Intimate Wedding vs Elopement: What’s the Difference?
Intimate Weddings vs Elopements: What’s the Difference?
Intimate Weddings vs Elopements: What’s the Difference?
If you are planning a wedding and are feeling confused about the different terms being thrown around, you are not alone! Elopement? Intimate Wedding? Micro Wedding? With all these words floating around in the wedding industry, it can be hard to know what’s what and what type of event you should plan for your wedding day. After all, you want to get married to your partner, but what is the best way to go about doing it?
As an elopement and intimate wedding photographer, I always encourage couples to do what they want and what feels right for them on their wedding day. I believe that each couple should have their own unique experience and create a custom wedding day that fits their dreams and desires. So keep reading to find out the difference between elopements and intimate weddings and how to know which one you should plan.
What is an Elopement?
An elopement is an intimate and true celebration of your love. It is an event that signifies the start of your married life together. Unlike what the word used to mean (running away to get married in secret), eloping now means planning the wedding day your way and forgetting about industry trends or all the “rules” you must follow. An elopement is all about creating a day that celebrates you, and a day that is planned around things that matter the most to you and your partner.
Want to know more about elopements? Check out this in-depth blog post on What is an Elopement?
What is an Intimate Wedding?
An intimate wedding is a combination of an elopement and a traditional wedding. It takes the best aspects of each and allows you to plan a day that includes only those details that are most important to you.
Intimate weddings focus more on feelings rather than traditions and expectations. Intimate weddings tend to be a bit more formalized than elopements and they allow for many of the fun details and structures that you might think of when it comes to a traditional wedding. They are the perfect way to include a few guests at your wedding while still maintaining intimacy and a focus on you as the couple.
3 Key Differences Between Elopements and Intimate Weddings
Now that you’re familiar with the difference between an elopement and an intimate wedding, let’s look at some of the key ways these celebrations and types of weddings are different.
Intimate Weddings and Elopements Are Different in Size
No matter which way you choose to get married, my advice to couples is to always invite those people who make you feel loved and supported; the people in your life who you can’t imagine getting married without. Whether that is 5 people or 50 people, the number doesn’t really matter; it’s the feeling of love and support around you on one of the biggest days of your life!
That being said, one of the biggest differences between intimate weddings and elopements is the guest count. In general, an elopement consists of you as a couple, and 3-10 closest friends or family. whereas an intimate wedding includes around 10-30 guests. As intimate weddings include more people and there are usually more details that go into the day that may require additional planning that’s similar to what traditional weddings would require (ie - venue, reception decor, catering, etc.)
At the end of the day, it’s not so much about the exact number of guests you invite as it is about choosing to invite those who love and support you most.
Location Availability
Another main difference between elopements and intimate weddings is the location. Oftentimes, intimate weddings will have a venue. It can be a restaurant, a backyard, an event space, or even a destination location. Elopements, on the other hand, often take place outdoors, at a city hall, an Airbnb, or in a destination location but they do not require a venue and a place to seat or house guests.
Intimate Weddings Include Hosting While Elopements Don’t
Since intimate weddings follow much of the same structure as traditional weddings, there is often a reception or party after the wedding ceremony. Guests may be traveling from all around to attend the wedding so there is an element of hosting involved with intimate weddings. Elopements, on the other hand, are much more laid back in nature and even if they include guests, there is no expectation to host. Oftentimes, after the ceremony, the couple and I will go off on an adventure to take more photos together and experience their wedding location. This could be for a few hours before they head back to see their guests. Even if there is a reception dinner involved, there is an understanding that the elopement day is about the couple and they get to choose how they want to spend the day.
Check out this full Santorini Intimate Wedding Story here
Intimate Wedding & Elopement Packages: What’s Included?
When it comes to taking photos for elopements and intimate weddings, my process is relatively similar for both. My approach to your wedding photos doesn’t depend so much on what type of event you plan or how many guests you invite so much as on taking photos of the things and moments that matter the most to you. What it comes down to is how we plan your day together to capture these special moments and all the activities of the day.
Depending on what you’re after, most of my elopement packages include photos from the first getting-ready moments, detail photos, to the first look, to the ceremony and portraits. I’ll also take photos of anything else you have planned for your day whether it be an adventure hike, exploring a new city together, or hanging out at your Airbnb enjoying the scenery or the atmosphere of the place.
Intimate wedding packages include everything in an elopement package as well as candid and formal photos of your family and friends, other special first looks with guests, family and friend group formal photos, and dinner or mini reception photos. Since intimate weddings reflect a similar setup to traditional weddings, these are many of the moments that you would find at a traditional wedding but of course, the best part is that you can ditch anything you don’t care for. This day is about you after all.
Apart from capturing your special day and moments, my involvement in your day goes way past showing up and taking photos. Throughout the planning process, I also help all my couples with timeline planning around their photos whether they book an elopement or an intimate wedding. This option is always available and is fully customizable to what works best for your day. Click here to learn more about Elopement & Intimate Wedding Packages.
What Do You Need to Elope?
One of the best things about elopements is that you don’t need much to plan a beautiful day! You can elope with as little as yourself and an officiant, though the couples I work with oftentimes want to also create a day of experiences together. So, what do you need to elope?
A kick-ass photographer, aka Will Khoury to document your day (😉😉). But in all honesty, I placed myself as your photographer on top of this list because everything listed here is what I love helping and guiding couples with as part of my having me as your photographer. How awesome and easy is that?!!
Location - find a location that speaks to your heart!
Officiant - In almost every location (except for a few states) you will need an officiant to officiate your ceremony and sign your paperwork. I, as your photographer, can also be a witness if you’re eloping with just the two of you.
Videographer - I can go on and on about video, but a videographer can help tell your story by incorporating the most important aspects of your day and weaving them together to tell a cohesive story. Photo+Video collections are also an available option if you’re interested in both, just mention it when you reach out!
Permits - If the ceremony is at a public location such as a National Parks, or State Parks. etc.
Lodging - If you’re going to elope, why not make a trip out of it and spend the night somewhere epic? Whether it’s overseas or on the other side of town, your elopement day deserves to be fully celebrated, and these awesome places can be part of your story!
Activities/things to make the day special - This can look like anything you want, and honestly, the possibilities are endless! Spend some time dreaming with your partner about what you want your day to look like and what elements you can include to make your day even more special!
What Do You Need to Plan an Intimate Wedding?
While you may choose to incorporate all the details listed above, there may be some additional details you want to plan for your intimate wedding.
Venue/Airbnb - This can be different from your ceremony location or the same depending on what your vision is and what the location allows.
Officiant - A fun option can be to have a family member get ordained and officiate your ceremony - This option is always my favorite as it can include personal stories and sentimental elements.
Photographer - in addition to your couple's portraits, candid and formal moments can also be captured throughout your day. Think family portraits, maybe a first look with a parent or a must-have photo with your childhood friend.
Permits - If the ceremony is at a public location.
Lodging - Will your guests need somewhere to stay? If so, you may want to consider a convenient location near your venue.
Wedding day timeline - This can be however you wish for your day to be, but make sure to account for some flexibility to spend time with your guests.
Hosting guests - This can also be in any shape and form that you wish, but make sure to find ways to fill their time while they are celebrating you. Ie, games, food, relaxation, or any activity that they’re into.
Additional vendors - Catering, Decorations, Flowers, HMUA, Music, etc.
Intimate Weddings vs Elopements: Which one is right for you?
Deciding on an elopement or an intimate wedding can be a tough task, especially since what you’re after is unique to you. So where do you start? My first piece of advice is to sit down with your partner and talk and dream together. Ask yourself some important decision-making questions to help you narrow down which wedding is right for you.
What does your elopement day look like?
What do you want your main focus to be?
Do you want more privacy on your day?
How do you want to spend your time on your wedding day?
What experiences/activities do you see yourself doing on your wedding day?
What do you and your partner value the most?
Are you looking for a personalized approach when it comes to celebrating your relationship?
What is your budget? Is someone helping you with the additional costs?
Does the thought of planning a wedding with guests stress you out?
Are you interested in following wedding rules/traditions or do you like a personalized experience?
Is there anyone that you couldn’t imagine getting married without?
Are you a traditional couple or do you want to do something out of the ordinary?
Are the details important to you or do would you rather go with the flow?
Hopefully, by now, you’re much more familiar with the difference between an intimate wedding and an elopement. But, if you’re still unsure and have more questions, then I’d love to hear from you and help you with your decision. Feel free to comment below with your questions, or fill out my contact form to set up a free consultation so we can chat about your awesome plans and take the next step in celebrating in a way that speaks to you.
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