How to Budget for an Elopement

What does an Elopement Budget look like?

According to the Knots 2019 studies, the average cost of a wedding in the United States is $33,900! Creating a budget is one of the scariest parts of wedding planning. You will still need to create a budget in order to elope; you can spend $50 and legally get married or you can spend over $20,000 with an elaborate elopement. I know that’s a wide range but that’s another great thing about eloping, it’s completely up to YOU. We’re here to help break down some of those costs!

Photographer: $2500 – $10,000
Bouquet: $65 – $225
Travel: $100 – $3,000
Wedding Attire: $500 – $4,000
Officiant: $100 – $600
Permits: $20 – $150
Catering: $300 – $1000

All of these vendors are ones we think will help make your elopement easy and the best it can be but don’t feel pressured to book all of these or any! We have a blog on necessary vendors you can check out here.

Photographer: We may be biased but if you’re going to splurge on one thing, let it be a photographer. Photos capture your whole day from start to finish and if you’re eloping, likely you are choosing which close family and friends if any will be there with you so sharing photos with the people who can’t be there is really important. Photographers also step in as planners; they have the knowledge of locations, permits, accessibility, and timelines and will share all of this with you to help make your day go smoothly.

Bouquet: Walking down an aisle with a bouquet is icing on the cake to make you feel like a bride. Don’t feel pressured to spend a crazy amount and keep in mind the climate of where you’re eloping so your flowers look fresh by the time you get to your ceremony location.

Travel: This cost can fluctuate immensely depending on what your dream elopement looks like. If you’re eloping close to home or backpacking and don’t have to pay for lodging then the cost of the permit (approximately $100) and driving expenses is all that you need to budget for. If you’re thinking of eloping somewhere out of state or out of the country then travel will likely be your biggest costs.

Destination elopement costs to keep in mind:
- Airfare
- Lodging
- Ceremony venue/location permits
- Transportation
- Food costs

Attire: According to the Knot, the average new wedding dress (including alterations) costs $1,631. If you don’t feel like wearing or spending money on a wedding dress, don’t feel pressured to wear one! Wear a casual dress or don’t wear a dress at all. Suit rentals cost around $150 whereas buying a new suit can cost anywhere from $300-$2000+.

Officiant: There is a wide range of cost for officiants depending on what kind you want. A great way to cut down on this cost is to have a family member or friend do it. All they need to do is be ordained and then you can work with them to see how much they would charge. Check out this resource on how to become ordained.

Alternatively, my husband and I are both ordained! You can add him onto your package to conduct your ceremony and sign the papers. Or, if you hire him as a second shooter, the officiant services would be included. If you’re wanting to have the least amount of people there, I could sign as your officiant but wouldn’t be able to conduct the ceremony since I’d be shooting it.

Permits: This is extremely dependent on where you are planning to have your ceremony. Most national parks require a $100 permit fee to hold a wedding. If you are backpacking and staying overnight, additional permits may be required. Here is a link to a blog post I made about how to obtain Washington Parks Special Use Permits.

Catering: If you are having guests, likely you will want to have some sort of meal. The average cost of a plated meal is $40/person and $27/person for buffet style. If you are backpacking, check out our blogs on meals (include) for ideas and more information of costs.

None of these vendors are required for elopement but they are a list of ones we feel are necessary! On the high end, you can pay $15,000 for an amazing elopement and still spend half the amount you would for a wedding. Think about what’s important to you and go from there. Don’t be hesitant to reach out if you have more questions, we’d be happy to help!

Stephanie Keegan

I’m an adventure elopement and wedding photographer based in Seattle and the surrounding Pacific Northwest. I focus on capturing love in beautiful places while sharing a passion for the outdoors. Rock climbing, backpacking, hiking – I love it all!