Fuck it lets elope! 15 ideas to make your elopement ceremony meaningful, personal and unforgettable

Eloping is powerful.

It is choosing meaning over performance, presence over pressure and connection over expectations.

When you strip away the audience, the fluff, the trends, the schedule and the endless opinions, you are left with two people choosing each other.
Eloping is the ultimate love declaration.

That is where the magic lives.

If you are planning an elopement and wondering what to include in your ceremony, here are ideas that will make your vows feel intentional, emotional and wildly personal.

What is an elopement ceremony?

An elopement ceremony is simply two people choosing to get married in a way that prioritises their relationship. No venue dictated timeline. No distant relatives waiting for group photos. No performance.

Just you, your vows, an epic location and an experience that feels like you.

Your ceremony can happen anywhere. A cliff edge, a forest clearing, a hidden corner of the Causeway Coast, in front of a fire or under the stars. Some couples bring a few loved ones. Others choose complete privacy. There is no rule book.

1.Choose a location that speaks to your soul

Your ceremony is not confined to a venue. You can elope anywhere.
A rugged cliff at Dunluce, a secret cove, a quiet clearing in a forest. If you have always dreamed of visiting a bucket list country, eloping gives you the freedom to marry there. The beauty of eloping is that your location becomes part of the story and part of the memory.

2. Write personal vows from the heart

This is the heart of eloping.
No filler. No generic script. No template.

I have witnessed vows in native languages, vows that left everyone in tears and vows that had us all laughing. Speak what you truly feel. Write words that only the two of you will understand.

Speak them with shaky hands and a full heart.

3. Include a handful of loved ones or keep it private

If having your favourite humans with you feels right, amazing.
If you want total privacy, perfect.

This day is not about audience size, it is about intention.

4. Handfasting

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic ritual where your hands are tied together with ribbon or braided cords to represent unity and partnership. It is symbolic, emotional and looks beautiful in photographs. Some couples use ribbons from meaningful places or choose colours that represent something special in their relationship.

5. Ceremonial hoop and wand

For couples drawn to pagan traditions, a ceremonial hoop and wand can be used alongside handfasting.
The hoop represents feminine energy, intuition and creation.
The wand represents masculine energy, intention and direction.

Bringing them together during the ceremony honours balance and unity. Many couples decorate their hoop and wand with ribbon or dried flowers and keep them as a meaningful reminder of choosing each other.

6. Include loved ones who cannot be present

Just because someone is not physically there does not mean they cannot be part of your ceremony.
You can include letters, a small item or photo, a voice note or a pre recorded video message. Presence does not require physical attendance.

7. Exchange rings

Exchanging rings is a universal symbol of commitment and continuity. Most couples choose to include this moment in their elopement ceremony, but there are no rules. You can make it simple or symbolic or skip it entirely.

8. First kiss as a married couple

You have chosen a beautiful location, so go big and seal it with a kiss.
Dip them. Laugh. Soak in the moment.

This is your first kiss as a married couple. Make it one to remember.

9. Jumping the broom

With roots in Celtic history and African American culture, jumping the broom symbolises stepping into a new chapter and leaving the past behind.
It is joyful, symbolic and full of energy.

10. include traditions from your own culture

Your elopement can include any tradition that feels meaningful to you and your story. This is a beautiful way to honour your roots and bring your heritage into the ceremony.

11. Quaich ritual

The Quaich is a traditional Celtic and Scottish drinking cup, sometimes called the loving cup. Couples pour a local whiskey, often Bushmills for Northern Ireland elopements, and share a sip from the same vessel. It symbolises trust, unity and celebration.

12. Ring warming

Ring warming is an Irish tradition where guests hold the wedding rings for a moment to offer a silent blessing or intention. By the time you exchange the rings, they are filled with the love and good wishes of your favourite people.

13. Champagne spray celebration

You would never get away with this at a traditional venue, but on a cliff or mountaintop on your elopement day it is perfect. Shake it, spray it and celebrate the moment. The photos are always epic.

14. Have a friend or family member officiate

If you want your ceremony to feel personal, having a loved one officiate can be incredibly meaningful. If not, you can hire a celebrant or keep it just the two of you, depending on whether you are doing a legal or symbolic ceremony.

15. Private vows at sunset

If the idea of speaking your deepest words in front of someone feels too vulnerable, you can save your personal vows for later.
A quiet cliff edge at sunset is hard to beat.

How long should an elopement ceremony be

You decide. Most ceremonies last between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on what rituals you include. Some are longer because the moment deserves space.

What do you do after the ceremony

Anything you want.
Explore. Chase the sunset. get tattoos ( i know a really awesome tattoo studio who tattoo couples any time of the day or night!) Head to a cosy Irish pub for pints. Have a picnic by the sea. Ride horses on the beach. Run barefoot across the cliffs. Dance under the moonlight. get pizza

Your wedding day should be an experience, not a performance.

Create a ceremony you will never forget

Your elopement ceremony should feel like the two of you.
Not a performance. Not a template. Just truth.

Pick love. Pick ease. Pick each other.

If you are planning an elopement on the Causeway Coast and want someone who not only photographs it but helps you plan the experience, I am your girl.

Big love, Christin

x

need help with some more planning tips? read more on the blog

ready to say fuck it! lets elope