I get it, defining the differences between an intimate wedding and elopement can be just as hard as breaking down what the Drama series Lovecraft Country is about. No worries, let’s break it down so it could forever be broken(see that Love Jones reference there?).
Long story short the biggest differences between elopements and intimate weddings are:
- Guest Count
- Meaning
- Location
- Proceedings
Let’s start with the basics. Basically, an elopement is just an even more intimate version of an intimate wedding. An elopement is a meaningful and unique wedding day experience that ditches the traditional wedding structure and focuses solely on celebrating the love between you two and the promises being made. Meanwhile, an intimate wedding follows just about the same exact structure as a big traditional wedding. It usually has a formal ceremony and is followed by a reception.
Another key factor when distinguishing elopements and intimate weddings is the guest count. Intimate weddings ranges anywhere from 25 guests up to 50 total. This is most commonly seen for destination weddings. You typically don’t see a vast amount of guests attending a wedding in Jamaica when everyone lives in the United States. Meanwhile, an elopement guest count is much smaller. How small? Usually, there are no more than 10 guests present and even that is plenty. That’s because elopements fully focus on the couple. Not saying traditional and intimate weddings don’t focus on the couple as well however the guest experience is taken into account more.
Locations are also a key factor in differentiating intimate weddings and elopements. For intimate weddings, since there are a larger amount of guests then it would make more sense to book a venue or hotel resort that offers wedding packages. Meanwhile, elopements have certain advantages over intimate weddings. They can happen literally anywhere. Want to elope in front of a beautiful waterfall in Africa, cool. Want to say your vows on top of a mountain in Switzerland? Go for it. Elopements are not confined to certain spaces like traditional and intimate weddings are.
Elopements ditch the traditional wedding playbook in favor of something more adventurous and original. For this reason, the proceedings can look very different than an intimate wedding. The elopement ceremony may be totally different than an intimate wedding. Plus there usually isn’t a huge party or reception after the ceremony. Instead the focus is more on the couple and capturing their portraits together participating in activities with one another.
Either way, intimate weddings and elopements are very beautiful to not only witness but capture as well. That is why I truly enjoy doing both. If you are considering one of the two or on the fence, reach out! I would love the opportunity to go over your options and what may be best for you based on the vision you have.
I am an African American wedding photographer capturing intimate wedding and elopements in South Florida, Atlanta, GA, and beyond. You can view more of my work here.
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