In recent years you will surely have heard more and more frequently about elopement weddings.
But what is it exactly?
What is certain is that the phrase “elopement wedding” sounds a bit like a contradiction in terms.
Weddings are usually large celebrations with very complex organization and also very expensive in terms of budget. Elopements are much more intimate celebrations, with much simpler organization and a much more affordable cost.
Large weddings require very structured and detailed planning with sometimes very hectic and stressful timelines, sometimes leaving little time for the couple’s intimacy.
Eloping with smaller guest lists (or none) opens up a lot of options and choices and it seems more less stressful.
What to Choose? Traditional Wedding or Elopement Wedding?
It all depends on our expectations, on how you have always Imagined your wedding. For this type of event (elopement) the experience is the central focus together with the intimacy of the couple.
The beauty of an elopement is blending both traditional and non-traditional elements, making your day exactly what you’ve envisioned.
It is true that the organization of a big wedding is certainly more complex and detailed but even that of an elopement wedding should not be underestimated.
There are still many aspects to consider and think to think about: where to celebrate the ceremony? Who to invite? What details should not be missing? And then again: how and where to choose the officiant? Where to getting ready?
As you can see, it’s not as simple as it might seem!
An elopement wedding is typically thought of as running away without telling friends or family, but that definition has changed over the time. Now an elopement wedding, means that you are celebrating with just yourselves or with a small group of friends and relatives, more casual.
The elopements can happen everywhere, in public parks or residence, hotels, in the most adventurous places. With an elopement the destination is essentially wherever you’d like it to be.
The tradition Wedding is more a scripted day with big party and focused on your guests.
Both ways end in you committing your lives together. It’s the overall experience, journey and focus of the day that really makes weddings vs elopements so incredibly different.
In an elopement wedding the management of time during your special day is much easier to menage, you can relax and spend time peacefully with the few people you have decided to invite and above all with your husband or wife!
Something Else about Elopement Wedding
Some elopement ceremonies feature the couples’ intimate family or closest friends. But in many cases, an elopement party consists of the couple, the officiant and the photographer and the videographer, who often acts as the witness.
The biggest and most obvious difference between weddings and elopement weddings is guests. Typically, a traditional wedding will have anywhere from 50-500 guests. Where an elopement is typically 20 or less.
Ceremonies can be religious or secular you can choose to have a reception or to skip it.
The ceremony itself can last only a handful of minutes, but those few minutes can be the most important of your life!
That’s why many feel that a videographer and a photographer is key to capture the essence of the ceremony. It also often happens to have a “First Look” and even during your elopement wedding you can decide to do it and have it captured by your wedding videographer or photographer.
The 21st century style of an elopement wedding has become popular in the past 10 years, but it became wildly popular during COVID-19 it is easy to understand the reasons why.
Elopement may be smaller than traditional weddings, but they’re no less meaningful.
Costs
Elopement packages are an affordable alternative to the couple on a budget or for the couple who wants to put their funds toward the honeymoon.
The average cost of a big and traditional wedding is around 30 thousand euros but can even reach 100 thousand depending on the number of guests and the quality of the services chosen.
For an elopement wedding the range is decidedly lower and can start from a minimum of €200 up to 16/20 thousand euros, it depends on the experience you’re looking for and on the elope packages.
Since this new wedding style is becoming increasingly popular and popular, I also offer an elopement video package dedicated to this special service. The elopement package is specifically created for these types of events, offering adequate time coverage and tailor-made options for those who choose them.