Elopement Now, Reception Later
Friends… this entire season of life right now has us all in shock. Am I right? Who knew we could all go from planning swoon-worthy weddings to stuck inside in minutes? Start dreaming again friends, just with a little extra caution. Maybe by the end of this, you’ll choose an elopement then have your reception later.
Pause, Pivot & Press On
I think the biggest lesson here is not to give up. Every day I’m seeing vendors close their doors, or panic because we don’t know what is happening tomorrow. I encourage those who are reading this to take a deep breath. Count to five. Then re-evaluate your approach. I’ve been spending time reviewing my rescheduling policies and brainstorming other ways to get you the wedding of your dreams.
The Elopement Now, Reception Later Package
Innovation comes out of stressful situations. Knowing that many weddings will be postponed, I wanted to make sure all couples still had the opportunity to celebrate the way they wanted! I’m so excited to introduce my Elope Now, Play Later solution.
Whether you’re already booked with me, or you’re interested in booking, you can take advantage of this unique package. Take any collection and split the time between two days: One weekday (Monday-Thursday) for your intimate elopement with up to 6 of your best people. The other weekend day (Friday-Sunday) for your big party with everyone else! All full wedding collections are now eight (8) hours to make this option easier.
Your Elopement
For your elopement day, pick a weekday (Monday-Thursday) to say your vows. I’ll work with you to choose a perfect location and timeframe for your elopement. One of my favorites is Jazmin and Dominic’s Seattle Elopement from last spring. Depending on your wishes (and guest list), you’ll want to be prepared to use up to four (4) hours from your wedding package for this portion. Jazmin’s elopement took about 3.5 hours from getting ready to the moment I dropped them back off at Hotel Theodore.
The Ultimate Party
Up to two years after your elopement, you’ll be able to use your remaining package hours for the ultimate celebration! You can choose just to celebrate like Keira and Wade did on the Sunday after their elopement. Should you prefer to have everyone witness your vows, consider a renewal; even if its only a few days or weeks after the real thing! Depending on how many hours you have left, photography coverage will range from 4-6 hours for your party. That’s some pretty awesome flexibility right?
Possible Frequently Asked Questions
While this is obviously a very new thing, I’ve compiled a list of questions that *might* arise and answered them so you don’t have to ask!
How does payment work?
Paying for your Elope Now, Play Later package is very similar to my original collections. There is a $500 retainer due at signing your contract, $500 due the day before your elopement, and the remainder due 30 days prior to your final reception event. Please note: This schedule is currently under review and MAY change in the near future.
How can the hours be split?
The smallest hourly split would be a 2 hour elopement and 6 hour reception. I’ve found that anything less than 2 hours for an elopement leaves too much out of your story. Murphy and Dustin’s Tiny Farmstay Elopement took 2.5 hours, while Keira and Wade’s Mountainside Elopement took 4 hours. Receptions will need a minimum of 4 hours for family photos (if requested) and the reception events.
What if I never use my remaining hours?
If we hit the two year mark, and you’ve never used your remaining hours… obviously I can’t charge you for that. Since you’d never have booked your remaining package hours, there would be no final due date. One thing to keep in mind though: collection prices may rise. If two years pass and you haven’t selected your party date, you can still hire me for a party at the current hourly rate. If you’ve paid in full in advance, and have not scheduled your party by the end of two years, you’ll receive a voucher towards any photography collection for the remainder of your contract price.
What if we get divorced?
No one ever goes into a marriage thinking they’re going to get divorced. I surely didn’t and I know you aren’t either! However, if you do get divorced between your elopement and the reception dates, I encourage you to still have a party. It can be your birthday, celebrating a successful divorce, or even a just because we want to have fun party. Should you decide to just forget the party, you won’t owe a final payment and we’ll cancel your contract together. You can also choose to pay for and save those extra hours for other portrait sessions in the future.
