Elopement or Small Wedding? Which one should you choose?

Planning a wedding can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many little details to be ironed out before the big day finally comes around. Most importantly, you will need to make a choice about where to have the ceremony, and who to invite. The idea of having a large wedding does not work for everyone, and if you and your significant other are considering either elopement or a smaller wedding, there are still somethings to consider. Can't decide which style of smaller wedding you want to choose? Take a look at some of the differences and reasons to help you plan for which type will work best for your wedding day.




There are a variety of different factors for choosing an elopement, but one important thing to consider is how intimate do you want your wedding to be? With an elopement, it could just be you and your partner, or even one or two people. Ask yourself how you want to remember your wedding day and whether or not it would mean more to have it just be the two of you. You both can be true to yourselves and have a ceremony that is unique and special to just the two of you, and you can create something so memorable that it won't feel like your wedding was just like "everyone else's".



With an elopement, there is a lot less planning involved in the smaller details. Planning a wedding takes a ton of time, and if you would rather focus your time and energy on other aspects of your life, an elopement is a great option. With larger weddings, planning can take a year or more, but elopements can be planned in a fraction of that time. For those who have less time or simply don't want to spend a year planning their wedding, going this route can work really well.

Photograph by Jax Lens

Lastly, an elopement can happen just about anywhere in the world. There's more flexibility and you won't have to worry about booking a venue a year in advance because it's already completely full. Since it would be just the two of you (or even a couple of others), there's less worry about travel plans with a ton of people. You can take a quick getaway into the mountains and say your vows at the top of a peak, or you can say your " I do's" in front of the Eiffel Tower. Even an afternoon picnic in the park can turn into an elopement! The options are endless with an elopement, and they tend to be less structured than a traditional wedding, even smaller ones.



Creating your guest list for your wedding day is no easy task. Both of you will have a number of people that you either want to invite or feel like you have to include. If you're looking to still include fewer number of important people from your lives, keeping things small will work well. Having just your close families and an additional friend or two is perfect if you're looking to keep things more private. There's less stress with fewer people involved and less worry about leaving anyone out if you can't invite all of the people you both know.



One reason you might choose to go with a small wedding is your wedding budget. Weddings can be pretty pricey, and even smaller ones can cost quite a bit. When planning your wedding, coming up with how much you can spend will help give you guidelines on everything that can be included. Be realistic about how much you can actually give to your wedding, and think about some of the other monetary commitments you have in your life. Maybe you want to spend more money on your honeymoon or you're saving for a house. Choosing to have a smaller wedding could potentially save you thousands of dollars!



Have you ever been to a wedding and you never even speak to the bride or groom or you say a few quick words? It's understandable that they would want to make sure to say hello to everyone, but it would be nice to get a little more face time with the bride and groom. A smaller wedding offers less distractions, and you can spend more time with the smaller number of guests. You will remember the quality time you spent with those who are in attendance which is incredibly invaluable. Time well spent with those you love the most will always be well worth it.



It is possible to have both an elopement and a small wedding of sorts. If you and your significant other want to have a private elopement ceremony, but still want to include all of your family and friends, plan for a small "wedding celebration" or reception afterwards. It's essentially having the best of both worlds. You can elope if you want to keep your wedding more intimate, and have a reception to invite guests to help you celebrate your nuptials. Most people will understand that you chose to keep your wedding intimate and will still be excited to be a part of your wedding day, and you can still celebrate.

Photograph by Carhart Photography

So which one should you choose?

Ultimately, the choice is yours when deciding how you plan to exchange your vows. It's not an easy decision and it shouldn't be taken too lightly. Sitting down with your significant other and talking about the pro's and con's regarding whether to elope or have a small wedding can help you both decide the best possible situation for everyone. Deciding what's most important to the both of you will help you make the best choice for you and your other half. Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your lives, and you'll want to make sure that you go with the option that best suits you and your partner. Taking in all of the factors and talking them through can help you plan the perfect wedding day, your way.



Whether you're planning an elopement or your dream wedding, let us help! Visit our Etsy store to search our DIY event templates to help make your event one of a kind. We're here to take the stress out of event planning so that you can focus on what really matters. For more wedding and even planning inspiration, subscribe to the email list, follow us on Pinterest and Instagram, and scroll down below to save 10%.