Table of Contents:

• Why Have an Elopement Picnic?
• Best Places for an Elopement Picnic
• Dreamy Elopement Picnic Ideas + Inspiration
• 5 Elopement Picnic Tips
• Planning Your Perfect Elopement Picnic

Picture this: it’s the end of your elopement day, and you wanna go out with a BANG. You want some sort of special way to celebrate the incredible adventure you’ve had, plussss you’re getting a little hungry (and you’re ready to pull out the champagne). Sooo what better to do than sit down at a beautiful place, with beautiful views, and enjoy a delicious elopement picnic?!

Today I’m going to help you plan your perfect, dreamy AF elopement picnic with my best location suggestions, practical/logistical tips, vendor reccs, and plenty of real-life inspiration to get your ideas flowing. My stomach is alreadyyy growling thinking about all the yummy charcuterie boards I’m gonna show you photos of🤤

Why Have an Elopement Picnic?

First thing’s first: what is an elopement picnic, and why am I writing an entire guide trying to convince you to have one?!

It’s literally exactly what it sounds like: a picnic that you have. . . on your elopement day. Shocking, right? Don’t overthink it!! I’ve had more and more couples ask me about planning elopement picnics lately, so I figured it would be helpful to put together this guide showing you exactly how to do it—because you’ve already got enough on your plate (or picnic blanket, in this case) with planning your elopement.

I looove that elopement picnics have become a thing, because they really are the PERFECT meal to have on your elopement day. Usually for big weddings, couples will hire a big catering company, or have a whole buffet for hundreds of guests—but when it’s only the two of you and maybe a few guests, it can be difficult to figure out what to eat! 

Do we need a caterer? Can we keep it simple? How much money do we have to spend?

The answer to all of those is. . . whatever you want! You can hire a caterer if you want, or you could do it yourselves. You can make your elopement meal as simple or complex as you want. And you can spend as much money as you want—or as much as you budgeted for, realistically!

Elopement picnics are the ultimate way to enjoy a meal on your elopement day because. . .

• They’re super casual and laid-back
• They can be as simple or complex as you want them to be
• They can be inexpensive to put together (who doesn’t wanna save a little $$?)
• They can be held almost anywhere
• They’re romantic as hell! It’s like you’re starring in your own romantic comedy.
• You can match them to the theme/decor of your elopement

Also, who doesn’t love picnic food? Whether you bring a simple basket of your favorite finger foods or hire a caterer to make your dishes a little more high-end, nothing will ever beat the taste of a good picnic after a long day of adventuring. 

Best Places for an Elopement Picnic

Now that I know you’re dying to have an elopement picnic (I know I convinced you😉), let’s talk about WHERE to have an elopement picnic.

You can pretty much have an elopement picnic anywhere, as long as the location permits you to set up equipment of some sort. Certain sites in national parks sometimes prohibit any large setups, so you’ll need to make sure that, if you do want to set up any kind of table, chairs, bench, etc., you’re permitted to do so. 

If your location of choice doesn’t allow this, you might want to opt for a simpler setup with just a blanket draped over an area where you’re allowed to sit (e.g. not in the middle of a wildflower field—learn more about how to have a Leave No Trace elopement here).

With that said, here are a few of the best landscapes + locations to have an elopement picnic!

On top of a mountain

How epic would it be to tie the knot somewhere along a trail in the mountains, then head up to the summit for a mountaintop picnic to end the night? THE DREAM. I’ve had multiple couples do this (you’ll see photos in a sec) and it’s always romantic as hell. Incredible views, delicious food, wild love and emotions. . . what more could you want? Bonus points if you make it happen at sunset/golden hour for extra dreamy lighting!

Fire lookouts are also a super cool way to go for a mountaintop elopement picnic—here are a few of my favorites in Washington!

By a lake/river

Lakeside picnics are a classic, especially on a warm summer day. Don’t you remember the good ol’ days when you and your friends/fam would head to the lake for a swim, or some time out on the water, and you’d pack a picnic to bring along for the day? Whether or not that’s a part of your core childhood memories, having a picnic by a refreshing body of water is ALWAYS a good idea. 

Check out a list of my fave alpine lake elopement locations in WA here!

On the beach

Idk about you, but nothing makes me feel more relaxed or inspired than being on the coast. Orrrr maybe in the mountains, or in the forest. . . it’s impossible to choose just one! But the beach is an incredible place for a scenic picnic at the end of your elopement day, especially if you can time it right to get golden hour as the sun sets over the horizon. The feel of sand between your toes as you sip champagne, the sound of waves hitting the shore and seagulls flying above you as you enjoy a yummy spread (and try to make sure the seagulls don’t come down and grab anything, lol)—count me in.

Don’t miss my guide to the best PNW beach elopement locations!

In a forest

If you’d prefer to stay inland and be surrounded by lush, towering trees rather than the open ocean, an enchanted picnic in the forest is def not a bad way to go. You just need to be careful that you find a spot to sit without damaging any of the trees and ecosystems around you—try to find a picnic table if you can to make things easier!

At your Airbnb

If you’ll be booking an Airbnb for your elopement, you already have a great place for your elopement picnic! It can sometimes be much easier to plan and host a picnic at an Airbnb versus somewhere outdoors, or in a national park, since you automatically have tables, chairs, and maybe even an open-air deck or balcony. You’ll also have quick access to a kitchen if you or your caterer need to cook anything, and then you won’t have to drive anywhere at the end of the night, either. These 10 cozy Airbnb wedding venues in WA would be perfect!

In the desert

Finally, if you crave warm sunshine and vast, barren landscapes, a desert elopement picnic can be SO epic. Expansive views of a desert that never seems to end, clear blue skies, and the peace and quiet that comes with being in the middle of nowhere, with barely any vegetation around, and hopefully a stunning sunset. . . you can’t go wrong, whether you’re in Utah, California, or Texas.

5 Elopement Picnic Tips

Next, let’s talk about how to plan the perfect elopement picnic—the practical stuff, the logistics, and how to get help from experts.

1. Hire the right vendors

If you’re planning an elopement picnic that requires a little more setup, or you want your food to be catered, it’s SO important to hire the right vendors to support you. There are sooo many talented wedding vendors who specialize in planning + designing picnics and meals, and honestly, it just makes your life so much easier if somebody else is taking care of it for you!

Miere Catering is a personal favorite of mine, based in Portland but serving the entire PNW. They create the most beautiful, customized dining experiences, from smaller charcuterie picnics to private dinners and more! The charcuterie boards they put together are absolutely unreal, filled with PNW-sourced ingredients like cheeses, produce, nuts, breads. . . ughhh I’m drooling just thinking about it. Or you can hire their private chef to come serve you a custom meal!

Occasions and Creations by Jamie is another amazing option, they’re based in Forks and provide event design + planning, rental items, balloon garlands, and even a mobile bar. Literally the perfect company to hire for your elopement picnic if you want a gorgeous, highly-decorated setup and incredible design. I’m obsessed with their peacock chairs and neon signs!

2. Go as simple or complex as you want

Remember that your elopement picnic can look however you want it to, and can be as simple or NOT simple as you want it to be. You could go all out with an intricate setup, coordinated decor, and a fancy catered meal, or you could keep it laid-back and literally just lay down a blanket + have a simple charcuterie board. Or even a little cooler with sandwiches you packed yourselves! There’s no right or wrong way to do an elopement picnic as long as it matches the vibe you’re going for, fits your budget/priorities, and will help you have the most incredible elopement experience ever.

3. Pack properly

If you’re setting up your own picnic (at the top of a mountain after a hike, for example), it’s SO important to pack everything up properly. The way you’ll want to pack depends on a few things:

• How much stuff you’re bringing with you (a picnic basket, a blanket, a charcuterie board, etc.)
• How long the hike is to get to your picnic location
• How much weight you’re comfortable carrying while hiking/walking
• What type of bags/backpacks you’re bringing

I’ve had couples bring a simple over-the-shoulder cooler that held their simple picnic supplies, and I’ve also had couples pack their items into their larger hiking backpacks. No matter how you end up carrying your supplies, make sure that you’re able to be comfortable and safe the entire time!

4. Make backup plans

Outdoor picnics definitely require backup plans in case of bad weather! I’m the type of photographer who will always encourage you to stay out in the rain and embrace it, but sitting down for a meal isn’t really going to be comfortable if it’s raining/snowing/freezing/etc. So we’ll make sure to have a backup plan in case the weather isn’t ideal for a picnic at your original location—this might be back at your Airbnb, at a covered picnic table, or even in your car as a last resort!

5. Pick the right time of day

I’m definitely biased toward sunset and golden hour, but it’ll obviously be up to you in the end! Elopement picnics can be beautiful at any time of day, and I’ll help you choose the best time based on your unique location and timeline. I’ve seen couples have a mid-day picnic in between hikes, during golden hour as the sun goes down, or even later at night under the light of the stars + a couple of handheld lanterns. Whatever fits the vibe of your elopement day is what’s best for you!

Wanna get a headstart? Learn how to plan your perfect elopement timeline here.

Dreamy Elopement Picnic Ideas + Inspiration

Now that I’ve hopefully gotten you super excited about planning a romantic elopement picnic, I wanted to show you some real-life inspiration from my recent couples who KILLED it with their picnics! All of these picnics were totally one-of–a-kind, set at different locations, with different types of meals, levels of detail, etc., so hopefully you can pull some inspo for your own unique celebration.

Rustic beach picnic

I looooved this one that my couple had on the coast of Washington, with a gorgeous wood table and a rustic-boho theme. They kept the neutral tones of the peninsula with a rust-colored table runner, gold decor, and a sprawling bouquet filled with greenery. It turned out SO beautifully!

Minimalist picnic

This couple kept things super simple, just setting up a blanket in a grassy field with a few cupcakes and glasses of champagne! Loved how gorgeous it was even without a fancy caterer or high-end setup—your elopement picnic absolutely does not have to break the bank in order to be unforgettable.

Sunset mountaintop picnic

This golden hour was to DIE for. Are you kidding me with those mountaintop views?! I will say that this hike was a harddd one and I was amazed at this couple’s ability to hike it with their supplies. If you’re up for the challenge, views like this are so worth it for a dreamy AF elopement picnic! They even brought the cutest little custom Wordle to play together while they ate!

Luxury boho lakeside picnic

This last one is a bit more on the luxury end with a larger setup, but it still kept everything looking fairly minimal and really let the amazing lakefront views shine. Wicker baskets, large blankets, comfy pillows, and a variety of gorgeous candles, florals, and charcuterie made this picnic dreamyyyy as hell. 

Planning Your Perfect Elopement Picnic

Hiiii! I’m Bree! And I’m here to help you plan not only your dream elopement picnic, but your dream elopement day 😉 You can count on me to help carry your picnic supplies, find the best spot for you to set up, and take the most aesthetic photos of ALL the amazing food you spent your time + money on. 

Reach out here to start planning your adventure elopement, and let’s start the search for the perfect place to have your once-in-a-lifetime elopement picnic!

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Looking for more adventure elopement ideas to add to your big day? Here’s a list of 15 epic activities I know you’ll love!