Planning an AirBnb or Vacation Rental Elopement
Step 1: Needs, Wants, Budget
The first step is to figure out what kind of place are you looking for. Do you want more of a cabin or woodsy feel, want to be near water, or downtown? Do you want to be located near a specific town or recreational area? Are all of your guests staying with you? You should also start planning how long you want to stay and how much you want to spend, those two things can start filtering out a lot of options. Research the outdoor views a place offers for your ceremony or if a local park is better.
Some fun things you can include in your elopement day: having a catered dinner or private dining experience with your own private chef, enjoying a fire and s’mores, outdoor games with friends, making your own charcuterie board with local goods, or even just a spa or pampering experience.
Where to start searching: AirBnb.com, VRBO.com, Hipcamp.com
Step 2: Reach out to the Host
Not every rental is open to events, which is understandable. Some rentals are listed not open to events, but if you are planning a small elopement (within the amount that can fit in the home) still reach out. For some two person elopements I’ve done, I’ve reached out to hosts and they were more than happy to host the couple. Also be sure to give the host as much information as you can (i.e. are you catering a dinner, having the ceremony there or offsite, are any guests staying at the place or just staying for the event, what vendors will be there for the event) so there are no surprises on either side. Ask if there are any extra rules for your event. I think it’s better to err on too much information than for a host to have a bad experience with you as a guest or even charge you more fees after the fact. Communication is key and you want to respect the rental owner. If there are extra fees or rules you aren’t comfortable with, keep looking for other rentals. It’s better to find a place that you’ll be able to relax and enjoy.
If you want to circumvent some of this uncertainty of reaching out to multiple hosts to still get turned down, VRBO allows you to filter for places that allow events.
Step 3: Planning for your Stay
Once you have your rental booked, you can start planning on what to bring for your stay and your elopement.
Some questions to think about: Does your rental include all utensils, towels, bedding, ect? Is there a nearby grocery store or is it better to pack food and condiments ahead of time? Can you get the address ahead of time from the host so all your guests and vendors know where to show up? If you’re having guests stay with you, do you know where everyone is sleeping or are you going to decide when you arrive?
To stay organized make a list of things you can’t forget like your rings, wedding clothes, marriage license, and any other similar items. If you’re traveling by plane, be sure to pack these items in your carry-on.
Step 4: Enjoy!
It’s finally your elopement day! You get to enjoy all the labors of your planning and fully experience your rental. Make the most of the things that drew you to it, whether it’s the rustic outdoors, time surrounded by nature, the indoor fireplace, a hot tub, or time with your people, enjoy it!
Looking for some inspiration for your elopement, check out these real elopements: Muscoda Cabin Elopement, MI Lakeside Elopement, Washington Island Elopement, Still Bend Elopement