What Does It Mean To Elope?
The definition of what is an elopement will differ from person to person, but at the core, what does it mean to elope? In my opinion, here’s what an elopement is: An elopement is an intentional choice to commit yourself to your spouse in a way that’s authentic to who you are as people, free of the of obligation of others and popular culture. In short, it’s not about running away to be married in secret, or climbing a mountain. Rather, it’s about finding a way to celebrate your love that’s authentic to who you are. Whether that incorporates guests, or traditional wedding aspects, beach, or destinations is up to you!
The sea and the beach were amazing backdrops for the ceremony and reception, the venue was picturesque yet intimate and our guests enjoyed themselves—and their drinks!
Izabella- micro wedding bride.
What Is a Micro-wedding?
A micro wedding or minimony, like its name suggests, will typically include a guest list of up to 30 guests—often immediate family and super-close friends only. Though tiny in guest count, a microwedding differs from a minimony. Plus, it isn’t an elopement, which is usually planned and attended only by the couple (and a witness) and often performed in secret (though not always). Think of a microwedding as a cross between an elopement and a big, traditional wedding—and it might just be the perfect compromise to suit your style.
One of the main differences between an elopement vs wedding is the amount of time spent planning.
When it comes to an elopement, the couple getting married can decide that they want to elope fairly quickly! That’s because the time spent planning an elopement can be relatively minimal.
Some super spontaneous couples may plan their entire elopement in just a few days (if they can find a photographer), while others may take a few months. However, this is still significantly less than how long it takes to plan a wedding.
Wedding planning typically takes anywhere between six and eighteen months. Yes, you read that right! That’s because weddings are usually a lot larger of an event than an elopement, and the couple has a lot to sort out, which is why many couples choose to work with a wedding planner.
Planning an elopement can be a lot less stressful than planning a large wedding event since less vendors and guests are involved. That being said, elopements can lead to disappointment with family and friends that want to be more involved in your wedding, and telling your parents you’re going to elope is not always easy.
Meanwhile, a wedding has a larger guest list, can take almost a year to plan on some occasions, and can potentially come with drama of its own. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but with more people means a higher potential of some butting heads and needing to keep more family and people happy with your decisions. .
On the actual day, an elopement becomes a lot less stressful because you’ll most likely only invite close friends and family, you won’t be on a tight schedule and there’s simply less to worry about. This is especially the case if you and your soon-to-be-spouse choose to be the only ones in attendance besides your photographer and officiant!
Elopement or large wedding, the photography on your big day will be immaculate. However, there are a few differences between elopement photography and wedding photography.
With wedding photography, your photographer will most likely have a list of shots in their mind they will be trying to get through throughout the day and a schedule in place to ensure all of those photos are taken.
On the other hand, with fewer formalities to be photographed, there’s more room for unique photo opportunities, more couples photos, and the timeline won’t be quite as tight.
