A lot of couples think that an elopement just means a quick couple pictures at a spot or courthouse, sign a wedding certificate, and call it good. But that’s just A way to do it. Imagine making the drive over to the North Shore, getting married quick, and then what? Going home? Your North Shore elopement should be more than just an hour of photos. 

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a short, sweet ceremony and some beautiful photos. But what if your elopement could be so much more than showing up, saying your vows, and posing for a camera?

What if you woke up slowly in a cozy cabin, drank coffee together, exchanged letters, explored the shoreline, ate pizza in your wedding attire, and watched the waves roll in while soaking up the fact that YOU’RE MARRIED?! Your wedding day doesn’t have to be a production. It doesn’t need a packed timeline or a million activities. But it can be a whole experience designed around the two of you.

And if you’re traveling to the North Shore to get married, I want you to know that you can do so much more than squeeze your love story into two hours of photos. As your Minnesota North Shore elopement planner and photographer, I love designing days filled with activities that couples truly enjoy doing together, and get you married at the same time. 

You’re planning your wedding day.

It’s a pretty big thing, even if it isn’t your first time, it is just as important!! An elopement gives you so much freedom to come up with whatever structure you want. The possibilities are literally ENDLESS! Think about how:

• You can prioritize experiences over traditions.
• Your day can include the things you genuinely enjoy together.
• You can slow down instead of rushing from one scheduled event to another.
• You don’t need to fill every minute with activities for the day to feel meaningful.
• You can change plans if the weather shifts.
• You can spend an entire afternoon in one place if that’s what you love.

Your wedding photos are going to be a beautiful reminder of your day. But wouldn’t it be even better if the day itself was something you couldn’t stop talking about, too?

A North Shore Elopement Day Timeline Examples

Let’s talk about some timing. 4 hours is usually a good amount of time for couples who want to get married and do a short celebration (photos documented at each spot). Pretty cool, get to plan some sort of celebration activity or maybe private vows or another quick activity.

• 2:00 pm Hike to ceremony location 
• 2:30 pm Tie the knot
• 3:00 pm Take some pics
• 3:30 pm Travel to a beach 
• 4:00 pm Cake, champagne pop, and rock hunt 
• 5:00 pm Some more pics + first dance on the beach 

Now let’s talk about an 8 hour day……

• 10:00 am Enjoy coffee and a board game in your cozy Airbnb
• 11:00 am Get ready 
• 12:00 pm First look 
• 12:30 pm Travel to first activity 
• 1:00 pm Kayak in your wedding attire while finishing writing your vows
• 3:00 pm Travel to first location 
• 3:30 pm Private vows on the cliffs
• 4:00 pm Travel to ceremony space 
• 4:30 pm Ceremony with small group of family and friends 
• 5:00 pm Some pics + celebrate with icecream  
• 6:00 pm Head back to Airbnb 

If you want more activity ideas, check out my list of over 50 ideas here.

See how cool?!?! A whole adventure DAY. Or at least more than just meet up at a courthouse and take some pics. If you are already traveling out of your way to get to the North Shore, you might as well plan and document a day worth retelling around the campfire years from now. 

Overwhelmed with the possibilities? Don’t worry deary! As someone who has planned and captured many North Shore elopements, I come equipped with questionnaires and resources to plan your dream adventure day that happens to include getting you two married. Tell me what you love, what you don’t want, and what you want the day to feel like and I will build a plan around that!

Let’s plan your day together!