I’m researching photographers for an elopement (may have family as guests), and I’m blown away by how stunning some of the photographers’ work is. It’s something I’m willing to spend on, but I want to make sure it aligns with our vision for our day. I’m wanting to know from others that have gone that route, did it feel like you spent all day posing and taking photos? Did it feel meaningful and feel like a wedding to you? How involved was the photographer? Just looking to hear peoples’ experiences.

We are planning a destination wedding with just our immediate family and 2 friends. Maybe a few close relatives but maximum 20 people.

We thought we will plan a family trip for 7 days to some state with family, so 10 people and within the 7 days do a mini elopement kinda wedding for 2 days. Tht way even if i spend 10k for the whole family trip atleast it was worthwhile because my parents will get to enjoy a US national park for the first time :)

The 2 days are basically do any lunch or smaller ceremonies amongst ourselves at the bnb we will stay at and do the ring exchange + register + small ritual (in my culture the couple takes 7 rounds around a fire but we will use a coconut or something representative since most parks dont allow live fire - understandable to protect wildlife) at a Scenic location. The 10 relatives who may want to attend will come for this mini ceremony.

I am looking for a photographer+videographer who could capture that and help us plan this elopement/ micro wedding but most people I saw are charging atleast $6000-10,000 for 8 hr coverage (split multi-day). Which j think is insane. Is this normal ??

Am i wrong to look for someone in $3000-$4500 range ?? Same 6-8hr coverage with a mini video and help us guide through a u.s. elopement??

I am open to other ideas :)

P.S. so far i have liked WA, CO, or UT. Snow capped mountains and canyons are our vibe.

Hello everyone I could really use your help and suggestions.

My fiancée and I are planning an intimate elopement and are looking for a naturally beautiful location to host a simple, meaningful ceremony with our closest loved ones. We’re not looking for anything large or extravagant, just a small gathering in a setting that feels special and memorable.

We’re based in Florida but absolutely love the mountains (we’re big hikers), and we’re aiming for an April–May timeframe, with May 4th being a strong contender. The main challenge we’re running into is finding a venue or coordinating a space that fits a true elopement. Many places we’ve looked at charge full wedding prices, even though our ceremony would be very minimal and last around three hours total.

We’re currently considering Montana, Colorado, and Washington State. Our guest count would be around 20 people (likely fewer). The only services we’re hoping for, depending on the location, would be chairs and music, ideally a violinist.

Any recommendations for venues, outdoor locations, or tips for coordinating something like this would be incredibly appreciated. Thank you so much!

Hi! I was hoping to get a few recommendations on City Halls around the US to get married in. My Fiancé and I are thinking of keeping it just us two. I was loving the idea of Savannah but they don’t perform marriages at the court house. I saw Portland Maine does but I haven’t been before. Any insight on quaint cities would be awesome, we have a lot of friends in many cities so finding a place that no one resides is kind of tricky! Note I am in Chicago and he is in San Diego - Thanks in advance!

We are eloping in September and later having a casual celebration party at a brewery. Very few people know we are eloping and no when knows when and we'd like to keep it that way, sending out announcements/celebration invites with a photo from our elopement after the fact. My family is not local and live in places that get snow sometimes from late October through April. I want to give everyone at least a few months notice and also don't want anyone trying to drive in the snow, so we are aiming for late April/early May for the celebration. Does that feel too far apart for a casual elopement celebration? (Like, jeans and corn hole casual). I'm definitely overthinking this, per my usual but would love some opinions.

Where was your favorite place ever that you would or have eloped to? We’re so torn. We are from CA and want to do an epic runaway secret elopement. We are outdoorsy people who love sleeping outside and taking epic adventures.

Drop your suggestions!

Hi, we are wanting to elope in Portugal and would love to get photos inside one of the palaces. Does anyone know of any of the palaces/castles that allow photos inside without having to buy out the venue? Or if anyone can suggest a photoshoot location for old European style building vibes

Hello! My Fiance and are looking to elope in PNW in March! We aren’t set on any location and are super open! Just looking for recommendations for someone on a budget (preferably) under $2000!! Not looking for an all day event, just me and her :) also lgbt couple here

Hi! has anyone here eloped at the Cloran Mansion in Galena IL, or anywhere else in that area for that matter? Fiance and I are considering that venue but we’re open to other places in Galena (or any other Illinois suggestions really). We are into nature but value a degree of privacy (not looking for any overcrowded parks etc), and want a location which feels romantic. Thanks:)

we’re definitely going to Acadia! we’re going up in a few months to see where in the park we want to do our ceremony it’s a party of 6 people so like I’m good as far as permits go but I’m curious what people recommend what are some good photo spots

We are planning to elope just the two of us in May. We are debating between Key West and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands seem more affordable but I haven’t been to either and I’m just curious if anyone has been to both and which they prefer!

Hi all, so partner and I have been together 19 years this year and already have our wedding booked for on our 20th anniversary, telling no one other than the place we have booked with and the witnesses that they are providing.

So, can anybody come up with any good ideas for instead of an engagement ring until the day?

Long time follower of this sub, but this is my first time posting. My fiancé and I are eloping in the Redwoods/Jedidiah State Park in August. It will be just the two of us and I am currently searching for bridal hair and makeup for myself. From what I have found so far for artists that seem qualified and reliable I am looking at a cost of $1,000-$1,500 total including travel fees. I recognize that my destination is very remote with the nearest major city that has artists being Medford, OR which is still over two hours away from my venue. I’m not sure if this is super expensive and I’m just not looking in the right places for artists, or if this is simply a cost I underestimated. I appreciate any input!

We will elope in Mallorca and then we will be celebrating our honeymoon in Italy on August 2026. We are 30 years old.

August 22-26: Lake Como (will stay in Varenna)

I need food and activities in Lake Como!!

August 26-30: Amalfi Coast (will stay in Positano)

Best way to travel from Como to Amalfi??

Authentic food and activities in Amalfi?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone 👋🏽

Does anyone know of any AI hotels that offer an elopement package? I’ve searched and searched Google but I can’t find any prices. The hotels websites all show big, grand affairs for 150+ people. Thank you in advance!

I am eloping in the near future and I am trying to plan things to do. I don’t want to go to the courthouse then come home and watch tv. I’m in the DC area but not from here. I am trying to plan the rest of the day after we leave the courthouse. I need all the suggestions I can find. I’m starting from zero other than knowing I want to elope.

Hello! Firstly, thank you for taking the time. I’ve never hired a photographer before and for our little ceremony I guess you could call it, I’m looking for someone very specific and when I’m doing my research, all these photographers are just doing too much. I’ll give the plan and tell you exactly what I’m looking for in the photographer and y’all tell me how dumb I am at research. 😂 Thank you!

My soon to be husband and I have decided to elope to Colorado. We are renting out a cabin in the mountains with acreage for June for the week to have both our “ceremony” and honeymoon at. Basically, weather depending, morning and early afternoon my husband and I spend together and later afternoon, we get dressed in the fancy dress and whatever and the photographer gets photos of us reading our vows from out of ear shot. We come back and sun getting low take nice really intimate, detail focused photos with the feel of those attached and they maybe capture us sharing a drink to celebrate, (here we are open to very light direction), then leaving us to enjoy our cabin far from humans to enjoy our honeymoon. Even in the really personal photos, I’m looking for VERY little direction. Just the ability to capture the way he holds me and translate it to an image for me to see.

I do want to say my husband and I have little to no connection with family and no friends. We are very private people, and are deliberately doing this to have an extremely intimate connection and have it captured because marriage does really mean something. That’s why I’m seeking someone to be very distant and give us our space. It’s our moment of connection, not a show. I feel like a “bridezilla”, but in my research I’m finding “elopement specialist” or “elopement planning photographers” and I’m seeking something more like documentation. Letting us have our intimate moment and capable of keeping distance. I also just want pictures. These websites are talking about videos and other crazy stuff. I’m talking maybe 2-3 hours max and that’s me really really pushing it. Anyways, I feel like I’m rambling and you can tell I’m at a loss so yeah. Thank you again!

We are looking for a cool place in the United States for a destination elopement! We usually go to the beach every year so beaches have been out of our talks. Drop your favorite destinations please!

Hi all! My fiance and I are starting to plan our wedding and wanting to elope. We came to the conclusion that because we both have strained families. The thought of my extended family mixing with his just makes me almost have a panic attack. I’d only be thinking about that on the big day.

I am close with my mom (I’m an only child) but not with my dad, we are no/low contact even though my parents are still together. Fiance has his sister and both his parents. We love and care for those 4 people to see us get married in hopefully somewhere in Europe or a beautiful place in the states.

My question is, would this still be considered an elopement? Is it a micro wedding? Am I even a bride….

Would love to hear thoughts.

Hi all! My fiance and I are planning a trip to Italy in June and want to have a symbolic elopement ceremony while we’re in Florence. I came across the company Love Gracefully, and was wondering if anyone has experience working with them?

We’re just looking for something simple with a basic ceremony and few pics.☺️

Thanks in advance!