What is an elopement? and how are they different from weddings?

To sum it up as easily as possible, Elopements are weddings without guests (or with very few guests). These tiny little celebrations spiked during the pandemic when the state of things forced so many couples to cancel their weddings. When it became clear that things weren’t going back to normal anytime soon, thousands of couples changed plans and opted to get married on their own and oftentimes in really remote and beautiful locations. When you don’t need a venue to host 150+ people, your “venue” options open way up. I have photographed elopements in various National Parks, Mountains, Beaches, AirBnb’s, and even in the streets of New York City. Elopements allow you to throw out the playbook and do something completely unique. Your wedding day can be whatever you want it to be. If you want to spend the whole day hiking to some mountain peak, you can absolutely do that. Some of my elopements have essentially morphed into downtown bar crawls where we go back and forth between portraits and cocktails.

Austin and David eloped in downtown Tucson and throughout the process of getting ready, they enjoyed some scotch together. You can see the gallery from their wedding day by clicking here.

Is it cheaper to elope?

In most situations it is substantially less expensive. When you start shedding the costs of large venues, catering companies, etc.. you are left with a ton of budget left over. Even if you choose to travel somewhere internationally for your elopement, it will likely cost you less than a larger wedding in your home town. Imagine saving money by forgoing the catering company to hire a private chef instead. Here is an article about how to choose where to elope.

Can you have any guests at an elopement?

Of course you can. Most of the elopements that I shoot will have a few family members and perhaps a couple friends. The spirit of eloping really speaks to those that keep their circles small and you should absolutely include anyone you want. What size guest count constitutes a celebration being a wedding rather than an elopement? I put that number at about 25. Once you get above that, the dynamics of the day change. As your guest list grows, so do the tasks and responsibilities. It is worth keeping in mind that as your guest list size grows, the options you have for “venue” changes. For example, many Airbnb hosts will cap the number of people that can be in the property. If you are hosting a small dinner after your ceremony, that is something that needs to be taken into account. If you are looking for something in the middle check out this article about Intimate Weddings

What is the process on getting eloped?

The legal process is the same. You need to get a marriage license and a licensed officiant to preform the ceremony. You will need to find a photographer and choose a location. Beyond that, its all up to you. Everything is a personal choice. I have had some elopements that were only an hour long and some that are multiple days. You can get married just about anywhere.

What is an elopement?