It’s a tough decision to make, even though it feels like it should be an easy one. You dreamed as a girl of being the most beautiful bride, dancing with your partner for the first time surrounded by everyone who loves you. But then that girl grew up. She loves to hike, to be out in nature, and wants to have more time to celebrate your love story with her partner. You want it all, but how? Why can’t you have both the wedding AND elopement of your dreams?

You can. Not only have I seen it and documented it numerous times, I’ve done it. My now husband and I had wanted an elopement since we had started talking about marriage. Neither or us like all the attention that comes with traditional weddings. Heck, we’re not very traditional as it is, except for the holidays. After losing my mom, and moving further away from friends, I felt a pull to lean in a more towards a traditional wedding, but still on the small side. We were able to have our intimate ceremony and lunch with a few of our closest people, and then a dinner and party with our friends and extended family, with some epic photos to remember it all by. 

Throughout this blog, I’ll share some of my favorite ways my couples have split their day up to fit their needs, finding wants to both elope and have a wedding. 

Dividing the day, not your priorities

As much as we wanted to have a whole weekend to celebrate (we were so on the fence), My partner and I ultimately decided to hold everything in one singular day. I knew us, after even just a morning celebration, we were going to want to relax the next day and hang out. We also wanted to party with all of our people on the same day we exchanged rings, it felt like the right way to close out our day. So we did just that.

Dividing the day up and choosing what way to do it is entirely up to you and what fits your story. You could want to spend the whole morning with your people, helping you get ready, sharing stories of when you were younger over some coffee. Everyone who loves you then sends you off to share vows with your partner and spend the rest of the night exploring and relaxing, just the two of you.

My partner and I had many a date nights that were spent pondering and envisioning what our day looked like. We wanted to stay true to us, honor those who couldn’t be there, and most importantly, have fun and be ourselves. By splitting up the day, we didn’t have to choose between an elopement or wedding, because in our eyes, we got both.

Photos by Iasis Kennedy Photography

No, seriously, do both!

C+P had to elope earlier than their planned wedding for later in the fall. They could have just gone to city hall, signed the papers, and waited for their wedding day. Instead, they decided to have a day for just themselves, on their 10 year anniversary no less! With their friend officiating, they shared heartfelt vows before ending at the reading terminal market. There they shared their annual chocolate treat! It was the perfect touch that felt like them.

Since they had already booked their venue and invited everyone, C+P decided to keep their elopement a secret to share with their family during their ceremony. There were many shocked faces before they sealed the deal (again) with a kiss before continuing on with the traditional wedding festivities. Guests enjoyed looking through their album while they danced the night away.

Check out their elopement here!

Do it once, twice, heck, even three times!

Choosing an elopement or wedding wasn’t part of the plan for many couples. Most tend to spread the celebration out intentionally. It gives you more time to think about what you want to do, and also more locations. You may know already that you want to elope and found that perfect location, but you’re still trying to find the right time and place to celebrate with everyone. Or, you rented out a whole campground and have a weekend filled with fun activities, sprinkling in the ceremony, a cake cutting, and dances in between.

You could even have three days, like S+N. They eloped for fear that their rights would be revoked before they were planning on getting married. We then did a formal portrait session to capture their wedding attire and exchange vows, since they didn’t have time to write them beforehand. To end the celebrations, they hosted dinner at a local venue to have the dance party S had been dreaming of. Unicorns and all, they had every type of celebration they wanted to have.

Other couples, like M+A, and L+B, tend to keep things more low key in their celebration as well as the elopement. Whether its in the church you grew up with 10 people, or on a mountain’s overlook, they both chose to have their celebration a few months after their elopement. A local brewery, a favorite restaurant, anywhere truly could be your reception space.

Better late than never!

Even if you eloped years ago, you could still have the wedding of your dreams. If you’re eloping today, you can still have that fairytale wedding. Just because it won’t happen when you first sign your marriage license, doesn’t mean it will never happen, or that it can’t happen at all. Take a look at E + A, they eloped when they were younger, and 10 years later they decided to celebrate with a 10 year anniversary wedding. They did all the traditional festivities, and instead of a ceremony, it was a vow renewal! E+A had all of the magic that weddings have, from getting ready with their friends, the most gorgeous florals, a beautiful spread during cocktail hour, and a fun dance party, “who let the dogs out” and all!

They never lost sight of what truly matters to them, being together and bringing their families together to celebrate. It didn’t matter to them that it was 10 years later. They were still able to have an entire day dedicated to their story. Take your time, save up some extra funds and throw the party you always dreamed of.

Stay true to your story

If you’re dreaming up a day that has both intimate elopement vibes and a celebration with all of your people, you don’t need to compromise. Why divide an elopement and wedding when they can be happening in the same day? You deserve an experience that truly reflects you, and feels intentional from beginning to end! Whether you are planning that elopement in a mountain meadow, or that celebration that brings everyone who has supported you together, it deserves to be documented. When you’re ready to start planning, I’ll be there to help you stay true to your vision and capture all the memories you’ll be making!