Traditional Wedding vs Elopement: Which is Right for You?

Traditional Weddings

Traditional weddings are often seen as the quintessential wedding experience. You’ve probably envisioned walking down the aisle, surrounded by family and friends, and celebrating with an extravagant reception. But is that really what you want for your big day?

Traditional weddings typically involve:

• Guests: 50-300+
• Vendors: Photographer, videographer, florist, caterer, baker, DJ, wedding planner, hair and makeup artists, venue coordinator, and more.
• Cost: The average cost of a traditional wedding in the U.S. is around $30,000.
• Logistics: Detailed planning of the guest list, seating charts, timelines, and decor.
• Focus: The focus is often placed on creating a seamless experience for the guests. There’s a lot of pressure to please your family and friends, which can sometimes overshadow the couple’s desires and needs.

While the traditional wedding is a beautiful celebration, it often comes with substantial financial costs and a significant amount of logistical stress. You have to make sure every detail is in place for a large number of guests—creating seating charts, planning the menu, finding the perfect venue, and ensuring everyone has a good time. It’s easy to get caught up in the details and forget what the day is all about: celebrating your love.

If you’ve always dreamed of a grand celebration, with a big party and all your loved ones, a traditional wedding might be the right choice for you. However, if you’re craving something more personal and intimate, you might find yourself overwhelmed by all the expectations.

Intimate Weddings: A Middle Ground

An intimate wedding is a great option for couples who want a more relaxed experience while still hosting a larger gathering. With anywhere from 20-50 guests, intimate weddings offer a personalized touch while maintaining some of the traditional wedding elements, such as vendors, a venue, and a reception.

Intimate weddings typically involve:

• Guests: 20-50
• Vendors: You might still hire a photographer, caterer, florist, and possibly a wedding planner, but with fewer guests, you can cut back on the number of vendors.
• Cost: Depending on your location, guest list, and the type of venue you choose, intimate weddings can be more affordable than a traditional wedding.
• Focus: There’s still a greater emphasis on the experience of your guests, but it’s often easier to focus on what matters most to you.

While intimate weddings allow for more flexibility and personalization, they still carry some of the same pressures as a traditional wedding. The focus may still be on the guests, and planning the perfect ceremony and reception can be time-consuming. But, if you want to keep things low-key while maintaining a sense of celebration, this might be the right choice for you.

Elopements: A Truly Unique, Adventurous Experience

Now, let’s get to the elopement! As an adventurous elopement photographer, I’ve seen firsthand how couples embrace the freedom, intimacy, and unique experience that eloping offers. If you want to focus on each other, not the guest list, and have an epic, unforgettable day, eloping might be the best option for you.

Elopements involve:

• Guests: Anywhere from 0-20 (or just the two of you!)
• Vendors: You can hire as many or as few vendors as you like. You might choose a photographer (hello, that’s me!), an officiant, or a florist, but you could even have an intimate, private ceremony with no vendors at all.
• Cost: Elopements are typically much more affordable than traditional weddings. You can save on venue rental, catering, decor, and other wedding expenses. The average elopement cost can range from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on your location and the experience you want.
• Focus: The focus is entirely on you—your love story, your vows, your adventure. You can celebrate in a way that feels authentic and true to who you are as a couple.
• Flexibility: Your elopement day is yours to shape. Whether you want to hike to a mountaintop, exchange vows in a secluded forest, or get married at sunrise in a national park, the sky’s the limit.

If you’re a couple that loves adventure and nature, and you want to create a deeply personal experience, an elopement can offer everything you’re looking for. Eloping allows you to get married in some of the most epic locations around the world—think Yosemite, the beaches of Northern California, or the rugged mountains of Oregon. You can explore together, choose a place that resonates with you, and have a wedding day that feels authentic and full of personal meaning.

An elopement also gives you the chance to spend the day focusing on each other rather than worrying about vendors, seating arrangements, or making sure everyone has a good time. You’ll have the freedom to do exactly what you want. Imagine a ceremony in a breathtaking national park, followed by a picnic in the mountains or a cozy dinner in a quaint local restaurant.

Why Eloping Might Be Right for You

If you’re considering an elopement, you might be drawn to the freedom it offers. There are no rules when it comes to eloping. You get to design the day in a way that’s completely unique to you.

Here are a few reasons why elopements are becoming increasingly popular:

1. Adventure and Location: You can marry at an epic location—think secluded beaches, mountain vistas, or dramatic deserts.
2. Less Stress, More Fun: Elopements tend to be much less stressful than planning a traditional wedding. You get to skip the long guest lists, complicated logistics, and the pressure of pleasing everyone.
3. Personalization: You can create an experience that reflects who you are as a couple. You can have a simple ceremony with a close friend, write your own vows, or even include an activity you both love (such as hiking or kayaking).
4. Intimate Experience: Elopements allow you to focus solely on each other, rather than worrying about the needs and wants of dozens or even hundreds of guests.
5. Affordable: With fewer guests and fewer vendors, elopements often come at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding.

Ready to Choose: Wedding vs. Elopement

Ultimately, the decision between a traditional wedding vs. elopement comes down to what type of experience you want on your wedding day. If you envision an elaborate celebration with all your loved ones, a traditional wedding may be the perfect choice for you. But if you’re craving an intimate, adventurous, and personalized experience, an elopement might be exactly what you’re looking for.

No matter which option you choose, remember that your wedding day is about celebrating your love. Whether that means a grand celebration with hundreds of guests or a quiet, intimate elopement in a stunning location, the most important thing is that you’re doing what feels right for you as a couple.

Final Thoughts