Eloping has become a way for couples to take back control of their wedding day and celebrate in a way that makes the day about them. But just because a couple wants to elope doesn’t necessarily mean they want to leave their loved ones out of their day. Many couples decide to elope with family and friends to make the day even more special and to create beautiful memories together.
If you’ve wondered how to plan an elopement with family, can you even bring guests with you when you elope, or what it would look like to bring your closest relationships along on your elopement journey, then you’ve landed in the right place!
As an elopement photographer, I work with couples who decide to elope for various reasons, but many of them still decide to include their closest relationships in their experience. I’ve seen firsthand how special it is to be able to spend this day together, and I wrote this guide to help you decide if a family elopement is for you and if so, how to plan yours.
Can You Elope with Family?
The short answer is yes! You can absolutely elope and still have your family and friends present! While in the past eloping was a secret marriage, nowadays it’s simply a term used for an intimate wedding, often taking place outdoors in an untraditional location.
Eloping with your family is a great way to create a meaningful wedding experience while still celebrating with the people you love most. Because, lets face it, getting married is a big deal, and for many couples, it’s important to have their loved ones by their side for such a big moment in their lives!
Learn more about the modern definition of “elope.”
Should You Include Family in Your Elopement?
The wonderful thing about eloping is that there is no right or wrong way to go about it. That goes for what you do on your elopement and who you do it with.
Deciding whether or not to bring family or friends along on your elopement can be a difficult decision. There are pros and cons to both choices, and ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what is best for you and your individual family dynamics.
Reasons You Should Include Family in Your Elopement
- It’s important to have your loved ones with you when you get married
- You can make special memories together
- You want a party of some sort, but you want to be intentional with who and how you celebrate
- You want to be surrounded by the people you love the most on your wedding day
Reasons to Not Elope with Family
- Family can come with drama and opinions
- To some extent, you will have to be hosts
- You’re just not that close with your relatives
- You would rather spend the day doing something fun than planning an event (even a small one)
How to Plan an Elopement with Family
Planning an elopement with guests isn’t much different than planning an intimate, 2-person elopement. The biggest difference is that you will need to account for your family’s abilities when deciding on locations and take into account that a group limits some things.
Psst! I have a complete guide to planning an elopement here!
But don’t worry! Even if a big adventure is calling your name for your elopement, there are plenty of options to make your elopement day unique, include your favorite activities, and still include your loved ones!
Start Dreaming Up Your Elopement
The first thing you need to do is cast a vision for your elopement experience. Start dreaming up the big picture of where you want to elope, what kind of experiences you want, and who is most important to have by your side during your day.
Once you have a general vision for your day, you can start deciding on more specific details, such as a date and location.
Get inspired by this Yellowstone elopement with family!
Decide Who to Invite
While there’s no technical number for how many people can be present to still qualify as an elopement, it’s generally accepted that an elopement has 20 or fewer people.
When narrowing down the guest list, remember that you are not obligated to invite everything: just the people you want present at your wedding.
How to Invite Family to Your Elopement
One of the best ways you can invite your loved ones is to tell them personally, either in person or via a video call. Share your decision and extend them a formal invite, making sure they know how important it is for you to have them there with you.
You can follow up with a physical invite with the details for your day. Make sure to share your plans with your family so they can know what to expect and begin planning, especially if you’ll be having a destination elopement.
Book Your Accommodations
One option many couples who elope with family go for is to stay in a private rental like an Airbnb to spend more time with their families. This is a great option if you’ll be using your elopement as a vacation and want to spend as much time as possible together!
Other accommodation options include group cabin rentals, hotel rooms, group glamping, or even group camping.
How to Plan Out the Details of Your Family Elopement
- Hire Your Elopement Photographer
- Decide on a Location
- Choose a Date
- Book Your Other Vendors
- Have a Beautiful Elopement!
Hire Your Elopement Photographer
A good elopement photographer will not only make documenting your day a fun experience but will make planning it even easier! Many elopement photographers will help with planning, including location scouting, applying for permits, choosing the best date, and more. I include those services and more in all of my elopement packages to help make my couples elopement experience as easy as possible.
Decide on a Location
Deciding where to elope is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make during your planning process. It’s also a really exciting decision! Think about the kind of scenery you want to be surrounded by when you share your vows and start to narrow down a region, state, or even
Check out these elopement locations for inspiration!
Choose a Date
Once you have decided on a location, you’ll need to choose a date. Your location will need to be taken into account when choosing a date to make sure you elope during the best weather and to ensure your location is accessible, as some natural areas are inaccessible at certain times of the year.
Book Your Other Vendors
Once your date and location are set, you’ll want to begin hiring any other vendors you plan on including in your day.
The most popular elopement vendors include:
- Videographer
- Caterer
- Florist
- Hair and makeup artist
Have a Beautiful Elopement!
All that’s left now is to celebrate the big day! It’s going to be amazing!
Ideas for your Elopement with Family
Still looking for some inspiration? Here are some of the best ways to celebrate your elopement with your family!
Celebrate with a 2-Day Elopement
Love the idea of a big adventure for your day, but still want time with your family? You can do both! A multi-day elopement is the perfect way to celebrate in a big way while still having time to celebrate with your loved ones.
I offer 2-day elopement packages so you can dedicate one day to being with your family and one day to celebrate with just the two of you in your own way. Contact me to learn more about multi-day elopements.
Have a Picnic Together
Whether you spend the whole day together and re-unite for a meal together, a picnic is a fun way to fellowship with your loved ones on your elopement day. Make it extra fancy and set up some fancy table dressings, light some candles, and enjoy your time together over some good food on your wedding day.
Rent an Airbnb
Renting a private rental for your elopement is a great way to spend your whole elopement experience with your family. From making breakfast together on the morning of your elopement to getting dressed to relaxing together after the day is over.
If you want to hold your ceremony at your rental, make sure to ask the host if they allow elopements before you book.
Check out these other elopement activity ideas!
At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is that this day is just the beginning. No matter how you decide to get married, who’s with you, or where the day takes place, your marriage should be the focal point of your day. Getting to celebrate with the people who love you most is just the icing on the cake!
Happy eloping!
