How Much Does It Cost To Elope?

If you’re here you are probably wondering how much does it cost to elope? You might also be wondering how much should you be spending on your elopement photographer. Well let’s break it down below.

First lets look at the cost of having a traditional wedding vs. an elopement

In a study done by The Knot in 2023 on 10,000 couples throughout the United States, they found on average the cost of a big traditional wedding was $35,000. This varied if you were having a hometown wedding ($33,300) compared to a destination wedding ($43,000).

To some people that means they might have to save for a whole year to have a wedding that they are dreaming of. But here’s my question, is that something you are really wanting to put your money towards? I’m assuming because you are reading this you are thinking of a different route.

Next Let’s define what is an adventure elopement

An adventure elopement is much different from the traditional courthouse elopement. An adventure elopement is a day that allows you to have an INTENTIONAL EXPERIENCE with your partner doing the the things that make you feel most alive. This varies from couple to couple. It could be traveling across the world to New Zealand to explore a new country you’ve been dreaming to see. Then stay an extra week or two for your honeymoon. Maybe it’s hiking around your favorite national park like Glacier National Park or Yosemite National Park and spending a day creating special memories in your favorite place. Or maybe you want to do something exciting and take a helicopter ride to EPIC mountaintop views or land on a glacier. The sky is the limit here!

Have you asked yourselves why you are questioning a traditional wedding? Does the stress of having to entertain 300 guests all day freak you out? Do you not care to be surrounded by a bunch of people you rarely see or talk to? Are you dreading paying for all these things just to please your parents?

An adventure elopement doesn’t mean you have to ditch all of the traditions. It does mean that you can choose what you want your day to look like. Whether it’s just the two of you or a select few family and friends, you get to enjoy the day you are creating and prioritizing the quality of time spent with those invited.

Therefore you are choosing to invest in what’s most important to you as a couple and choosing to create a wedding experience that you will cherish forever.

How much does it cost to elope? The breakdown

Below is a breakdown of what a traditional wedding cost and what an elopement cost. These numbers have been taken from different sites and are an average from the US. Numbers will vary depending on the location you are in, the location you’re looking to get married in, the amount of guests attending your wedding, and the vendors you include in your day.

Average Cost of A Traditional Wedding $35,000

• Photographer ~$6,000
• Wedding dress / attire ~$3,000
• Venue ~ $7,000
• DJ / Band ~$1,200
• Officiant ~$500
• Flowers ~$2,000
• Hair and Make Up ~$400
• Caterers / Food for Guests ~$10,000
• Cake ~$500
• Event Planner ~ $3,500
• Travel and Accommodation ~$1000

Average Cost of An Elopement $10,000-$15,000+

• Photographer ~$6,000
• Videographer ~$6,000
• Wedding dress / attire ~$300-$3,000
• Wedding permit for location/”venue” ~$150
• Officiant ~$500
• Flowers ~$500
• Hair and Make Up ~$400
• Caterers / Food for Guests (if you decide to have some) ~$500
• Cake ~$100
• Event Planner (some elopements with guests might need an elopement planner) ~$2,000
• Travel and Accommodation ~$2000
• An epic adventure & long lasting memories for you and your partner ~Priceless
• A personalized and authentic experience crafted for you ~Priceless

What are you really paying for in an adventure elopement?

Photographer

Your photographer will be one of your biggest investments when it comes to your elopement. The reason is your photographer will be your main resource for everything. They are way more than just a photographer for your elopement. A highly skilled and knowledgable elopement photographer can help you with location guidance, permit assistance, creating timelines, making backup plans, and much more.

My biggest piece of advice is finding an elopement photographer whose work you absolutely love and get on a call with them. Make sure that you connect with them on a personal level because you will be leaning on them to create your dream elopement experience and capture all of its beautiful moments.

All of my packages include everything stated above from knowledge on guiding you to the perfect locations, timeline planning, permit assistance, vendor recommendations, places to stay, and more.

Videographer

In my opinion I believe a videographer is an essential vendor for your elopement experience. As a photographer I believe photographs are priceless and what they capture is irreplaceable. However a great video tells a story so much differently.

Being able to hear each other’s voices as you commit your lives to one another, seeing those happy tears roll down your faces, and all the incredible memories you’ll be sharing in a motion picture just hits differently. Aside from your memories (which can fade over time), photo and video are the only two things you’ll take away from your elopement experience that will allow you to relive every special moment.

My amazing wife Hannah is an incredible videographer and we offer packages together to make your experience very easy and our work perfectly matches each other so you will have a beautiful end product. Go ahead and watch some of her amazing films to see how amazing an elopement video is.

Everything Else

In terms of everything else you are saving money on a venue, catering for all your guests, and any other vendors that you don’t need for your day. You truly get to invest in an experience that’s tailored just for you. However cost will vary depending if you want to travel internationally, domestically, or locally. Here’s a tip for you, elope to a destination that you want to spend your honeymoon in. This will allow you to get the most out of your money and experience.

Ultimately invest in what matters most to you

When I was planning my wedding I dreaded having a large wedding. My brother and sister had almost 400+ guests at theirs. I remember multiple people approaching me talking about how grown up I was and I had no idea who they even were. That was not something I wanted at all. My wife and I only invited the closest family and friends that we had. We made it a very intentional experience so we could prioritize our time together.

What you decide to do and spend on your elopement/wedding is completely up to you. You just need to decide what you value for your experience and invest in that. Don’t worry about what your parents or friends will think because this isn’t there decision. So take plenty of time to figure it out because I don’t want you to have any regrets about your wedding or elopement day.

If you’re looking for more elopement resources, checkout my blog on the top 10 places to elope in the world, the best places to elope in New Zealand, the best places to elope in Minnesota, and the best places to elope in Iceland.