Is eloping with family possible? Yes, you can elope with your family. No, you don’t need my permission to do so, but yes, I’m going to spend the next three minutes of your life reminding you that the start of your marriage and the celebration of it is absolutely worth running with every beautiful idea you have.
Pro Tip: Did you know in Colorado your dogs can sign your marriage license? Check out more on How to elope in Colorado!
15 Creative & Fun Idea On Eloping with family and friends
Is it an elopement if anyone is there? Is it an elopement if your family is there? Yes, an elopement is not about the structure of the wedding day but the focus. Elopements get to focus on the couple getting married, celebrating them, versus hosting a big party.
If you want your family at your elopement, you want your friends or even your fur babies, bring them. It’s really that simple.
Now how do you elope with your family and friends? Here are 15 ideas to get you started on ways to include your family and friends in your elopement.
1 Plan A Ceremony Or Two With Your Family
Two ceremonies? I know, before you get all squirrely on me let me explain. Instead of feeling like your wedding has to “look” a certain way, why not ditch that “should” and feel into what is right for you and your partner. Does reading your most intimate words to each other in front of anyone make you get squeamish? You’re not alone.
Many of our couples elope because they are more introverted or really prefer smaller groups to large gatherings. While we know you may absolutely adore some of your family and friends you may not feel super amazing at the thought of sharing your deepest passions with them as you exchange vows.
Instead, we really encourage couples to have two moments, two ceremonies. A time for private vows and a time where there is a more traditional-looking ceremony. (If you’re curious what a self solemnizing script could look like check it out here.)
Your time for private vows really can also include an adventure just for the two of you that maybe your family couldn’t or wouldn’t want to join you in. Want some ideas on how to make your elopement special check this out!
2 Letters, Videos, Voice Memos : Eloping with family
3 Spread Out Your Celebration: Celebrate Again
In so many other cultures weddings are celebrated over multiple days. Somehow, in many western cultures, the wedding tradition has become a one-and-done thing. But what if you gave yourself the freedom to spread your celebration out over a few days, include activities you and your partner really love, and time eloping with your family, or even host a celebration again with everyone months later. Have the small elopement you are really dreaming about then the gathering more geared towards family and friends later.
We’re a little bit biased but we love this idea of Celebrating Again. 😉
4 Include Activities You All Love
5 Create A Circle
I’m super big on symbolic spaces which is why I really love the idea of creating a circle during your ceremony when eloping with family and friends.
I know when you’re in a small group and don’t have chairs it can feel awkward to stand around. What if, instead you created an intentional circle to hold the sacredness of your marriage by all of your amazing witnesses?
This could be as simple as making a circle with your bodies, drawing in the sand, laying out rocks around you, or as grand as laying down a rug and flowers around you working with a florist to create something truly magical!
We really love this idea for a ceremony especially if you are a blended family wedding elopement.
6 Include Their Photos
We know sometimes family making it to your wedding isn’t possible, especially if you’re eloping overseas or your family lives overseas.
In the past, we’ve loved seeing our couples include photos of their family on their wedding day to make it feel like they were there.
Now, if only we were in Harry Potter world and they could talk back to us, that would be quite hilarious I’m sure. I’m just saying the Fat Lady is not invited to my wedding, unannounced Oprah isn’t my cup of tea.
7 Call or Video Chat
Take time to chat with your family on your wedding day. If they cannot be there set aside a time to video chat or give them a call. If you’re in a really good area for cell phone reception you can also designate someone to stream your ceremony live on zoom or set up a tripod.
8 Share A Meal
I know this can sound like a given for a wedding celebration but let me give you an extra dose of permission. Just because your family is at your wedding doesn’t mean you have to share every meal with them.
If you love a private breakfast, romantic beach fireside lunch or dinner with your partner do it! Just let your family and friends know one meal you’ll have with them and the other is going to be an intimate one with your partner.
Remember this is what makes it an elopement: your wedding day is focused on you two! So, give yourself a high five and keep choosing you two, and know we got your back!
9 Have Speeches
10 Let Them Give Blessings
11 Art Together
12 Find A Tradition
I didn’t grow up around very many cultural traditions other than praying before meals, which is why I love to look up other cultural traditions. Some cultures tie a knot or handfast, some will have the bride’s parents make a basket to give for their home. Whatever the tradition spend some time looking it up and see if it’s one you’d like to respectfully adapt for eloping with family!
Check out our elopement timeline ceremony ideas blog post for ideas!
13 Have First Dances
We know this is borrowing from traditional wedding parties but, hey, its a great way to elope with family and make your your family feel include on your elopement! Still have a time of dancing, grab a blue tooth speaker under the stars, around a campfire, or layout a rug at your ceremony site
Leave No Trace Tip: Make sure to follow Leave No Trace rules placing a rug on a durable surface like sand or rocks with no plants being killed in the doing!
14 Make It A Vacation
Most of our couples travel from out of state to Colorado, Hawaii, or Oregon for their elopements, which is why we absolutely adore sharing our tourist guide insider info with them. So, while you may not want to spend every waking second with your family on your wedding day, having a few days or a week of vacation time with them can help them feel better about a wedding day that isn’t centered around being together 24/7.
15 Find Locations that are accessible
This is the biggest concern most couples have about eloping. They want to have an adventure elopement but don’t know if their family will be able to go to the epic locations for their hiking elopement.
This is exactly where our expertise comes into play! We love to help couples like you plan out a wedding day experience that honors all your desires and all the needs of your family and friends.
Do you want that epic view and to hike five miles or chase a waterfall? Your family cannot make it so why not have two ceremonies? Or spend one-day adventuring and another with just your family. We’re here to help you find the places that your family can make it to, and yes they exist! We promise! Let us show you a few.
Ready to start dreaming about your elopement with your family? Let’s schedule a dreaming call!
Let's Hang Out.
We’re here to be your elopement day BFF’s and share our expertise through the entire planning process.Schedule a call with us to get this party started!
We believe in intention over tradition and that your wedding day should feel like you!
Let’s craft a wedding day experience that lets you run wild.
Learn more about hiring us as your Oregon elopement photographers.
Have more questions about eloping with family and Friends?
Should you bring your kids to your elopement?
Yes! If you’d like them to be there you can. If they are younger, we highly encourage having some support with you on your wedding day and including time with just you and your partner whether you’re on an adventure together or just having a private meal or moment like a first look.
I’m also a mama too so make sure to be mindful of snack times, naps, and other needs of kids based on their age. Know when you hire us for your Oregon, Hawaii, or Colorado elopement I can help you navigate all of these needs more easily too!
We also love this article about eloping with kids!
Should I invite family to my elopement?
Should I feel guilty for eloping?
Hell, the F*** no. I know that’s passionate but friend, this is about you and your partner no one else. If you’re feeling really uncertain about if you should elope check out our should I elope quiz where we share some insights from past couples! You can also check out our Elopement vs Wedding deep dive to decide what you’re most drawn to!
Should I elope to avoid family drama?
We totally get family can be stressful sometimes, so if you know that it’s going to be more burdensome for your family to be there in person really consider if you could use the 15 ideas above to include them creatively without feeling like you have to be managing anyone on your wedding day.
Have more questions? Drop them in the comments or schedule a consult call with us, we love to help couples dream about their elopement ideas knowing most of the time it really is all possible!
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Feeling like you want some extra support right now? We gotcha bb. Check out some of our fave elopement guides we’ve made just for you:
- 🧐Should I Elope Quiz
- Elopement VS Wedding deciding which is right for you
- How to Get Married Without a Wedding for couples that want a different kind of day
- ✨How To Make Your Elopement Special
- ⌚️Elopement Timeline
- 👗Elopement Wedding Dress For Your Outdoor Wedding
- ☑️Elopement Checklist
- 🏠Eloping with Family
- 🧳Elopement Packing List
- Elopement Ceremony Guide
- 💦Waterfall Wedding Venues
- Ethereal forest wedding inspo
- Adventurous Hiking Elopement
- 🏞Best Places to Elope
Washington Resources
- How to Elope in Washington State
- The Pros and Cons of a Mount Rainier Elopement
- Your guide to planning your Olympic National Park Wedding
- North Cascades Elopement Guide
- Ruby Beach Elopement Inspo + Planning Tips
- Get to know your Washington Elopement Photographers
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