The 2026 Florida Elopement Planning Checklist

Maybe you started off thinking that elopement planning was going to be a breeze. Or maybe you knew it was going to be a little work, but didn’t expect all the moving pieces. Either way, one thing is for sure…you need some guidance.

As a Florida native and local elopement photographer, I’ve included everything I’ve learned in my 5+ years of helping couples plan their elopements in a comprehensive checklist. 

Whether you’re planning an elopement on a remote Florida beach, in downtown Tampa, or on a catamaran in Key West, the Florida Elopement Checklist is designed to help keep you on track and organized every step of the way.

Download the checklist (yes, it’s the very same one I give to my clients) to help you feel prepared before your wedding day comes!

Jump to what you’re looking for…

• How Involved is Elopement Planning?
• Why You Need a Planning Checklist
• What’s Included in the Checklist
• Download The Florida Elopement Planning Checklist
• Florida Elopement Planning Made Even Easier
• Florida Elopement Planning Guidance from Local Expert

How Involved is Elopement Planning?

While elopement planning tends to be much easier than traditional wedding planning, there is still tons over overlap. From setting your budget, determining your guest list, securing your ceremony location, and figuring out the post-ceremony logistics, planning can be quite involved.

Ultimately, your elopement vision is the deciding factor for how involved or complicated your planning will be. For example, a simple ceremony on the beach with just the two of you and an officiant will be much easier to plan than booking a private yacht for your friends and family to celebrate. However, in both cases, there are general tasks you’ll have to do for both vision and are inside of the Florida Elopement Planning Checklist.

Why You Need a Planning Checklist

Checklist helps in more than making sure you’re on track! They’re a Type A person’s best friend and a necessity for a Type B person to make sure you’ve hit every planning aspect of your elopement day. Elopements may be smaller in scale, but they still require careful planning. A planning checklist serves as your roadmap and takes the guesswork out of planning. With a million things to do and plan before your wedding day, having roadmap created by an elopement photographer can make a big difference.

What’s Included in the Checklist

As a Florida native and local elopement photographer, I’ve included everything I’ve learned in my 5+ years of helping couples plan their elopements in a comprehensive checklist. 

Inside the checklist, I’ve broken down tasks you should be doing at different times before your elopement day from:

• 6 to 12 months before your elopement
• 3 to 6 months before your elopement
• 1 to 3 months before your elopement
• 1 week to 1 month before your elopement
• 1 week before your elopement
• Day before/day of your elopement
• Afterward your elopement

Eloping sooner than this timeline? No worries! This timeline is an estimate for when things should be done, but it doesn’t mean that you’re behind. Work through each section and modify as needed.

Download The Florida Elopement Planning Checklist

A well-organized comprehensive elopement checklist created by an elopement photographer. This checklist is designed to be your key to ensuring a stress-free experience. Click the button below to download the checklist and start feeling prepared before your wedding day!

Florida Elopement Planning Made Even Easier

Want your day to feel even easier? The Florida Elopement Planning Checklist is step one to make that happen, but if you want an even more elevated experience with local expert guidance and resources, I would love to show you how I can help.

As an elopement photographer based in Florida, my elopement photography experience is designed to make the process as easy and straightforward as possible. No second guessing, Googling a million things, or wondering what’s next. That way you can focus more on enjoying your elopement day than worrying about the logistics. That’s why every photography package includes:

• Photography coverage based on your elopement vision
• Planning guidance (permit assistance, locations guidance, timeline planning, etc.)
• Vendor recommendations (vetted officiants, florals, boat rentals, etc.)
• Detailed elopement guide that has everything you need to plan your elopement seamlessly
• Packing list, activity suggestions, and backup plans

Florida Elopement Planning Guidance from Local Expert