Unique Elopements | Making them EXTRA special

Here in Washington, we have hoards of couple’s who’ve suddenly had their dream weddings ripped away from them, with a mere two weeks to pivot their plans. Instead of focusing on the heartbreak, below are some awesome ways to salvage the money and plans you already have, while creating some super unique elopements! 

Unique Elopements: Decorate Your Ceremony

If you’ve already purchased rentals and florals, use them! Decorate your ceremony space with the furniture you rented; placing one couch or bench for each family 6 ft apart! Place your centerpieces on the ends of the benches, or use them to create a giant aisle for you to safely walk down. Set up the custom arch you bought and be sure to send those pretty centerpieces home with your guests at the end. 

Bartending, Cakes and Catering Ideas

With receptions being banned, bartenders, caterers and cake bakers are taking a hard hit. Talk to your vendors about your ideas for unique elopements. While most won’t be able to refund, talk to them about the possibility of downsizing and if there’s any possibility of moving the remaining package to another date. This way you’re not completely out money, and they’re not completely out work. Win-win!  

See if your bartender offers a wedding night package. This could range from a custom (single serve) cocktail for each of you, to a full bottle of champagne with some additional goodies included. The Simple Goodness Sisters offer their own custom syrups, and their sister company, Happy Camper Cocktail Company did cocktail delivery earlier in the year. Other local bars are doing to-go orders as well if you love this idea but didn’t hire a bartender!

Ask to have a small cutting cake, and send it to your overnight accommodations, where you can cut it together and enjoy it in peace. This could end up being the ultimate romantic moment, sitting together and feeding each other cake.

Find out if having a 3-4 course meal delivered to your wedding night location is possible, or if someone can pick it up and deliver it for you. Imagine sitting on a terrace (or at your kitchen table) and enjoying your first meal as a married couple without being interrupted multiple times. 

First Dances to Dream of

One of my favorite moments has always been that first dance, and sometimes couples miss out on it when they elope. It always makes me a little sad when I ask couples to dance at photo shoots and they respond: “We’ve never danced together before” even years after their weddings. All couples should dance, even if it’s just in their kitchen. 

After your ceremony is finished and your guests have left, find a secluded spot for just the two of you, turn up your favorite jam on your iphone and snuggle in close. You can literally do this anywhere (Jake and I may have done it in the kitchen at least a couple times), and every year on your anniversary you can relive it! Plus it’s kinda a relief to not have everyone watching you. 

The Send Off Solution

Since 6 ft distancing and reception restrictions really make the send offs hard to do, I highly suggest having your send-off be the moment you walk back down the aisle as a married couple. Mid-day sparklers are a bit hard, but there are other ways to make this work! 

Streamers are a good option, and families with children or grand-children can always keep them for the kiddos. Set the streamers at each seat so that no one is having to grab from a community bucket. 

Bubble exits have always been popular, however, it’s not recommended to blow on anything right now. Plus masks make it nearly impossible. So grab a couple of bubble machines and set them up on each side of your aisle. For extra oomph, grab 6 and place them in pairs at the beginning, middle and end of the aisle so there’s no “lack” of bubbly goodness while you’re walking through! 

While eloping right now may not have been your dream wedding, there are still tons of ways to make your day a dream wedding. All it takes is a little brainstorming and creativity to make every moment special.