Imagine travelling into an unknown state for your elopement or wedding, you arrive at your Airbnb to find there’s no electricity or running water. Let alone space for your hair and makeup artist to come do their thing. And there’s DEFINITELY not enough space for you and your fiancé to enjoy your time together. Yikes! This is a huge reason that when it comes to booking lodging for your elopement or wedding you’ve got to know what to look for.
Okay that example may be super dramatic, but is it really? If you are planning to elope in Big Bend that’s totally possible considering that is an exact description of a lot of Airbnb’s in the area.
I want you to book your lodging knowing it’s going to be exactly what you need and then some. The place you choose to stay is a huge part of your overall experience and I want you to be just as excited about staying somewhere really fun as you are about saying your vows to your fiancé!
So, how can we make that happen? In this blog I’ll break down some tips and tricks to ensure you book your dream lodging for your wedding or elopement.
Consider your lodging a part of your overall elopement or wedding experience
Booking lodging for your elopement or wedding makes a huge impact on your overall experience! It’s where you’ll be sleeping the night before, where you will be getting ready and where you return when it’s all said and done. Choose a place you are excited to stay!
Think about the ways you two enjoy spending those moments in between together. Do you enjoy slow mornings and drinking coffee together? Maybe you will want to book an Airbnb with a great patio or a dock by the water.
Do you want to enjoy some drinks in a hot tub under the starry skies? Book a place with a hot tub! Maybe you want to roast some smore’s after saying your vows, find a spot with a fire pit you can use. Think about all of those bonus activities you may want to take place that will add to your experience.
Side note: As a photographer I think the aesthetics can be pretty important too! It can add a lot of character and style to your gallery. Choose a place with some style and interior design that you love!
What will you need when you are getting ready?
It’s important to think through what getting ready before your elopement will be like. Are you going to be getting ready together or do you want to have a first look? If you are wanting to have a first look you’ll want two separate rooms to get ready in. Will you have a hair and makeup artist coming in? Make sure there is enough space for them to set up and do their thing.
Pro tip: having a closet or extra space to store your belongings in can be super helpful. This way when the photographer is taking those getting ready photos there isn’t a big mess in the background. Designate one space for the mess and keep it there!
Book lodging close to your elopement or wedding ceremony location
The last thing you want is to be feeling stressed out or in a hurry because you are staying too far away from your ceremony location. That and a lot of times elopements are planned around sunrise so if you stay nearby you get that much more sleep beforehand!
I know that Airbnb doesn’t always have the exact address readily available to you but if you know where your ceremony will be located you can send the hosts messages to confirm how far away their airbnb is. Hosts are usually really nice and happy to answer questions!
When should you book your lodging?
As soon as you have a date and location set you should book your lodging. If you wait until the last minute your options will be slim to none. Which may very well mean having to book an off-grid cabin or a lake house that’s actually built for 14 people rather than two. Book as soon as you can to avoid missing out on the perfect place!
Best Apps For Finding Lodging
Airbnb is the best way to find unique lodging all over the country! You can set filters to narrow down your results or find unique places like airstreams or treehouses. You are able to contact hosts before booking to confirm the distance from your ceremony location or if they have any restrictions regarding photography.
Vrbo is another way to find some unique lodging! Vrbo offers stand-alone vacation homes only. It doesn’t generally offer “shared” spaces like private rooms or more unusual options like campsites.
Expedia is a great way to find hotels and search for deals! You won’t find as many unique options and I definitely recommend using Airbnbs over hotel rooms because they tend to offer more space for getting ready.
Hipcamp is for finding campsites on private land! So if you really wanna rough it and get the whole adventure experience then Hipcamp is the way to go. Follow this link to get $10 off your first stay.
Coolest places to stay in Texas?
You can totally plan your entire elopement around your lodging! Find an epic place to stay and then figure out your ceremony location. I dig it! A travel blogger I love to follow is Ready Jetset, she travels and finds unique places to stay all over Texas. Here are a couple of her blogs breaking down some awesome locations. 5 Epic Glamping Spots in The Texas Hill Country + Unique Texas Getaways
Alright, how are you feeling? Ready to get started on booking lodging for your elopement or wedding? Now that you have an idea of what to look out for when booking your lodging you can start making some wish lists on Airbnb and Vrbo!! Compare your faves and start dreaming up what your day might look like with each one! Brainstorming can be so much fun.
If you are ready to start planning your elopement with your new favorite elopement photographer and guide (Hi that’s me!) Then head on over to my contact page and fill out the contact form!
If you aren’t ready to contact me just yet but you want to follow along on my adventures and maybe someday contact me then follow me on Instagram! Comment on my most recent post that you came from the lodging blog post, I can’t wait to hear from you!
[…] If you want some more insight on booking your lodging for your engagement session or even for your elopement I have an entire blog dedicated to that right here! […]