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Eloping or having a micro wedding can be a great way to celebrate your special day in a more intimate and meaningful way. With a smaller guest list, you can spend more time with your closest friends and family, and the day can be tailored to your own needs and desires. You can also save money on many aspects of the wedding, such as venue and catering costs, and you can enjoy the freedom of having a less formal, more relaxed atmosphere. Plus, eloping or having a micro wedding can be a great way to make your day even more special, with an unforgettable experience that you will remember forever.
If you are planning an elopement and looking for some ideas on what to do on your elopement day, check out this super fun day we shot in the Poconos!
What is an Elopement?
An elopement is when a couple chooses to get married in a private ceremony, often without family or friends present. They may choose to elope due to financial or logistical concerns or to keep the wedding intimate. Elopements are often thought of as spur-of-the-moment decisions, but couples can take their time planning every detail. It's an incredibly special way to start a marriage, with just the two of them (plus an officiant) celebrating their love and commitment.
How Do You Elope?
Congratulations on your decision to elope for your wedding! Eloping for your wedding can be a very exciting and meaningful experience. To get started, you'll want to decide on a location. Depending on where you live, you may need to research any legal requirements for getting married in the area. You'll also need to decide on a date and time. If you want, you can even narrow down a few dates and times that might work best.
Once you've finalized the details, you'll want to start planning the elopement itself. This can include finding a place to stay, booking a photographer, ordering a cake, and any other details you may want to include. If you're looking for a truly unique experience and want to keep your elopement small, you may want to consider a destination elopement. This can be an incredibly special way to celebrate your wedding day.
What is an intimate wedding?
An intimate wedding is a ceremony and/or reception with a smaller guest list and a more personal atmosphere. It usually involves fewer formalities and decorations, allowing you to focus more on the people who are present. Intimate weddings are becoming increasingly popular, allowing couples to create a unique and special celebration that is centered around their closest friends and family members.
How to Have an Intimate Wedding
Planning an intimate wedding can be a great way to create a special and meaningful experience. If you're looking for ideas, here are a few tips to consider:
Choose a meaningful venue. An intimate wedding can be held in a variety of locations, from a private home to a park or garden. Pick a spot that has special significance to you, such as a place where you got engaged or where you shared a special moment with your partner.
Keep the guest list small. To keep the wedding intimate, keep the guest list to your closest family and friends. This will ensure that everyone feels included and it will help make the celebration more personal.
Get creative with the decor. Smaller weddings can be just as beautiful as larger ones. Use decorations like string lights, candles, and flowers to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Think about food. Serve up dishes with personal meaning or pick dishes that speak to your heritage. Consider having a family-style meal or an interactive food station.
Personalize the ceremony. Incorporate personal touches into the ceremony to make it more meaningful and special. You can also make the ceremony interactive by having guests participate in a special reading or ritual.
Capture the moment. Have a professional photographer take pictures throughout the day to capture all the special moments. You can also invite guests to take pictures with their own cameras and phones.
Overall, remember to keep it simple and focus on creating an intimate atmosphere and celebrating your love. With a little planning, you can create a unique and memorable experience.
The Key Differences
An elopement is a wedding with just the couple and possibly a few close family members or friends, while an intimate wedding is a wedding with a smaller number of guests than a traditional wedding. An elopement tends to be less formal and less expensive than a traditional wedding, and couples often elope to a romantic destination. An intimate wedding is a smaller version of a traditional wedding and is usually held at a venue and has all the traditional elements of a traditional wedding, such as a wedding ceremony, reception, and often a sit-down dinner and dancing. Both elopements and intimate weddings offer a more personal and intimate celebration, allowing couples to save money and focus their attention on the significance of their union
Difference in Size
Elopements are becoming increasingly popular! They offer a unique and intimate way to exchange your vows and mark your special day. Oftentimes, couples choose special and exotic destinations to get married in; think beaches, forests, mountaintops, and more. It's just the couple and their officiant (if needed). In some states, like Pennsylvania, you could marry yourselves! It's a stress-free way to get married and create memories that will last a lifetime. Intimate weddings are a great way to share your special day with only your closest family and friends. With a smaller guest list, you can focus on the meaningful moments that come with tying the knot and create a truly personal and memorable experience. There are some venues that specialize in intimate weddings and can accommodate a smaller guestlist and provide a great experience.
Location Availability
Eloping to a unique, special place can be a great way to start your marriage. Whether you want to elope on a tropical beach, in a beautiful forest, or even at a historic castle, there are so many amazing places to elope to. No matter where you choose, it will be an unforgettable experience for both of you! All you really need is the love of your life and an epic photographer. The sky is the limit when you choose to elope!
Intimate weddings are such a special and unique way to celebrate your special day. Finding the right venue can be a challenge but with some research, you can find the perfect spot for your intimate celebration. Consider looking for restaurants, small hotels, or even private venues such as a family member's backyard. Many of these locations may not specialize in intimate weddings but can still provide a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Additionally, there are some venues that specialize in small weddings and can provide all the necessary amenities. Reach out to local wedding planners or venues in your area to see what options may be available.
One of our favorite intimate wedding venues to work with is Alisa Tonggs' Promise Ridge.
Hosting vs. Freedom
Eloping has become a popular way for couples to get married without the hassle of planning a large ceremony. Elopements are typically much more intimate, allowing couples to focus on having an unforgettable experience. With an elopement, couples have the freedom to choose the location, the type of ceremony, and even any additional activities they want to make their day special. They also have the opportunity to customize their celebration to make it as unique as they'd like. When you elope you give yourself freedom on your wedding day to do whatever you please.
When you have an intimate wedding, you still need to consider hosting a gathering of some sort that honors your special day. Depending on your budget and preferences, this could be anything from a small dinner with your closest family and friends, to a larger celebration with more of your loved ones. Regardless of the size of the gathering, it is important to make sure it is a special and memorable occasion for everyone involved.
Whether You Choose to Elope or Have an Intimate Wedding Your Day is Going to be Awesome!
Whether you elope or have an intimate wedding, your day will be special and memorable. Every couple has their own unique journey and you'll get to create memories that will last a lifetime. No matter what you decide, it will be a day to remember.
If you are looking for a photographer for your special day, take a look at our packages! We include wedding planning in all of our packages to guide you on your elopement or intimate wedding.