How to Save Money on Your Elopement
I’ve hesitated to publish this blog for some time, for the simple reason that I believe in deeply valuing your wedding day. So, I wanted to make sure I could best express that deeply held value, while also respecting eloping on a budget.
Just to get it out of the way: I work in the wedding industry, which at its core is a luxury industry. But it also doesn’t have to be something outpriced to many couples.
Truthfully, all you need to get legally married is a courthouse, some paperwork, and an officiant. No, really—you can just pay for a marriage license, and that’s it! And it can be just as meaningful as a big to-do for some couples.
All the pomp and circumstance that comes from elopements and weddings outside of that legal stuff, is all for the experience. And that experience is oh-so-worth it for many couples. In fact, I was only going to get married at the courthouse until I realized I could get married in a national park—which felt so much more meaningful to me than a church or venue. To each their own!
However, you also need to be realistic about your wedding and budget. No one should go into serious debt for just one day! But you also don’t need to sacrifice a truly special moment if that’s what’s important for you. If you’re down to be flexible and clever, there are ways to save.
Read through to get some tips for saving money at your outdoor wedding or elopement while still having an amazing experience.
Affordable Locations for Wedding Ceremonies
Wedding venues are notoriously expensive—but there's a good reason for that. Keeping the lights on at a beautiful wedding venue is no small feat. Venues are often equipped with multiple rooms or outdoor areas, bathrooms, kitchens, and more.
But there are places you can go to get hitched for less!
Public Land: Places like National Forest land and Bureau of Land Management land are free for groups under 75 (depending on the area). And most national parks have a permit fee that ranges from $100 (Saguaro) to $300 (Death Valley). Some photographers (myself included) have discounts on travel fees if you book in areas they're already traveling to or live in.
Smaller Venues: You may be able to find venues that are either smaller or have elopement packages. Idyllwild is a prime example like this, with many venues offering wedding OR elopement packages. Or, if you’re lucky, maybe you have a friend or family member with a backyard. Alternative examples include affordable Airbnbs, short-term rentals, community spaces within apartment complexes, local restaurants and breweries, and so much more. It can take a little research, but you can find budget options all over the place.
Skip Travel: Your local park might have a spot to rent for weddings. Having a local wedding means less money spent on travel. Think about how gas, hotels, dining, and more add up. Consider close-to-home options to reduce costs.
Check out my travel schedule for possible discounted dates or waived travel fees
DIY Wedding Items
What’s the best thing for your wallet and the environment? Get crafty and do some DIY work! Things like bouquets, centerpieces, and handfasting cords can all be made at home!
I’ve even had clients making their own wedding clothes. How fun is that?
Lean on your friends, family and guests to organize something more handcrafted. It can feel more meaningful than just paying your way through everything.
Example: Caitlin & Keith wanted a handfasting ceremony, so they made their own cord featuring colors that had individual meanings to them. Read the story >
Thrifting, Second Hand Buys, & Sales
It’s no secret that we, as humans, overproduce. Most of the items you might buy for a wedding day already exist, which is good news if you're price shopping!
Think of the items you need, then go out into the world to find them! You can go to thrift and second-hand stores to find goodies—or search on Facebook or Nextdoor for buy-nothing and second-hand groups.
I myself have even found wedding dresses in thrift stores and second-hand resale sites like Poshmark. You can also check cheaper wedding dress sites like Still White, Lulu’s, ASOS, Reclamation, or look at your favorite retailers for discounts and sales.
Or check out resale locations like Brides for a Cause. They sell gently-used wedding dresses and have locations in Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, and more.
This is good for the planet as well, and can be a fun activity to do with a fiancé or loved one!
Example: Yooree wanted multiple dresses for her wedding day to represent the various cultures in her life. Her traditional Korean hanbok was custom-made, so she wanted to spend less money on a Western wedding dress. So she stopped by Brides for a Cause. Read the story >
Things to consider when buying a used wedding dress: As always, there are things to consider when buying used. Second-hand dresses might have stains, wear and tear, or even damage. Unless you find the perfect fit, you’ll likely need to get alterations, which can raise the cost.
Vendors
Tap your friend group. Do you know a friend or family member who’s willing to do your hair and makeup? Or a designer who can make your invitations? Or maybe a family member who’s a chef?
There might be people around you with the skills you need. Or shop around to find the right price. Just be aware that the adage “you get what you pay for” is often correct. Read reviews or ask for testimonials from any too-good-to-be-true vendor.
Food
Skip caterers and private chefs and make your own food. This can look like buying your favorite foods and desserts from the store for a picnic. Or get the ingredients and cook together with all your guests, making for a fun and memorable moment!
Don’t skip dessert! Get a regular cake or another dessert from a local bakery, or head to a regular store and buy a cake, donuts, cupcakes, or another favorite dessert. Make it interactive with s’mores!
Example: Caro & Toni skipped hiring a caterer, mostly because their family are great cooks! Isiah and I can confirm it was amazing. Read the story >
Example: Lauryn & Jameson have a favorite bakery at home. And since they had a true elopement (no guests) they just brought some desserts from that spot. Read the story >
Things to consider when making your own food and cake: Making food for large groups of people can be stressful. You’ll have to consider buying ingredients, satisfying everyone’s dietary restrictions, and the time it takes to make everything.
The same can apply to cakes and desserts, especially if you need to transport these items. Cakes can easily melt or fall in the backseat of a car! So, be careful.
Hair & Makeup
Are you really good at hair and makeup? Maybe you have a friend or family member who can do it. Or just embrace your natural good looks and go minimal.
Example: Belle getting her hair done by her sister, who is a professional hair stylist. Read the story >
Things to consider for hair and makeup: There’s some things you need to know in this department. Unless you or your friend/family member is a pro, hair and makeup can be a really stressful addition to your wedding day. You wake up early, you’re nervous about the day, and nervous about getting it right—which can lead to extra stress or slowdowns in your schedule.
If you’re traveling to your wedding, you might be doing your hair and makeup in an environment you’re not used to, which means hair that stays put at home might fall out in a drier climate. You might be moving a lot or sweating, which can impact makeup. I’ve seen this time and time again, with couples being late or upset about hair and makeup issues.
Florals & Bouquet
Storage requirements and taxes make flowers surprisingly expensive! I love a good flower vendor, but sometimes you have to skip it. Whether that’s budget or leave no trace requirements, which sometimes don’t allow for florals in certain parks.
The easiest thing is to skip a bouquet altogether. But where’s the fun in that?! You can always get a bouquet from a smaller floral shop or make your own with flowers from Trader Joe’s or somewhere similar.
You can also save money by skipping live flowers and going for faux ones. Sometimes, these can be cheaper, but they will also last longer, meaning you can reuse them as decor in your home. Faux florals come in many different types, such as wood, silk, and more.
Example: Melody & Tyler wanted a bouquet and some florals for their wedding site, but Death Valley doesn’t allow live flowers so they got the most realistic silk flowers I’ve ever seen. Read the story >
Things to consider for elopement bouquets: There is quite a bit more that goes into creating a perfect wedding bouquet than you might think. Some flowers need days to open, while some need to be prepared right before the day. You might even have a mix of flowers like these in your bouquet.
You’ll also be transporting flowers, which can prove to be tricky, especially when temperatures are very warm or very cold. Oh, and from experience: making your own boutonnieres is difficult. They will fall apart or be unbalanced.
On Stress, Skill, and Creativity—and Hiring Vendors
I hope you’ve gotten some good ideas from this blog, but I can’t end this with mentioning something very important: hiring good vendors is always worth it.
Wedding vendors are skilled, creative, and knowledgeable. There’s a reason they charge so much for weddings—years of experience that can’t be replicated by just anyone. You’re not just paying for their time and resources, but their years and years of knowledge as well.
The other added benefit of hiring good vendors is reducing stress. The best vendors will take over and make your dream a reality. As a wedding photographer with 5+ years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand what can happen if you aren’t prepared or skilled enough to pull something off.
Things like being late because hair and makeup took too long, desserts melting in the heat, and boutonnieres falling off of suits or flowers wilting are all examples I’ve seen happen.
It’s up to you to choose what’s important on your wedding day. And hopefully, I’ve helped you get some ideas on where you can and can’t cut corners.
