7 Reasons to Elope and How to Make an Elopement Special, Magical, and Everything in Between
When you think of eloping, do you picture a shotgun wedding at a cheesy Las Vegas chapel? More and more couples are breaking away from traditional wedding norms when they realize the many benefits of eloping. But they don’t do it in the last-minute way you see in old movies. Elopements nowadays are truly something special, from the location to the intimacy to the stunning images of sweet moments shared between two people madly in love. As an elopement photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing many of these occasions and know how to make an elopement special with little details that shine. Keep reading to learn about the reasons to elope and how to ensure your big day is unforgettable (no matter how small your wedding is).
7 Reasons to Elope (and How to Make an Elopement Special)
While elopements may have lacked the grandeur of a conventional wedding in the past, couples are realizing the unique charm, intimacy, and adventure these celebrations offer. Here are seven benefits of eloping that make couples everywhere want to skip the traditional ceremony and sneak away to say “I do.”
1. Simplicity
Elopements take the complicated planning and logistics out of the wedding equation, allowing you to focus on what really matters: your love for each other. For instance, you won't have to worry about seating charts, catering menus, or decorations. Instead, you can spend your energy on personalizing your vows or choosing the perfect secluded spot to say “I do.” You also avoid the stress of trying to please everyone with your wedding decisions. It's a day that's entirely about you and your partner.
How to Make It Special: An elopement offers a blank canvas to design a dream day that’s as simple or elaborate as you want. One of the benefits of eloping is getting to choose where you spend your time, energy, and money. For example, maybe you still want a stunning ball gown–go for it! Or maybe you want some decorations, like a picnic set up for your “reception”–love it! Or perhaps you’ve always liked the cake-cutting tradition and want it part of your elopement–get a cake! Go simple in some areas. Go crazy where it matters most to you.
2. Cost-Effective
Traditional weddings can be incredibly expensive. When you elope, you're able to cut out many of the significant costs associated with a big wedding, like venue rental, catering for hundreds, and elaborate floral arrangements. Many couples choose to reallocate the money they’d typically spend on a big wedding to splurge on a dream honeymoon, put a down payment on a house, or even start a nest egg for the future. Starting your marriage without financial stress can be a great gift to each other, and an elopement makes that possible.
How to Make It Special: The average cost of a wedding is $30,000. The average cost of an elopement is $5,000. That means you have approximately $25,000 “leftover” to do with whatever you want. Take a moment on your wedding day to dream about how you want to use that money as you start your new life together.
3. Intimacy
Eloping allows for a deeply personal and intimate ceremony. With only the two of you (and perhaps an elopement photographer and officiant), you can truly be in the moment. For example, you can share private vows or incorporate unique rituals that might feel too non-traditional for a larger audience. The day becomes solely about celebrating your love, not about putting on a show for others.
How to Make It Special: When it comes to how to make an elopement special, there are no rules! If you want an intimate celebration and a few of your friends or family members there, that’s totally fine! While this technically would turn it into a “micro wedding,” there’s no need to get caught up on titles as long as it’s exactly what you want.
4. Flexibility
When you elope, you're not tied to tradition or expectations. You can get married anywhere, anytime. Want to exchange vows on a mountaintop at sunrise? Or maybe you'd prefer a quiet beach ceremony at sunset? The world is your oyster. This flexibility also extends to when you want to get married–you don't have to plan years or even months in advance.
How to Make It Special: While an elopement does enable you to get married on a whim, you can also take time to plan the entire day to ensure it’s perfect. That’s what elopement planners are for–wedding planners but for intimate celebrations. Working with an elopement planner or choosing an elopement package (with the picnic reception, “Just Eloped” sign, small cake, and champagne toast included) can make it extra special.
5. Adventure
Eloping often involves an element of adventure. Whether traveling to a different country, hiking to a remote location, or simply exploring a new city together, there's an exciting journey attached to the event. For example, if you both love nature, you could plan an elopement in a national park, turning your wedding day into an adventurous outdoor excursion.
How to Make It Special: Choose to elope somewhere that holds significant meaning to you and your fiancé, like where you first met, had your first kiss, or got engaged. Or in your parents’ or grandparents’ backyard. Or in a stunning Airbnb in your favorite city. Or at your favorite park. Or on a paddleboard in the middle of your favorite lake. Seriously, the options are endless.
6. Less Stress
A traditional wedding can come with a lot of stress and pressure, from planning to execution. When you elope, you remove a lot of this stress. You don't need to worry about pleasing everyone, coordinating vendors, or managing a large event. This means you can truly enjoy your day and focus on the joy of your commitment to each other.
How to Make It Special: With less stress, you can be more creative with your elopement day. Take time to add special touches that otherwise would have gotten lost in the hustle and bustle of preparing for a large wedding, like writing letters to each other to read before the “ceremony.”
7. Authenticity
Lastly, one of the reasons to elope is to have a wedding that truly reflects you as a couple. You can design a day that feels authentic to your shared interests and values without the pressure to conform to certain traditions or expectations. For example, if you both are passionate about art, you could elope in a beautiful museum or gallery. If you love books, why not elope in a charming old library? The options are endless and entirely up to you.
How to Make It Special: Think about what a perfect day looks like to you and your fiancé. Then turn that perfect day into your wedding day. Whether starting the day with breakfast at your favorite spot or hiking 12 miles down your favorite trail for stunning elopement photos, go for it.
Elopement FAQs
Should I Elope?
Deciding to elope is totally up to you and your partner. If you're all about keeping things low-key, saving some cash, and avoiding the big wedding hullabaloo, then eloping could be just your thing. But if having your family and friends around to share in your joy is super important to you, you might want to think twice. It's all about what feels right for you two. As you just read, there are many reasons to elope, but there are also reasons to go traditional. So grab a cup of coffee, sit down with your partner, and have an open and honest conversation about your desires for your wedding day to decide what feels good to both of you.
Can You Elope and Have a Wedding Later?
Absolutely, you can! Eloping now and throwing a party later is becoming quite a trend. If you two are itching to get hitched ASAP without all the fuss, go ahead and elope. You can always throw a big bash later when it suits you better–maybe when you have extra funds or more time to plan. It's your love story, so feel free to write it however you want.
Who Officiates an Elopement?
For your elopement to be legal and binding, you'll need someone legally able to officiate a wedding in your area. This could be a justice of the peace, a judge, a pastor, or even a friend or family member who's been ordained online! If you really want your wedding to be just the two of you, have the photographer be the witness and get your officiant on FaceTime! (Yes, you can really do this–this scenario happened at one of my favorite elopements I photographed!)
How Much Does Elopement Photography Cost?
You already know the answer to this question… it depends. Every elopement photographer is different. But… here's the scoop on my services:
My elopement photography packages are a sweet deal. Not only do you get coverage of your elopement day and some stunning day-of portraits, but I'll also throw in a beautifully styled and professionally edited engagement session. Once all the magic is captured, I'll handpick the best shots, give them a pro edit, and pop them into an online gallery just for you. You can download them super easily, share the love with family and friends, and even buy prints, albums, and photo books. The whole package starts at $1,800.
Need an Elopement Photographer in Los Angeles (or Anywhere Else)?
Whether you're saying “I do” amidst the glitz and glamor of the City of Angels or exchanging vows under a palm tree in some exotic locale, I'd be absolutely thrilled to capture these precious moments for you. As your elopement photographer, I promise to make your memories tangible–freezing those fleeting moments into stunning images you can cherish forever. So let's embark on this exciting journey together, creating a visual story of your love that's as unique and beautiful as you are. Get in touch today!
