Photos of small,
semi-luxury weddings and elopements
for couples that love
to travel.
So you’re stoked on just getting engaged, but maybe you’re a little overwhelmed at where to begin this whole ~wedding planning~ thing. Because you clicked on this article about alternatives to a big wedding, you’ve probably already figured out that throwing a party for 250+ people is not your journey. But isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? If you don’t want that, where does that leave you?
First things first is deciding what kind of wedding you want…and then keeping that in mind throughout the whole process. I know, I know. Is it a hot take to prioritize what you want when it comes to your wedding??
Here at Wild Aisle – that’s what it’s all about: dreaming up your true ✨ best day ever✨ and then making it happen.
If you’re still on the fence about maybe having a big wedding, here’s some cold hard data that might help you make your decision.
Facts about traditional weddings
- In 2021, the average wedding cost ranged between $29,000 and $31,000 (Capital Counselor)
- The largest wedding expense is typically the venue and good, which averages over $13,000 (Capital Counselor)
- The average wedding produces 400 pounds of trash and 63 tons of carbon dioxide (Chicago Tribune)
- The average guest count is 131 people (The Knot)
- Organizing a reception typically involves more than 15 vendors. (Capital Counselor)
- Members of a wedding party spend an average of $851 (Business Insider)
So whether you’re looking to not break the bank, help out Mother Natch a little bit, the idea of planning a big wedding makes your anxiety at an all-time high, or the uncertainty of the Panoramic is too much to handle…trust me when I say there are so many other amazing ways to get married and celebrate your marriage.
If spending a gazillion dollars to throw a party for 200 of your closest friends, family, and your parent’s second cousins, doesn’t excite you in the slightest, keep reading for some fun alternatives.
Alternatives to a big wedding
Small wedding
Small wedding, microwedding, minimony…whatever you want to call a small gathering of your nearest and dearest people – like the true nearest and dearest, besties for the resties…let go of feeling obligated to invite people to your big day!
Can we invite some people to our elopement? I get this question all the time. Let me set the record straight: YES!
If there are people you can’t imagine saying ‘I do’ without – bring ‘em with!
There is no hard and fast rule about how many people are “allowed” at an elopement. Wanting to invite a handful of guests doesn’t “disqualify” you from having an elopement. Here’s the deal: you can invite the people you want to invite, and don’t invite the people you don’t want to invite.
Just-us elopement
To be fair, not feeling obligated to invite people (whether it’s family or friends) to your wedding day can be easier said than done. Sometimes it’s easier to go the ‘no one is invited’ route if inviting a handful of people is a slippery slope.
Having a ‘just us’ elopement means you get to focus on the things that will make the two of you most happy – whether it’s hiking up a mountain at sunrise, a dinner reservation at the bougiest restaurant in town, or a picnic on the beach with the charcuterie board of your dreams.
Check out this post for some ideas about fun things to do after your just-us elopement.
Elopement/honeymoon combo
On that note, when you don’t have to worry about people attending, why not have your wedding and honeymoon at the same time!? Whether that’s an international destination that’s been on your bucket list for years (hello, eloping in Italy!) or an epic road trip across the PNW – there’s something about starting your marriage off on an adventure that makes it all the more exciting.
Post-elopement reception (Happy ever after party)
What if you decide to elope just the two of you, but you also want a party to celebrate?! That’s where a Happy Ever After Party (yes it’s cheesy, but cute) comes in! You can still opt to host a reception, get-together, nice dinner, backyard barbeque, whatever suits your fancy, to celebrate with family and friends. Talk about the best of both worlds.
At the end of the day – a wedding is all about two people getting married and starting their lives together. My biggest advice is: do what makes you happy. If there was no one standing in your way, no limits on what you could do – how would you get married?
That’s the first step: dreaming up your best day ever. Dream big – no filter. What does that look like?
If you’re ready to take a step toward making your dream day a reality – I’m here to help! Check out my elopement packages or these helpful planning guides:
