How to Design Your Moab + Grand Teton Elopement Timeline
Elopement Timelines
Your elopement timeline is a comprehensive roadmap for your entire wedding day. This strategic plan will help you coordinate vendors, travel time, locations, and overall ensure a smooth, stress-free celebration.
Timelines are not as straightforward as they may seem because there’s a lot that goes into them. Travel logistics, lighting conditions, and personal preferences should be taken into consideration and honestly this is where a local photographer comes in handy.
If there’s one thing you should take away from this, though, it’s that scheduling outdoor moments midday is NOT good from a photo perspective, and this applies to your permit time, too. You absolutely must plan to incorporate sunrise or sunset to get the best possible photos. In Moab and Grand Teton, this isn’t totally straightforward because the shadows of mountains and cliffs come into play. So again - contact that local photographer to help you design your timeline.
questions to ask when Choosing your coverage
Which moments do you want your photographer to capture?
The standard day includes coverage of:
Getting ready
Details (rings, invitations, flowers, shoes, etc)
First look (optional, but cute)
Wedding party and family photos
Ceremony
Golden hour couple’s session
Reception
If you’re not planning on having a big reception, we might be able to fit things into six hours. A lot of clients are tempted to skip the getting ready images, but I highly, highly discourage that - this is when some of the most beautiful, candid photos of you with your friends and family happen. We also won’t have time later to take photos of the smaller details that you put so much thought into, like your perfume and rings.
More coverage means better storytelling.
Do you want to have a sunrise or sunset-based day?
This is going to have a big impact on a number of things, particularly temperature and crowds. Most clients are not morning people, so I usually recommend starting things later in the day.
How far will you need to travel from your hotel or Airbnb?
This is a big factor in Jackson, more so than Moab, as a lot of larger Airbnbs are in Victor, Driggs, Alpine, and other places over an hour away. You’ll also need to consider if you will you get stuck in traffic in town, at the park entry gate, or elsewhere in the parks.
What activities do you want to do?
I worked as a hiking guide and thru-hiked 7,000 miles across the country, so obviously this is where I excel. But I work in the ski industry and my partner is a river guide, so I have a number of other skills I can break out for particularly adventurous couples. Most couples are content to visit different, convenient viewpoints though, and I love that too!
Are there any other people you need to consider in your timeline?
Elopements generally have under 15 guests and usually only for a portion of the day, but you’ll also want to taken other vendors into consideration, like the ordainer.
Will you need plan B ideas for the weather?
This is particularly key in the Tetons. It’s very, very common for multiple rain storms to roll through so it’s good to have a plan B.
Timeline Tips
Don’t plan every minute of the day.
Some portions of the day may take longer than expected due to unforeseeable circumstances.
Don’t try to rush to fit into a shorter package
I don’t want to be the person telling you to walk faster or to skip the bathroom because we need to get to a viewpoint for the best lighting, and you’re not going to be happy if I have to do those things. Give your day the space it deserves.
Sample Timelines
6-Hour Elopement Timeline
2:00 pm: Photographer arrives
2:15 pm: Detail photos of attire, hotel, and jewelry
2:30 pm: Photos of the last getting ready touches
3:00 pm: Get dressed
3:15 pm: First look outside
3:30 pm: Pack up for hike
3:45 pm: Head to trail (this could be 30 min - 1 hour)
4:45 pm: Begin hike to Grandview Point
5:30 pm: Portraits at Grandview Point
6:00 pm: Start ceremony
6:20 pm: Photos with friends or first dance
6:40 pm: Golden hour portraits at Grandview Point
7:00 pm: Begin hike back
8:00 pm: Photography coverage ends
Heather + Tim’s 8-Hour Hybrid Elopement - Wedding
Teather and Tim designed their entire itinerary based on my Moab client planning guide. They had a really lovely blend of family moments and quick dinner at a traditional reception venue, but we spent the first look, ceremony, and golden hour outside. They didn’t include getting ready photos, which I usually encourage to tell a better visual story, but they wanted to spend as much time outside and that’s honestly a pretty fun alternative.
Creating Your Elopement Timeline, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Dream Big - List Everything!
Start by thinking of the activities the two of you love to do together and that Moab or the Tetons can accommodate. Brain dump of everything you want to include in your day. Don't hold back! Write down:
All planned activities
Vendors and proposed arrival times
Natural elements (like sunset)
Special moments you want to capture
Locations
This is your day - there's no wrong answer here! Having everything listed will help ensure nothing gets forgotten when we start organizing.
You’ll likely discuss the pros and cons of the locations that interest you before you start designing your itinerary. Your photographer should give you ideas about what times will be best for certain locations.
Step 2: Create Your Timeline Template
Now let's get organized! Create a simple document with times listed down the left side in 30-minute increments:
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
10:00 AM
Using half-hour blocks gives you plenty of flexibility while keeping things organized, but you can also break things up into 15-min increments as necessary.
Step 3: Lock in the Non-Negotiables
Start by adding the elements that can't be moved:
Sunrise/sunset times
Timed-entry permit for Arches National Park
Vendor arrival/departure times
Venue access hours
Check-in/check-out times
These fixed points will create the framework for your day, ensuring everything else flows smoothly around them.
Step 4: Fill in Your Special Moments
Now comes the fun part! Start placing your activities into the timeline. Remember:
Don't overthink it - this is a first draft
Leave buffer time between activities for bathroom breaks and snacks
Include time for quiet moments together
Factor in travel time between locations
Your timeline should be a helpful guide, not a strict schedule. Think of it as a gentle flow for your day rather than a rigid plan.
Step 5: Refine and Adjust
Your timeline will likely evolve as your plans develop, and that's perfectly okay! Keep working with your photographer and other vendors to create a smooth and fun timeline for your elopement.
