The words “Let’s elope!” evoke visions of throwing caution to the wind, grabbing your fiancé’s hand, and riding off into the sunset together. An elopement wedding checklist is smaller compared to the normal wedding checklist as the variants involved are considerably less than that of a traditional wedding.
But let’s be real. Although an elopement has fewer moving parts than a large wedding, there’s still some planning you’ll want to do. Why? Because despite the simpler process, there are plenty of important things you won’t want to forget! No one wants to suddenly realize that they have missed an important piece of paperwork or forgotten to order the wedding rings which is why wedding checklists have become a key feature. To help get you straight to your happily-ever-after with as little stress as possible, we’ve put together this Elopement Checklist.
Travel + Accommodation
Picture Courtesy: @jordanjankunphotography
Tying the knot at the local courthouse, Las Vegas, or some exotic locale? Ask these questions. If you’re eloping to a destination, take care of your travel arrangements early—get that Earlybird airfare and hotel deals! If you’d like to get married at the local courthouse, do your research about the laws and timings. With COVID, there are several restrictions in a few venues, so having prior knowledge would be better.
Vendors
Picture Courtesy: @hipsterwedding.asia
Must-haves: Photographer & Videographer – This is the most neglected part where couples often forget to book. An elopement ceremony is anyways with very few people, so you might want to share your special day with friends and family who couldn’t attend the ceremony physically.
Optional – Planner, Cake, Florists, Entertainment – An elopement doesn’t mean cutting down on your special day. Depending upon the theme and the size of your ceremony, you should opt for these vendors. Of course, having a planner will make the process easier, so we suggest including these optional vendors if you can accommodate them.
Attire & Beauty
Picture Courtesy: @wed_elf
Elopement Wedding dresses should be easy to carry. Coordinate it with the groom’s attire to get those picturesque moments. If you are choosing a natural place like mountains or a beach, make sure you don’t opt for heels and choose the shoes that are comfortable walking in. Choose a more natural-looking makeup that goes well with the venue that you selected and make sure you have planned this well in advance.
Ceremony
Picture Courtesy: @pablo_laguia
Rings – It’s nice to still exchange wedding bands/rings – so keep your pair ready and bring them to your ceremony.
Vows – Elopement weddings are known to be more flexible than traditional church weddings, in that sense, personalize your vows to make your other half feel extra special.
Officiant – Book them in advance. If you have an officiant in the family, include them as a part of your ceremony. It will make them feel special.
Legal
Picture Courtesy: @thehearnes
Marriage License – The most important step on your elopement to-do list, especially in the case of overseas nuptials, should be securing your marriage license.
Witness – Depending upon the state or country that you are getting married in, you need to check if you require witnesses for your nuptial or not.
Post Elopement
Picture Courtesy: @colbyandjess
Announcement- Next up on the elopement checklist comes the moment you’ve (hardly) been waiting for. It’s time to tell your friends and family that you are officially off the market! Be sensitive while announcing if it a post elopement announcement as it can be a bit shocking to a few families as they might feel left out. An in-person announcement is recommended to give it a more personal touch.
Wedding Party – Let us remind you that although your elopement may have lacked much of the pomp and circumstance of a large wedding, it’s still a huge deal! Celebrate accordingly. This could mean a quick trip to the wine bar, an intimate dinner with your closest family and friends, or even a just-the-two-of-you tropical getaway courtesy of all that cash you saved.
Feature Image Credit: @williamsphotography_nz
