Getting married soon? Trying to decide between a full-blown wedding or eloping?

Both options are absolutely beautiful ways to celebrate your love story, but they each come with their own unique vibes and considerations. We broke both options down and gave you the pros & cons for both to help you decide which type of wedding is right for you! 

Traditional Weddings: The Whole Sha Bang

Let’s start with the classic route – the “traditional” wedding. You know the deal: ceremony, reception, dancing until midnight with your favorite people, that whole spiel.

Pros:

• You get to celebrate with ALL your people. Like, everyone who’s played a part in your love story can be there to witness your commitment.
• The traditions and rituals can be incredibly meaningful (and you can 100% customize them to fit your style).
• Those epic party moments with all of your family & friends? Unforgettable.
• Multiple generations of your family get to witness and be part of your love story.
• You get the full “wedding experience” with all the bells and whistles.
• More opportunities for family photos and group celebrations.

Cons:

• Holy sh*t, they can be expensive. Like, really expensive.
• The planning process can be stressful AF and time-consuming.
• Family drama and opinions (we’ve all been there).
• Less intimacy due to the larger guest count.
• More pressure to please everyone.
• Less flexibility with venues and dates.
• It can feel overwhelming or “performative” for some couples.

Elopements: Just the Two of You (plus a few others maybe)

Now, let’s talk about the “wild & free child” of wedding celebrations – the elopement. This is an adventure & a wedding in one!

Pros:

• SO Intimate! It’s all about you two and your love.
• Usually way more budget-friendly.
• Freedom to choose literally anywhere as your venue (mountain top? hell yes!).
• Less stress and planning required.
• More flexibility with dates and locations.
• Can be incredibly adventurous and unique.
• Focus is purely on your connection and commitment.
• Amazing opportunities for epic photos and videos.

Cons:

• Some family members might feel left out.
• Missing out on celebrating with your extended community.
• Less traditional family photos and group celebrations.
• Might have to deal with some disappointed relatives.
• Could miss out on some traditional wedding experiences.
• May need to plan separate celebrations with family later.
  

Remember, there’s no wrong answer here.

Your wedding celebration should be a reflection of your love story, whether that’s an epic party with 200 people or a sunrise ceremony on a mountain with just your photographer and officiant.

Our Advice?

Listen to your gut, not other people’s expectations. This is YOUR day, and it should feel true to who you are as a couple. Whether you choose to go big, keep it intimate, or run away together, make sure it feels right in your hearts.

And here’s a little secret: no matter which route you choose, the most important thing is that at the end of the day, you’re married to your person. All the other stuff? That’s just icing on the wedding cake.

To all my couples out there wrestling with this decision: trust yourselves. You know in your hearts what feels right. And whatever you choose, make it yours. Because that’s what makes it PERFECT.

P.S. Whatever you decide, just make sure you hire a kick-ass photographer and videographer to document it (wink wink). Because whether it’s an intimate elopement or a full-blown celebration, these memories deserve to be captured in all their glory!

Click HERE to learn about how we can capture and document your wedding celebration!