When it comes to planning your wedding, one of the biggest considerations is budget. Traditional weddings often come with a hefty price tag, leading many couples to question if there’s a better way to invest in their big day. YES! Elopements are an increasingly popular option that allows you to focus on what truly matters while saving a significant amount of money. Let's dive into the financial aspects of traditional weddings versus elopements and how to make the best investment for your special day.

Traditional Wedding Costs vs. Elopement Costs

Traditional Weddings:

- Venue Rental: High costs for ceremony and reception venues, often with mandatory packages. You must book the full day, leading to higher venue fees.

- Catering and Drinks: Per-person costs can add up quickly, especially with a large guest list. With a traditional wedding, people have a lot of expectations, especially surrounding the reception. They want the huge party, but that comes with a huge price tag.

- Decorations and Flowers: Extensive decorations and floral arrangements to fill large spaces, extra flowers for bridal parties, table flowers, and more.

- Entertainment: DJs, live bands, and other entertainment options can be pricey.

- Photography and Videography: Multiple days of coverage, including extended receptions.

- Other Expenses: Wedding favors, transportation, accommodations for out-of-town guests, and more.

Elopements:

- Venue Rental: Smaller, more intimate locations often cost less. You can also rent a location for less time if you don’t need a reception space. Some couples even opt for public places like National Parks that only have a permit fee.

- Catering and Drinks: Fewer guests mean significantly reduced catering costs. We also recommend doing your reception at an established restaurant so you don’t have to build out a pop up restaurant.

- Decorations and Flowers: Simpler setups require fewer decorations and floral arrangements. Some couple only elopements just have the bouquet and boutonniere.

- Entertainment: Intimate settings may need only minimal or no entertainment. Instead of a string quartet, maybe you only need one musician.

- Photography and Videography: Focused on capturing the essential moments of the day, often requiring fewer hours of coverage.

- Other Expenses: Lower overall costs due to fewer guests and less complex logistics.

Where Is Your Money Going?

In a traditional wedding, a significant portion of your budget goes toward accommodating a large number of guests. This includes venue rental, catering, and entertainment—costs that multiply with each additional guest. On the other hand, elopements allow you to allocate your budget more efficiently, focusing on the aspects that matter most to you as a couple. The best part is, with an elopement, you can choose to add on any of the traditional items you wish, but they’re not mandatory.

Experience vs. Party

When deciding between a traditional wedding and an elopement, consider what you value more: the experience of an intimate ceremony or the excitement of a large party. Elopements provide the opportunity to create deeply personal and memorable experiences without the distractions and stress of managing a large event. This allows you to savor every moment of your special day.

Eloping offers a unique opportunity to create a personalized and memorable wedding experience without the financial strain of a traditional wedding. By focusing on what truly matters and making strategic investments, you can ensure that your special day is both beautiful and budget-friendly. Ready to start planning your perfect elopement? Contact us at Modern Elopement to learn more about how we can help you create an unforgettable wedding day that fits your budget and your dreams.

Make sure to download our Planning Guide that walks you through how to prioritize and allocate your budget.