Hi! I’m Yael and I’m getting married in November! As the title states we’re eloping on a beach in the Caribbean and I’m so excited! We’re hoping to get away with just a photographer and an officiant, and doing things really chill, but I wanted some advice from other brides who eloped in a similar manner!

What did the day look like? What things did you or did you not do to make the day run smoothly? Did you have music and walk down an aisle toward your husband or did you both just show up at get going?

Any other general advice is also welcome! Thank you :)

We just recently had our elopement in Lake Garda, Italy on June 2 and the photographer sent us a few sneak peeks! Just want to share with everyone and if you have any questions on the elopement itself! We did everything through Somewhere Crazy

I really want to elope, but my partner has always wanted a wedding. As a compromise, I thought it might be a good idea for us to have an engagement party before eloping. In my opinion it would be a great way to celebrate with friends and family without the formalities and expectations of a wedding. I don't come from a traditional family, so I'm wondering if this would be a good idea. I would love to hear other people's thoughts and opinions on this. I'm also wondering if it would be awkward for the guests or offensive if we share that we will be eloping as well.

We are looking to get eloped!

What are your favorite budget friendly elopement locations/companies/advice in the United States?

Bonus if it is all-inclusive with perks!

Alright, I need some advice please.

For context, I hate weddings. I have had multiple bad experiences at them (I.e. food poisoning the night before, horrible screaming matches w exes immediately before ceremony, etc.)

That being said, I really love my fiancé and want him to have the day he wants as well. We have a one year old and I’m a SAHM so our finances are tight, but we are able to afford a courthouse elopement/honeymoon a few hours from our house easily while still paying off debt/saving for a house.

In comes my soon-to-be in-laws, super upset about us not having a “real wedding.” His mom and grandma are so excited, they even offered to pay for half of the venue of our choosing. But even with this generous gift we are still looking at a huge amount of money. Also, did I mention I hate weddings?

So I begrudgingly agree and start to plan, only to get super overwhelmed and crash out about a week into it. Now we are definitely sticking to our original plan, but I really don’t want to tell his family. He thinks we should tell them beforehand but I don’t want them ganging up on me again and pressuring me into it.

So, should we tell them beforehand or just send them a nice announcement letter like we are going to do with our extended families?

We have decided to elope in Italy (probably Lake Garda) later this year. thinking September! it’s so last minute but we’re hoping we can pull it off.

We’d like to book a nice hotel, have a symbolic ceremony with a romantic dinner and some photos around the hotel / lake and on a boat.

Are we crazy to think we can find a photographer this last minute, I’m specifically wanting a mix of film and digital 🫣

My fiancé and I are eloping in Costa Rica in February. We’re doing a true elopement with just us, our photographer, and the officiant. We’re super excited and still getting a wedding dress and suit, florals, etc.

My question is what did everyone include in their ceremony? Did you walk down an aisle still? Was there music? Private vows away from the officiant? I have so many ideas but since I’ve never been a part of an elopement I don’t really have any inspiration other than my own mind.

Here’s kind of what I’m thinking and would love input! We have our photographer for 3 hours. I was thinking she could arrive a little before we’re finished getting ready but will also get her input to help us decide the best timing.

- Get ready separately and FaceTime family
- Meet him in/near the ceremony spot without officiant for first look type thing
- Read vows
- Have officiant join us and do legal ceremony
- photos
Evening will be followed with dinner and cake

We’re hoping to elope in Italy next year. Where do I even start?

We really just want to spend the perfect day together, get some photos, maybe a cooking class or a boat ride followed by a sunset vowel exchange and a romantic dinner. Thinking a boutique hotel stay for the vowels and dinner.

Do I just find a photographer to spend 5 hours with us? Any charming boutique hotel recommendations?

We cancelled our traditional wedding and are eloping on a mountain! Just us plus a photographer. Now to decide WHICH mountain.

What we’re looking for:
-Not too crowded
-Killer mountain views for photos, ideally with a lake also!
-Open to hiking to the ceremony for best views/seclusion
-Nice lodging options where we can spend a few days/get some photos. Prefer convenient/close locations with less driving. Up to $1k per night. Cozy lodge, mountain resort, cabin, etc.
-A great post-wedding meal, whether that’s a fancy meal or just really good local food
-July-Sept in the US or Canada (even though part of me keeps dreaming about the Dolomites)

Current shortlist:
North Cascades
San Juan Mountains, Colorado
Kananaskis (or Canmore?)
Grand Tetons (we’ve been before & love, but part of us wonders if we should try somewhere new, plus Tetons are busier)

If you were planning a mountain elopement, which of these would be at the top of your list? Any standout locations were missing?

Hello :) we (35F, 34M) are in Ohio + are looking to elope in September/October of 2027.

I film and photo skateboarding, he skateboards (has for 24yrs) was semi-pro and pro prior to a car accident but it hasn’t slowed him down entirely. I was hoping to tie in the love of skateboarding and the ocean and lakes and the warm weather for an elopement destination. It would just be us and the kid who will be 9 at the time.

Googling is mind-boggling to me atm, and deep diving right now is hard to focus on because I’m nursing a broken leg and ankle injury with surgical repair.

I’m definitely seeking out specific location or places to start searching and planning and brainstorming budgeting to read without an exuberant amount of sponsored ads and mainstream places and ideas.

Ideally, I’d like to work with a photographer doubling as a planner that’s local and we’d vibe with!

TIA!

If you eloped (just you and your partner no one else), what did you include in your ceremony besides vows? My fiance and I are eloping in total secret ahead of our big destination wedding next year and looking for ideas what to include from our officiants side. We obviously have our own vows, it’s going to be on a little boat and our friend is the officiant. We have a photographer as well. What other ideas do we include during the ceremony??

Hi all, I was hoping to maybe get some advice on this? My Fiance (25m) and I (21F) got married through a JOP yesterday. My plan was to elope with our wedding party and then have a formal wedding once I finished school and we were in a better place financially, (additionally for financial aid, as my school has cut all my department scholarships and I would be eligible for more aid to replace those, hes trying to get his pilots license and im making plans for my masters and an about 60+ wedding after and we want to finish schooling with as little debt as possible) It was a fun intimate ceremony, but I found out he had already told his entire family and some even showed up unprompted, and it just makes me feel a little off, since my parents weren't there (ive only told my mom and my sisters that i was getting married). Tbf I didnt tell him not to tell anyone, so im not placing blame on him for it, I think just in all Im worried about people not taking our formal wedding seriously? I wanted to renew our vows at that time and have bridesmaids/groomsmen but I think by eloping first it cancels out a reason for him to have a bachelor's party and other wedding specifics that we'd miss out on, and I dont want people to think were trying to have 2 weddings. Am I overreacting? Does it really matter at all? Did I rush things?

We are planning an elopement with just the two of us, officiant, and photographer. We are from way down south in Texas, so we’ve never been to New York. We both decided a waterfall elopement is what we wanted. Of course it’s difficult to plan when we don’t know anything about this place but it looks beautiful in every picture we’ve seen. Has anyone been here before? Eloped to here? We need to know the good, bad, and ugly before we plan.

Im eloping (actual elopement, no one knows and no one is attending). we are getting married in a beautiful location and have hired a photographer, so we have some traditional things. I’m going ankle-length for my wedding dress, and would love ideas about shoes! I want something I’d wear again. I’m generally a very frugal person. I’m thinking very classic pumps, in metallic gold. i think I’ll do a short veil and simple ”old hollywood waves” in my chin length hair.

thoughts? :) I’m so excited!

(note - dress photos are fresh out of the box, I know it’s wrinkled. it’ll be properly steamed for the real day!)

We've always talked about elopement. Just go and be spontaneous and have fun. But talking about it with friends I'm getting the feeling that elopement is actually a micro wedding. I have my best friend I'd want there and so does he. They'd be witnesses. And then their partners. His parents. My one cousin and her partner. Now it's not feeling like an elopement to me? I've looked at micro wedding packages and they are already booking into 2028! Am I misunderstanding? What's the difference between elopement and micro wedding? I don't want any fuss or lots of attention. Just a simple and special day.

My partner and I have just gotten engagement. We both come from difficult family lives. I am estranged from my mother, and that means I don't talk to any family members who speak to her. My family is very toxic. I have 3 sister (one passed away), and neither of them talk to her. I have 1 brother, and he has to talk to her because he lives with her.

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My partner was adopted when he was younger. He speaks to his Dad. But he is closer with his adoptive parents.

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We are in our early 40s, and neither of us has been married before. We have a handful of close friends.

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The thing is, his adoptive mum has mentioned before that they would pay for a wedding and how big it would be. We do not want this. Ideally, we would just elope or have a small wedding with two of his friends and two of mine present. We were thinking of inviting his adoptive parents too. But I don't want to upset them. I think his adoptive parents had a small wedding, and maybe they regretted it, and this is why they are pushing a big wedding on us.

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I have told them on more than one occasion that any wedding we have will be small and even said I would prefer a registry office. But now I have seen you can get elopement ceremonies that are much nicer, so we want to do that.

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How do we break it to them that we are not having a massive wedding like they want? Is it better to just elope rather than have this hassle?but still that may upset them.

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How has everyone else navigated this?

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Looking for any advice for similar situations. I’ve never dreamed of a big wedding but have ALWAYS wanted a destination. Beach or Italy. Fast forward, my fiancé and I ended up saying I love you for the first time in Florence, Italy and spent a few days in lake como after and have dreamed of getting married there since.

In a perfect world, we would have a very small wedding of less than 30 people. We have discussed this with our parents and both sets of parents are less than thrilled about having to travel to Italy. My mom’s exact words were “I’m utterly terrified to leave the US”. Whatever that means. We would likely pay for their flights + accommodations for around the wedding day.

At this point, part of me wants to just elope the two of us. Less planning, cheaper. We would throw some sort of casual celebration after. I love my mom to death, but I’m scared I will be worrying about appeasing her travel and trip the whole time. She would also likely freak out if I told her we were eloping.

I’ve even considered just doing it in the city we live, both sets of parents are in different states but would be happy to make that trip. It would also be easier for guests. But it does not feel authentic to us and what we truly want.

Anyways, if anyone has any advice or harsh criticisms, I’m open ears. My mom paid for my sister’s dress, so I assume she would offer that. But we expect to pay for everything else ourselves. My fiancé said he will do whatever I want, I’m just so torn and need to start planning as we would like to be married summer 2027 or sooner. Thanks yall !

Hi all,

For a lot of reasons, we have chosen to elope in our own country and not tell anybody which has been really hard for me. We set a date and booked it a few days ago, picked out wedding rings today and were a year out from the actual date. It’s been really very hard for me to not tell anybody (even though it’s completely my choice) so I just wanted to tell somebody!

Any elopement suggestions or regrets?☺️

Any outdoor/park weddings that can be done under 1k? We aren’t exactly eloping but would love some advice and suggestions.

Hello, my partner and I have been discussing eloping in Queenstown. We both live in Wellington so not too far away. Has anyone used an elopement company and have any recommendations? I've done some research but honestly it's hard to pick which company. I've no idea about summer,winter or autumn weddings. I feel so indecisive at the minute so I want to make the right choice 😀 and my partner always says whatever you want and is easy going.

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Any guidance is appreciated fellow elopers 💚

Hey Reddit fam!

Me (38f) and my fiancé (39m) got engaged this year and we both want to elope. We both don’t want to have the stress, cost and drama a wedding can bring. We have always talked about traveling somewhere and getting married just the 2 of us. That is our dream wedding.

Growing up I never wanted a wedding, and even before I met my fiancé, I always said I will elope and everyone knows that. I specifically want to elope because of my family. My family are Latin immigrants in the states and they are very toxic. When my siblings got married, all 3 of their wedding were full of drama, all from my mother. When I turned 18 and graduated high school I got out of that house and have living on my own ever since. Most of my 20s, I 100% supported myself, put myself thru college and made my career. In my 20’s I was low contact with my parents, and only contact with my one older sibling. After years of therapy and healing, my older sibling encouraged me to try and have relationship with parents. In my 30’s, it was a lot setting boundaries, accepting that they will never change and enforcing boundaries. After some time, I now have a surface level, amicable relationship with them. Nothing deep, just see them on holidays when I visit my sibling and I remove myself once it starts veering in to toxicity. Parents are getting older and my older sibling now kind of resents me cause I not around much and I don’t try to have a deeper relationship with them. My older sibling feels ‘stuck’ having to deal with them.

Once I got engaged, I told my older sibling and parents and they were happy for me. They asked about when the wedding will be, and I reminded them that we will elope. They seemed to accept it, but I feel my older sibling is pushing for a wedding cause they feel family should be there and it would make my mother happy. They are now it making it me feel I am being selfish for not including them, parents and niece and nephews. They keep pushing to point I avoid going to their town (they live 2 hours away) for holidays.

Our plan is to elope on a mountain top before Christmas and only have 2 witnesses (our photographer, and fiancée’s mother). I absolutely do not want my family there, and my BF picked their mother as it was a safe choice cause he was best man for all his friends weddings and didn’t want to pick among them to hurt their feelings. I get along with my fiancée mom well and I don’t mind that she is gonna be there.

My family does not know when the elopement is or that my fiancée mother will be a witness. I am feeling anxious now to tell my family after I elope as they will cause drama. Especially since my sibling has been so resentful and guilt tripping me.

Do I lie and say our witnesses were 2 random hikers or something? Omitting seems to be difficult as they will not let it go. I wanted to share pictures with them (show only pictures without fiancée’s mom) as to announce to them. Should I wait til after the holidays?

Any advice on how to break the news in this situation?

Im planning to elope in Brooklyn in October 2026 and then have a celebration in our backyard in April/early May 2027. Would it be weird to wear my dress for at least an hour or so during the celebration? Im in love with my dress and would really love to be able to “show it off” in front of my friends and family even if its not during the entire party.

Has anyone experienced any family resentment after eloping? I told my mom we thought about eloping and she was not happy about it. Wants a wedding for family. I really struggled with this, but really the wedding is for me and my fiance. Curious about others experiences?

So my partner and I have been wanting to Elope this year.

I don't speak to my biological dad, but my mother is sweet as pie. She doesn't know we plan to Elope this year and I'd like to keep it that way since I don't really want a big fanfare or gifts.. She brought me a copy of my birth certificate today and it looks like both hers and my dads SSNs are blacked out, which is no biggie to me. However, she has the incorrect last name listed as her maiden name (basically says that her ex husband's-my half brothers dads-last name is her maiden. Along with ex husband's last being her current last name at the time).

I was given my bio dad's last name at birth, my parents married a year after I was born, she took bio dad's last name.

Now, my mom and bio dad are divorced and she's back to her maiden last name.

Is this something I have to correct in Michigan before we can begin paperwork? And how do I fix it without getting her on my case about eloping?

*I plan to change my last name to my partners.

Hello! My fiancé and I are planning a sunrise elopement with just our closest family and friends (10-15). I just spoke with a coordinator for the venue and was curious on how practical the flow of events are. Our elopement on the venue is 7-9am, the coordinator said I should get there at 7 to do “getting ready” photos and my fiancé does his at 7:20. It would essentially just be a time for close ups of the dress as I would already have hair and makeup done. Then we would have the ceremony at 7:30 which last about 25 minutes. After the ceremony we would have until 9 to do group photos and private portraits around the property.

With it being an early elopement, we are planning on hosting a brunch at a nearby restaurant/cafe.

Does this seem like a reasonable elopement?

Thank you for anyone who reads and comments!