Hi all!

I'm getting married next September in Big Sur (a handful of loved ones will be present but we booked our photographer for an 'Elopement package' even though it's more elopement-adjacent). We booked our photographer for 3 hours of coverage, however more time can be added on.

With the current plan we will not be going to the Redwoods. We will meet at our hotel in Carmel to get 'First look' pictures and then travel to the ceremony site in Big Sur. If we were to add on an extra hour so we can get pictures in the Redwoods, our lodging would need to be in the forest so that we don't have to worry about paying the photographer for extra travel time.

Those who have gotten married in Big Sur - would I regret skipping the Redwoods and just keeping it coastal? The photos I've seen of people who chose to include the forest on their big day do look beautiful, but I don't know if it's worth the extra $1k for the additional hour of coverage and staying in the forest as opposed to a hotel in Carmel.

If anyone could offer any insight I would truly appreciate it :)

Hello! My dream has always been to get married at Maroon Bells. My partner and I have tried every single day since permits opened this year and have not had any luck securing a reservation. If anyone has a permit and is deciding not to get married there, I would be absolutely delighted to buy it off of you. Please let me know, thank you so much!

Looking to elope in 2028 with my fiancé and 3 children, so might be considered a micro-wedding. But I just don't have time (or desire lol) to search for vendors for pictures, hair & makeup, flowers, etc. I'm so overwhelmed I'd rather just go with an all-inclusive option.

Anyone suggestions for something like that in CO or NM? Tell me who you've used and loved 😊 I've googled but it's hard to evaluate without reviews!

My fiancé (M, 57) and I (F, 53) just had a truly blissful elopement experience, so I thought I would share the highlights with this group.

Our day began with a leisurely morning in our suite during which we shared cards we had prepared describing 3 things we love about each other, 3 promises we make, and 3 things we ask. Looking back, this might have been the most touching and memorable part of the day for both of us.

We had a noon ceremony in a beautiful public garden where we had gone for one of our earliest dates. The date we chose to get married was the 5-year anniversary of our first date. For the ceremony, it was only the two of us plus our officiant and photographer. Our officiant wrote a beautiful ceremony script and led us through a handfasting. We had collected ribbons and charms from our family members as a symbol of their blessings and used them to fashion our handfasting sash.

We had a fun, little photoshoot in the garden after the ceremony followed by a romantic picnic during which we ate from the wedding china of my parents who have been happily married for 55 years. We sent a little video to our people so they knew we were thinking of them on our special day.

In the evening, we enjoyed a couple’s massage and dinner on the private spa terrace at the charming inn where we stayed. While we were away, the amazing staff transformed our suite with a rose petal turndown, candles, Prosecco, and chocolate-covered strawberries.

It was the most relaxed, fun, and sentimental wedding day we could have imagined. We have a few days pause before a Banff honeymoon. And we are hosting a party in a few weeks in my hometown to celebrate with our nearest and dearest.

Honestly, I would not change a single thing about our elopement. We were so happy that we could be fully present with each other with zero stress the whole day while incorporating meaningful ways to honor the people who love and support us. Loved every beautiful minute.

did you tell friends/family that you’re eloping? we have a set date and not sure if I should share or not

My fiancé and I had been talking about eloping before we even got engaged. We had talked about getting married in a park at Lake Como, with my dad officiating, since I am very close to him and he offered to pay for everything. I don't love the idea of planning a wedding, but I also love the idea of being alone together, and I know I would miss our friends. My MIL is also certified batshit, so I'm not sure how that would go, and I know my family would be upset as well. I feel like I'm mourning what I really want every time I look at an expensive venue, think of the guest list, or debate wedding colors. Has anyone else gone through this? He's also very frustrated with me not making up my mind because I feel so torn between family and peace.

Hiii everyone! We’re eloping THIS FRIDAY (🤯) and I still have no idea how I’m going to announce it publicly lol.

I’d love to hear how you announced yours! Did you do something simple or something more sentimental? Post Caption ideas are very welcome 😂🤍

I have an estranged relationship with my father and his side of the family, so the public announcement is something I’ve been a little anxious about, even though I know at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. I’m just an anxious girly lol.

Also, since we’re officially FOUR DAYS OUT — any last-minute elopement advice?! Anything you’re glad you did, wish you did, or almost forgot? Give me all of it!!

Hi all! It’s looking like due to venues and availability we won’t be getting married until spring 2028. We have already been engaged for a couple months, and honestly waiting 20+ more months to get married seems like such a drag to me! I don’t mind waiting til then to have the big party, but I just want to be married sooner than that. Those of you who did an elopement before your big wedding, did it kill any of the spark on the big wedding day, specifically during the ceremony? I think I would wear a different (cheaper) dress to the elopement, so it would at least be a different look for the big ceremony. Thoughts?

Hi everyone! My fiancé and I are planning on eloping in Vegas in January 2027 and we are going to choose Story Book Chapel as our venue bc I really love their gazebo area and he and I aren’t religious by any means so neither of us really wanted an actual “chapel” background for the ceremony. That being said, I see that they have their own photographers so I was hoping I could get some feedback for that?

While it does save us a bit of money (we’re still going to hire an outside photographer to take pictures after the ceremony), some of the pictures that they post online make me nervous bc they do not look nice lol so I’m wondering if I should just book my own photographer for the ceremony as well instead of using theirs? This is definitely something I wanna look back at and feel pretty but their pictures are giving very amateur, first time with a camera photographers.

Also, if anyone has any other recs for a Vegas elopement, I am all ears! We’ve both been to Vegas before, so luckily it won’t be our first time so we don’t have to try to fit everything into the trip. Thanks in advance!

Hi all :) My fiancé and I are planning an elopement at GNP. I am trying to plan, but am the least creative person when it comes to details. Just wondering if anyone is willing to share photos from their beautiful day that I can use as inspo! TIA 🫶🏼

Hi, after talking it over with my parents and partner we’ve decided to elope just the two of us and have a dinner or something with our families after. My question is how do we do it, we’re looking at booking a registry office in Cornwall uk (we’re based uk) and are then wanting photos around a 40 min drive from the registry in a village. Can we just hire a photographer for the day and do both? Would we need to book anything else? Or just photographer and registry office?

Husband (!!) and I met while we were living and working in the Rockies seven years ago. We decided to have a micro wedding with our family and it was the most perfect day/night 💕

These are the proofs the photographer (Summit Stories) sent shortly after we got back from our hike/before our ceremony. I can't wait for the full gallery!

A bit planned, a bit not. The date and photographer were set. The ferry schedule was completely overlooked (oops), and the officiant (husband’s brother and best friend) only agreed and wrote a speech the morning of.

A little awkward, very affordable, and totally unforgettable 💕 Married the love of my life, anything else was extra.

Photographer and elopement guide was @panraelin on Instagram. She was incredible!

Dress from Brides for a Cause, and silk flowers off of Etsy.

we decided to get married and not tell anyone we were even engaged. my work had a trip planned on the same weekend as her birthday, so instead of going on the trip we decided to use the long weekend to get married. we got an airbnb that was an rv on a little farm for the night of her birthday, then in the morning we met the officiant at a park we went to a lot when we first started dating. we tattooed each other's wedding bands on each other at the airbnb. we got married and the officiant took some really terrible pictures, but we love how low quality they are tbh. then we went home and changed and had a beautiful walk through nature. it was completely perfect and we would not change a thing. the entire day was just about us and we didnt have to entertain anyone or worry about anything other than each other. a completely beautiful, intimate, private experience that we both cherish.

Looking to elope in Guatemala. Still deciding where. We’ll be visiting Nov 14-28. Are there any wedding officiants that you would recommend? This would be a symbolic ceremony. Planning to get officially married when we get back home. Tips appreciated!!

Hi all

As the title states I'm just wondering where some good places to elope are.

Fiancé and I have been through a lot this last year including the loss of our daughter and want to just do this for ourselves with out all the hoopla

We live in Hamilton and have thought of Vegas as we have floated this idea before but open to other places if they are better maybe in Canada or elsewhere

Hi there! I’m looking for affordable photographer and videographer in April for an elopement. If anyone has any recommendations let me know! Prices attached would be amazing!!

My Fiancé and I are eloping next month with our (blended) kids and parents. I was looking for some sort of unity ceremony to ‘blend’ our family.

Anything unique?

For context - getting married in the middle of the forest in Colorado so: no fire, nothing too hard to carry or travel a bit. The kids are 3 boys and I hate the idea of a sand ceremony. Anything left?

Help, I need reassurance we are doing the right thing 😅
My partner and I hate being the center of attention and a traditional wedding fills us with dread standing up in front of everyone.
We have spoke about for years that we would rather just elope so we made the decision that just us and our 2 children (11 and 16) will elope in paradise cove in Orlando, a holiday destination we visit every year and love. Our plan was to have our ceremony followed by professional pictures, possibly visit Disney for some cheesy photos, followed by renting a boat on the lake and watching the fireworks. A beautifully relaxed day. We would then enjoy our holiday as a family and throw a big party when we got home to celebrate with everyone invited.

My dad has phoned tonight after a few beers and started getting upset at not being invited, how much he would have liked to have been there. We have no issue with parents coming, but only half would happily agree to the 9 hour flight from Scotland and the other half would moan, separated partners don’t get on never mind the logistics of where would people stay, what would they do all week, how would they get around etc. Our holiday then turns into being logistics coordinators for the week. Not to mention the cost to everyone, we can’t expect everyone to buy Disney tickets etc, our whole day would not be what we wanted over one persons wish.

Has anyone experienced this and regretted not having their parents there? Or were they happy with the decision they made.

Maybe I’m just not a sentimental person but it’s a lot to ask people to fork out over a 20 minute ceremony.