Although I've never been to New Mexico, I decided to do some research and plan a small elopement for a potential wedding couple.

I asked some friends who recently got engaged where their dream trip out west in the USA. They both gave me some input that I used to create a potential timeline for them!

Ashley said she always wanted to go to the Ojo Caliente in New Mexico and Anthony said his dream trip would be to travel from the bottom of New Mexico to the top of Montana. With these two ideas, I took the common denominator and choose Ojo Caliente since they both like New Mexico.

Ashley and Anthony have taken many hiking trips out west so I knew that their elopement needed to include a hike.

SUMMER ELOPEMENT TIMELINE FOR 

ANTHONY + ASHLEY

BANDELIER STATE PARK 

BURNT MESA TRAIL

Getting Ready Location: OJO Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa

50 Los Banos Drive

Ojo Caliente, New Mexico 87549

Ceremony Location: BURNT MESA TRAIL, Bandelier State Park New Mexico 

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/burnt-mesa-trail

9:30 am: Breakfast at Ojo Caliente 

12:00pm: Get Ready 

1:30pm: lunch

3:00pm: Photographer arrives

Pack up and drive to Burnt Mesa Trail

(1 hour minute drive from Ojo Caliente)

4:00: Burnt Mesa Trail. (estimated, 2hr8m hike, 3.5-4 hours total with photos and ceremony)

5:00pm: vow exchange, photos and snack break

7:30/8:00pm: Sunset photos

9:00pm: Dinner back at hotel - photographer leaves

This is a draft timeline for a July date. The desert is obviously not ideal for July, but this was created for a real couple based on their work schedules. Sunset or sunrise photos would be more ideal in the summer since the sun is at it's peak in the desert.

Elopements require so much research and expertise. I would love to help you plan your dream elopement!