Why You Need a Wedding Planner For Your Elopement
IT’S NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMS!
Not everyone is made for big, traditional weddings and if you’ve chosen to elope then it’s likely you dread the very thought of an all singing and all dancing affair. Elopement numbers are on the rise along with countless couples planning, due to Covid-19, to elope when lockdown restrictions are lifted and celebrate with friends and family at a later time when social distancing measures are relaxed.
There are a million different ways you can create your dream elopement, whether that involves just the two of you or maybe you are considering inviting the 10 most important people in your life to join you on an adventure? And it seems simple; you’re going to choose a destination, figure out how to get there, where to sleep, how to get hold of flowers, find someone to legally marry you, do your hair and make-up, organise yourself a celebration drink (you definitely deserve this), decide on where and what you would like to eat, work out how long the hike is to the mountain-top, research what time the sun sets and who will be there to capture your photos and video footage, find some time to set your table, make everything look incredible and at some point announce your elopement to your friends and family…
It’s a common misconception that elopements don’t need much planning but in fact you might be surprised to know that they require almost the same amount of hours as planning a big white wedding and there are plenty of important things you absolutely won’t want to forget! Just because you're having an intimate wedding does not mean you need to be completely on your own and I’m going to break down the reasons why you absolutely need to hire a wedding planner for your elopement.
Travel-wise
Having someone in your corner who is used to travelling, who has experience working in a variety of countries, with cultural competence as well as having a clear understanding of any risks involved is key. It is important to have someone with this knowledge to guide you when making plans as the logistics need to be considered in order to convert dreams into realities.
Location scouting
Finding the perfect location is not as simple as seeing something on Instagram and having a look on Google Maps! It takes a hell of a lot of research to find the spot. Not only that but you then have to book some great accommodation nearby, figure out how long the travelling will take and how you will get from one to the other and of course you need to know what the weather will be like when you are there. A planner can help with everything and not only this, for my couples I will always be onsite at least 2 days before the big day to ensure the perfect location is exactly that, not overrun with tourists who want selfies of that epic view you had hoped to be saying your vows in front of!
local knowledge & suppliers
Although you will be using considerably less suppliers than if you were to wed back home you still might want to have your hair and make up done, a beautiful flower arch or crown, a post ceremony celebratory meal or of course a photographer to capture your adventure? Finding suppliers to work with abroad or not local to you can be difficult, hiring a planner will ease that difficulty as they are likely to have contacts all over the world and be in a position to locate well-matched suppliers far easier than you can via Google!
make it legal
Eloping in an unfamiliar place can be scary and tricky to navigate the legal system, often varying from one country to another. Your planner will be able to advise on this and ensure and guarantee that everything you are doing is done correctly and legally.
b-e-a-utiful
This is something that can often be forgotten when eloping, you want to avoid the venue costs, large florist bills and dreaded décor hire companies but that absolutely does not mean you have to avoid the special touches that make your wedding day unique and totally you!
You’ve said your emotional vows in an incredible location in front of your very nearest and dearest and then arrive at a stunning feast with the table designed and styled to perfection and ready to share your first married meal together. Your planner will do all of this for you, including sourcing each individual piece and making it all look pretty!
behind the scenes
Timing is key when it comes to a wedding of any size and not many people really know how much work goes on behind the pretty pictures and beautifully laid table. Having your wedding planner to coordinate your wedding day is a fail safe way to ensure everything runs like clockwork and you can enjoy your intimate and intentional moments, after all that is probably one of the reasons you are choosing to elope .
As you can see there is so much more to an elopement than just jetting off to somewhere remote and saying your vows and why not leave it down to someone who plans for a living! Here at Rebecca Marie Weddings we can be with you every step of the way. I have experience working across several European countries as well as Asia and Australia and have been on many adventures of my own - including my own intimate wedding on an island in Western Australia, I know too well the importance of doing your wedding your way.
This is your day, the day you commit to one another in the setting of your dreams, without the stress, without worrying about family dynamics and without the same table setting you’ve seen 100 times over on Pinterest. Whether I need to pack my only baggage allowance with décor items for your day or scour the local markets for the ideal items I will be ensuring your elopement is nothing short of a dream, your dream!
Whether it’s a UK elopement in Cornwall or Devon, a little further afield in Scotland or to the more exotic likes of Marrakech or Bali I would love to discuss your love adventure.
