Why Multi-Day Weddings Are Becoming the “It-Girl” of 2026 Wedding Ideas
If you’ve been on Pinterest or TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen wedding retreats popping up everywhere! Or maybe you’ve attended one and thought, “Wait… why doesn’t everyone do this?”
A 3-day wedding (also called a wedding retreat, weekend wedding, or multi-day wedding) gives you more time, more connection, and more room to actually experience your celebration instead of rushing through it.
This guide breaks down what a wedding retreat is, where to host one, what the weekend can look like, and most importantly: how to know if it’s right for you.
What is a Wedding Retreat?
There are a lot of phrases floating around: wedding retreat, wedding weekend itinerary, multi day wedding, 3 day wedding, weekend wedding ideas — but they all refer to the same concept:
A wedding retreat is an intentional, multi-day celebration centered around connection and experience.
It’s basically a weekend getaway with your favorite people, where the only goal is to celebrate your love, relax, and spend time together — without cramming everything into a single afternoon.
It’s slow, it’s meaningful, it’s memorable, and honestly? More importantly, it’s one of the best ways to make your wedding feel like you.
Where to Host Your Weekend Wedding Retreat?
Because multi-day weddings are so popular, many weekend wedding venues have started offering retreat-style packages. And if I could plan my own wedding again? I’d 100% choose a multi-day experience.
Wedding Retreat Venue Ideas
- Airbnbs & vacation rentals (perfect for cozy, intimate weekends)
- Hotels (great for out-of-town guests and easy logistics)
- Resorts (everything on-site = no transportation stress)
- Campgrounds & lodges (bonfires, cabins, nature time = perfection)
And if you love the idea of a Nantucket weekend wedding, this island was made for multi-day celebrations — walkable, scenic, and full of charming spots to gather.
How to Know if a Multi-Day Wedding Experience is for you?
While I’m a big believer that ANY couple can create a wedding retreat, here are a few questions to help you decide:
1. Do you value deep connection with your people?
Traditional weddings move FAST. A wedding retreat gives you room for slow mornings, coffee on the porch, beach walks, bonfires, yoga classes, golf outings — whatever sounds good to you two.
2. Do you want space for adventure?
Multi-day weddings work beautifully for:
- sunrise vows at Acadia
- slow getting-ready moments at an Iceland Airbnb
- late-night fire pit hangs
- a brewery afternoon or boat day the next day
You get to build an entire weekend around the things you love, not just one ceremony.
3. Do you prefer candid moments over posed portraits?
Even with my documentary-style approach, a one-day wedding has timeline limits.
With multiple days, I can capture the real stuff:
- your parents sharing quiet morning coffee
- you two teasing each other on the golf course
- friends belly laughing over board games
- your dog trotting around, living their best life
The unplanned moments become the best photographs.
4. Are you a memory hoarder? (Because same.)
A wedding retreat gives you an entire weekend of memories instead of six-ten hours of highlights. You’re not rushing. You’re not performing. And you’re fully present.
What a Wedding Retreat or Multi-Day Wedding Looks Like
Every wedding retreat looks a little different, but here’s a real example of what a relaxed, meaningful Nantucket weekend wedding can look like — simple, untraditional, and full of those in-between moments couples always say they want more of.
Day 1: Welcome Party + Dinner
Guests trickle in, drop their bags, and slip straight into weekend mode. You kick things off with a cozy welcome dinner — good food, easy conversation, zero pressure. This night sets the tone: calm, connected, and fully in celebration mode from the second people arrive.
Day 2 Morning: Yoga + Slow Start
Forget rushing straight into hair and makeup. This couple started their wedding day with a group yoga session — breathing, stretching, laughing, and grounding into the moment before the festivities began. A pre-wedding reset like this is one of the best parts of a multi-day wedding: you actually feel present.
Day 2 Afternoon & Evening: The Wedding Celebration
The main event, but without the traditional structure. Slow getting-ready moments, a small vow exchange, music, movement, a food truck dinner, guests coming and going, and the kind of candid moments that happen when no one feels on display. It felt more like the best backyard hang — just with vows in the middle.
Day 3: Brewery Hang + Goodbyes
Instead of the abrupt “everyone leaves now” ending that one-day weddings usually have, this retreat wrapped up with a casual day-after brewery stop. Pints, sunshine, dog-pets, a little storytelling from the night before — the perfect low-pressure way to spend time with your people before everyone heads home.
How to Make Your Weekend Wedding Memorable
I document my couples the way I do because the most meaningful photos are usually the ones you didn’t plan — the ones that weren’t on the Pinterest board.
The best way to build a memorable retreat?
- Plan for connection, not perfection.
- Plan for the feeling, not the shot list.
One question I ask every couple: “How do you want the weekend to feel?”
When you plan for the experience, the photos naturally become magic. Check out this blog for some non-traditional ideas to make your day special!
20 Weekend Wedding Activity Ideas
Choose activities that feel fun, genuine, and “you” — not forced.
- Blue Lagoon soaking (Iceland elopement fav)
- Yoga session
- Pickleball matchup
- Golf outing
- Wine tasting
- Hiking or sunrise walks
- Game night
- Kickball tournament
- 4×4 off-roading
- Baking contest
- Writing vows together
- Getting matching tattoos
- Helicopter ride
- Boat charter
- Kayaking
- Snorkeling
- Private chef dinner
- Cooking class
- Food crawl around your destination
- Dirty soda bar
These are the moments that bring your weekend to life.
Planning Tips for a Weekend Wedding Retreat
Once you’ve decided a wedding retreat is your vibe, the fun really begins. Multi-day weddings feel effortless when they’re thoughtfully planned — and these tips will help you create a weekend that’s relaxed, intentional, and easy for you and your guests.
1. Choose a location that supports connection
Whether you’re dreaming of a Nantucket weekend wedding, a cozy Airbnb in the Smokies, a resort on the beach, or a campground, choose a venue where guests can gather easily. Walkability, shared outdoor space, and nearby activities make all the difference during a 3-day wedding.
2. Build a simple, guest-friendly weekend wedding itinerary
You don’t need to plan every hour. Think: one anchor event per day. A welcome dinner, an activity (yoga, hike, beach, brewery), and the wedding itself are more than enough. Leave breathing room so everyone can enjoy the retreat pace.
3. Communicate clearly (and early!)
Because weekend wedding activities span multiple days, send out your itinerary a few weeks in advance. Include:
- Locations
- Timing
- Dress code (even “casual vibes” is helpful!)
- Transportation details
- Rain plan, if needed
Your guests will LOVE you for it.
4. Think about the flow, not the timeline
One of the biggest perks of multi day weddings is ditching the rushed feeling. Still — a loose structure helps the weekend unfold smoothly. Your photographer (hi!) can help build a weekend-friendly timeline that prioritizes light, connection, and the moments that matter.
P.s. I have a blog all about creating an intentional wedding day timeline here.
5. Add one “experience” that feels like you
Pick one thing that represents your relationship — this is where wedding retreats shine. Yoga, golf, a brewery hang, a boat ride, a morning walk, a private chef dinner… Choose something that feels playful and memorable, not performative.
6. Keep the wedding day itself simple
If your weekend includes welcome events and day-after hangs, your actual wedding day can stay wonderfully chill. You don’t need a packed timeline. You need space to breathe, connect, and enjoy.
7. Prep your vendors for a multi-day experience
Not every vendor offers weekend coverage, so confirm availability early. For photography, weekend coverage ensures your whole story gets documented — not just the few hours that happen to fall on a Saturday.
8. Plan for weather flexibility
Especially for destination spots like Nantucket. Have backup options for welcome dinners, outdoor yoga, or day-after activities. Wedding retreats aren’t about perfection, they’re about flow.
I wrote a blog all about what to do when it rains on your wedding day!
9. Prioritize comfort for you + your guests
Extra snacks, water stations, welcome bags, and transportation help your people relax into the weekend. Comfortable guests = relaxed, happy photos.
10. Remember: this is YOUR retreat
The whole point of a wedding retreat is to build a weekend around what you two value — not what the industry says your wedding “should” look like. If it feels good? It’s perfect.If you read this and thought “yep, this is exactly what we want,” then we’re probably a perfect match. I’m all about documenting the full experience — the welcome hugs, the quiet mornings, the brewery hangs, and everything in between. Reach out here, and let’s create a wedding weekend you’ll want to relive forever.
