Are you planning to elope and make your wedding an adventure of a lifetime? Imagine taking vows in stunning locations amidst gorgeous backdrops of snow-capped mountains or pristine beaches. If these unique ideas of celebrations excite you, you are not alone. Nowadays, most couples realise that big, extravagant weddings are not entertaining. Therefore, they are exploring unique ways to celebrate their union in a laid-back style that allows more room for personalisation. The best part? These days, many vendors offer comprehensive packages to make the process smooth and stress-free. However, if you are still thinking about we will take you through our elopement guide. It will provide the essential details to make your decision easier.
Elopement Guide
We typically define elopements as a wedding ceremony with a limited number of guests. It can be around 20 or less and focuses on the couple instead of the traditions or the guests’ preferences.
Typically, UK elopements are an intimate way to choose quality celebrations over quantity. It focuses on the couple’s experience rather than the guests. Couples eloping usually plan to exchange vows out in nature or any place of value to them instead of a traditional venue. If you want to know if this wedding style is truly for you, consider the aspects below:
Number of Guests
The first rule of the elopement guide is to consider how many guests you and your partner would like to invite. A traditional wedding might suit you better if you are planning to have more than 50 guests. However, elopement will perfectly fit your vision if it is just the two of you or less than 20 guests. Remember to stick to immediate family members or your closest friends.
Location
You can elope anywhere in the world, from the mountaintop to your favourite national park, beach, or island. The options are endless! So, if you plan to elope in unique and exquisite locations, keep the group smaller, as such places won’t allow larger crowds. Also, consider the distance to the location some of your friends or family members might not be able to travel.
Timeframe for Planning
Unlike big weddings, which are planned at least a year or more in advance, elopements require less time and preparation. We have seen couples inquiring with us even less than one month before their special day. However, keep in mind certain locations such as national parks require permits that may take a while for approval.
Planning Stress
Stress can heavily influence your decision to elope or not. Traditional weddings require extensive planning processes. If you are pressed for time and want to avoid the stress of extensive planning and numerous decisions, intimate weddings are a great way to achieve that.
Budget
Finance is obviously one of the essential elopement guides. Generally, an average wedding in the UK can cost you around £20,700 or higher. When you choose a budget-friendly elopement, you will notice an exponential slash in the cost. The getaway wedding can cost you less than £8000.
This is because the guest list is smaller, catering costs are reduced, and you get to choose the professionals of your choice. But most importantly you don’t need to go overboard with elaborate celebrations.
Remember one fact: elopements don’t mean you don’t want to invest in your wedding. On the contrary, you want to spend quality time as a couple and avoid the unnecessary struggle of the traditional wedding.
Vendors for the day
Traditional weddings require you to invite a long list of vendors, including planners, coordinators, photographers and videographers, stylists, florists, DJs, etc. Meanwhile, intimate weddings do not require you to involve too many vendors.
Couples usually hire only a photographer/videographer and stylist. However, if you don’t want a budget-friendly elopement, hire more vendors who seem meaningful to you. The choice is totally up to you!
Traditional Elements
Traditional weddings focus on many elements that sometimes might be overwhelming. For instance, customs such as the bouquet tossing, series of speeches, and more. When you plan elopements, you can choose the traditions you want to keep and discard the rest.
We have seen a lot of UK elopements with cake cutting, first dance and a lot of other traditional elements woven into their big day. You can include what suits you and make your day to make your day as memorable as ever.
Flexibility
With this elopement guide, you will have the freedom and flexibility to plan the things you want. There are no rules or deadlines you need to stick to as there are no many guests to take care of. The focus is more on enjoying and letting the day flow naturally.
You can add elements like musicians, videographers, photographers or a few extra guests per your preferences. The vibe is entirely yours to curate so you can plan activities or fun experiences, which you and your partner can enjoy.
Wondering If Eloping Is For You?
Elopement is a totally personalised decision, which means it can be the right choice if you are seeking a simple, intimate destination wedding. If you want to elope on a budget, this elopement guide will help you make your choice much easier. It will save you a lot of money and nerves while emphasising quality over quantity. To make it easier for you, you can opt for an all-inclusive package so everything will be taken care of.
Getaway weddings are full of adventure, so if you want a celebration that is unique and out of the box, it is a perfect way to make new beginnings. It is just like an adventure where you can take vows in the middle of the forest or at the top of the mountain that you have just hiked. This passion for adventure will be absolutely amazing and will add to your overall wedding experience for a lifetime.
Are you looking for a professional UK wedding photographer to be part of your elopement? Let’s connect! It would be an honour for our team to cover your magical day and deliver timeless memories you can cherish forever.
