Elopements are great options for couples who want to cut back on wedding costs, avoid drama, or simply avoid all the stress that comes from traditional weddings. However, there are still some things you need to do to make things go smoothly. Just because it’s not as formal and traditional doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences for making some poor decisions.

It’s important to know elopement etiquette! Today, we’re going to go over the dos and don’ts for an elopement ceremony to make sure your elopement goes off without a hitch. 

1: Get the Legal Stuff Out of the Way

An elopement is still a legal wedding, and you still have to meet the legal requirements for your wedding to go off without a hitch. So, make sure you put in the time and effort to do that first, or you’ll be wasting everyone’s time.

This usually isn’t a problem, but it is something to remind everyone about.

2: Don’t Feel Bad for Skipping the Traditional Route

This is something many people going down the elopement route have to deal with. Traditions are traditions for a reason, and most of the people you know will have expectations that an elopement probably won’t meet.

Don’t feel bad about it.

First, this is your big day, and no one else has a say in it. Second, there’s a reason you’re choosing an elopement. Whether it’s to avoid drama, save money, or simply because you want a more spontaneous and small-scale event, your reasoning is enough.

3: Try to Account for Guests’ Preferences

While your elopement is your special day, it is important to think about the reasonable preferences of your guests. If you’re going to have seating arrangements, consider the relationships between different guests before making those arrangements. If there’s something that can greatly affect a guest, such as the food you’re offering afterward or something like that, try to make an accommodation.

This is your marriage ceremony, but these are still your guests. Within reason, try to make it an enjoyable event for them, too.

4: Consider Your Most Important Relationships

Depending on your relationship with certain people, eloping without warning and not telling anyone can be a huge disappointment. Imagine having two loving parents who fulfilled their roles to the T, and they’ve always wanted to see you get married. However, the day comes, and you do it all in secret. That can put stress on that relationship.

It’s your marriage and your decision but extending an invitation to at least a few key people in your life can mean the world to them and give you someone to share your big day with.

5: Don’t Forget to Capture the Moment

Finally, you’re going to experience a lot of things you never want to forget, and your guests will want to remember them too if you’re inviting anybody.

Make sure to get a professional photographer who is going to capture every moment. From your vows to different guest interactions, you want to capture it all.

If you’re in Arkansas or plan to elope in Arkansas, check out Emerald Moon Weddings to learn more. Contact us if you want to capture every precious moment!