Filming Love Intimately: What Makes an Elopement Wedding Video Special
Gone are the days when elopement meant a runaway. Today, more and more couples choose elopement weddings to celebrate their big day for the sake of intimacy and authenticity. If you want to skip the big crowds in traditional weddings and focus on making special moments with your partner only, elopements are the way to go. Let’s take a closer look at this magic trend in this article.
What Is an Elopement Wedding?
In the past, elopements were originally known as runaway weddings where a couple tied the knot in secret and often without parental approval. Nowadays, elopement weddings have evolved to a cherished option for couples seeking an intimate celebration instead of a large ceremony.
Unlike traditional weddings, elopement weddings typically involve a very limited number of guests or no guests at all. In addition, the bride and groom can choose to customize the event to their wish, without feeling bound by social norms or traditional expectations.
There is a growing trend of incorporating elopement-style weddings into pre-wedding photoshoots among couples, as it is the perfect option to blend the best of both worlds for a truly unique experience.
Main Characteristics Of An Elopement Wedding
Elopements mean intimacy, intense-free, flexibility as well as budget-friendliness. Dive in to learn why so many couples are choosing elopements for marriage.
Intimate and Personal Experience
One of the main characteristics of an elopement wedding is its emphasis on intimacy. Elopements allow the couples to focus solely on each other without the common hustle and bustle in traditional weddings like hosting the guests or following the traditional customs. The absence of guests makes every moment private; therefore, the main characters are able to connect on a deeper emotional level and create truly unique memories.
Isn’t it the true purpose of a wedding — to celebrate the love and commitment between two souls in the most genuine way?
Flexible destinations
Another draw of elopements must be the limitless flexibility in wedding destinations. The couples have the freedom to choose any destination that feels special to them, rather than being confined in fixed venues like restaurants, churches, or banquet halls in traditional weddings.
Such flexibility makes elopements ideal for couples with a spirit for adventure who wish to get married in unexpected places. From a quiet mountaintop, a cliff overlooking the ocean, to a secluded serene beach, virtually anywhere can be the wedding venue for the adventurous bride and groom to exchange heartfelt vows.
Budget-Friendly Option
Elopements are also a more affordable option for marriage ceremonies. With a limited guest list or none at all (it’s up to you!), you only need to cover essentials for a small group of people, thereby cutting costs to the minimum.
Let’s see what elopements can strip away for you:
- Venue rental: There’s no need to rent an expensive, grand venue to accommodate the huge number of guests.
- Decorations: Extravagant decor and elaborate floral decorations cost a fortune. Meanwhile, sometimes all you need for elopements is a meaningful backdrop and some bouquets of flowers.
- Guest catering: Feeding and entertaining a large crowd is not only expensive but stressful.
- Wedding planners: Of course, experienced planners make your wedding more seamless, but hiring one comes with a hefty price tag that you may need to consider your budget.
By saving on these unnecessary extras, you can allocate your budget for what truly matters in the celebration like unique wedding rings, stunning cinematography, or a dream destination for both.
Stress-free Planning
Planning a traditional wedding feels like a chore to some, especially in culturally-rich places like Asian countries where a marriage ceremony involves a lot of customs and traditions in a rigid timeline.
Meanwhile, designing an elopement is stress-free as the couples can create a celebration just as how they envision it. There’s no need to pay attention to timelines, vendors, or guest arrangements. Instead, couples who choose to elope only focus on picking the destination or personalizing the vows, which allow them to enjoy every step of planning. In that way, the couples can maintain the entire enthusiasm for their big day as it approaches.
When Should You Host an Elopement Wedding?
Certainly, elopement weddings are not for all. Here are some cases you and your partner should try eloping:
- You seek an intimate celebration that focuses solely on your love journey rather than a grand event involving a large guest list.
- You want to save money and create a more solid foundation in life.
- You dream of celebrating your marriage ceremony in faraway yet breathtaking places such as Maldives or Da Lat.
- You wish to include unique activities in your wedding like hiking, bungee jumping, etc.
If you are leaning towards elopements but don’t want to miss family involvement, it’s recommended to replace the conventional pre-wedding photoshoot with an elopement. This way, you can still savor a personal experience while sharing the joy of your love with family and friends in a grand celebration later. Moreover, the wedding videographers can surely capture more genuine, heartfelt moments in your elopement than in a staged photoshoot. How great it is to have your happiest memories preserved in an authentic way, surrounded by a picturesque setting!
Key Steps to Plan the Perfect Elopement Wedding
Below is our advice on how to craft the perfect elopement ceremony with your beloved partner.
Choose the perfect location
Let’s begin by choosing your ideal wedding destination. Do you have any scenery in mind yet? Is it the vibrant city, the tranquil beach, or the majestic peak of a mountain? Regardless of the destination, don’t forget to consider accessibility, especially if you’re inviting anyone in your family with.
In case you’re planning to travel to faraway locations, take the local weather into consideration as well. Otherwise, your dream wedding might be ruined by a heavy rain or strong wind blows.
Make sure to discuss with your partner and choose a place that resonates with your relationship. It would be perfect to tie the knot at a meaningful location to you both.
Personalize your wedding
Now it’s time to craft a detailed plan for your wedding day. You are free to customize the whole ceremony to your wish, and make sure to include personal touches that make the elopement truly yours.
You can start from the setting by using your favorite flowers, hanging little decorations that reflect your relationship, or making a unique backdrop. Then, infuse your love story to the event further with personalized songs, attire, and vows. That way, the elopement will feel truly special and create lasting memories for you both.
In addition to personalizing the typical features of a wedding, you can also include some unique activities that reflect your mutual interests such as trekking, watching sunset, diving, or even bungee jumping right in your elopement.
Find an experienced elopement wedding videographer
Hiring an experienced elopement videographer is recommended to preserve the unforgettable memories in your wedding. It’s best to look for someone who has experience with elopements before so that they know how to capture every special moment without interrupting the personal atmosphere of the event.
Before hiring anyone, don’t forget to browse through their portfolio to make sure their editing style aligns with your vision. In addition, discuss your expectations clearly with the videographer so they can deliver the visual record you wish to have. Since talented videographers are often fully booked months in advance, you should make your booking early.
Allocate your budget
Last but not least, proper budgeting will help you plan a successful elopement wedding. Let’s start by listing out all the expenses you need to cover, from travel, accommodation, venue, attire, to any additional service you want to include. Identify important areas as well as any unnecessary extra you can save.
Opting for off-season travel or less touristy destinations will help you stay within budget without compromising quality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Elopement Weddings
How much does an elopement wedding cost on average?
The cost of an elopement wedding varies greatly depending on factors such as location, travel expenses, wedding photography, and any additional services you want to include. Of course, choosing a local and budget-friendly destination can reduce costs significantly, while faraway locations may add travel and accommodation expenses to the budget. Ultimately, it’s up to you to customize your elopement to stay within budget.
Can we include close family and friends in our elopement?
Of course you can, but it’s best to include only beloved family members and close friends that you feel comfortable with. Keeping the guest list small will help you preserve the intimacy and personal connection that define an elopement wedding.
How can we make our elopement feel special?
As mentioned above, you can make your elopement special by including personalized elements that reflect your relationship. For example, write heartfelt vows in a handwritten note or make a playlist that includes your favorite songs. Moreover, consider including any activity that feels meaningful to you both such as watching sunset together, riding motorcycles, etc.
Elopement weddings have evolved to be an intimate, personal and meaningful way to tie the knot for modern couples. Choosing an elopement over a pre-wedding photoshoot will not only help you save money but also create genuine memories to cherish for years to come.
If you’re looking for an experienced videographer to capture heartfelt moments in your elopement, look no further than Jimmy Wedding Films. We have been working with many couples who choose to elope, that’s why we understand every detail of how to record your special day in an authentic and timeless way. Trust us to bring your love story to life!