Y’all know that I looove me some good food, whether that be a luxurious multi-course meal or a couple boxes of pizza & garlic bread after a long day of work. So I’m here today to talk about – you guessed it – ELOPEMENT FOOD!! I think a lot of couples don’t realize how creative you can really get with the food you eat on your elopement or wedding day, and that you can totally think outside of the box. Keep in mind that the 10 wedding/elopement dinner ideas that I’m giving you don’t HAVE to be used for dinner – they can 1000% be used for breakfast, lunch, or anything in between, too! 

Meals are also one of the best times to connect with your loved ones, or with each other if you won’t be having any guests. So planning a special meal (or multiple) on your big day will give you a beautiful time to really sit down and talk with whoever you’ve invited to be present at your elopement, and enjoy the time with them. There are truly SO many ways you can eat on your elopement day – the options are endless!

Happy meal planning!!

10 Meal Ideas for Your Elopement Dinner (or Breakfast, or Lunch)

1. Bring a charcuterie board

One of my favorite things that couples do for food on their elopement day: bringing a charcuterie board!! Charcuterie boards are the perfectttt way to eat on your elopement day because they can be packed pretty well to bring along on a hike or on your outdoor adventure. They can also be customized to the type of meal you want to eat, whether you want a larger spread for an early dinner or just some finger foods to snack on in the morning. You can literally put together all of your favorite snacks on one (or multiple!) plates, and you DON’T have to be limited to meats & cheeses: you could do a dessert charcuterie board with your fav sweets, or a salty & sweet board with your fav savory and sweet snacks. 

And did you know you can actually hire people specifically to create a charcuterie board for you?! You can totally put together your own if you’d rather do that, but if you want to take it off your plate (pun fully intended), one of my fav food vendors in Oregon is Dakota Eats. They put together the most delicious private meals for couples’ elopement days, from stunning charcuterie boards to yummy appetizers to specialized cocktails. 

Dakota Eats created charcuterie boards for Jenn + Jon’s Secret Beach Elopement, as well as one for Abigail + Knox’s Unique Elopement at Honeyman State Park. Check ‘em both out for all the gorgeous elopement charcuterie board inspiration!!

2. Eat snacks or takeout on a picnic blanket

If you’ll be out somewhere in nature for your elopement, what better way to bring food along than to pack a picnic?! Bring your coziest blanket that you’re okay with getting dirty, bring some candles if you want, and pick out your favorite foods + drinks that are easy to bring in your bags. 

You could bring some sandwiches, crackers & cheese, fruits, or even bring takeout that you picked up on your way! I promise that a nice picnic blanket + some candles and florals will make takeout look fancy AF.

Take a look at Deidre + Jon’s gorgeousss picnic setup from their elopement day, where they brought along super cute circular, wooden boards for some crackers + cheese, and set up their cake sooo beautifully, surrounded by some flowers. Who else wants to have an adorable picnic in the middle of the woods now?

3. Hire a private chef or a caterer

If you’d rather not have to do any of the work, hire a private chef or a caterer to do it all for ya! If you have an Airbnb booked with a good amount of kitchen space, hiring a private chef is a super luxurious way to enjoy a yummy meal together. Or if you’d rather hire a company to cater your meal, find a good local business to bring you ready-to-go dishes to serve to you & your guests!

4. Cook together

If you & your partner love to cook together, and you have an Airbnb with room + utensils to cook with, cook your food together!! This is a wonderful way to spend quality time together on your elopement day, doing something you love, whether you cook breakfast/brunch in the morning before your ceremony or you spend time putting together a full meal once you’re back at your Airbnb for the evening.

5. Eat in the back of your car

If there’s not a spot for a picnic blanket where you’ll be eating, or you’d just prefer not to sit on the ground in your nice wedding attire, and there’s a place to park your car, just eat out of the back of your car! Set up some pillows in the back, open your trunk, and enjoy the fresh air while you eat the snacks/meal of your choosing. This is an even better option if you can sit in the back of your car while facing a beautiful view somewhere!!

 

6. Hire a food truck

Hiring a food truck might be one of my FAV ways to eat on your elopement day. You can literally hire a food truck for any type of food these days – whether you want to eat BBQ, wood-fire pizza, you name it. You can also hire a food truck to bring you late night snacks if you know you & your guests are gonna get hungry at night: corn dogs, burgers & fries, mozzarella sticks, the options are alllll out there!! 

Bonus tip: you can hire a mobile bar/drink truck for cocktails + yummy drinks on your big day, too!

 

7. Rent out a room at a restaurant/brewery

For couples who love the experience of eating out at a nice restaurant, you can rent out a room at a local restaurant or brewery for you & your guests! This is a great option if you want to get out of your wedding attire and change into some other clothes + go out for a night on the town, or just want to choose from a good menu of options and have a private meal in a nice atmosphere.

8. Order pizza

Would you rather keep it super casual? Just order pizza!! If you have a Costco near your elopement location, that’s a greatttt option for getting lots of pizzas for you & your guests at a good price. Or just go find a local pizzeria to pick up or order from to your Airbnb!

9. Go to a dive bar

If you want to keep it casual BUT still go out on the town, head to a local dive bar and get your favorite cheap beers + play a few rounds of pool with your guests. This is such a fun way to end the night on a chill note with your fav people, especially if it’s something you love doing together back home anyway!

10. Set up a spot on the floor of your Airbnb

Finally, if you have a nice Airbnb that you want to maximize your time in, spend the evening inside & set up a cute little area on the floor to eat at! I know it sounds weird, but you can totally create such a nice setup with some blankets, candles (or other mood lighting), pillows, & even nice glassware if you have it, and enjoy the cozy, intimate atmosphere together. 

I’ve got a whole blog post dedicated to the 25 Best Airbnb’s in WA & OR for An Airbnb Elopement – check it out here if you’re still looking for a place to stay!

Who else is getting hungry now?! I hope these ideas helped you realize ALL the possibilities when it comes to your elopement dinner & elopement meals in general! You’re allowed to think outside of the box and find ways to eat WHATEVER the hell you want, in whatever way you want. 

For more elopement ideas & planning resources, head to my blog – or check out some of my favs below!

Top 5 Best Places for a Columbia River Gorge Elopement

How to Pick the Time of Day for Your Elopement Ceremony

The Best Locations for a Washington or Oregon Forest Elopement