Planning An Airbnb Elopement + The Most Beautiful Western US Airbnbs
UTAH ELOPEMENT PLANNER // WYOMING ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER // MONTANA ELOPEMENT PLANNER
Airbnbs Are Perfect for Micro Weddings & Elopements
I feel like Airbnbs are the best kept secret when it comes to planning an intimate elopement or minimony. Imagine sitting in a cabin, the morning light streaming through the tree into your windows, & warm coffee in your hand as you take a quiet moment to write your vows. The makeup artist arrives as you get ready in a room close enough to your partner that you can hear them laugh, but far enough that you won’t catch a glimpse of one another before your first look. Once you’re ready you step out onto a patio with panoramic views of the mountains, your closest loved ones teary eyed & giddy to watch you both commit your lives to one another. After the ceremony you enjoy cocktails outside & an intimate catered dinner. You end the night in your pajamas around the fire pit, stargazing while reflecting on your wedding day.
That could be you! You can plan a wonderful & affordable experience for your wedding day that is unique, private, beautiful, & comfortable unlike any large traditional wedding or bare bones elopement. Whether you’ve just beginning to explore the possibilities of an Airbnb elopement or you’re trying to make tough planning decisions this blog will teach you all about renting an Airbnb, how to find the right location, what to look for, how to make the most out of your stay, & breakdown some of the most beautiful Airbnbs in the Western United States!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Airbnbs Are Perfect for Micro Weddings & Elopements
- You Can Use an Airbnb for Your Elopement
- Why Elope at an Airbnb
- Affordability
- Privacy
- Unique Experiences
- Convenience
- Beautiful Locations
- How To Begin Planning Your Airbnb Elopement
- Choose the Right Airbnb for Your Elopement
- Things To Look For In An Airbnb For Your Elopement
- 5 Tips To Enhance Your Airbnb Wedding Experience
- Best Airbnbs For Elopements In Western United States
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Idaho
- Utah
- Arizona
- Nevada
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Wherever You Choose You’ll Need a Photographer!
You Can Use an Airbnb for Your Elopement
The days of 50+ parties at Airbnb’s are over, due to their policy change in 2020 dictating that only 16 guests are permitted at an Airbnb rental; luckily if you are planning an elopement or a minimony Airbnb is still a viable option for you! To make sure you aren’t infringing on the terms of service Airbnb provides & the hosts rules it is important to disclose your intentions for the property when booking. Hosts are often happy to work with smaller groups of people & appreciate knowing what you will be doing at their rental. If you decide to forgo politeness, disregard the new party policy, & get caught with extra guests, hosting an event then it is likely you’ll have to pay the host’s security deposit & your account will be banned. That’s a situation you don’t want attached to one of the most special days of your life & is entirely avoidable!
Why Elope at an Airbnb
#1 Affordability
Can you believe the average wedding venue cost in the United States is $6,000?! Even if you don’t want to have a traditional wedding & are planning elope instead, the average stay in a hotel is $139 a night. Now instead of putting the equivalent of a house down payment on a wedding venue or forking over money for a single cookie cutter room, you could invest your money into a beautiful space that enhances your wedding experience!
#2 Privacy
If you are wanting to elope I can imagine that intimacy on your wedding day is important to you & Airbnbs offer you an incredible amount of privacy. You can enjoy a slow morning getting ready without bustling to a different hotel room or making small talk with people in a hallway. Everything from morning mimosas to evening toasts will be an intimate experience that you’re sharing solely with the people you invited to be there.
#3 Unique Experience
Many people don’t know that Airbnb’s are oftentimes more than just someone’s vacation home—some are on vineyards, others are full blown tree houses, some are even boujee glamping tents. Want to stay on a lavender farm? How about petting some Scottish highland cows? There are locations for that too! Your wedding day is all about the experience you want to have & when you stay can be another facet of that.
#4 Convenience
Where you stay, relax, get ready, dine, & celebrate can all be in the same location! That cuts out so much fuss & stress unlike a traditional wedding day. If you have a handful of guests joining you everyone is accounted for & you can enjoy one another’s company in a more natural & relaxed setting.**
#5 Beautiful Locations
Wedding venues & hotels cannot offer you the same privacy or breathtaking views as an Airbnb. Even if you aren’t looking to have your ceremony at your Airbnb, imagine being able to come back at the end of the day to an incredible view & have it feel like a mini oasis. Did you know that some Airbnbs even have private waterfalls & hotsprings!? Whether you are looking for an incredible view or to immerse yourself in a small town there is no shortage of incredible stays available.
How To Begin Planning Your Airbnb Elopement
There are a few things to consider when planning your Airbnb elopement the first being WHERE do you want to elope & what time of year would you like to elope. Narrowing down where can be tricky so consider if there are any places you’ve been dying to go to, locations that have significance to you two as a couple, or restrictions on how far you want to travel. The second thing to consider is what TIME of year you would like to elope which can depend on a seasonal vision or a date that has some significance to you. Lastly, WHO do you want to invite to your elopement.
Now, let’s discuss how those three elements factor into planning your elopement! Luckily due to the rising popularity of Airbnb’s & alternative hosting there are seemingly locations in any given area. Once you decide where you would like to elope you can start looking at Airbnbs in the area that will serve you best on the day of your elopement! The time of year you choose to elope factors into whether that location will be open during that time of year & how far in advance you will have to book that Airbnb! During this process you’ll need to keep in mind the number of people attending & how many rooms will be needed to accommodate them!
If you are looking for more in depth advice when it comes to deciding on a location check out this blog dedicated to choosing an elopement location or feel free to send me an email—I’m happy to help you narrow down the perfect spot for your wedding day!
Choose the Right Airbnb for Your Elopement
Choosing the right Airbnb elopement for you comes down to how you want to utilize the space! If you are wanting to have the ceremony somewhere on the property then a small backyard in Portland probably isn’t the right location. Or if you are hoping to celebrate at a local brewery then rural upstate California wouldn’t be best. With Airbnbs there is such a wide variety of options it is incredibly helpful to go into your search with a vision in mind of how you want your day to progress, look, & feel; then begin narrowing down locations from there.
Things To Look For In An Airbnb For Your Elopement
- An additional space for getting ready whether that be an extra room or guest house.
- Areas with good views or backdrops for indoor photos
- Outdoor space to hold a small ceremony
- A nice dining area that is big enough for just the two of you to enjoy a nice meal or for your guests to be able to dine together.
- An aesthetic that resonates with you or brings you joy
- An entertainment space both indoors & outdoors
- Extra amenities to enjoy such as a fire pit, pool, rooftop deck, or hot tub
- Small touches from the host that will add to your stay like yard games, coffee station, etc.
5 Tips To Enhance Your Airbnb Wedding Experience
- Follow the Airbnb platform & host rules. This is just a friendly reminder to be respectful of the house rules, doing so ensures you’ll avoid host issues during your stay! Don’t invite more people than what you discussed with your Airbnb host & be mindful of noise restrictions.
- Hire a planner. If you are looking for a hands off experience, to relieve some stress, & have extra funds to spare then treat yourself to a wedding planner that will help you arrange your booking, flights, vendors, & everything else!
- Make the most out of every space! Think about getting ready, first look, ceremony, celebrating, & dinner—plan how to utilize spaces for all the different parts of your wedding day. If you have rented a beautiful place in an incredible location make the most of it!
- Bring on local vendors. Some vendors to consider are caterers, makeup/hair artists, florists, & mixologists! Invest in the aspects that are important to you & will have an impact on your experience.
- Arrive early and stay late. Times like this seem to fly by, no need to rush it further by planning a short trip with a tight turnaround. Take the time to enjoy the space, soak up this time together, & really slow down.
Best Airbnbs For Elopements In Western United States
OREGON
Hood River, Oregon
16 guests | 8 bedrooms | 8 beds
You can rent out this entire charming bed & breakfast for your wedding day! This location is perfect if you’re looking to have a large group join you for your elopement & want the convenience of a small town blocks away. Hood River is a vibrant little town located on the Columbia River, only an hour from Portland, & surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape Oregon has to offer!
Nehalem, Oregon
8 guests | 3 bedrooms | 4 beds
Darling cottage mere steps away from the Oregon coast.
COLORADO
Palisade, Colorado
4 guests | 2 bedrooms | 2 beds
Imagine getting married at a vineyard surrounded by table mesas.
Cortez, Colorado
3 guests | 1 bedroom | 2 beds
Built directly into the moutainside’s red rock, this intimate mountain oasis is like none other.
CALIFORNIA
Oakhurst, California
9 guests | 5 bedrooms | 5 beds
Nothing beats a classic a-frame cabin tucked away in the forest.
Joshua Tree, California
2 guests | 1 bedroom | 1 bed
Wake up to sweeping views of Josha Tree & rinse off in the outdoor shower before starting the day.
NEVADA
Incline Village, Nevada
4 guests | 2 bedrooms | 3 beds
A luxury home steeped in nature with the town of Tahoe just around the corner.
Beatty, Nevada
6 guests | 3 bedrooms | 3 beds
Floor to ceiling windows throughout this minimal home makes the surrounding desert landscape take center stage.
NEW MEXICO
Santa Fe, New Mexico
2 guests | 1 bedroom | 1 bed
Gorgeous casita with adobe fireplace a few minutes from the historical Santa Fe arts district.
El Prado, New Mexico
4 guests | 2 bedrooms | 2 beds
Soak in the salt water hot tub & watch the sun go down over the mountain as the stars light up the sky.
WYOMING
Jackson, Wyoming
8 guests | 4 bedrooms | 3 beds
A gorgeous mountain retreat where panoramic views of the Tetons can be observed from this patio.
Image from AirBnB
Sheridan, Wyoming
10 guests | 4 bedrooms | 6 beds
This rustic treehouse is perched atop hills above Yellowstone, you can see for miles & miles.
UTAH
Monroe, Utah
5 guests | 2 bedrooms | 3 beds
Enjoy the surrounding mountains, hotsprings, & hikes before retiring to this perfectly cozy cabin.
Lindon, Utah
3 guests | 1 bedroom | 1 bed
This vine adorned home overlooking surrounding gardens & vineyards is what cottagecore dreams are made of.
MONTANA
Stunning Bitterroot Valley Home
Hamilton, Montana
16 guests | 5 bedrooms | 10 beds
This home is the perfect balance of luxury & rustic charm with all the amenities you can imagine!
Columbia Falls, Montana
4 guests | 1 bedroom | 1 bed
Incredible two story tree house located outside of Glacier National Park.
Image from AirBnb
ARIZONA
Tempe, Arizona
4 guests | 2 bedrooms | 2 beds
The beautifully redone 1940’s southwestern home opens up to an inviting backyard oasis.
Mayer, Arizona
4 guests | 2 bedrooms | 2 beds
Architecturally & environmentally one of a kind suit overlooking an amphitheater & high desert.
WASHINGTON
Spokane, Washington
10 guests | 5 bedrooms | 6 beds
Incredible home where you can take in city views, enjoy a massive firefit, & play in a private waterfall!
Granite Falls, Washington
6 guests | 2 bedrooms | 2 beds
Stunning asymmetrical cabin nestled in the mountainside of the Cascades overlooking a rushing river.
IDAHO
Sandpoint, Idaho
4 guests | 1 bedroom | 3 beds
Enjoy the tranquility & beauty of lake life on this gorgeous property on the shore.
Image from AirBnB
Sandpoint, Idaho
16 guests | 5 bedrooms | 14 beds
The views from this private waterfront home are an absolute dream.
Wherever You Choose You’ll Need a Photographer!
Whether you’re officially sold on having an Airbnb wedding or you still need to do some more investigating, one thing is for sure, you need a phenomenal photographer. Someone who can scout out locations, give you advice on which rentals will have the best lighting, will travel with you anywhere, is ready to capture all the perfectly ‘you’ moments of your wedding day, and is named Audrey. Okay okay, the last one on the list is optional, BUT everything else is non negotiable in my book! I’m always ready to pick up a call to give you advice or pack my bags to meet you & your honey at your dream location. If you have any questions about this blog, are looking for more planning resources, or want to learn more about my services you can contact me here—I am very excited for this chapter of your love story.
