Updated 2/2026
If a traditional wedding doesn’t feel like you, you’re not alone. Many couples choose an adventure elopement because they want their wedding day to feel like a shared experience, not a performance built around what’s expected. Something grounded, intentional, and actually fun. Something about the two of you.
Adventure elopements are about choosing places and experiences that reflect who you are as a couple. Think quiet mountain lakes at sunrise, helicopters touching down on a remote ridge, paddling across glassy water, or cycling to a place less traveled. It’s about less pressure, fewer expectations, and more room to be present with each other.
This list of adventure elopement ideas has been put together to spark inspiration and help you imagine what your day could look like. Each idea is a starting place, and can be adapted to your comfort level, interests, and location, whether your version of adventure is slow and scenic or bold and adrenaline-filled.
Why activities matter on an elopement day
Activities naturally shape how your elopement is photographed. When you’re on side-by-sides, paddling, riding, or moving through a beautiful landscape together, you stop thinking about the camera and start focusing on each other. Your expressions are natural. Your interactions become more comfortable. The way you move, talk, and problem-solve together tells a truer story than posed moments ever could.
On top of that, elopement activities slow the day down in a good way. Instead of standing in one spot, you’re experiencing the place you chose to get married. The landscape becomes part of the story, not just a backdrop, and your photos reflect both the connection between you and the environment around you.
If you’re starting to think about what kind of experience actually fits you,
we’re happy to help you sort through ideas.
Adventure Elopement Ideas
Below are our adventure elopement ideas meant to spark inspiration. You don’t need to do the biggest or boldest version of any of these for your day to feel meaningful.
Some couples like to move fast and chase the adrenaline. Others prefer to slow things down and let the landscape set the pace. Every idea on this list can be adapted to fit your energy, comfort level, and the kind of experience you want to look back on. These activity-based adventure elopement ideas are meant to show how many different ways an elopement can feel.
1. Helicopter Elopements
There’s nothing quite like lifting off together and landing somewhere that feels untouched by humans. Helicopters give access to some of the most remote ridgelines, glaciers, and wild terrain, without turning your wedding day into an endurance test. The experience and feelings are honestly really hard to beat.
Location Ideas:
• Alaska Mountains & Glaciers
• Utah desert spires
• New Zealand Mountains & Glaciers
• See this blog post about all the best spots!
2. Hot air balloon elopements
Floating above the landscape at sunrise or sunset feels slow, surreal, and incredibly intimate. Hot air balloon elopements are less about adrenaline and more about wonder, with quiet moments and sweeping views unfolding beneath you.
Location Ideas:
• Arizona and New Mexico desert
• California wine country
3. Jeep Exploring
Off-roading lets you reach rugged, dramatic places without leaving anyone behind. It’s a great option for couples who want variety, movement, and a feeling of exploration of new landscapes woven into the day.
Location Ideas:
• Colorado mountain passes
• Desert backroads (i.e., Sedona, Moab, Zion, etc.)
4. Horseback riding
Moving through the landscape on horseback adds a timeless, grounded feel to an elopement day. It’s peaceful, connected, and a beautiful way to experience a place at a slower pace.
Location Ideas:
• Mountain meadows and alpine valleys
• Beaches & Coastal trails
5. Paddleboarding or canoeing
Water-based elopements create natural movement and quiet connection. Whether you’re gliding across a calm lake or drifting along a slow river, this feels relaxed, playful, and oh so present with the landscape surrounding you.
Location Ideas:
• Alpine and mountain lakes
• Forest-lined rivers
6. Packrafting or calm river floats
Packrafting and gentle river floats are about going with the flow, literally. These experiences are immersive and intimate, with plenty of space for conversation, laughter, and unexpected moments.
Location Ideas:
• Glacier-fed rivers with gentle sections
• Remote wilderness waterways
• Scenic river corridors near mountains
If you’re starting to imagine how one of these experiences could shape your day, or you have an idea of your own, let’s chat. We also include activities like these in all of our All-Inclusive Elopement Packages.
7. Boat-access ceremonies and exploring
Arriving by boat instantly changes the pace of the day. It allows privacy, flexibility, and access to places most people can never reach on foot.
Location Ideas:
• Island shorelines and coves
• Alaska bays and Fjords
• Lakes with boat-only access
8. Vanlife camping elopements
Explore the freedom of vanlife. Cooking together, having a beautiful sunset ceremony, sitting by a campfire, and stargazing can make for a wonderful elopement setting. Aside from an adventure elopement idea, finding a great camper van rental can help make a bigger honeymoon trip too!
Location Ideas:
• Eastern Sierra
• National forest and BLM land (Montana, Utah, etc.)
• Mountain valleys and high desert
9. Exploring redwood forests and waterfalls
Redwood forests and waterfall-filled landscapes invite quiet exploration and awe. These elopements can be a simple hike in the big trees, or do something not many people have ever seen, like climb to the top of the canopy to say your vows among the giants!
Location Ideas:
• Northern California redwood groves
• Pacific Northwest forests
• Lush coastal mountain regions
10. Skiing or snowboarding elopements
Winter elopements on skis or snowboards are dynamic, playful, and full of energy. They’re perfect for couples who feel most like themselves when moving through snow together.
Location Ideas:
• Mountain resorts and backcountry zones
• High alpine winter landscapes
• Snowy mountain passes
11. Ice cave exploring or ice climbing
Ice environments feel otherworldly and bold. Whether you’re exploring frozen caves or adding a technical element like ice climbing, these elopements are dramatic and unforgettable.
Location Ideas:
• Iceland glacier regions
• Alaska ice fields & glaciers
• Colorado Waterfalls and Parks
12. Dune buggies & beach cliffsriding
Coastal cliffs paired with dune buggies bring together wind, movement, and dramatic views. These days feel wild, open, and a little untamed in the best way.
Location Ideas:
• Pacific Coast cliffs and beaches
• Coastal dune systems
• Remote beach landscapes (Peru, or Mexico)
13. Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling opens up winter landscapes that are otherwise hard to reach. It’s fast, fun, and gives you access to wide-open snowy terrain with minimal effort.
Location Ideas:
• Alpine winter zones of
• Snow-covered valleys
• Alaska, Montana, Wyoming
14. Dogsledding
Dogsledding elopements are quiet, surreal, and deeply connected to the environment. There’s something special about gliding through snow behind a team of the happiest dogs you’ll ever meet.
Location Ideas:
• Alaska wilderness areas
• Northern winter landscapes
• Remote snowy trails
15. ATVs or side-by-sides
ATVs and side-by-sides make it easy to explore large, rugged areas while keeping the day flexible and low-pressure. They’re ideal for couples who want variety without long distances on foot.
Location Ideas:
• Desert and canyon landscapes
• Mountain trail systems
• Fire lookouts and ridgelines
Bonus: Bike touring or bikepacking
Bike-based elopements are intentional and immersive. They’re about covering ground slowly, noticing the details, and experiencing a place mile by mile together. This is one of our favorite ways to explore, and it can make for an incredible elopement experience.
Location Ideas:
• Scenic road routes
• Gravel and forest trails
• Coastal and countryside loops
Gear, safety, & comfort
Adventure elopements are meant to feel exciting, not stressful. A little preparation goes a long way in keeping the day comfortable, safe, and enjoyable. Here are a few important tips:
- Footwear that matches the terrain. Even short distances can feel long in the wrong shoes.
- Layers are key for changing conditions. The weather can shift quickly, especially in mountains, deserts, or coastal areas. When we’re prepared, some moody weather turns into the perfect element for awesome photos! Check a weather forecast in the area, like NOAA, and ask your photographers what to expect too.
- Safety basics for the activity. Life jackets, helmets, warm gloves, or sun protection, depending on where you’re headed.
- Simple essentials. Water, snacks, and a small first-aid kit help keep energy up and nerves calm.
- Leave No Trace is a great practice, and is a great place to get more tips and information, too.
You don’t need to overpack. The goal is to feel prepared enough to stay present, not weighed down by gear.
Planning an activity-based elopement without the stress
The best activity-based elopements are built around how you want the day to feel, not how much you can fit in.
Start by choosing one or two activities that genuinely sound fun to you. Build in breathing room. Leave space for weather changes, slower moments, and spontaneous detours. Planning around light, access, and timing helps everything flow without rushing from one thing to the next.
The biggest piece of advice here is this: don’t be afraid to ask for help. This can be for ideas, or how to actually plan, we live for this and absolutely love it when our couples trust us for helping with every aspect. We can also help with any needed permits, such as for National Parks.
Adventure doesn’t have to mean pushing limits. It can be calm, unrushed, and deeply personal when the day is designed with flexibility in mind.
What this looks like in photos
When your elopement includes an experience, photography becomes more observational and less posed. You’re moving, interacting, and reacting to what’s around you instead of thinking about the camera.
Those moments create photos that feel natural and honest. The way you laugh together, navigate something new, or take in a view side by side. The landscape becomes part of the story, and the images reflect how the day actually felt, not just how it looked.
If these ideas feel like your kind of day, we’re always happy to help you explore what’s possible.
If this is feeling like your kind of elopement day, we’d love to hear from you. We can chat about what’s possible and start creating an incredible elopement day.
