How to Save Money on your Elopement

If you’re choosing to elope over holding a 300+ person wedding, chances are you’re already saving quite a bit of money but costs can still add up! We’ve come up with some tips to save you even further when planning your dream elopement.

Opt for eloping on a weekday: vendors will oftentimes cost less if you have your ceremony on a weekday versus a weekend. On top of saving money, this could give you a wider range of vendors to choose from as they will likely be less booked up during the week.

Travel costs: if you don’t want to spend a ton of money on travel (airfare, hotels, etc) try to elope somewhere local (within driving distance). If you are set on having an overnight elopement, camp! It will cost a lot less than a hotel and a big backpacking trip with your friends and family would be a BLAST.

Wedding attire: if you’re choosing to have an adventure elopement, consider wearing something other than a wedding dress. One of the best parts about elopements is that there are no rules and everything “traditional” has been thrown out– you do YOU! If you have your heart set on wearing a traditional wedding dress, consider buying a preowned dress. Chances are if you’re out in the wilderness, you’re going to trash it anyway.

Hire friends: consider hiring a friend or family member to officiate your ceremony – it would still be a nice gesture to pay them but it probably wouldn’t cost as much as a professional. Plus, it will feel more special for a loved one to conduct the ceremony.

DIY: if you can do it yourself, DO IT. This will save you a lot. Practice doing your own hair and make up! Youtube can come in real handy for this. Make your own floral arrangements – plan a night where your craftiest friends and family come over and give it a go. You provide the wine and you leave having a beautiful bouquet that your favorite people helped you make. Win, win!

Reception: if you’re planning a reception following your ceremony, make it pot luck style and have everyone bring their favorite dish. This is a great way to save money on catering costs and everyone loves to chip in and help!

Hire local: when you hire vendors, keep in mind that depending on how far you are asking them to travel, you will be responsible for travel costs. Do your research and see if there are any local vendors close to where you are holding your ceremony. This will save you the travel expenses and likely smaller name companies will cost less to begin with.

These are just a few ideas to help save money here and there. The great thing about elopements is that you are not obligated to do anything you don’t want to! It’s all about getting to marry the love of your life, remember that when you are stressed about how much money you’re spending. We have a blog on the vendors we feel are super worth it to hire, you can check it out here. Take these tips and go off that list and don’t be afraid to reach out if you have any questions!

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!