Checklist and Timeline for an Elopement - The Things you NEED to Know!

As the elopement specialists, I Do Drive Thru have experience helping couples all over Australia and the USA get hitched simply and cheaply! So what exactly do you need to elope? We have provided the perfect timeline/checklist for all of your elopement planning needs! To be straight, legally you only need to give one months notice of your intended marriage, so you can get married that quickly if you wish! Otherwise if you want a more relaxed timeline then we recommend the checklist for your elopement below!

Firstly you have some decisions to make!

The who - who are the essential people you want at your elopement? An option with the I Do Drive Thru is to just turn up with your partner and we can provide witnesses for you. This will have a big bearing on what you plan for your day!

Remember that the beauty of an elopement is that there is no right or wrong way to do it! The most important thing is that you are happy! Our Celebrants will guide you through the whole process of your elopement, and help you do things your way, so use this elopement checklist as a guideline only!

Checklist and timeline for your elopement - 6 weeks before wedding

-Contact I Do Drive Thru and make your booking

-Decide on a date (This can be decided later if needed)

-Finalise your location (This can be decided later if needed) you can be married in a park, cafe, lookout, beach, backyard, air bnb, garden, city laneway, harbour, pier or anywhere really! Just remember if you get married in a local space you need to check if permits are required

-Ensure you have the relevant ID documents needed to be married (A Passport or Birth Certificate and Photo ID for each partner)

Checklist and timeline for your elopement - 4 weeks before wedding

-Fill out your Notice of Intended Marriage and send to us, once received your Celebrant can lodge it for you and start the legal process of marrying you

-Send in copies of your ID documents

Checklist and timeline for your elopement - 2 weeks before wedding

-Purchase your rings (if you decide you need them, they are not legally required)

-If you are going to have any flowers (optional) visit some florists and book them in, or speak to your Granny about whats good in her garden and ask her to be your florist!

-If heading to a restaurant after your ceremony, now is a good time to make a booking

-If you are getting hair and make up done, book it in baby!

-Any transport needed to the ceremony, ensure you have a ride booked

Checklist and timeline for your elopement - The day before the elopement

-Make some piles! Gather rings and vows, and special things you will need to take on the day (you wouldn’t believe how many people forget the obvious items needed because they feel a bit distracted!)

-If you are feeling nervous, text or call your Celebrant! They will reassure you that you are in safe hands and everything will be fine!

Checklist and timeline for your elopement - The night before the elopement

-Spend some time with your partner, the process of elopement is about the journey and you will always remember the night before your elopement - the excitement is at peak levels!

Hooray! Morning of the elopement

-Eat and drink and try to remain calm, eloping is such a wonderful experience and hopefully you wont be rushing around! Spending time with each other or the family/friends you have invited is so important and all a part of the experience

Hopefully you have found this elopement checklist helpful! Don’t forget the beauty of eloping is that you can be involved as you want but there really is no pressure! You can be married in your jeans, in your kitchen in a 2 minute ceremony with your slippers on and you will be just as married as a couple who paid $50,000 and got dressed up and stressed out! So keep your eyes on the prize and remember all the elopement checklists in the world will not be helpful unless you do your day, your way!