I’ve been in the wedding industry since 2012 and I’ve learned that big weddings are beautiful and so so fun, but there is something special about an intimate wedding. Before I was even engaged, I’d said, “When I get married I just want to grab our parents and go to the beach.” And that’s exactly what we did. Well not “exactly” as we also had a huge party with friends and extended family later BUT for the day we got married we kept it sweet and simple and I wouldn’t have changed that for anything. Between my professional and personal experience I want to offer the benefits of an intimate wedding:

1. The Bottom Line

   A huge proponent of an elopement is that you’re undoubtedly going to save money AND the money you’ve designated towards your big day can be spent on quality over quanitity. Your budget is so much more flexible if you’re not pumping hundreds of people full of food and booze. It gives you leverage to get the designer dress, the photographer of your dreams, or the meal of a lifetime

2. Spotlight the love

   Heres the thing- a wedding is about two people committing their love to one another. I totally understand why people would want all their friends and family to witness this, but an intimate wedding isn’t less special or sacred. Infact they’re often a bit more emotional and romantic.

3. Simplify your planning

   So much goes out the window when you’re eloping. (If you want!) You don’t have to send out save the dates, or work on your guest list, or choose colors, or coordinate with a million vendors, or create nuanced timelines, or wrangle wedding party people. All these things can create beautiful days but make no mistake they take effort and energy. When you elope you can kiss these goodbye or choose to what degree you want to engage with these things

4. Relax on the day of

   Not having a huge wedding is SO much more relaxing!! Planning is more relaxed but even more THE DAY is more relaxed. Theres so much more opportunity for PRESENCE! To me this is key because on my wedding day thats all I wanted. I wanted to burn in every moment and take in what a sacred day it was. It also allows for so much more time to take photos- time that you’re enaged with and enjoying and not just trying to get to cocktail hour because you haven’t eaten all day

5. Experiential Excellence

   Eloping allows you to tailor the experience to your every desire- This means: make it a vacation (whether is a destination or not); treat yourself like kings and queens. Indulge in the sensorial things that make you so happy. our intimate wedding included getting a dreamy AirBnB and taking our parents and siblings on a trip together in a beautiful places. You can even make it an exertion of your honeymoon. As people who love to travel, we’re so lucky to have documented elopements and intimate weddings in truly magical places: New York, Santa Barbara, Big Sur, and Laguna Beach to name a few of our favorites. We can’t wait to hear where and how you want to do yours. Check out some highlights from three different elopements below and get in touch here when you’re ready to book!