How to Plan an Elopement Ceremony

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Every woman dreams of having a fairy tale wedding. You have your colors picked out, the song you’re going to walk down the aisle to, and your bridesmaids. But not every woman visions this as her dream. This blog post will share how my husband and I planned our elopement ceremony without the added stress.

When my husband proposed to me in November 2020, I knew we wouldn’t have a huge wedding, and I also knew I didn’t want to have a courthouse ceremony either. The wonderful thing about marrying your best friend is that you agree on so much. He was down for having an elopement ceremony when I brought the idea to him!

If you’ve ever thought about eloping, this is your blog post. Let’s face it, the cost of a traditional wedding can be rather expensive. If you don’t want the extra expenses or stress that a conventional wedding can bring, eloping could be a better option for you. When most people think of eloping, they think of Las Vegas, but truly Las Vegas isn’t the only route you can take. For me, I still wanted the bell and whistles like a lovely venue, photos, and the intimacy that a wedding could offer just without the extra stress. Before we get down to what to wear, location, and those Instagram pictures, let’s tackle the necessities.

Legal

Marriage License- Before you can have a ceremony, even if you’re eloping, you must apply for a marriage license. This is the most crucial step when it comes to your marriage. Keep in mind that some states require that you complete your marriage license before your ceremony in a specific time frame. Our state’s requirement was straightforward. Remember that every state is different, so check your state and county requirements first.

Witness– Each state and county has different requirements, so double check to see if a witness or witnesses are required before you say “I do.” We live in a state where we didn’t need witnesses.

Officiant-It’s vital that the officiant performing your elopement is ordained to perform wedding ceremonies.

Legal documentation– You may need to show legal documents where you perform your ceremony, such as birth certificates, blood tests, previous divorce decrees, etc. Just be sure to have those documents handy.

Elopement Ceremony Location

Your choice of location is totally up to you. It could be a symbolic location to you and your fiance, like where you guys met, where he proposed, or even a romantic place. When choosing what season you will elope, select a season you love. Research the best months, average temperature, and, most importantly, whether the month of your choice is during the rainy seasons. Although my husband and I eloped in May, the weather was pleasantly friendly. My husband and I married in front of an old bed and breakfast venue. We stopped in one day and asked the new owners if we could perform our elopement there, and they said yes, at no charge to us!

Guest or No Guest

Here’s where it gets tricky. When planning your elopement ceremony, inviting others is totally up to you. In the past, choosing to elope was quickly done, and most people would secretly run off to get married and announce it once they’ve returned from their destination. Times have changed. You can invite your family and friends closest to you to your elopement ceremony, or you can do what we did and invite no one. My husband and I opted not to invite our family and friends to our elopement ceremony because we didn’t want to choose between people. It was easier for us this way, and we wanted to keep things as simple and stress-free as possible.

The Elopement Ceremony Planning

We didn’t have to worry about transportation accommodations because we didn’t travel far for our ceremony. Having an elopement ceremony is an easy way to avoid the expense that a real wedding would cost and eliminate those expenses that aren’t necessarily needed. If you’re choosing to elope in another state, this might be something that you would need to research. Is your destination drivable for you? Would you have to book a flight? Planning those expenses far in advance is an excellent way to avoid frustration or regrets if you’re looking into traveling for your elopement ceremony.

Vows– Do what feels suitable for you and your partner when it comes to vows. You can either write your vows or go the traditional route and recite the traditional vows with the officiant. No matter what you and your partner decide to do, it is perfectly normal for either option.

Wedding rings– Of course, this is a no-brainer, but you don’t necessarily need rings to elope! If your budget is tight, you can still elope without having rings, and you can always get the wedding rings of your choice at a later time.

Photographer for your Elopement Ceremony

Who doesn’t want lasting memories when they’re planning their elopement ceremony? For us, this was something that I wanted us to do independently because a.) we didn’t want to spend extra money, and b.) I knew I could do it since I take most of my blogging photos.

But maybe this isn’t you. If not, you should hire a photographer to capture your memories, whether it’s just the two of you. If you’re eloping within your city, check out local photographers through Instagram, Facebook, or word of mouth. Be sure to look on their website for testimonials and if they specialize in elopement ceremonies.

If you’re tight on money, you could ask a friend or a close family member to take your photos. Don’t forget you can use your iPhone to capture great photos.

Download my free guide-How to Take Stunning Photos Using Your iPhone.

Elopement Attire

Believe it or not, you can still have the wedding dress of your dreams even if you are eloping. Or if you want to keep it simple, you completely can! There are many websites where you can find inspired bridal gowns or special occasion evening wear. You don’t have to break the bank in this area. I’ve always wanted a mermaid-style dress and found the perfect one without the high price tag. The key to making your elopement attire perfect is coordinating. Coordinating with your groom or having your groom coordinate with you will significantly elevate your pictures.

If you need inspiration, Pinterest is an excellent source for finding inspiration. You can create a secret board to add all the amazing inspirational photos you see. Trust me; you will need those inspirations when planning your elopement.

Shop The Elopement Essentials

Elopement Beauty & Accessories

Because I’ve been doing my hair and makeup for a long time, I could skip this expense and do it myself. Some brides may want to spend a little extra on pampering themselves, which is perfectly fine. But if you’re going to cut costs and have a little hidden talent, you can tackle this task independently. When it comes to wearing the proper shoes, you must wear something that you can quickly move around in. Please don’t compromise your style for comfort. If you’re traveling for your elopement, be sure that you wear the proper shoes to and from your destination.

After the Elopement

If you’ve decided not to have a party or dinner to announce your elopement, you will likely need to make a few important phone calls. My husband and I called our parents, siblings, and closest friends the same day. We waited a month after getting married when it came down to announcing our elopement to others. Do what makes you feel comfortable. Remember, this is all about you and your partner.

Honeymoon– Because we didn’t spend a lot of money upfront, we wanted to celebrate our marriage with a quick getaway. If you’re not already traveling for your elopement, choosing to celebrate your honeymoon in your area or a nearby area is a great way to seal your ceremony.

Our Elopement Final Cost

Our elopement ceremony cost us $849, including a 2-night local weekend honeymoon stay. If I had to do it all over again, I would still elope! Choosing to elope was the best decision for both my husband and me, and it was an intimate moment that we will cherish forever.

Here is the breakdown:

• Marriage license $37
• Officiant $50
• Ceremony dress $35
• Hair accessory $21
• Flower bouquet $47
• Groom’s suit $247
• Groom’s shoes $60
• Honeymoon weekend getaway $352

Conclusion

How you plan your elopement ceremony is up to you. Don’t let the stress of a traditional ceremony keep you from having a ceremony that you and your spouse can enjoy. I would love to hear your thoughts on eloping. Would you ever go this route? Let me know your thoughts.

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