If I Eloped Again Today, I'd Choose Wellness, Ritual, and Presence

If I Eloped Again Today: Wellness, Ritual, and Presence

When I eloped in 2013, before adventure eloping was even a trend, it was a whirlwind of sunshine, salt water, and adrenaline. We flew to St. Croix with seven friends and built our own island-passport itinerary. Our days were packed with sunrise yoga, off-roading in Jeeps, hiking to Annaly Tide Pools, and sailing to uninhabited islands. Every moment was full and fast. It felt like bliss—wild, free, and full of camaraderie. It was so us.

However, if I were to do it again, perhaps as a vow renewal or a soul-resetting escape, I’d choose a different pace.

This time, I’d create a wellness elopement centered around slow travel, quiet luxury, and deep connection. Instead of momentum, I’d prioritize mindfulness. Instead of rushing through a packed itinerary, I’d anchor into each experience with intention and presence.Perhaps I’d invite the same people. Or maybe it would just be the two of us.

Either way, I envision slow mornings with grounding practices, sunrise sound baths, and rooftop red-light sessions. Days would be filled with long outdoor spa rituals, ocean plunges, and journaling under swaying palms. Evenings would end with private chef dinners and stargazing in silence.Ultimately, it would be a celebration wrapped in calm, curated with care, a wellness elopement designed not just to mark a moment, but to nourish it deeply.

Here are a few places I’d consider for that kind of magic:

Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula — Blue Zone Bliss

A place where longevity is the lifestyle. Imagine eucalyptus steam sessions in jungle-wrapped spas, private villas with cold-plunge pools, and cacao ceremonies at sunset. Spend mornings in sound healing, afternoons in ocean waves, evenings soaking in natural hot pools.

Unique Wellness Moments

Forest-bathing in primary rainforest
Cold plunge + breath work in a jungle studio
Volcanic clay body treatments on the beach

Want to explore some “unique stays” in this exact location? Check out this blog by Atlas + Wild.

Sedona, Arizona — Red Rock Energy + Desert Ritual

Sedona feels ancient — a place where time stretches and breath feels deeper. Think vortex hikes at sunrise, sound baths in red-rock caves, stargazing retreats, and infrared-sauna evenings with friends in your private casita.

Unique Wellness Moments

Chakra-aligned yoga among the red rocks
Celebratory vow circle at Cathedral Rock
Private gemstone-infused spa treatments

Learn more about where to stay in Sedona. Click here.

Ubud, Bali — Balinese Blessings & Jungle Luxury

Bali is softness and ceremony. Incense drifting through palm-filled temples, flower baths, sunrise rice-terrace walks, and dips in jungle pools. A week here becomes a devotional practice.

Unique Wellness Moments

Balinese water blessing ceremony
Sound baths in bamboo wellness domes
Flower-petal bath + herbal scrubs in open-air spa suites

Check out an amazing place to stay in Ubud.

Iceland — Thermal Waters & Elemental Healing

A wellness elopement in Iceland is for those who crave quiet, mist, and earth-born energy. Instead of chasing every waterfall, slow down and soak — literally.

Unique Wellness Moments

Geothermal spa circuit across the island
Cold-plunge in glacial springs
Firelight vows beside steaming earth vents

I’ve got the most perfect place for you to stay in Iceland. It’s so romantic!

Tulum, Mexico — Ancient Healing Meets Ocean Calm

Tulum has evolved — seek the quieter, boutique wellness sanctuaries instead of the party scene. Expect deep breathwork, raw-food dinners, jungle-temple ceremonies, and ocean-view saunas.

Unique Wellness Moments

Temazcal (Mayan steam ceremony)
Private sound healing under palms
Sunrise meditation on soft white sands

Take a peak at a boutique wellness sanctuary here.

Big Island, Hawaii — Lava, Light & Ocean Rebirth

Hawaii holds a spiritual frequency unlike anywhere else. It’s about renewal — literally on land shaped by fire and cooled by ocean.

Unique Wellness Moments

Private lomi-lomi massages in open-air hale
Ocean-plunge mornings and volcano sauna afternoons
Stargazing on Mauna Kea

What type of stay would you pair with this type of wellness stay?

Wellness Elopement “Passport” Ideas

Instead of adventure challenges, think inner adventure rituals:

Sunrise breathwork
Cold plunge + sauna rotation
Rooftop red-light session
Spa day + mineral soak
Sound bath + journaling circle
Private chef dinner with farm-to-table ingredients
Slow hike + floating meditation poolside
Candlelit vow renewal in nature

Less rush, more ritual. Less itinerary, more intention.

Final Thought

Eloping the first time was movement, laughter, sunshine, and saltwater. It was wild and unforgettable. However, if I created a wellness elopement today, it would still hold joy and exploration—but with space wrapped around every moment.

Rather than rushing from one adventure to the next, I’d create room to breathe, to savor, and to be fully present. A wellness elopement invites you to pause, tune in, and celebrate your partnership with deep intention. It’s not just about where you go, but how you arrive in each moment—together.

For some couples, that celebration means chasing waterfalls. For others, it means holding hands in silence beneath a canopy of stars. Either way, a wellness elopement gives you permission to rewrite the rules and honor your love story in the way it deserves—through ritual, through presence, and through soul-level connection.