This was my first-ever 12-hour elopement adventure and what I expected to feel like a longer day ended up flying by! It was filled with nonstop back-to-back events and even though it went by really fast, it never felt rushed. See how placing buffer time in between activities for your wedding day timeline template allows for a perfectly relaxed experience!
Building a Wedding Day Timeline Template That Matches Your Day
Brye and Greg entered their wedding day with a simple desire: “We just want to have fun, not feel rushed, and get to enjoy the day.” It was this perspective that led them to turn from a traditional wedding and plan an Arizona elopement instead. As they explained, “Neither one of us has the need for a big wedding. The day is really just for us. It is more about being loved and with those we love than making it a huge exhausting day.”
We planned a wedding day timeline template that worked in all that they wanted and even allowed for the unexpected. One of Brye’s family members fell and broke her hip only a day before the wedding. We made a surprise visit to the hospital before their elopement timeline began! This was made possible by the flexibility built into the elopement plan so we could still stay on schedule!
The couple remarked, “It’s just another part of our story.” Keeping their heads high and not letting any moment bring them down was such a representation of who they are!
A Wedding Day Timeline Template Starts with Going by What Matters to You
For these two, it was about fun, adventure and laughter that included special moments with their people. After their first date, Greg noted that “Making Brye laugh was the highlight of my day (and it still is!).” Making each other laugh is a big part of their relationship and there were so many fun instances of it throughout their day!
Brye started by surprising Greg during their first look wearing a cute robe with his face and kisses on it. It was one of the best moments of their day full of laughter and genuine happiness. This was followed by a sweet first look with Brye’s dad (they both cried!) and then again with Greg this time in her wedding dress!
Here are the many ways they included these priorities in the details of their wedding day timeline template:
12-Hour Wedding with Adventures Throughout Arizona Elopement Locations
Originally from Wisconsin, these two knew that they wanted to get married at a Flagstaff wedding venue, even an unofficial one! Brye and Greg describe themselves as being pretty adventurous which is why they also included an elopement couples adventure activity at the Lava River Cave in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Adventure Activity: Lava Cave in Flagstaff, Arizona
It was summertime with possible highs of 85-90 degrees but the lava caves stayed at a refreshingly cool 40 degrees. Brye wore a Bridal Buddy which is a slip that bags up the dress for restroom use but in this case it allowed her to make the climb down into the cave!
Once inside, it’s pure darkness and they were in awe of the different colors and burn marks from the lava. We kept running into other hikers who were so excited for them and surprised to see a bride and groom in the lava tubes!
It can take anywhere from 1-2 hours exploring the Lava River Cave depending on how fast you walk and how slowly you’re enjoying the experience. I wanted to give us time to not feel rushed because hiking into a lava cave is such a rare experience. After about an hour exploring, we hiked back up to capture portraits in the surrounding forest.
Ceremony: Field at Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Arizona
Due to some of their guests’ inability to walk distances, we held the ceremony in the field below the Arizona Snowbowl, a ski resort on the San Francisco Peaks. Surrounded by green grass and mountains in the background, it was this scenery that motivated them to choose a Flagstaff wedding.
A close friend officiated and the ceremony was followed by family portraits and swigs from Greg’s whiskey flask. Next, the newlyweds sipped on some beers while riding the gondola with their guests. It’s the highest point in the Arizona Humphreys Summit at 11,500 feet elevation and the couple loved the additional landmark of the highest toilets in Arizona!
We took portraits while enjoying the scenery of Phoenix, the north rim of the Grand Canyon as well as Sedona towards the south. We went as high as we could (not to the top due to the crazy wind) and we were the last people to ride back down.
Reception: Dinner & sunset Portraits
We returned to their lodging for a Mediterranean dinner and cutting of the small wedding cake that their niece created. Afterwards, we drove to Sedona for sunset photos against the red rock scenery of Northern Arizona. They hiked a little and enjoyed some private moments to themselves without any direction from me.
How they structured their wedding day timeline template provided the perfect balance of adventurous exploration, family moments and “just us” time. Even though there was so much to do and we traveled all over, time was on our side with buffers in place that served us well.
It was super fun, and I’m so glad that they got to experience their best day ever without any stress! This was a perfect representation of their relationship: to adventure and enjoy new things together especially now as a married couple!
12-Hour Wedding Day Timeline Template
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Hey, I’m Kelcee!
I would love to be your Flagstaff elopement photographer
I’ve been capturing Flagstaff elopements since 2021, and it’s my passion to help adventurous couples like you create the perfect wedding day.
Your elopement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you deserve the support to make it uniquely yours. Together, we’ll create quality memories that beautifully tell your love story, lasting a lifetime.
