How Much Does it Cost to Elope [2024]

Elopement Cost

Cost of Eloping

One of the biggest hurdles when planning a wedding is the financial burden that it has honestly become for so many couples. Societal norms or cultural pressures typically lead couples to spending tens of thousands of dollars to essentially throw a large formulated party for other people, rent an event space, fill it with decorations, and feed 200 people, then entertain them for a full day where you and your soon-to-be-spouse hardly get to see each other. If that experience really speaks to you and is worth that value to you, then hell yeah, you do you!

Contrary to popular belief, elopements don’t have to be rushed and cheap either - it’s really more about WHAT you decide to spend your funds on. The truth is though, even if you go all-out and splurge on your elopement with an epic experience, you’ll likely still spend way less than you would’ve on a big traditional wedding.

One of the big differences between weddings and elopements is where your money goes, what you value, and what’s important to you. You can take your wedding fund and put it towards a kickass elopement adventure in the place of your dreams, incorporate your favorite activities or ones you’ve always wanted to try - helicopter ride anyone? – and even combine it with a honeymoon!

How Much Does Eloping Cost
vs.
Traditional Wedding Cost

I spent years photographing big traditional weddings before niching down to specializing in elopements, so I have a pretty good idea of what it costs to have a traditional wedding versus what it costs to have an elopement…

Average Traditional Wedding Cost

Back in 2021, The Knot actually did a study with 27,000 couples and found that the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is around $34,000. And from what I’ve seen, it can easily get much higher than that too! Truthfully, a lot of that cost will go to renting a venue space that can host 100-300 guests, and then feeding all of them…

Average Cost to Elope

The cost of elopements can vary a lot depending on how you decide to approach the planning, where you want to elope, and how much you want to splurge on everything, etc. In my experience, I would say an elopement averages about HALF the cost of a big traditional wedding (if not less) - and all those funds are going to crafting an incredible experience, having a honeymoon-style wedding, creating authentic and intimate memories, and of course some epic photos to freeze those moments in time!

Average Elopement Cost

Breakdown of Elopement Costs

I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that elopements cost half of what a traditional wedding costs, typically - and that’s including the fun splurges you get to do, autonomy in making decisions about where your money actually goes, and only spending on what’s actually important to you!

Instead of a big production focused on the comfort and entertainment of 100+ guests, an elopement allows you to have a truly authentic, intimate, and memorable experience and enjoy an epic adventure with your partner (and some close loved ones if you want)! You’ll have something that’s specifically designed and crafted to fit you as a couple and feels right for YOU!

The average elopement costs about $8,000 - $16,000

Travel: $500 – $2,000
Wedding Attire: $200 – $4,000
Permits: $50 - $800
Hair & Makeup (optional): $150 to $800
Floral Bouquet (optional): $100 – $400
Officiant (optional): $100 - $500
Photographer & Guide: $6,000 – $12,000

Contact me about your elopement or wedding

Best Places to Elope on a Budget

Free Wedding Venues

There’s plenty of free or nearly-free small wedding venues to choose from! Some of these may involve some permit fees that I usually tell couples to budget a few hundred dollars for - but of course that’s so much more frugal than the cost of a traditional wedding venue, which can average around $10,000+ on its own…

National Parks
State Parks
Botanical gardens
Vacation rentals
Local beaches
Camping / Glamping spaces
Historic locations
Cultural centers
Spiritual venues
Museums

I’m your PLANNER too!

I’ll help you plan your elopement from start to finish!

You’ll have an EXPERT by your side the whole way

Let's plan your elopement

Elopement Packages

Micro Wedding Packages

Your epic Small Wedding Package includes…

Unlimited guidance for planning your elopement
Customized location ideas
Local vendor recommendations
Personally designed timeline for your day
My exclusive in-depth “Elopement Planning Guide”
Coordinate elopement logistics
Permit research and assistance
Activity ideas, wedding attire guidance, and ways to personalize your elopement day
Laid-back and relaxed photo coverage for your elopement

Elopement Photographer

I’m your Elopement Photographer & Guide, experience creator, resource provider, planning consultant, location scouter, idea machine, and adventure buddy

I’m your personal GUIDE, your PLANNER, and your BEST FRIEND! As both your location expert and your elopement expert, I’m here to help craft the experience of your dreams - and capture it all for you! I’ll be there every step of the way to help make your vision come to life…

LET’S DO THIS!!