Photos of small,
semi-luxury weddings and elopements
for couples that love
to travel.
If you’re like a lot of other couples these days, maybe you and your partner are asking each other…”should we elope?” And I can’t blame ya! This past year, more and more couples have turned to elopements as a ‘Plan B’ to their bigger weddings that couldn’t happen because of the pandemic. But I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard couples say Covid gave them the perfect excuse – that they never wanted a traditional wedding anyway.
To help you decide if eloping is right for you, I asked couples who have already eloped what they wish they knew before eloping, and here’s what they said:
- It’s okay to elope just the two of you
- …But it’s also okay to invite people!
- You may still get a lil stressed
- Elopements aren’t necessarily “cheap”
- You might wanna splurge on video
- Dare to dream big
- The day goes by fast
- Perfect doesn’t mean flawless
It’s okay to elope with just the two of you
Maybe you’re thinking, “will an elopement feel special?” With all the pomp and circumstance surrounding traditional weddings, I think that’s a fair question. Whether there’s family drama, or you’re super introverted, or you two just want an intimate elopement experience, eloping just the two of you will still be special (I mean, it’s not everyday you get married to your best friend!). If you follow your heart and create a wedding day that makes you happy and reflects your relationship, the day will be incredible.
In an ideal world, all your loved ones would support and understand your decision to elope. But let’s be real – that’s not always the case. It’s tough if a loved one is offended by your choice – the guilt is real. But think of it this way: someone is going to end up hurt/disappointed no matter what. Why should that be you + your partner on your freakin’ wedding day?? From my experience, after you show your loved ones the photos from the elopement day and they see the smiles on your faces, they’ll change their tune and begin to understand.
Sure, you can acknowledge that your decision may not be what your families want or expect, but your wedding day isn’t about pleasing other people.
…But it’s also okay to invite people!
On the other hand: YES, you can invite your loved ones to your elopement! It may sound counterintuitive, but eloping is all about doing what you want instead of just what’s expected of you. So if you want to invite parents, bffs, dogs – do it! (Especially the doggos pls). I still recommend carving out some time during the day to spend alone, just the two of you, but having loved ones join you for the ceremony or a nice meal afterwards is a good way to have the best of both worlds (wedding + elopement worlds, that is)
You may still get a lile stressed
Deciding to elope isn’t magic. There are still details to sort through and things to plan (like getting a marriage license and that kinda ~legal~ stuff). But it is way less logistics to manage than throwing a 200 person party at 3 locations with 6 appetizers and buying gifts for your giant wedding party and – okay, I think you get the idea (I’m tired just thinking about it!). So yes, elopements still require some planning. But no worries – I’m here to help you every step of the way. Think of me as your elopement fairy godmother ✨
Elopements aren’t necessarily “cheap”
Can they be? For sure. But most couples don’t elope solely to save some dough – they’d just rather spend money on an amazing experience instead of a traditional wedding. I’m not saying that most elopements are $30,000 (which is the average for weddings – whaaa?!), but it’s not uncommon for couples to spend upwards of $10,000 for their elopement experience. But when that includes plane tickets to a bucket-list location, a super cute Airbnb with a view, a bomb-ass dinner for two by a personal chef, a wedding ceremony AND photos that capture all the feels from the day…sounds like money well spent to me.
Splurge on video
On that note…couples who booked a videographer say they are glad they did – and some of the ones that didn’t which they had. The downside is that it’s more money and another person for your elopement. The plus-side is that you get a video that you can share with all your friends and family who didn’t join you in person on your elopement day. And of course, for you two to relive the day over and over (and over) again
>>>> But if you’re not feelin’ a videographer, no worries, I gottchu. I include a photo slideshow set to fun music that you can cherish forever and share with friends + fam ✨
Dare to dream big
Think of it this way: when you choose to elope, you get to is choose the kind of wedding you want to have. There are no rules here! Maybe you want to invite your closest friends and rent a houseboat in Lake Powell. Or maybe you want to book it to Thailand or Italy and rent a secluded Airbnb, just you two. Orrr maybe you really want to get away from it all, so you decide to exchange vows in the backcountry at sunrise. You get the idea. Your elopement can be whatever you want it to be, so dare to dream big.
The day goes by fast
You know what they say – time flies when you’re having fun! Even though you’re not rushing from place to place or making small talk with your mom’s third cousin, the day goes by fast. A fun trick is to do what Jim + Pam did on their wedding day (any Office lovers out there?!) – take mental ‘snapshots’ from the day to really remember the feeling from that moment. Of course, I’ll be there to capture the actual snapshots, but it’s a fun way to be more present during the day. I also recommend including time to relax when creating your timeline for the day (and if we work together, I already do that part for you!)
Perfect doesn’t mean flawless
Maybe it rains. Maybe you forgot your vow book at home. No biggieeee! At the end of the day, if you choose an elopement experience that’s meaningful to you, you’ll look back on the day and think about how you felt when you married your best friend. And I bet that’ll bring a giant smile across your face.
So…should you elope?!
I’ll be honest – elopements aren’t the right choice for every couple. BUT – I do think they’re the right choice for most couples. And I hope after reading the tips above, you’re able to decide if it’s the choice for you. But really – how can you go wrong with creating a day that’s alllll about you two?!
If you want to start planning your dream elopement, I’m here to help every step of the way. Contact me to schedule a call, and I’ll guide you through my simple process of how I create an elopement experience you’ll never forget ✨
