What to Do After Your Elopement Day is Over
**I definitely recommend reading this before your elopement day, because some of them take some preparation and planning!
So, you’ve just pulled the ultimate romantic move and eloped with your bestie, your favorite person, your forever love. I’m sure it’s been a whirlwind in one way or another! Elopements are definitely less stress than huge weddings, but that doesn’t mean they’re stress free. Your probably thinking….
NOW WHAT DO WE DO?!
Don’t worry, don’t worry. I have some ideas for you!!
I know when I’m planning for something super exciting, I’m so focused on it that I don’t even consider what it’s going to feel like once it’s all said and done, nor do I plan anything for the timeframe immediately after the event. And you might be in that position as well! I’ve put together a few different things to do after your elopement is finished and you’ve head home after the celebrations.
Some of these happen right away, some are in the months after, and some can be done literally any time in the future. So pick a few for now, save a few for later!
Take some time to yourselves
Whether your elopement travels are just for a couple of days or if you’re turning it into your honeymoon, make sure to spend some time in the days after really just ✨EXISTING✨.
Being with each other.
Pushing off all responsibility for a day or two.
You just got married, after all!
I’m telling you- plan to sleep in, make an easy breakfast, stay in your pajamas, and take a slow day. Depending on your personality, a slow day might be taking a nap or it might mean doing an easier hike than normal, but make sure not to put too much pressure on yourselves in the first day of being married.
You’ve got a lifetime to do all the wedding things like send off photos to friends and family, pack your suitcase, and get back to your life. You only get one day after your wedding. Cherish it!!
Have a viewing party for your elopement photos
In a few days when you get your first set of photos back from me (sneak peeks!), you’ll have anywhere from 30 to 50 photos to look through, and believe me when I say it’s going to blow you away. I’m not just here to brag that I’m super good at my job (even though I totally am), I want you to be prepared to view these photos with a little effort!
Don’t open the gallery on your phone and look at the tiny screen- you just won’t get the same feeling.
Download the photos and put them on a computer or TV screen, put on some music, pour your favorite drink, and snuggle up with each other. THEN look through the photos!!
Take your time, point out what you love, tell stories you didn’t get a chance to yet, really bask in it.
I promise you’ll thank yourselves for putting in the effort to view the photos you invested in!!
Have your flowers Dried, pressed, or set in resin
This is one of those suggestions you’ll need to plan for ahead of time! You don’t want to throw your flowers in the back of the car and leave them there overnight and then realize that drying them and sending them off to be made into art is what you want.
You could have individual flowers set in resin in things like coasters, a glass table, a candle holder, and many other things. It just depends on what you’re looking for!
Some artists and small business owners that will take care of your flowers:
Bloom & Wander Co. (local to Washington!)
Flowers of the Press (you can include your vow books or invitations, too!)
Wanna DIY instead? No biggie. Keep your flowers hung upside down (hang on to some ribbon or other little accessories from the flowers to decorate with after they’re dried!) and check out this tutorial!
Make a keepsake box for wedding things
A medium sized wooden box is the perfect place to store things like dried flowers, wedding favors, vow books, ring boxes, and other memoribilia from your elopement day. You can get a super cute engraved box custom made with your names and dates!
For a fun anniversary activity, open the box up on your one year anniversary and look through your photo gallery to really relive the day!
Download your gallery and print your photos
When you get your full, edited elopement gallery back from me, make sure you download all the high-resolution files and keep them somewhere safe! A physical location like a flash drive AND a virtual location like the cloud are perfect for making sure they never go missing.
My blog post How to Back Up and Store Your Elopement Photos Long-Term has all the info you need to keep them safe forever and ever.
Once that part is over, this next step is so important. So incredibly necessary. I’d even say it’s REQUIRED.
PRINT YOUR PHOTOS.
I’m so serious. Keeping them as digital files for the rest of your lives isn’t what they’re meant for. Yes, sharing on social media and setting your cutest photo as your phone background is a huge bonus, but those photos are meant to be printed and held in your hands.
Tangible photos hold so much power: the stories associated with the photo, the nostalgia, the memories you’re going to pass on to other loved ones, and so much more.
Decorate your house, send out holiday gifts to friends and family who weren’t at your elopement, bring a framed photo to work, just please, PLEASE print at least a few photos. It doesn’t have to be some 40”x60” canvas that takes up half your living room, but a couple of frames around the house are perfect.
You can print your photos right in your gallery to get super high-quality, heirloom prints that won’t fade or yellow over time (be cautious of budget printers!).
Trust me, print your photos.
