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I have been in the wedding photography industry since 2014 and I have seen so many trends come and go over the years. But nothing has gotten me more excited than elopements growing in popularity. As someone who has spent so much of my life capturing the biggest day of peoples’ lives, I’ve learned that there is SO much that goes into the decision-making process of how you should invest your money into your wedding day. Because, let’s be real, weddings are expensive AF.
According to Zola, In 2024, the average cost for a wedding is $33,000 and those prices are only going up. And in bigger cities like Miami or New York, you can expect to spend more than that.
I got to a point in my career when I started to ask myself if I, as a wedding photographer, even thought it was worth it. And I would say that it truly depends on what you value and there is no wrong answer because everyone is different. But here are my reasons to elope instead:
Elopements Are More Affordable
The most obvious reason to elope instead is for financial reasons. Nowadays, it’s not so easy to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding when you could be saving that money for a down payment on a house or just to further your financial freedom. Although it is possible to have a “big wedding” on more of a budget, there are just a lot of expenses involved that are not a factor on an elopement day such as renting out a venue, catering, all of the decor involved, and so much more.
Elopements Are Perfect For Nature Lovers
Are you the type of person who feels more yourself in hiking than high heels? I’m with you! If you have a love for hiking, the outdoors, and travel, then eloping might be the perfect option for you. It’s a much more laid-back way to celebrate your love and a huge perk is you get to spend your day outdoors! There is something magical about choosing your dream destination off the map and making that your backdrop for some of the most important photos you’ll ever have.
Eloping Saves You on a Honeymoon
One benefit of eloping is having the option to choose a destination you want to travel around and extend your trip to combine your elopement with your honeymoon. That $33,000 number I mentioned earlier? That isn’t even considering honeymoon costs which can really add up when you’re factoring in flights, accommodation, excursions, food, and so on. I love the idea of turning your elopement into an amazing trip and making it an experience you’ll never forget.
You Can Invest More in What Matters
There have been many times throughout my wedding photography career where I saw a couple have to make the hard decision of what they could afford on their wedding day. I’ve had many couples say they had to say no to a videographer or their dream dress because of budget and I get it — weddings are expensive. Although I might be biased, I would say that photography should be the LAST thing you skimp out on for your wedding since it’s the one thing you’ll have forever! If your budget allows, why not invest instead in a killer photographer and videographer, your dream dress and bouquet, and budget the rest on booking the most epic trip possible?
Elopements Are More Intimate
One thing that a lot of my elopement couples have said to me is they never imagined having a big wedding and having to talk to people all day. I can say after having shot over 200 weddings that wedding days are EXHAUSTING. And if you’re an introvert or don’t like drawing attention to yourself, the idea of having all these guests gushing over you all day might make you want to vomit. And in today’s culture, eloping doesn’t have to running away just the two of you; it can also mean having your closest loved ones there with you to celebrate alongside you.
Elopements Require Less Planning
I would probably say the biggest stressor after finances about weddings, from my experience, is the planning. Couples often spend a year or more planning this one day of their lives. That’s a lot of time and energy to spend when we already are living such busy lives and time is our most valuable resource. Not to mention the stress that can come with it which is the last thing you want to be experiencing. As a part of my elopement packages, I include free planning help and local guides so you are really getting a photographer and travel guide in one. Thanks to my experience as a travel blogger and guide, I absolutely love getting to help couples plan their elopement and make it the best damn trip possible.
You Can Get Creative
One of my favorite reasons to elope is that you don’t have the opinions and pressures of all of your family in friends. You can throw tradition out the window if you want or you can incorporate certain traditions that are meaningful to you. Traditions like the white dress, reciting specific vows, the father-daughter and mother-son dance, the grand floral arrangements, etc are traditions that may align with you or they may not and that is up to YOU to decide and no one else. If you are the type of person who likes to do things differently, then I think eloping could be the perfect choice for you.
Do you have any other reasons why you’re wanting to elope instead? I’d love to hear from you!
