One of many myths about elopements is that they’re for couples who don’t want to spend money on their wedding day - that they’re a “cheap” way to get married.
While elopements tend to cost significantly less than a traditional wedding, this happens because couples shift their priorities. Instead of spending money on things you won’t use again and paying for a big party that you hardly get to enjoy, eloping allows you to decide what’s important to you, and where you want to spend your hard earned cash!
This brings the cost of eloping down a ton - but this is still your wedding day, and I think that’s worth investing in. It’s all about deciding what’s important for your day, and what isn’t! In this guide, we’ll compare the cost of eloping to the cost of a traditional wedding, and go over what things couples include in their elopement budget.
The Average Cost of an Elopement
In the US, the average wedding costs over $30,000! That’s a pretty hefty price tag, and more and more couples are realizing that they just don’t want to shell out the cost of a new car for their wedding.
The average cost of an elopement is a little harder to define, because every elopement is so different! Eloping means there are no rules, so your day is totally customizable. You can elope at the courthouse for just the cost of a marriage license, or you can fly across the globe to elope at a luxurious resort - and of course, the budget will look so different.
I’m a big advocate for investing in your elopement, and making sure that you’re prioritizing the experience you have. But, it’s not how much money you spend that determines the value! We’ll talk about what goes into an elopement budget later in this guide, but most couples who have an adventure elopement spend between $5,000 and $15,000, making the average cost of an elopement around $10,000.
Tips for Creating an Elopement Budget
One of the first things you should do when planning any wedding is to come up with a budget! Sitting down with your partner and communicating your expectations and plans will ensure a smoother planning process.
To create your elopement budget, I recommend starting by talking about what your priorities are - what’s important to you for your elopement? You can both make a list of what you’re envisioning, and what you want your elopement day to include. I recommend actually writing this down to keep track!
Include anything and everything that you can think of - in the beginning, it’s good to let your imagination run wild and dream big. Write down what kind of scenery you want to see, if there are places you want to consider for your ceremony location, any activities that you want to do, and anything that comes to mind. Make notes about things that are “must haves,” things that are “wants,” and things that you’ve thought of but aren’t set on. Talk together about what’s most important - for some people, what they wear for the ceremony is a priority, while others would rather buy a budget dress or suit and spend that money elsewhere. It’s all about deciding what matters to you!
The Cost of Eloping vs. the Cost of a Traditional Wedding
Here’s a quick budget breakdown considering the average cost of eloping vs the cost of a traditional wedding!
Elopement Budget Checklist
When you’ve made a list of priorities, it’s time to create the elopement budget, and be specific about how much you’ll be spending! Not every elopement will include all of these things, but here are some things that can go into the elopement budget, and a more detailed breakdown of the average cost of eloping.
Wedding Permit
Some locations require a permit - this usually ranges from $50 - $400, though some places are free to get married in! NAtional and state parks usually have entrance fees as well, averaging $30 for national parks and $10 for state parks.
Ceremony Attire
Ceremony attire can include dresses, suits, shoes, and any other accessories that you want for your elopement!
Wedding dresses for an elopement typically range from $500 - $2,000 if you go to a bridal shop. BHLDN and Daci Gowns are both great shops, offering tons of variety in styles for every budget. Lulus is a really amazing place to find dresses that are much less expensive, and you can even check your favorite stores for cute dresses that you could wear again. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of alterations, if necessary - these usually range from $100 - $1,000.
Suits come in every budget as well, usually ranging from $200 - $600 on average. For more casual elopements, you might also go with a simple button up and dress pants. The Black Tux is an amazing place to get your elopement suit, and Men’s Warehouse has a wide variety of styles. For gender neutral suits, Bindle and Keep is the best! Alteration costs can be a factor as well, ranging from $30 - $100 on average.
Hair and Makeup
At a traditional wedding, some couples pay for their wedding party or family members to get hair and makeup done as well, which can add up! For an elopement, it’ll likely be just one or both of you, which averages $200 - $500 per person.
Florals
Adding flowers to your elopement is a great way to instantly elevate the look and feel of your day. Florals can include bouquets, boutonniere, arch and arbor decorations, hair accessories, and matching collars for your dog! On average, a professional florist ranges from $200 - $1,000.
Officiant
Some couples choose not to hire an officiant for their elopement (hi! I can legally sign as your officiant and I do this for my clients for free), but if you do go with a professional, they typically range from $100 - $500.
Food and Cake
Not paying for catering for 200 guests saves a ton of money! The food for your elopement day can range from a picnic with store bought ingredients or a private chef, ranging from $20 - $1,500. Getting a cake or other dessert is a fun way to celebrate on your elopement day, and can range from a $20 grocery store cake to a $300 one by a professional baker.
Vow Books
Even if you write your vows in the notes app, transfer them to a piece of paper! Even just scrap paper works great, and looks much better in photos, but you can also get cute personalized vow books for about $30.
Travel to Your Elopement Location
One of the things to think about when planning your elopement is how you’ll get to your location. Of course, this will vary a ton depending on where you elope. Think about plane tickets and rental car costs, if you’re traveling far from home!
Lodging for Your Elopement
You’ll need a place to stay, and a home away from home to come back to after a day of elopement adventures! You can often camp for free, or you can book a luxurious, relaxing resort at your elopement location. Of course, there are tons of options in between as well! In most places, Airbnb is the best place to find accommodations that are budget friendly, with the privacy and amenities you want on your day.
Elopement Activities
One of the most exciting parts of your elopement is planning the adventure you’ll have! You can hike, kayak, take a helicopter tour, rent a boat, snorkel, have a picnic, stargaze, and anything else you can possibly imagine. Your budget will vary depending on what you want to do, so think about what would make this day truly incredible.
Elopement Photographer
A photographer will be one of the biggest investments you make for your elopement, but it’s so worth it! Documenting these memories is so important, and being able to look back on your photos is something you’ll treasure forever.
My couples, on average, spend $4000 booking me. This includes planning assistance, location recommendations, and everything you could possibly need to plan your adventurous elopement - at any budget! Looking to start planning your elopement? Click HERE to contact me.
