So you just got engaged, and you are starting the exciting process of planning your wedding, but you’re not quite sure what you want that to look like. You know you want something a bit more intimate but aren’t sure what option to pick when it comes to an elopement vs small wedding.
Well, as an elopement and intimate wedding photographer, I have a ton of experience capturing both types of weddings and know just how incredible both of these can be for couples.
But, to help you make the best decision for your big day, here are some of the pros of each type of wedding and a twist that may just give you the best of both worlds.
Pros of Having an Elopement
Starting with elopements, there are so many great benefits to choosing an elopement over a wedding. First and foremost, opting for an elopement gives you free rein to actually get married anywhere you can imagine.
Most places will have restrictions on having weddings or may just not have the space to have a wedding, but if it is just you and your partner (and maybe your photographer or officiant), you don’t have to worry about all of that.
It doesn’t matter if the mountain overlook doesn’t have space for 20 people or if you have to hike 3 miles to get to your ceremony location. All you have to worry about is showing up with your partner and enjoying this moment together.
Plus, if you and your partner love traveling, this is the perfect chance for you and your partner to go and explore a new place together and create really meaningful memories along the way.
Elopements also provide the ultimate intimacy when it comes to weddings. You can be present and in the moment with just your partner and take in everything that your wedding day has to offer.
We all know how overwhelming and hectic a wedding can actually be, but when it comes to an elopement, you don’t really have to worry about most of that. There’s no coordinating when all of your guests and wedding party will be there, talking with a bunch of different vendors to coordinate everything, or even worrying about setting a bunch of stuff up.
Often, you can just focus on getting yourself ready and showing up, which takes a lot of the stress off of your wedding day.
One of the biggest benefits that I think elopements have is that you can have a day that is truly authentic to you. You get to make the day all about the things that make your relationship special.
Maybe that means you eating a PB&J at the summit you just hiked, sipping coffee, and going rock climbing. You get to really do the things that you love to do together and get to take the day in and really live in the moment.
Now, I know many people will also say that elopements are more budget-friendly, and I like to think of them as giving you more flexibility in your budget. You can absolutely elope for almost nothing, and you can also spend tens of thousands of dollars eloping.
Eloping allows you to really think about what your priorities are when it comes to your wedding and focus on investing your budget in that. This may mean having your dream photographer or videographer or even flying to a destination that you have always dreamed of to tie the knot.
Pros of Having a Small Wedding
Now, all of that doesn’t mean that there aren’t many pros to having a small wedding. It is really going to depend on you and your partner and what you want for your day.
When it comes to small weddings, one of my favorite pros for them is that you can still create that intimate and personal experience but also have a few of your closest friends and family alongside you.
This means you get a taste of both worlds and can form your day into whatever you want it to be.
Similar to elopements, there are also a ton of venues that may open up to you when you have a smaller guest list. You’d be surprised at how many places can easily accommodate a wedding if it is on the smaller side.
This means you may be able to have your ceremony or reception at some of your favorite places around your town or even book a bigger venue, but opt for one of their micro wedding packages that gives you more flexibility in your budget.
Small weddings also allow you to actually enjoy the company of all of your guests while still being able to genuinely enjoy your own wedding. I’m sure we’ve all been to those weddings where it feels like the newlyweds either never sit down because they are trying to talk to each other, or they just aren’t even able to see everyone who joined them on this special day.
With small weddings, you can have that one-on-one time with all of your guests without feeling like you are running around or even missing out on things that you spent months planning.
You can even still have a destination wedding with a small wedding without feeling like everyone is all over the place. You may be able to find some hotels or bed and breakfasts that you all can stay at for the weekend and spend time together doing all of the things you love!
Why Not Do Both?
Now, if you’ve gotten this far and you are still thinking to yourself, “Okay, I have no idea which one I still want to do,” why not just do both? This is something that we are starting to see more and more, and I absolutely love it.
With this, you can do one of two things: either plan an entire weekend or even just split your day in half.
What I have seen more and more couples start to do is have an intimate elopement that is private and special and something just for them, and then turn around and have a small wedding with some of their closest friends and family.
This gives them the best of both worlds, and they still get that wedding experience with everyone they love. However, they don’t have to give up the privacy and intimacy of an elopement.
As I said, there are a few different ways that you can actually plan this out. The first option is that you can plan an entire weekend with your elopement on Saturday and then a small wedding on Sunday.
If you want to celebrate with your friends and family vs having them there for an actual ceremony, you can plan everything on the same day. In the morning or early afternoon, you and your partner can head out and elope with just the two of you.
Then, once you are ready, you can join the rest of your friends and family at a reception to celebrate the night away.
Now, if you are thinking to yourself, this is great, but what if I want a destination elopement? That is no problem at all. Everything doesn’t have to be on the same weekend, and you can still plan on doing both of them.
You and your partner can go off to your beautiful destination and elope by yourselves. Then, once you are back, you can have your small wedding, and you can celebrate with everyone you love.
You can even make it a surprise and not tell anyone that you’ve actually eloped until you are at your wedding!
At the end of the day, your entire wedding experience is about you and for you. You should be able to do whatever you want and get married in whatever way you want!
Final Thoughts on an Elopement vs Small Wedding
So, elopement vs small wedding? The choice is up to you. And, if you can’t decide, why not just combine them and do both for one big celebration? The most important thing is that you can celebrate and enjoy your wedding day exactly the way you want and have dreamed.
And, if you still need the perfect photographer to capture your wedding day, whether you opt for an elopement alone or a party with your friends and family, I’d love to chat. You can learn more about my wedding and elopement photography packages here or you can get in touch with me to talk about your vision for your special day!
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