Top Five Elopement + Adventure Wedding Essentials
A travel itinerary, a couple of backpacks, only a few replanning-the-plan moments later, and you’re one week away from the big day. Mental and physical checklists have floated around your brain space and home for months. Vows, check. Suit and dress, check. The love of your life, most definitely, check. Now that the basics are covered and you have the essentials, let’s break down one final list: Essential Adventure Wedding or Elopement Packing List.
While each celebration is unique, there are a few key items that are essential to bring along for a momentous and comfortable day. Keeping seasons and location in mind, we have put together a guide of pieces vital to your day.
1. CEREMONIAL EXCHANGES.
You may be thinking, “How could I ever forget my vows?” but stranger things have happened. Sometimes you voice-to-text your vows on your phone and forget to move them to a second location. Sometimes you type them up and forget to print them. Sometimes you hit a roadblock in writing them and have the “Oh crud — my ceremony is in a week. I better start writing!” moment, and then forget that you had that moment. Having day-of jitters is expected and holding onto a small piece of paper or note card can feel like a saving grace. It’s also a lovely keepsake to have your vows written and stored in something special, and reads way better than reciting them from a phone in your photos.
Of course, this also includes rings. Regardless if they’re from the jeweler, Amazon, or ring pops from the 7-Eleven you refueled at that morning on the way to the mountains, consider placing them in a ring box so that they’re easy to locate in your backpack when you arrive at your ceremony location.
Lastly, if you have any gifts, letters, or surprises for your partner that you’d like to exchange, keep those in mind while you’re packing as well. We recommend sealing them up in a waterproof bag so that they can weather whatever elements lie ahead of you.
2. COMFY SHOES.
Spending your marriage day on an adventure is sure to lead to amazing memories and breathtaking locations; don’t let one of those cherished moments be taken over by throbbing pains in your feet. In all honesty, we love a great photo-op with perfect shoes, but maybe keep a second pair in your pack, just in case. When you’re spending the day with Mother Nature, she’s beautiful but unforgiving, so make sure that you arrive prepared. Terrain can become a bit rougher than expected while traversing into the bold unknown, after all.
Wherever your ceremony takes place, we want to make sure you have everything you need to brave the elements and say, “I do!” In addition to a small first aid kit, here a few location-specific accessories to consider:
Forest
Hiking shoes with sturdy tread and high ankle coverage can save any rock-and-rolling ankles over tree stumps and vines. Headlamps and/or flashlights can prove extremely useful to find your way back to the trail if you’re hiking up the mountain early to catch beautiful sunrise rays or staying later into the tail end of the day to bask in the stunning sunset beams. If you plan on going off trail, a compass or GPS can literally be a lifesaver. It’s always a good idea to have someone along who has hiked the route before your big day so that you can go forth with confidence.
Beach
Splashing along the waves and digging your toes in the sand with a serene background seems like an effortless way to commit your love. While we wholeheartedly agree, don’t forget the sunscreen because sunburns can still happen on your wedding day. If you have a hair and make-up artist in your schedule, make sure to ask them about applying a layer of sun protection as a part of that morning’s regimen. A microfiber towel is a great lightweight addition to dry off any salt water or dust off any sand. Sometimes when heading to the beach, bug spray is the last thing we think of. However, gnats and mosquitoes don’t mess around! We’re hoping at least 83% of your wedding photos don’t have you pictured swatting away bugs.
Desert
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Also, did we mention sunscreen? The dessert can be sweltering during the day with few options for shade. Protect your skin with several reapplications of sunscreen and some sweet shades to block out the rays (and haters!). Sunglasses, fun scarves, a white button-up shirt layer, and even a parasol can also add fun elements to your photos while serving an extremely practical purpose.
Mountains
Layers are your best friend (well maybe second best, next to your boo) up in the mountains where temperatures can shift drastically over the course of the day. Remember that every 1,000 feet in elevation gain feels like a three-to-five degree drop in temperature on your skin, so have a pack with layers along for the journey. Some of our favorite accessories include faux fur shawls and statement jackets, a warm fleece, gloves, wool socks, base layer leggings, and hats with cute pom pom toppers.
3. SNACKS + PLENTY OF WATER.
Besides the fact that everyone loves snacks, having a few munchies on the way to your ceremony can quiet a rumbling belly or help calm any excited nerves. If your celebration is a half-day adventure, keep in mind that you will want the equivalent of a meal and a snack to keep your blood sugar even. If you’re embarking on a full day adventure, we recommend bringing along two significant meals and lots of snacks. Your body is going to get hungry with the increased level of activity, and, when you’re out on adventures, there aren’t any convenient stops along the way to pick up a meal. It’s better to have a few Cliff Bars or an extra trail mix pouch in your pack for your adventure — no one has ever been too upset to have extra snack-os! So prepare to pack your favorite things by stocking up at a grocery store on the way to your stay. It’s also fun to pause, take in the scenery, and share your favorite trail bites with your partner and your adventure support team. Our personal favorite? Gushers. You can count on them being there if you’re a Tapestry couple.
4. WEDDING DAY ACCESSORIES.
We’re talking about any special mementos that you’ve decided to bring along. They may include items that have been passed down through generations or symbolic wearables that you associate with cherished people or memories. This is the time to remember your grandfather’s watch or your mom’s necklace that she wore on her wedding day. Ceremonies tend to be more intimate in adventure weddings and elopements. Having a few extra accessories to remind you of family and friends from far away can provide a closer sense of home, even in the great outdoors. Start thinking about these items and setting them aside a month in advance of your trip. Small things can sometimes get forgotten at the last minute.
Photos courtesy of Jessika Christine Photography.
5. CELEBRATORY TOAST.
After it’s all said and done, make sure you have something to toast and celebrate the greatest adventure you’ve embarked on! Bring a bottle of champagne or apple cider, a flask of “the good stuff” you’ve been saving, or whatever celebratory item usually brings you and your people together. This is your time to commemorate the moment.
BONUS TIP!
Lastly, dependent on your location and whether it’s in a National or State Park, a permit may be required for official ceremonies and professional photography. If a permit is on your day-of checklist, go ahead and put two stars next to this one!
When the big day is finally here, know that whether you remember everything on your list or forget Great Aunt Kathy’s hairpin from her wedding, your ceremony will be perfect because you’ll both be present and together. If you have any recommendations or items that will most definitely make an appearance on your big day send us a note or comment below so we can add them in!
— Kaska K., Tapestry Coordinator