Some people may find it paradoxical to hire an elopement planner as elopements are often associated with spontaneity and a sense of freedom from traditional planning. However, to ensure a seamless, enjoyable and stress-free elopement wedding, an experienced planner can prove to be an invaluable asset.
Here are some compelling reasons why hiring an elopement planner should be on your to-do list:
- To ensure a stress-free wedding
- To negotiate the best deals possible
- To tailor the wedding to your budget
- To experience a smooth wedding day
- To get assistance with legal paperwork
- To bring your unique wedding dreams to life
What Is An Elopement Wedding?
Initially, eloping was a practice where couples ran away to marry in secret, without informing anyone. This concept has evolved into a modern wedding trend where a couple can marry intimately at a romantic destination. Sometimes close friends or family may be informed but not necessarily invited to the ceremony.
Couples often choose elopement weddings if their union is not approved by their families or they desire a more intimate and economical alternative to a grand ceremony and reception.
An elopement planner is a professional coordinator who can manage every aspect of your elopement wedding, offering a range of packages to suit different budgets. These packages typically cover:
- Destination wedding venue and decoration
- Ceremony planning
- In-house photographer
- Romantic dinner
- Accommodation
- Hair and makeup
- Wardrobe rental
Is it Worth Hiring an Elopement Planner?
Stress-Free Wedding
Hiring an elopement planner means transferring the stress of planning to an expert. Managing vendors, booking a venue, choosing outfits, hiring makeup artists, decorating the venue can be daunting. By hiring an elopement planner, these tasks are taken care of, ensuring a relaxed planning process and a seamless wedding day.
Best Wedding Deals Possible
When you deal with vendors individually, the process can be tiring and time-consuming. With an elopement planner, you gain access to exclusive deals and discounts due to their long-standing relationships with vendors. This can result in significant savings and competitive wedding packages.
Budget-Friendly Wedding
An elopement planner can design a dream wedding that aligns with your budget. Regular weddings can cost $30,000 and more, but elopement weddings can be accomplished with a fraction of that cost.
Planners offer different packages to cater to varied budgets and are adept at negotiating deals to ensure you get the best value.
Smoother Wedding Day
On the actual wedding day, you can expect a few hiccups. The minister might be late, the catering may have some issues, or the weather might be uncooperative. That might be stressful for you if you’re the one who planned the wedding and you’re the one who needs to solve these issues.
An elopement planner is fully prepared for these scenarios. They have Plan Bs for everything so that you no longer have to worry about anything. All you need to do is to get married while they figure out solutions for these problems. They are more equipped to handle these hiccups because of their experience and their connections to different vendors. By giving up the wedding coordination responsibilities to them, you can fully enjoy your special day.
Take Care Of Legal Paperwork
Elopement weddings are completely legal. All you need to do is to abide by the marriage laws in the state or country you plan to get married in. This can be tricky because most elopement weddings are destination weddings which means that you’ll get married abroad or in a different state.
Most couples opt for an elopement wedding and then deal with the legalities later on. The wedding is when they announce their vows and promises to one another, but the ceremony isn’t legally binding unless the government requirements are completed. An elopement wedding planner can help you secure a legal officiant, witnesses, the marriage license, and more.
Make Your Wedding Dreams Come True
Elopement weddings are intimate and special. They’re also known as micro-weddings because they’re so small, with the attendance including the couple, the witnesses, and the officiant. If you really want to achieve the elopement wedding of your dreams that is truly based on you and your partner’s preferences, then an elopement planner can help you out.
All you need to do is to clearly outline your wedding preferences. For example, if you wish to get married in the woods during springtime, with lots of warm colors and a scenic trail that represents your adventurous side, then your wedding planner can make it happen. Conversely, if you have no idea what you want your wedding to look like, an elopement planner can help you out by providing resources and vision boards so that you can pick one that feels right for you.
Factors To Consider When Hiring An Elopement Planner
Outdoors Venue Options
Elopement weddings are usually held in the great outdoors, from beaches to the woods. Make sure that the elopement planner you hire has plenty of options for outdoor venues. Aside from that, they must also be experienced with planning weddings outdoors. They should have proposals for back-up plans when weather conditions go awry. They should be able to navigate these outdoor venues without getting lost. They must also pack outdoor essentials and have the utmost respect for these venues.
Sample Portfolio
The best way to gauge a planner’s skill is to ask for their previous samples. Ask for their website, blog, or portfolio which will give you a preview of what they can offer. Go over their previous partnerships and look up customer reviews. These may not offer you a full disclosure of the kind of services they offer, but the additional information is still handy.
Resources For Elopement Clientele
There are many wedding planners in the market but not all specialize in elopement weddings. Check the planner to see what kind of elopement-related resources they can offer. Their network must be composed of elopement-based vendors. They should also be flawless in executing your dream elopement wedding.
