Okay time to get excited – today we’re talking money! Everyone’s favorite, I know. But let’s be real: finances are one of the parts of weddings & elopements that often causes the most stress. AND it’s talked about the least. I’m a big believer in money transparency, and that includes me helping my couples with their elopement budget as much as possible!
So today, I’m giving you my best elopement budgeting tips & am walking you through how much it might cost you to elope in Washington state.
Toward the end of this guide, you’ll even find 3 elopement budget scenarios!
I’ll repeat this disclaimer multiple times throughout this: these are NOT hard numbers/budgets/facts. Every elopement is 1000%, completely, absolutely different. And so is every couple’s budget.
The numbers and tips I’m giving you are meant to help guide you through planning YOUR perfect day, not to force you into a bubble or to make you think you have to pay that exact amount. Use this as a baseline to plan your unique elopement day and to be totally comfortable with the money part of it, too!
Why Elopements Aren’t Necessarily “Cheaper”
First off, let’s bust a popular myth real quick: elopements are NOT necessarily “cheaper” than big weddings.
It used to be that many couples opted to elope simply because they thought it would save them some money.
And they’re not wrong – you totally can save money on your elopement depending on what’s important to you & what you want your elopement to look like. Compared to traditional weddings, you can save tens of thousands of dollars. BUT, elopements are still an investment… it’s just more of an investment in an experience over things.
Experiences > Material Things
One reason couples choose to elope instead of plan a big wedding is that they value experiences over the material things that are often praised at large weddings.
Instead of buying 50 garlands that you’ll throw away immediately after the wedding, maybe you’d rather spend that money on meaningful favors for your 10 guests.
Or instead of paying a caterer thousands of dollars to feed 300 guests that you barely even know, you’d prefer to hire a private chef to cook a high-quality meal for you and your partner on your elopement day.
Gone are the days where elopements are a “cheap alternative” to weddings, and welcome are the days where elopements are simply more intentional than weddings.
That intentionality hugely plays into how couples spend their money: rather than spending it on decorations and details and items they don’t really care about, but felt pressured to buy, they can spend it on what matters to them. On the people that matter to them, and on experiences that will be truly meaningful to their day. So let’s all cheers to that!!
That all being said, the average wedding cost is about $30,000+ these days, and I am a firm believer that you can have one of the most experience-filled, intentional, excellent days of your life for quite a bit less than that when you choose to elope. It’s all up to you and the micro decisions you’ll make to craft this day! And I’m always here to help you with ideas on how to fill your day and how to honor your budget.
Elopements vs. Weddings: The Major Cost Differences
Now there are some differences that often differentiate elopements and weddings. Again, what you decide to purchase & who you decide to hire completely depends on you two, and what matters to you.
But here are some of the costs that tend to differ the most between an intimate elopement and a traditional wedding:
Decorations
At bigger weddings, you’ll often see tons of decorations inside the venue and reception area. This could look like garlands, string lights, flowers, candles, whatever. Sometimes, these decorations will be bought simply based on what’s trendy that year, or what Pinterest suggested to the couple.
With smaller elopements, you’re able to be much more sustainable & intentional with your decorations.
Instead of buying 100 cheap garlands off of Amazon that you’ll literally throw away the next day, find handcrafted decorations from a small business on Etsy. Maybe look for some antique or vintage pieces at a local artisan shop, or look for anything you can use after the wedding day – or even pass down as a keepsake.
Wedding Favors
Wedding favors may seem small, but they can turn into a big expense pretty easily.
Lots of couples think it’s a requirement to buy wedding favors for their 200+ wedding guests, and that adds up FAST, even if it’s just small items.
And to be honest, most of the wedding favors I’ve seen aren’t things that guests will keep for very long – so that money can end up going to waste.
If you elope, you can be more intentional with the favors you provide your guests. Instead of buying 300 tiny favors, use that money to give each of your special guests a small gift basket, or put it toward a delicious meal for them. Use it to create an experience for your guests rather than buying small trinkets they’ll likely never use.
Details
Ever heard of that old-fashioned tradition “something old, new, borrowed, & blue?” But let’s be real – most couples probably don’t even care about that, and just do it because they think they’re supposed to.
Instead of buying your details/jewelry/etc. just to buy them & fulfill that tradition, buy items that will add meaning to your elopement day. Find jewelry that’s sustainable and well-made that you can wear long after your wedding day, or pass down to your future family members. Don’t just buy a random blue item off of Amazon just for the sake of it! Even a free National Park map can make a sweet little detail that tells the story of your day better in your detail photos.
Vendors
There are some vendors that are more common to hire at big weddings and less for elopements. Now that doesn’t mean you can’t hire them for your elopement – you just may spend your money differently on them!
DJ/Dance Floor
If you’re eloping outdoors, you likely won’t have a DJ or a dance floor to pay for. Instead, hire a cellist or private band to play at your Airbnb for you & your guests later that night!
Caterer
Since you won’t be paying for meals for 200+ guests, why not hire a private chef to cook for you in your Airbnb? Or book a food truck to bring you your favorite meals & snacks throughout the day? Maybe you’d rather hire somebody to create a beautiful charcuterie board for you to eat during your picnic on a mountaintop. Or of course, you can always pack your own sack lunch – my favorite thing at the top of a hike in all honesty!
Venue
If you’re eloping with only a few guests, you may be holding your elopement somewhere private like a backyard, or in the outdoors such as a national park. This means you’ll be able to save money on a venue rental you might have had to get for a big wedding! Put this money instead toward a cozy Airbnb for you & your guests.
Rentals
And finally, since you won’t have hundreds of guests, that means you won’t need to pay for hundreds of tables, chairs, glasses, plates, etc!
How to Prioritize What Your Spend
My top tip for prioritizing where you put your money for your elopement?? Spend it on what matters to you the most. I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but large weddings often encourage spending money on outdated traditions that couples may not really care about.
Decide what your top few priorities are and what will add the most meaning to your elopement day, and spend the majority of your budget on that. Spend less on the rest, or even DIY some of the other aspects of the day!
3 Elopement Budget Scenarios
Let’s go through 3 different elopement budget scenarios real quick, just to give you an idea of how different factors can affect elopement costs.
Elopement Budget 1: Keeping It Simple || $
The couple planning this elopement wants to keep their elopement experience simple & stunning, only spending their money on the things they value MOST. They’d rather spend the evening celebrating with an intimate group in their Airbnb then going on a sunset hike to a new spot.
Their elopement could look like this:
- PHOTOGRAPHY:
- 4 hours of adventure elopement photography coverage, from first look, to ceremony, to a few sunset photos and celebration with loved ones at one location – $4800+
- FLORALS:
- One gorgeous bouquet for the couple to share – typically range from $200-$350
- ATTIRE:
- A thrifted gown – Facebook marketplace may have some gems for $100-200!
- A thrifted suit/tux – if you get lucky, Goodwill might have some for $50-75!
- HAIR/MAKEUP:
- DIY – $0 if you already have supplies!
- DECOR:
- DIY decor from thrift stores with help from their friends & family – $100-200
- FOOD:
- A small packed picnic to eat at the top of the mountain they hike – $25-35 from your local grocery store!
- LODGING:
- Spending the night at their cozy Airbnb, making s’mores by the fire with their loved ones – multi-person Airbnb’s in WA typically range from $150-300/night
- CEREMONY:
- A private ceremony officiated by a friend – usually $0 to get ordained online
- TOTAL:
- $6500-$7500
Elopement Budget 2: All the Necessities || $$
This couple wants to put their money toward the things that will make their day super special, but don’t necessarily need to go all-out to make that happen for themselves.
Their elopement experience could look like this:
- PHOTOGRAPHY:
- 8 hours of adventure elopement photography coverage (remember – your photographer for this is also a major planner and so much more than just photos!), the most important moments captured – $6000-$8000
- FLORALS:
- A bouquet, hairpiece, & boutonniere – $350-$500
- ATTIRE:
- HAIR/MAKEUP:
- Hair & makeup just for the bride – $200-400
- DECOR:
- Decor from small businesses on Etsy – $250-450
- FOOD:
- A picnic catered by a private chef – $300-500
- LODGING:
- An Airbnb for a couple of nights – $150-350/night
- CEREMONY;
- A simple ceremony without too much glitz & glam – they don’t need a bunch of activities to make their day special – a simple officiant may range from $200-500
- ACTIVITIES:
- A river float after vows with their closest friends & fam – $50-200 for equipment rentals
- A hike the next day – $0, or a small entrance/permit fee
- TOTAL:
- $7800 – $10,000
Elopement Budget 3: An All-Out Celebration || $$$
The couple planning this elopement wants to go all-out with an activity-packed adventure elopement. They want to put their money toward experiences that will create memories for a lifetime, and create an awesome experience for their guests if they have any.
Here’s what their elopement could look like:
- PHOTOGRAPHY:
- Two-day epic adventure, from the start of the day to the very end – every moment captured. Maybe they get up for the sunrise and end the day at sunset! Then, even more coverage the next day for an extra adventure! – $8000+
- OR sunrise + sunset coverage, meaning we get up at the crack of dawn, take a break during the day, and meet up again to catch the sunset! – $6500+
- FLORALS:
- A bouquet, boutonniere, and floral installation for their ceremony – $750-$1500
- ATTIRE:
- A bridal gown from a local bridal boutique – $1000-$5000
- A custom suit from Indochino – $400-$700
- HAIR/MAKEUP:
- Hair & makeup for the whole wedding party – $350-$1000
- DECOR:
- A customized tablescape for just themselves, or for them & their guests to eat dinner at – $150-$500
- Rentals + decor from a local rental company – $200-$400
- FOOD:
- A private chef & bartender coming to their Airbnb to cook for them – $400-$1000
- LODGING:
- Sleeping under the stars to save some money on lodging, or booking a 4-night stay at a cozy Airbnb to make their elopement experience longer than just a day – $30-75/night at a campground, $150-350/night at an Airbnb
- CEREMONY:
- A full-service officiant who spends time getting to know them, preparing an awesome ceremony – $500-$1000
- ACTIVITIES:
- A private helicopter tour to take in all the epic views – $200-$600/person
- Horseback riding at sunset to end the day – $40-100/person
- A private wine-tasting the next day at a local winery – $50-100/person
- TOTAL:
- $15,000-$25,000
So as you can see, even the most “all out” elopement is considerably less expensive than a traditional wedding, but it still is an investment in your experience, celebration of your love, and memories.
Washington Elopement Packages
Now that you’ve been let in on my top Washington elopement budget tips, you may be on the hunt for a Washington elopement photographer! In which case, I may be your gal 😉
Let’s chat if you think we’d be a great fit!
My Elopement Photography Prices
Here you can find more information about my elopement photography services (and all the fun things I provide between booking & elopement day!).
Here’s what you can expect for next steps…
- Inquire through this form
- I get back to you with more info, and a link to schedule a call to meet each other!
- We hop on a phone or Zoom call and get to know each other, become pals, and hear all the fun possibilities for your elopement day!
- We decide on which date and package sounds like the best fit for you
- I’ll send over my contract & invoice and we’ll be off to the races of planning the best day ever 🥾🙌🏼
After you do that, feel free to check out these other resources I’ve created for you!
