One of the questions that we are often asked here at WhereToElope.com is: what the difference between Elopements Vs Small Weddings actually is! It is actually a very difficult question to answer, because elopement is something that has really evolved over time. In the past, eloping meant grabbing your sweetie and running off to marry in secret before coming home and breaking the news to your family and friends! That still happens occasionally, but in most cases there is at least some degree of planning involved in a modern elopement! This has resulted in the lines between small weddings and elopements becoming increasingly blurred.
Is It All About The Numbers?
Some would suggest that the difference lies in the number of guests attending! Elopements are traditionally just about the couple, but we are seeing more and more of our vendors offering elopements for up to 8 guests so that the parents or the closest friends are able to attend the wedding. Is this still an elopement? We like to think so! Small weddings are usually those with 30-50 guests, but which still follow the traditional format to some degree. That means that you are still going to have a ceremony and a reception with some of the trimmings. However, eloping usually dispenses with all of that even when a small number of guests are invited. The average elopement will consist of only the ceremony itself, although some couples will also have a special dinner or party later, especially if there are a couple of guests.
We’ve also found that others believe the main difference between Small Weddings and Elopements lies in the budget. From our research into the differences we’ve found that Small Weddings usually have an average budget of around $10,000. While the total budgets for Elopement style weddings tend to be $2,500 or less. Based on this categorizing, Small Weddings could also include “Destination Weddings” and the more budget friendly “Mid-Week Weddings” that 33% of couples are choosing because they tend to cost 1/3 less than traditional Weekend Weddings and provide more options.
So, essentially what we are saying is that the real difference between a small (aka tiny, boutique or intimate) wedding and an elopement is how you approach it! Small weddings tend to be a scaled down version of a traditional white wedding, while elopements usually do not include all of the traditional elements and costs.
So, I Can Invite Guests to my Elopement?
Of course you can! It’s your wedding and you can do whatever it is that makes you happy! So if you are interested in eloping, but cannot bear the thought of not having your parents or BFF with you on your big day than that is perfectly fine!
You will find many of our vendors offering elopement packages which include a small number of guests. For example, if you dream of a stunning Southern elopement, then our friends at Georgia’s Jekyll Club can provide a beautiful elopement ceremony with a celebratory dinner for up to 10 guests. Alternatively, if you are thinking about heading off to Vegas, a place synonymous with quickie weddings and elopements then Chapel of the Flowers can accommodate small numbers of guests depending on which of their 30+ packages and locations you select for your ceremony. Please click on this link to find many other small wedding elopement packages from our vendors that include guests.