Elopements: 5 ways to getting it right
Venue: San Galgano Abbey| Photo: Benni & Carol Photography | Planning: Veronica Regis Wedding Planner
Elopements, why do people do them? Nowadays, it’s less about running off to marry in secret and more about meticulous planning, specific details met and a whole lot of intimacy! Whatever your reason for eloping - avoiding the pressure of a traditional wedding, saving some money, escaping family drama or simply wanting it to be just you two - be sure to know what is involved.
Veronica Regis Wedding Planner is a master of elopements, accounting for half of her yearly weddings. “Don’t think that an elopement will be less romantic or less emotional! Usually, I cry more during these ceremonies than at a classic wedding. With fewer distractions, there is only a bride and a groom who have decided to choose each other!”
You have prioritised intimacy, so don't let it be you, you partner and your mobile! Leave the logistics, transport, reservation confirmations to your amazing wedding planner and embrace these moments. You do not want to be chasing up your bouquet on the morning of your wedding.
"Understand what is really important for the couple: the venue for the ceremony, the landscape for the photos, the MUA or special look for the day.
I plan the elopement with the same attention as the classic wedding." Wedding Planner - Veronica
Kay & James chose each other (and their 2 boys) and with the former church of Caracalla in the Town Hall of Rome as their setting, they made their vows to each other. Eloping for them allowed them to live in this emotional moment with their children, surrounded by their love and the beauty of Rome!! And a fantastic vintage VW minivan!
Photo: Benni & Carol Photography | Planner: Veronica Regis Wedding Planner | MUA: Ruslana Regi | Videographer: Fulvio Greco Films | Vintage car hire: Italian Vintage Garage
You may well be eloping from friends and family but inevitably your suppliers will part of your day - from even helping you zip up your dress to acting as a witness at your ceremony.
Ideally meet with your suppliers face-to-face before the wedding to tie up details but to also form a bond with them, avoiding those awkward hellos on your wedding day.
Nick & Nettie chose each other and the eternal city of Rome on a cold but sunny Autumn day. The stunning St. Peter's Basilica set the stage for their emotional vows to each other. And afterwards a vintage Fiat 500 took the couple around the city, before having a symbolic ceremony at ornate Villa Borghese.
Photo: Scatti Spontanei
Prioritise some budget for a talented photographer. These photos will last a lifetime for you both but also friends and family at home will want to experience the day, so these photos will really need to come alive.
Don't think because it's just going to be the two of you you'll need a short photography window. Have your photographer take the shots of the ceremony and then accompany you both around afterwards taking surperb natural shots in different incredible Italian locations.
Veronica Regis Wedding Planner "Often the couples choose to elope to allow them to invest their wedding budget into other needs, but then discover they have a stunning photoshoot opportunity! Without a reception they can spend their time changing the location for the photos and video, in this way they will have unforgettable memories."
Photo: Benni & Carol Photography
This is absolutely your day and any wedding should be a happy one but a wedding without loved ones support can be hard, so be clear with your reasons for eloping and try and express them in a gentle way to friends and family. And don't forget to throw a post-elopement celebration when you return!
With an elopement, we know you won't be rushing back from your photoshoot to enjoy the apertifs with your guests, or checking the timings of speeches. But you will need an edited timeline to keep the day moving smoothly.
Schedule in your hair & makeup artist (if you're having one); time to get to the ceremony venue (are you going to go together or separate?); how long you have booked your photographer for and will you have them for sundown and some dreamy sunset shots?
Photo: Scatti Spontanei
Wedding planning is a team effort - come and join our Italian wedding couples community over on Facebook. Need some support? Considering an elopement? Have 100 questions and no answers? Be part of this team, come on in and say Ciao!
Written by Emily Jennings, marketing person and wedding day-dreamer; lover of a boho vibe and a wedding night filled with a thousand lights.
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