an a party with all your family and friends to celebrate your elopement!
This could be something as simple as a backyard BBQ or as extravagant as a formal party at a banquet hall, the choice is up to you!
A fun thing that we have seen couples do after eloping is make this party a viewing party of all their elopement pictures. It then becomes a special way to include those who were not part of your elopement experience. We recommend doing this before sharing any photos on social media to make your guests feel extra special!

Send thank you notes to all guests present or for gifts you received.

If changing your name, gather all necessary paperwork to do so. We’re not going to lie; this process can seem a bit daunting. Check out Newly Named to make this process flow a bit smoother.

Planning an elopement is a great way to make your wedding day truly your own, and hopefully this checklist can help you stay organized and focused as you do it. Wherever you choose to elope, the most important thing is to remember why you're doing it and to enjoy every moment of your special day. So, take a deep breath, relax, and start planning the elopement of your dreams. Congratulations, and happy eloping!

Have you checked off your elopement location yet? If not, let’s chat! We would be honored to help you find the dream setting for your wedding experience.

Let’s book your dream elopement!

How to Plan Your Ohiopyle Elopement: A Step-by-Step Guide

Elopement Planning Checklist:

After your “I do”

(888)647-5569 • 3054 National Pike, Farmington, PA 15437