Top 10 Eloping Planning Tips
Planning an elopement is both exciting and daring. Eloping is one way to deal with the social stress surrounding weddings. As a wedding professional, Alison has come to realise what makes an elopement special, irrespective of budget or expense. Use these top ten tips as a starting planner for eloping with grace and style...
1. Plan smart. Do not complicate the planning. Choose any day as long as it is not a Saturday afternoon in the summer and you can put the whole wedding together with as little as 2 weeks lead-in time. There is real competition for services and venues with the summer Saturday bookings and many larger weddings are planned a year in advance. Be creative with your scheduling and get a wider selection of wedding professionals to hire on short notice. 2. Know your service providers. Referrals work well as the reputation of the service providers you choose is important. Avoid unpleasant surprises as you elope by selecting professional service providers with a depth of experience. Emailing works great but close the deal by telephone with a written agreement to follow. 3. Get it in writing. Your quoted prices should include all the details as agreed. Verbal agreements get lost in the excitement. a4. Be methodical. Keep copious notes and plan achievable goals in a daily task list. Revise your overall action plan as you progress. Be open to novel ideas as your panorama of choices is far more diverse when you elope. 5. Know your desired outcomes. Be clear as to the outcomes you want and articulate them well. People cannot please you if you do not know what you want. Wedding professionals create magic if they know what “works” for you. |
6. Only your social rules need apply. You set the social boundaries for your elopement – not etiquette nor obligation. Invite exactly the people you want to your wedding and no more - keep it gloriously small. Social obligations dampen many a special day. Choose to be accompanied by people who love and care for you. Opt only for the conventions that have meaning for you and create your own significant moments that work even better for you
7. Prioritise your budget. It is very easy to spend large sums. There are so many wonderful choices available but many are secondary to your immediate eloping needs. Separate the “must haves” from the luxuries and your spending priorities become clearer. Do not go into to debt simply because of perceived social obligation.
8. Tact. The bridal couple need to enjoy their wedding and be proud of it. This means being open to hear the expectations of those around you and being tactful in articulating as to why an elopement is/was so important for you. Those that care for you will understand irrespective of social convention.
9. Confirmations. Follow up a few days prior to the elopement with your service providers and confirm your arrangements, provide any additional instructions, and reiterate the wedding schedule and your desired outcomes. It will reassure you and assists the professionals in understanding your expectations. No wedding ever goes 100% to plan – the pros know this and as long as they know your desired outcomes they will make the wedding flow seamlessly on your behalf.
10. Relax and enjoy! A well briefed small core of wedding professionals will allow you to enjoy your day for its full emotional significance. Do not let “micro-managing" spoil an otherwise fun, happy, beautiful time. Take moments to step back and enjoy what is happening around you – smell the air, catch the view, focus on your partner-to-be, enjoy a flower. Entrust your wedding to the providers that you have chosen well to make you day flow beautifully.
7. Prioritise your budget. It is very easy to spend large sums. There are so many wonderful choices available but many are secondary to your immediate eloping needs. Separate the “must haves” from the luxuries and your spending priorities become clearer. Do not go into to debt simply because of perceived social obligation.
8. Tact. The bridal couple need to enjoy their wedding and be proud of it. This means being open to hear the expectations of those around you and being tactful in articulating as to why an elopement is/was so important for you. Those that care for you will understand irrespective of social convention.
9. Confirmations. Follow up a few days prior to the elopement with your service providers and confirm your arrangements, provide any additional instructions, and reiterate the wedding schedule and your desired outcomes. It will reassure you and assists the professionals in understanding your expectations. No wedding ever goes 100% to plan – the pros know this and as long as they know your desired outcomes they will make the wedding flow seamlessly on your behalf.
10. Relax and enjoy! A well briefed small core of wedding professionals will allow you to enjoy your day for its full emotional significance. Do not let “micro-managing" spoil an otherwise fun, happy, beautiful time. Take moments to step back and enjoy what is happening around you – smell the air, catch the view, focus on your partner-to-be, enjoy a flower. Entrust your wedding to the providers that you have chosen well to make you day flow beautifully.