We are jumping into only shooting elopements (under 12 people) and intimate weddings (under 50 people) in 2023 so if you see a lot of elopement blog posts that is why. We are just so excited to be specializing in a field that we know and love. That being said let’s jump right into 7 ways to save money while planning an elopement, because let’s be real it all adds up fast.

1. Always prioritize your top 2 or 3 vendors and be willing to spend on those ones and then on the other parts of the day know you will need to save money. For my wedding I prioritized the venue and the photography. Hire your top vendors for those 2 or 3 things so that you know you are well taken care of. For example, we help couples plan their timelines, offer ideas for unique activities and can help look for places to stay/eat in the area. You want vendors who will be in your corner and help you with anything that comes up.
2. Book an airbnb with amazing light, furniture and decor that matches your wedding theme so that it allows you to use some of the decor to make shift a reception dinner table and not have to rent decor. You can use their plates, cups etc. For Joshua Tree most opt. to get a boho or minimalist style house so that all the accessories and kitchen ware match thier aesthetic. You can use this airbnb, with their permission, to do getting ready photos, first look if wanted, and reception. Some airbnbs even have spots to also have your ceremony.
3. Get married in a national park or a spot in nature and just pay for the permit fees (Around 250 dollars usually). You wont be allowed to usually bring in chairs but having your guests stand and your backdrop be stunning usually is amazing for your guests and photos anyways.
4. Have a family member or friend who is amazing at cooking cook the menu you dream up for the night of the elopement. The other cheaper option is getting your favorite food and getting it to go to go on nice plates. Couples in the past have also make their own cake and I have offered to make my couples who elope cookies as well.
5. When shopping for attire- brides look for sale rack items at bridal stores or see when the lines you like have sales.You could also opt for a line that is cheaper by nature like https://www.watters.com/wedding-gowns/ready-to-ship/. Think outside of the box you could do a shorter white dress, white jumpsuit or a colorful dress at a store you love. For men do a rent a tux spot like- https://theblacktux.com/styled-looks
6. Send out e- save the dates and invites to cut costs on stamp and paper.
7. Use your phone as your DJ for the night and play your own music from the playlist you made for your day. DJ’s are amazing and I never want to diminish what they do, but with a small 12 and under people wedding usually having a sound system and a phone with a playlist works great.

Bonus:

• Most elopements I shoot are destination so here is a bonus point. Use your points to go towards your flights or car rental for the trip. If you are out of points have a honeymoon/wedding fund on your registry. You can use Zola or The Knot for this.