How to Budget for your Elopement
How to Build your Elopement Budget
by an Elopement & Microwedding Planner
Building a budget for your elopement is a crucial, and often overlooked, first step on the path to planning your dream elopement. Determining from the get-go what you can/ are willing to invest in your elopement day will allow you to find more ease in the planning process. You will also feel much less stressed about each payment you make when you know that you have allotted the funds for it and are following your plans. It can be a little daunting to begin to plan your elopement budget, as there are significantly less resources available than for a traditional wedding. This guide will help you figure out what you need to include in your budget, how to organize and stick to your budget, how to budget for guests, and even a fun list of budget-friendly activities for your elopement day/weekend! I also include different sample budgets for three different elopements to help give an idea of average costs surrounding elopements of different lengths/ sizes.
Investing in your Elopement
There is a common misconception in the elopement and intimate wedding industry that eloping has to mean stripping away all of the luxuries, parties, and “spending” generally associated with a wedding. Realistically, having an intimate wedding allows you the freedom to focus on the components of a wedding that excite you most. You can have a private elopement with just the two of you on public land with a homemade cake, or you can invite a few guests and elope on the property of a gorgeous bnb, or you can elope in a state park and throw a party at your favorite brewery after with all of your friends and family. The best part is- nobody can tell you that you’re doing it wrong!
When beginning to plan your elopement, consider what it is important for you to invest in. Is it important for you to look back and have gorgeous photos documenting your mountaintop ceremony? Do you dream of spending the night leading up to your elopement with both of your families, under the roof of a space big enough to comfortably accommodate you all? Do you want to always recall how much fun you had on the kayaks that you rented for the morning before your ceremony? Spend some time determining what is most important to you, and focus your attention on that when planning your budget. You’ll never regret investing in something deeply important to you when it comes to your wedding.
Budget Breakdown
Let’s break it down! Here are the main components that you need to consider when planning your elopement:
Photographer:
There are many talented elopement photographers for you to choose from. Most photographers offer a few different packages of varying lengths. These can range from only a few hours to multi-day coverage and cover a wide range of budgets. Keep in mind that cost is often reflective of experience- seeking out the cheapest photographer you can find will reflect in the quality of your photos.
Planner:
Many people believe that because their elopement does not involve the same amount of details to coordinate as a traditional wedding, that a planner is not a necessary vendor. We believe that you are just as deserving of a stress-free planning experience and wedding day when you choose to elope! Hiring a planner who specializes in elopements and intimate weddings will help bring your day to life, and give you the freedom to relax on your big day knowing that every detail is tended to.
*Pro tip: Consider a photography and planning team like us to help condense your costs and save you money!
Other Vendors:
Some other potential vendors for your elopement include florists, hair stylists, makeup artists, bakers, any food caterers/ restaurants, and stationers. The cost of some of these will be dependent on if you are inviting any guests to your elopement, or hosting a party of some sort after your ceremony. There are also costs associated with using a hosting platform like The Knot for your wedding website, as many eloping couples still choose to have a wedding registry to share with friends and family.
Wedding Attire
This includes ceremony attire, and anything else you may need for the day. Oftentimes, if an elopement requires a lengthy hike to the ceremony location, the couple will hike in a more comfortable outfit and get ready at the site. Your photographer will be present and documenting the entire time, so make sure you are happy with everything you wear!
Travel
Flights, rental cars, gas, anything else you may need to get you to your elopement location! Don’t forget to budget for the expenses that pair with travel as well, such as meals on the road or that airport coffee!
Accommodation
Including accommodation for any stops en route to your location and for the night before and after your elopement. These could be hotels, inns, airbnbs/vrbos, campgrounds, or even a tent in the backcountry! There are options for every budget!
Location Permits
Depending on where you are choosing to elope, your ceremony location may require a permit to utilize the land. These can range in cost anywhere from $10 to upwards of $200. There are also plenty of free options as well, but it is important to be aware of any costs associated with your location from the start!
Marriage License and Officiant
To legalize your marriage, you need to make sure to get your marriage license before eloping. In Colorado, the cost is $30, and an officiant is not required. In NC, the cost is $60. Officiants are required in NC, and many couples in CO will still choose to have an officiant despite not being required. Officiants cost around $200-$300, sometimes more depending on the remoteness of your location.
Activities
One of our favorite things about elopements is how customizable elopement days are! You can choose to do really any activity you desire, whether it is a free activity like taking your mountain bikes for a ride, or an expensive activity like a helicopter tour. Consider what you would like to do to fill your time during the day, and make sure to budget accordingly.
Budgeting for Guests
Your elopement doesn’t necessarily need to be just the two of you! There are plenty of ways to incorporate guests into your elopement day, whether it be at the ceremony, or in a celebration afterwards. It is important to consider what components of the day guests will be included in when creating your budget, as it is expected that certain things will be covered for them. The extent of what you cover is entirely up to you and your budget.
If you decide to host guests for your elopement, some associated costs could be: meals, transportation, accommodation, and gifts. Since elopements are much smaller than a traditional wedding, it is not uncommon to see couples host everyone on the grounds of an Airbnb or something along those lines. If choosing to cover accommodation, from there it is important to decide what meals you will cover for guests. Will you have a breakfast spread set up for the elopement morning? Will you have dinner served afterwards? Choosing to host everyone for the event can be a fun and personal approach, but does increase the amount to budget.
Another way to host guests is to simply throw a party afterwards. This can look like many different things- a backyard bbq, renting an event space at a brewery or restaurant, a picnic and campfire at a campground, etc. When throwing a party, costs to consider are space rentals, food and drink costs, seating/table rentals (if not present at the venue), and decor. If you are choosing an option such as renting a brewery space, you can have a cash bar as opposed to covering the whole tab, but it should be very clear on the invitation to the party that such is the case.
Ultimately, any guest that you choose to invite to celebrate something as intimate as your elopement is a very special person to you and your relationship. They will not care whether you are splurging on a five course meal for them or hosting them for s’mores and beers around a fire. Stay true to yourself and your day, and include guests in the way that feels most genuine. It is entirely possible to have your people present without breaking your budget!
Sample Budgets
$5k: An intimate state park elopement in NC
Photography and Planning team: $3200
Officiant: $200
Florals: $50 (homemade bouquet with flowers from Trader Joe’s )
Small notebooks for vows: $10
Accommodation: $450 (Treehouse airbnb for 2 nights)
Food: $300
Paddleboard rentals: $80
Permits: $45
Marriage License: $60
Attire: Thrifted dress: $150
Suit rental: $100
Dessert: $10 (gourmet cupcakes from local bakery)
Travel: $100 (gas budget)
Wedding bands from Etsy: $200
Total: $4955
$10K: Rocky Mountain NP elopement with ten guests
Photography and planning team: $5k
Officiant: Free (self-solemnize)
Florals: $100 (boutonniere and bouquet)
Vow books: $30
Accommodation: $1000 (four nights at a cabin near the park)
Food: $500
Post ceremony dinner with guests: $500
Attire: Wedding dress: $700
Suit: $250
Permits: $300
Marriage license: $30
Cake: $200
Travel: $800
Mountaintop picnic: $150
Rings: $300
Invitations: $30 (handwritten, plus postage)
Total: $9890
How to Organize and Stick to your Budget
Okay, so you’ve done the work of setting your budget… now you have to stick to it! With the right tools and guidance, organizing and sticking to your budget can be an easy task.
The first thing to consider when selecting your budgeting tools is if you prefer to have physical, handwritten copies, or if virtual copies work better for you. You can also keep track of your budget in both ways if that is helpful for you!
Creating a budget binder:
A binder is a great tool for keeping all of your budget information in one place! Your binder should include:
An overview of your budget
A breakdown of your budget by category
A chart to record all of your spending
A calendar with due dates for payments
Contracts with any vendors
Receipts of your purchases
Creating a budget spreadsheet:
Organizing a virtual spreadsheet can be a great way to keep track of how much is left in your budget as you continue to invest in your elopement. A spreadsheet should include:
Every component of your budget, broken down into categories and subcategories
A column that lists your budget for each category
A column to record your actual spending for each category
Due dates for each payment
A continuously updated total of spending and remaining budget
Free Budget tools:
If you don’t want to create your own budgeting tools, you can find some options online. However, most online tools are curated for traditional weddings, so they are not as elopement-centric as any tools you would create. Some options for these tools are through The Knot, Bridal Musings, and Wedding Wire.
Pro tip!
Investing in a planner can not only save you stress, but money too! Elopement planners can help you keep track of your budget and spending, and also have connections in the industry that can ultimately save you money on things like vendor services, accommodations, and activities.
Looking for a planner that will help you with your budget? Reach out to us here!
Budget Friendly Elopement Activities
There is no shortage of elopement day activities for budgets of all sizes! Some of our favorite low cost activities include:
Taking a scenic drive (Blue Ridge Parkway, anyone?)
Packing out a picnic to eat on a mountain top
Kayak/ canoe/ paddleboard rentals
S’mores around a campfire
Baking your wedding cake together
Brewery or Vineyard hopping
Finding a remote spot to relax in a hammock together
Having a board game marathon
A morning coffee date
Apple, strawberry, or other fruit picking
Exploring a new mountain town
Hiking to a fire tower, viewpoint, or waterfall
Although elopements are generally much cheaper than traditional weddings, building your budget from the start will make your planning process much smoother. It will help you identify what you want to prioritize, and remove any guilt you may feel about the larger expenses of your day, as you know you have accounted for and can afford them. Want more assistance with your elopement budget? Reach out to us, we would love to chat!
