Your How-to Guide For Eloping On A Budget

If there is one thing we have learned in our time here in the wedding industry, it is that weddings are personal and no two wedding days are the same, even though they might all look the same on Pinterest boards and google searches. The truth is that every couple has different expectations on wedding days, which is why we get to witness weddings of a wide variety of moods. While some couples like to go traditional with their ceremony and have dinner and dance in a ballroom, all decorated with timeless touches; there are couples who decide to get married on a Wednesday morning and host a brunch in the corner cafe on their way back from the city hall, surrounded by all of 12 guests! It can be an elopement, a virtual ceremony, a minimony, or an anniversary reception. A wedding is a wedding and the enormity of the institution is never discounted or validated by your choice of celebration. As long as it makes sense to you, it will still be the greatest day of your life! 

Why Do Couples Elope?

Eloping is traditionally known for getting married away from friends and family. Eloping is defined as "to run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental authorization" in the classical sense, although nowadays, it typically refers to couples who only desire a private wedding ceremony. Before they elope, couples may or may not inform their family and friends. Elopers frequently forgo the reception in favor of a simple wedding ceremony. If you are a couple who don't like huge wedding celebrations, or maybe you and your partner are the kinds of people who are always up for an unusual adventure, elopement has your name written all over it. Perhaps you're attempting to save money for a new life together and have just realized that your upcoming beach trip could serve as both your wedding and your honeymoon. Many couples are choosing to forgo tradition in favor of a quick and simple elopement for a variety of reasons.

Budget for Elopement

Establishing a budget for your elopement is the first thing I advise. And after that, make a budget spreadsheet with three columns comprising the items or services, projected expenses, and actual costs. By doing this, you can stay on schedule and keep track of how much money you have left and have already spent. Elopements are typically less expensive than weddings, but costs still need to be paid, and they can quickly mount. Here are some costs you might want to factor in:

Legal records (e.g., marriage license)
Paper goods (e.g., elopement announcements)
Vendors (e.g., officiant, photographer, hair and makeup artist, wedding planner)
Wedding dress
Wedding bands
Wedding cake
Wedding bouquet
Rentals like a floral-decorated wedding arch
Celebrate your marriage with some bubbly
Post-ceremony brunch, lunch, or dinner
Small, informal celebration for your friends and family following your elopement

In the event of a destination elopement, you may need to factor in the costs of travel, lodging, local transportation, immunizations, passport renewal, and visas. Look at the checklist and decide what matters most to you both. Would you prefer to get married in a designer gown, dine at a five-star establishment, or spend your money on pricey floral arrangements? The first step to saving money while still having a beautiful elopement is to know how much money you have and what you want to spend it on most.

Decide On A Date

You don't have to worry about guests, which is one benefit of eloping. Finding a date is thus frequently more simple, among other things. I advise getting married during the week, if at all possible, as venues and suppliers frequently charge significantly less for their services from Monday through Thursday.

Caterers and Decor

If you only remember this one piece of advice when planning your elopement, it is to go local! Employ local suppliers, consume regional cuisine, and make your wedding bouquet out of regional and seasonal flowers! There is no need to spend a lot of money on decorations since elopements frequently take place in picturesque settings such as the beach, woods, or on top of mountains, which can really save you a little fortune! ⠀⠀

Vendors

We urge you to hire vendors even if you wish to save money, especially a wedding planner and photographer. Needless to say, you will cherish your wedding photos for the rest of your lives. Additionally, hiring a wedding coordinator will help you save even more cash. They can secure exceptionally low costs for you thanks to their wide vendor connections. One of the most pervasive elopement fallacies is that preparations are quite easy. But keep in mind that you still need to take care of the paperwork and find an officiant, even for a small wedding. You might have certain requirements for your wedding, such as a cake, a photographer, a bouquet, stunning decorations, or even a theme or color scheme. A wedding planner takes care of all the small details, ensuring that your dream elopement is stress-free and within your means.

Elopement Packages

Your wedding planning is even easier with elopement packages. They typically contain services like planning costs, photography coverage, a wedding officiant, a wedding bouquet, and a small cake, depending on who provides the package, such as a venue or a planner. The main benefit of an elopement package is that there are no unpleasant surprises about the expense of your wedding. 

How to Elope

Once you've decided to elope, and have made all the necessary decisions, here is what you need to do. 

Legal steps: Talk to someone about the license and how long it takes. A meeting at city hall might be in order. Are witnesses necessary, and if so, make sure you think about informing your witnesses well in advance. If you want your elopement to go off without a hitch, you should be asking yourself these questions. Unless a friend is ordained and can perform your religious service it is also advised that you potentially reserve an officiant, check to see if you need a witness, and consider any waiting periods to receive your marriage license. Having these legal practicalities out of the way will be a huge relief and will ensure everything goes smoothly.

Plan your trip in advance: To save money and reduce stress, do this as far in advance as you can. Although it is not required that your elopement take place in a remote exotic location, it is something to consider. Couples can consider eloping to a location with special meaning for them both. Whether it is Tulum, Mexico, or Santorini Island in Greece, plan your trip and the vendors in that location well in advance.

Arrange the ceremonies: Work out the ceremony details. What will you wear? Will you exchange vows? Do you want a bouquet? Even though you won't be getting married in the traditional sense, you'll still want your much-anticipated elopement moment to be memorable. Elopements are a perfect excuse to break tradition and wear something that would be considered more streetwear chic. Instead of wearing long gowns, think about wearing tea-length dresses in bright colors or patterns. The alternatives are endless, from pantsuits or jumpsuits in place of a dress to a birdcage veil instead of a long, flowing one.

Host a post-elopement celebration: Perhaps this entails a private celebration for just the two of you or a lavish gathering with friends and family or a hybrid of the two. After saying "I do," we recommend renting out a private room in a restaurant" to celebrate with your nearest and dearest. As an alternative, you could always postpone the celebration. One-year anniversary celebrations are a wonderful opportunity to organize an occasion that resembles a wedding reception without having to deal with the hassle of planning a complete wedding, they say. To let guests know you've already signed the marriage license and that they won't be witnessing your vows, change the wording of your invites accordingly.

Break the news: Tell everyone the exciting news once you've gotten married. After eloping, submit an official marriage announcement to the local paper and have cards produced with a picture and the happy news to share with everyone. Plan a dinner party and tell everyone there about your decision to elope after you've already done so. You might include a photo of the two of you from your big day in your announcement. If you have kids, think of a thoughtful approach to incorporating them.

Elopement Don'ts to Remember

Don't ignore the legal requirements

Can’t wait to run away with your lover? Remember to first stop by the city hall in your neighborhood. Check off everything on the legal to-do list. To get married legally in the United States, you still need an officiant and a witness. Don't forget to get your marriage certificate at home before you go because several nations have various residency requirements in order to get married there. Knowing each state's legal criteria is important because marriage laws differ from state to state, especially if you're planning a cross-country elopement. Alternatively, there is a guide for those requirements if you are eloping abroad.

Don't be afraid to request special pricing from vendors.

Most providers will provide special discounts or à la carte pricing for elopements due to the lower scale and shorter time commitments. Don't be afraid to negotiate, especially if you're getting married on a non-peak day. By omitting the fact that you're a bride or groom, you can frequently discover great prices. When you mention "wedding," many service providers believe they can raise their prices. You might be able to save money by asking for a "special occasion" hairstyle rather than a "wedding" look.

Don't avoid making responsible budgets

Even if you are able to secure some lower prices from providers, if you account for travel and lodging, your elopement may end up costing you the same amount as the little wedding you were trying to avoid in the first place. Sit down with your partner and go over any money-related worries. If you've involved your parents from the beginning, they could be willing to contribute financially. If you're not set on having just the two of you elope, consider inviting your parents as a way to include them and soothe any hurt feelings.

Do not minimize your elopement.

Even if you're eloping, the day is still unique because it's your wedding, which is a cause for joy and celebration. Don't forget to enjoy your wedding-related activities. Get a nice outfit, a bouquet, and perhaps even set a table with a bottle of champagne, a meal for two, and your ideal centerpiece. Having an intimate elopement party later is also something nice to look forward to!

Don't be sorry for it

Try not to feel horrible about your choice; you don't have to defend it to anyone. This may be easier said than done because elopements often carry a lot of guilt. Of course, some family members and friends might be initially unhappy to learn they won't be present for your special day, but as the shock wears off, chances are they'll be overjoyed for you. Although you should expect that everyone will support you, try not to become angry if some individuals aren't as thrilled about your news as you had planned.

Eloping sure has a magical appeal to it. It is something that is romanticized extensively as you will be essentially running away with your sweetheart as you claim your happily ever after. While it is known for its spontaneity, having a bit of foresight will not only make you feel prepared, but will also help you get the best deals, avoid avoidable expenses, and also keep the to-do away list on the most important day of your life. Whether it's just you and your sweetheart, or it is a couple of your closest friends and family, eloping certainly has a thrill of its own. Whether you choose to head to the city hall or a serene spot in the woods amidst greenery for your intimate ceremony, whether you want to hike to your favorite spot, or fly to the city you met, there are tons of elopement options you can explore!