Elopement Invitations & Announcements Explained

By Dave Westfall

One of the most attractive things about choosing an elopement over a traditional wedding is that you are able to drop most of the rules and formalities. However, that does not necessarily mean throwing etiquette out of the window altogether! At some point, you are going to have to announce your marriage and that is where things can get a little bit sticky! We have talked at length in previous blogs about the benefits of giving your friends and family a heads up about your elopement intentions, so now we are going to delve a little bit deeper into the hows and the whens of announcing your elopement!

How to Announce Your Elopement

The way that you announce your elopement will depend on who you want to tell and when you intend to break the news. In the case of your parents and immediate family, it is best to break the news in person. If this is not possible then a phone call is a suitable alternative. For other non-immediate family members and your friends or acquaintances, you can send out wedding announcements or make an announcement on social media.

When to Announce Your Elopement

We have always advocated informing those closest to you of your intention to elope ahead of time rather than springing it on them after the fact. This can go a long way towards softening the blow for them. However, this does not necessarily mean that you have to tell everyone at that time. It is common for only your closest friends and family to be informed before the event, everyone else can wait until afterwards. The generally accepted order in which people should be told is as follows:

1. Parents
2. Siblings
3. Close Friends
4. Other Relatives
5. Other Acquaintances

Inviting Guests to Your Elopement

A growing number of couples are choosing to invite a handful of guests to their elopement. Some just want to have their closest friends as witnesses while others want to ditch the traditional wedding but not their immediate family. In general terms, up to 12 guests is still an elopement, but more than that and you are edging into intimate weddings or destination weddings instead!

So, if you do decide to include a few guests, how do you actually invite them to your elopement? The truth is, you can be as formal or as informal as you choose to be. You might want to simply ask people in person, or over the phone if your elopement is a pretty casual affair. However, an official invitation can be a nice keepsake, especially for parents who had their hearts set on a more traditional affair! The actual wording of the invitations is not going to be all that different from a traditional wedding and many online examples can be edited to suit an elopement. All of the usual information such as location, time, date, dress code and lodging information will need to be included. You may also wish to add a request that they remain discreet about your plans to elope if it is not yet common knowledge.

Do you have any ideas for creative ways to announce your elopement? Tell us about it below.