How to Include God in Your Elopement

God isn’t just in churches. What better place to celebrate the start of your marriage than in his creation?

Eloping gives you the freedom to step away from expectations and build a wedding day that reflects what matters most to you. For many Christian couples, that means keeping God at the center of it all, not just in a traditional ceremony, but throughout the entire day. Without the structure of a church wedding, you actually have more space to be intentional. You can slow down, be present, and include meaningful practices that reflect your faith in a real and personal way.

Here are several ways you can include God in your elopement day, whether it’s just the two of you or you have your closest friends and family gathered with you.

1. Start the Day in Prayer

Before anything else begins, take time to pray together. This could be while you’re getting ready, sitting with your coffee in the morning, or even separately if you want a quiet moment alone with God first. It doesn’t need to be long or scripted. Simply inviting God into your day sets the tone for everything that follows.

2. Pray During Your Ceremony

Prayer doesn’t have to be limited to the beginning or end of your ceremony. You can pause in the middle of your vows to pray together, asking for guidance, strength, and a Christ-centered marriage. This can be done privately between the two of you or led by an officiant if you have one.

3. Read Scripture Together

Including Bible readings in your ceremony is a simple but meaningful way to ground your marriage in truth. You can choose passages that reflect love, commitment, and God’s design for marriage. Read your favorite verses to each-other, and/or if you’re inviting guests, ask someone to read for you.

4. Share Communion

Taking communion together during your elopement is a powerful reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and the covenant you’re entering into. Take time to confess to the Lord and thank him for all he has done. Start your marriage off on a clean slate, and bring your focus back to the foundation of your faith.

5. Have a Private Bible Reading During the Day

Set aside time after your ceremony for a picnic or quiet break where you read the Bible together. This doesn’t need to feel formal. It can be as simple as sitting down, opening to a passage thats relevant to your day or even just a personal favorite, and talking about what it means for your marriage.

6. Include a Unity Ceremony

Unity ceremonies can help physically show that your marriage is not just the two of you coming together as one, but that God is at the center and focus of your relationship. You will need three elements to join together as one item. This doesn’t have to be super serious or traditional. If it fits your personalities, have fun with it! I’ve seen couples do something as silly as make a PB&J together. Here are a few basic ideas:

• Braiding a three-strand cord to represent you, your partner, and God
• Pouring three different colored sands as a symbol of your lives becoming one under God
• Lighting a candle together from two separate candles (only if it’s appropriate for your location!)

Each of these can be paired with scripture or prayer to reinforce the significance behind it.

7. Worship Together

If it’s appropriate for your location, bring a speaker, play a worship song, or sing together if that feels natural to you. Keep in mind, amplified music is not allowed at many parks. It can be just the two of you taking a moment to praise God and reflect on what He’s done in your lives, or have your guests join in. You can even do this back at your lodging if there’s not a good place for it outdoors.

8. Take a Walk and Reflect on His Creation

Whether you’re eloping in the woods, by a lake, or somewhere meaningful to you, take time to walk together and acknowledge God’s presence in what He’s made. Slow down and recognize His work around you.

9. Invite Others to Pray Over You

If you’re including a few guests, consider asking them to pray over you during your ceremony. This can be one person or several. It’s a meaningful way to involve your families and friends and invite support into your marriage from the very beginning.

10. Wash Each Other’s Feet

In John 13:4-17, Jesus washes his disciples feet as an example for them on how they should serve one another in humility. In verses 13-15 He says, “You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”

Putting this teaching into action modern day doesn’t literally mean washing each others feet, (and I don’t think he meant it to only refer to washing feet then), but humbly serving each other in your everyday lives. The symbolism in washing each others feet shows your intention and commitment to serve one another in your marriage.

11. Write Christ-Centered Vows

Your vows are likely the most personal part of your day. They are the core promises you are making to your spouse (and God) to join you together in marriage. Including your faith in them can look like:

• Referencing scripture
• Committing to lead and love each other in a Christ-like way
• Acknowledging God’s role in your relationship

This keeps your promises grounded in something deeper than just your own emotions. You are making a binding commitment to your spouse under God. If you need help writing your own vows, check out my How to Write Your Own Vows post.

12. Take Time for Gratitude

Throughout the day, pause and thank God for bringing you together. This can be during quiet in-between moments, after your ceremony, or even at the end of the day before you celebrate. Gratitude helps keep your perspective centered on Him rather than just the experience.

13. Include a Devotional

You can bring along a short devotional to read together. This can help guide your thoughts and give you something tangible to reflect on as you step into marriage.

14. End the Day in Prayer

Just like you started, end your day by praying together. Reflect on everything that happened, thank God for it, and ask for His guidance as you move forward. It creates a sense of closure and intention as you begin this next chapter.

Bringing It All Together

Including God in your elopement is all about intention. When you remove the pressure of a traditional wedding, you’re left with space to focus on what actually matters, your relationship with each other and your relationship with God.

Your elopement day can be quiet, reflective, joyful, and centered on faith in a way that feels natural to you. Whether you include one or several of these ideas, the goal isn’t to check all the boxes. It’s to create a day that reflects your beliefs and allows you to step into marriage with a strong foundation.

Your WI Elopement Photographer Who Also Loves Jesus