There are a lot of reasons to elope at an Airbnb. Or, even use your Airbnb as your base for your elopement plans, or possible reception. Modern elopements have been getting much more popular over the years. Why? Not all couples want to feel like they’re performing while saying their vows in front of 100+ guests. Couples also have been wanting to spend more on themselves than everyone else. Meaning, that they’d rather put their money towards experiences they can enjoy on the day they get married instead of feeding and hosting a crowd of guests.
That being said, a lot of couples choose to forgo venues completely. So your questions might be “where do we get ready?” or, “we want a private ceremony but to host a reception, how do we do that?” Well, using Airbnb as a mini-venue has been a perfect option for couples all over. And the best part is, you can find the perfect Airbnb to match the style you’re going for. Plus, getting ready photos in a unique Airbnb setting is SO much nicer than hotel room photos.
How to Elope at your Airbnb
Step number one and how to elope at your Airbnb: figure out its purpose. Will this space be used for your actual ceremony? Or do you plan on exploring and only using your Airbnb as a reception space? Maybe you’re hoping to find a location where you can do both. No matter what you’re looking for, there are options. Although, knowing your intent will help you nail down what you’re going to need.
For example, a ten-person ceremony is a lot smaller than a twenty-person ceremony. It might not seem like it, but if you’re going to have more guests, you’re going to need to consider a bigger space. If you’re planning on having a ceremony with twenty or so guests outside, an Airbnb on a decent chunk of land would be ideal. Maybe you want an indoor reception with ten guests. It would be a good call to get something with a lot of seating options and a fairly open floor plan (especially if you plan on dancing.)
Finally, maybe you want to have your ceremony outdoors at a National Park. Airbnb has a new feature that shows stays closeby to a ton of National Parks. All of that being said, decide on what your plans for the day are FIRST and then start looking for your perfect Airbnb venue.
How to Find an Airbnb With a View for Your Elopement
There are tons and tons of couples who want to know how to elope at an Airbnb because they want stunning views but aren’t huge hikers. Adventure elopements aren’t just for those who love backpacking and vigorous hiking. There are a few awesome new ways to find perfect Airbnbs in scenic locations. First, decide WHERE you want to elope. Which state? If you’re open to anywhere within a specific state, go ahead and search for it on Airbnb.
Next, you can use the new filters on the website. You can select “National Parks” to find somewhere near a park. You can also search for A-frames, which is one of my personal favorites. A-frames are super unique, beautiful, and amazing for pictures. It also just so happens that most of them are built-in gorgeous places. If you’re interested in a glamping scenario, check out the “camping” and “yurt” filters as well! You’ll be surprised how many amazing things pop up. Check out the gorgeous photo below of an elopement ceremony at an Airbnb in Breckenridge, Colorado. Love this spot? Check it out here!
How to Book an Airbnb for your Elopement
Now that you know how to elope at an Airbnb, you should probably know how to book said Airbnb. I know it might seem cut and dry, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. Airbnb used to have a filter that let you browse properties where events were allowed. They no longer have this feature. So, you will manually have to look into each location that interests you, and scroll to the bottom to “house rules” to check and see if it says “no events or parties allowed.”
It might be important to note that that might not be a deal-breaker. Most homeowners don’t want huge parties taking place in their houses where damage could be done to their property. It’s totally possible that if you message the owner, you can tell them your elopement day plans and see if it’s something they’d be okay with! Although, I would never ever recommend having an event in secret. There could be huge fees for that, and your photographer needs to legally be able to take photos at the home.
Getting Vendors and Rentals for your Airbnb Elopement
Alright! Now we know how to elope at an Airbnb as well as find the perfect one. But, the work doesn’t stop there (unless you wanna keep things super simple!) Most Airbnbs have some silverware, tableware, a kitchen table, etc. However, you might want to hire a private chef and have a fancy dinner. Renting out tableware might be something you need to consider!
Maybe you want an outdoor ceremony and the Airbnb only comes with four kitchen chairs. Again, you can absolutely rent chairs, tables, decor, and an arch, and even hire a florist to decorate! Not having a big traditional wedding means you’ll be saving a ton of money. When you figure out how to have an Airbnb elopement, you’ll realize you can decorate it however you’ve dreamed of and still spend so much less than renting a venue
How to Elope at an Airbnb and Lodge Guests
So you want to know how to elope at an Airbnb out of state and include guests? Here’s the deal. You can look at Luxe options on Airbnb and find an absolutely gigantic space. Big enough to host 10-20 people as well as have a baller master room for privacy if you know what I mean. Yes, these Luxe Airbnbs are costly. But let’s put this into perspective.
The average wedding venue costs $3000-$20,000. Holy shit. That is so much money. And the Luxe Airbnb with a pool, six bedrooms, and eleven beds is $1,677 a night. This is an incredible way to have a breathtaking venue, host guests, and have a little bit of luxury. And if this incredible Airbnb in Arizona interests you, check it out here!
How to Spice Up Your Airbnb Elopement
While doing all of this research to figure out how to plan your Airbnb elopement, you might have realized that you have an INSANE amount of options. As we’ve gone over, you can get an Airbnb right outside of a National Park and have a ceremony in the mountains, while spending the day exploring. You can get a luxurious Airbnb for you and your guests to stay in and have an epic reception. The list goes on and on.
So, last but not least, I would consider thinking about some amenities that would be enjoyable to you, and to your (possible) guests. Do you want a sauna? Do you want a big-ass bathtub with jets? An oversized kitchen so you can hire a private chef? A patio to watch the sunrise on? A pool to jump into? Once again, you can base the Airbnb you choose on things you’d like to include in your day! Some couples even elope in the location they want to spend their honeymoon. That being said, you could pick an Airbnb that would work for your elopement and honeymoon!
Helping Couples Learn How to Elope at an Airbnb
Hey! My name is Emilee and I’m an elopement photographer based in Oregon, traveling all over the globe to work with amazing couples like you. I’m in love with my job and the process of planning elopements. If you’re trying to find out how to plan your own Airbnb elopement, let’s chat! I’m here to help you find perfect locations, secure permits, find amazing vendors, and document your whole day!
I’ve compiled a list of all of my favorite Airbnbs through the states for elopements. Most of these Airbnbs would be amazing for an intimate ceremony or used as a reception space after a day of exploring the beautiful place. Check out my lists for Oregon, California, Utah, Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington!
