If you want a perfect blend of adventure, intimacy, and a completely unique setting, you need to check out a treehouse wedding. (I mean, look at this as an venue option!!!)
As an adventure elopement photographer, I’ve captured many unforgettable moments in all kinds of places & magical hideaways and treehouses can totally take the cake.
Figuring out the logistics you need to manage for a treehouse wedding might feel like a big unknown! But, by planning around key details like guest capacity, using the treehouse venue’s spaces, structuring how/where/when guests participate, accessibility, weather factors, unique activities, and transportation, your celebration will perfectly capture your love story.
Read on below for all the details to bring ease into your planning process!
Treehouses Limit Wedding Guest Capacity
It used to be that people who wanted to elope only had one option: to say their vows completely alone.
BUT modern elopements, adventurous weddings, and microweddings in amazing places have kicked that limit to the curb.
Now, you can make your wedding experience whatever you want it to be.
I’ve found that a lot of couples do want their crew with them for some part of their elopement experience. (If that isn’t you, check this out!) If that is you, here are some things to think about:
Treehouse Venues are designed for more intimate gatherings
This makes them ideal for a cozy and personal wedding celebration.
With fewer attendees, every guest can share in the joy of your special day on a more personal level. This setting ensures you can spend genuine quality time with each guest and allows you to focus on what truly matters—celebrating your love with those who matter most.
Each treehouse wedding venue will have unique features that impact how your guest experience will be.
…It may be a seating area in the forest near your treehouse lodging.
…Maybe they have a beautiful pavilion or shared space.
…Or… a unique feature you must take advantage of! For example, we are SUPER lucky here in the South to have Junebug Retro Resort, one of the few treehouses (maybe the only????) that has large elevated deck that allows your guests to be in the treetops with you. How truly magical could this space be for your treehouse wedding?!
Images courtesy of the Vendor
Choose your own adventure, Treehouse Wedding Style!
Just because you have a crew with you does not mean you have to make the entire weekend a traditional wedding experience.
Instead, think out of the box about to what degree you want your crew involved:
- Do you want them to be with you at every point of adventure and celebration, or, split over multiple days?
- How can they be part of the ceremony? (and, seriously, what should an elopement ceremony even include?!?!)
- Do you want them to be in a formal seating arrangement? (applies at a dinner and/or in the ceremony!)
- Should you do a sit down dinner or just a reception after?
- Are there local activities you can host as group events as part of the welcome or the actual celebration?
- Can you have some fun with “dress code” considering the vibe of your treehouse wedding?
- What special features your treehouse venue has that you can use to make the event even more special?
- If you do want your crew to watch your vows, are there other ways to make their attendance unique? This would be a great place to organize chair rentals or using seating options that are special or fun!
Basically, as you think about the logistics of planning your treehouse wedding, you have FULL permission to get creative! Your goal? Always choose the “something” or “plan” that promotes the feeling you want your microwedding to have in this amazing treehouse space!
Don’t forget: Considering guest experience + accessibility of your location
Treehouses often come with the challenge of stairs or ladders, which can be difficult for some guests to navigate. Ensuring accessibility is crucial to make everyone feel welcome and included.
If your crew needs some accommodations, make sure you find out what the guest will need and speak with your treehouse wedding venue, wedding planner, or, photographer to see what is possible and plan head.
Communication is key when it comes to accessibility.
Inform your guests about the physical requirements of the venue well in advance, work with them on what those site considerations mean for them, and proactively offer assistance where needed.
Remember, not all guests may have a visible disability or mobility limitation you can see, so it’s important to not assume if accommodations are needed or not.
Build in inclusive language to your communications with them from the start, and, proactively provide clear information about the terrain and types of ground surfaces at the site, steps, and any other potential obstacles.
Depending on needs, you may consider hiring staff or asking friends and family to assist guests who might need extra help navigating the space.
Another idea is to find some alternative accommodations for your guests while you and your partner enjoy staying in your treehouse and stay in up the sky!
Picking the Season for Your Treehouse Wedding
The season and region greatly influence the ambiance of your treehouse wedding, and choosing the right location can enhance the magic of the event.
Each season offers unique beauty and challenges, so it’s important to plan accordingly!
- In the spring, the Pacific Northwest is ideal with its lush greenery and blooming flora, creating a vibrant and romantic setting. The increased rain can be a challenge, so be prepared!
- Summer weddings in the Southeast offer hot weather, which creates verdant forests we love, AND, the humidity we don’t, lol. Even still, Summer is a great time perfect for an outdoor celebration.
- The Northeast shines in the fall with its breathtaking foliage, providing a dramatic and picturesque backdrop for your treehouse wedding photos. This gorgeous “leaf peeping” season is ALSO peak season in the Northeast, so plan ahead to ensure you get lodging you want, and, plan for weekdays to hopefully have fewer crowds no matter where you elope and adventure!
- For a winter wonderland experience, the Blue Ridge, Appalachian Mountains and surrounding foothills at elevation may grace you with snowy ground paired with cozy treehouses, creating a magical atmosphere for your special day. And, many roads around the famous Blue Ridge Parkway close in the winter for safety! So, check your target lodging and ceremony spots to ensure there are no seasonal closures impacting your access
There are so many combinations of locations and seasons and the good and the “bad” of each! So, what matters here is what you want to experience and what makes YOU feel most excited about your treehouse wedding experience.
Weather is always something to consider
Depending on where your treehouse elopement or wedding is located, and as we talked about above what season, the weather can be a real factor to consider on your experience.
Even if it is likely to be the most perfect weather, it is still worth it to think about a Plan B for how you would adapt your plans for less-ideal weather.
Case in point… I had rain at an elopement adventure in Death Valley National Park, the driest, hottest place in the US! Lol. Talk about ironic! So, to minimize risk that flash flooding in the slot canyon we’d picked could pose, I had to change our plans for adventure locations –but, Plan B on the salt flats turned out amaaaaaaazing!
SO… To that…
- RAIN or SNOW: Rain and snow can add a romantic touch to a ceremony and a cozy element to a full weekend, but it is important to find ways to keep people comfortable.
- Maybe an alternative location or a tent rental is something to consider.
- And, in many places rain/thunderstorms have STRONG daily cycles with it building all day to an afternoon storm–so, plan your event timing carefully with that in mind!
- TEMPERATURE: Think about the temperatures that could happen all day (high mid-day temps, cooler evenings, etc).
- Provide shade with umbrellas, canopies, or fans to cool off.
- Think about asking folks to wear appropriate clothing layers, packing blankets (or telling your crew to pack blankets), or using outdoor stand heaters or campfires to stay warm.
- WIND: Can be a paid actor in some locations, depending on the time of day! 😉
- So, talk to a local about any particular wind patterns or “windy season” where it’s typically even more breezy than normal. You may (or may not!) want that for your elopement wedding at the treehouse.
Transportation to Your Treehouse Wedding
Reaching the treehouse can be an adventure in itself, especially if the location is remote or challenging to access!
Planning transportation in advance ensures that all guests can arrive safely and comfortably, so it may win you big points with the crew if you arrange shuttles, carpool, or provide clear driving directions to the venue.
If the location requires off-road vehicles, consider renting them for the day or arranging a shuttle service. Driving dirt roads (especially bumpy ones!) isn’t something that many people have experience doing, so may be much more comfortable with a pro at the wheel.
Clear signage is essential to guide guests, especially those who may need extra help.
Use directional signs along the route where allowed to ensure guests can find their way without confusion. Providing a clear map to a pre-set pin, give detailed instructions via email, and sharing “tips for travel” or navigating mountain roads or other factors in advance can also help guests plan their journey and arrive on time.
AND, remind people to DOWNLOAD MAPS & DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS **BEFORE TRAVELING IN**.
Losing cell service when heading to a wedding at a treehouse is NOT uncommon, and a lost guest is a mad guest 😉
Adventure Awaits
I love SO many things of treehouse and glamping weddings, but my favorite part of a Treehouse Wedding? Hands down, the adventure possibilities at your fingertips.
Most treehouses are a bit tucked into the wild, meaning that they can tap into the most beautiful adventures. Your chosen adventures could include anything high adrenaline or gently calm that makes you feel alive.
It can be anything you can think of and should be everything that you want.
Here is a list of adventure elopement and adventure wedding activity ideas from some of my past clients:
- Rock Climbing
- Hiking
- Family Dance Party
- Campfires
- Boating (Jet boats & Pontooning!)
- Kayaking
- Helicopters
- Float planes
- Candle-lit bubble bath together
- Glacier Exploration
- Horseback Riding
- Picnics in the Wild
- Family reception & dinner
- Private Chef
- Game Night
- Nature Watching
- Mountain Biking
- Offroading
- Van-Lifing
- Waterfall Chasing
- ATVing
- Glamping
Your adventure can include your crew or be a solo exploration for you two.
The desire to to have a private, just us experience is what drives many eloping couples who choose to elope with just themselves. BUT, fun fact, it’s not just limited to you and your partner! This beautiful balance of experiences for you and for your crew can happen, even when they join you in your adventurous wedding, whether a treehouse, a glamping set up or somewhere else!
This is exactly why I always recommend my couples create a wedding experience instead of a single event, smushed into a single day.
When you have a wedding experience, you can create an itinerary that caters to you AND your guests without sacrificing the quiet time and amazing experiences just for you two, nor shortcutting the beauty of time with those you love most.
Your Journey to Planning Your Treehouse Wedding Begins!
Treehouse weddings offer an enchanting, one-of-a-kind experience for adventurous couples.
By planning around key details like guest capacity, structuring how/where/when guests participate, accessibility, weather factors, unique activities, and transportation, your celebration will perfectly capture your love story.
As an adventure elopement photographer, I’ll document every magical moment of your special day.
Ready to turn your dream treehouse wedding into reality?
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Let’s make it happen!
