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How To Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

Meredith Heim

Some of our couples have been electing to go a non-traditional route; An elopement or micro destination style wedding ceremony, followed by an at-home wedding reception after party. We are all in (Looking at you Sarah!!).


When it comes to tying the knot, the traditional wedding with its large guest list, endless planning, and stressful ceremonies just isn’t for everyone. If you’ve been dreaming of a more intimate celebration that focuses purely on you and your partner, an elopement-style destination wedding might be the perfect fit. Imagine saying your vows at a breathtaking spot—whether it’s a beach at sunset, a charming European village, or a secluded mountaintop—just the two of you (or a handful of loved ones) in the most meaningful location.


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Big Sur Elopement | Flora Gibson Photography via Pinterest
Big Sur Elopement | Flora Gibson Photography via Pinterest

The beauty of a non-traditional wedding approach is that it allows you to reallocate your budget in ways that make the experience more meaningful, luxurious, and personal. Instead of spending tens of thousands on a big wedding that is full of stress and gone in a flash, you can focus on creating unforgettable memories in an amazing destination, upgrading your travel experience, and investing in unique moments that you'll cherish forever.


The stress reduction and relaxed vibe of a small, intimate wedding means you can focus on what truly matters: celebrating your love with your partner—and later, with your family and friends in a way that feels authentic to you both. At the end of the wedding day, destination trip, or quick elopement, the only thing that remains are your memories and your bond to one another. Do what works best for you as a couple, not what others expect of you blindly.


NOT YOUR PARENTS WEDDING


Gone are the days where the only option is a lavish wedding with hundreds of guests and distant peopley you don't even really know... plus weddings cost on average for a 150 guest celebrations 600% the amount they did in 1985.


The beauty of a non-traditional approach lies in the simplicity and personal connection it offers. For many couples, the wedding day is about the experience and the emotions, rather than the show or the logistics. Doing things a bit differently allows you to focus on what truly matters—your love, your vows, and the connection between you and your partner.


Whether you choose a solo ceremony or a micro wedding with a small group of your closest family and friends, the focus is entirely on the couple and their shared experience. There’s no pressure to perform for an audience, no worrying about who’s upset about seating arrangements, and no expectations other than the ones you create together.


HOW TO SPEND SMART AND CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES


So, what can you do with the money you save from skipping the big wedding? Here are some ideas that can make your elopement or micro wedding feel just as special (if not more so) than a traditional wedding:


1. UPGRADED FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS


Instead of booking standard flights and staying in a budget hotel, use the money you saved from a smaller wedding to upgrade to business or first-class tickets for the ultimate travel experience. You’ll arrive at your destination feeling relaxed and pampered, ready to kick off your wedding adventure.


When it comes to accommodations, why not treat yourself to a luxury hotel or a secluded, high-end resort? Book with a Travel Advisor to hand over the mental load and guarantee VIP treatment. From private villas with ocean views to a five-star hotel with world-class service, you can experience a level of comfort that elevates your entire trip. You deserve to feel on top of the world during this trip.


2. UNIQUE EXPERIENCES: HELICOPTER RIDES, PRIVATE BOAT CHARTERS, AND MORE


Want to make your wedding day even more memorable? Use part of your budget to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, like a helicopter ride to your ceremony destination. Imagine flying over a breathtaking landscape, whether it's a coastline, a mountain range, or a sprawling cityscape, before landing in a remote location for your vows. It’s a spectacular and thrilling way to start your married life together—and it’s a memory that will last forever.


Alternatively, you can book a private tour or activity to experience the local culture or landscape in a way most tourists never will. From private wine tastings to scenic hot air balloon rides, the possibilities are endless.


3. LUXURY TRANSPORTATION


If you’re in a city or a glamorous destination, consider renting a luxury getaway car to take you from the ceremony to intimate dinner reservation. Imagine stepping into a sleek sports car, classic vintage vehicle, or even a luxurious limousine to make a statement as you head to your next adventure. It’s a perfect way to feel like a celebrity on your wedding day without the huge price tag of a traditional wedding.


4. MORE TIME TOGETHER AND IN THE MOMENT


With a destination wedding or elopement, you often have more time together in a beautiful setting. Without the pressure of a massive wedding day, you can take your time to enjoy each other’s company and create lasting memories in a peaceful, relaxed environment. The focus shifts from managing an event and making distant friends and family happy to simply enjoying the journey. Plus the photos are guaranteed to be even more jaw dropping.



MUST HAVE: A PERSONABLE, EDUCATED AND RELIABLE TRAVEL ADVISOR


One key aspect to making your elopement truly unforgettable is working with a travel advisor. Modern travel advising firms (trust me, this isn't your outdated, one-size-fits-all travel agency your aunt used to use) focus on getting you the best bang for you buck, cashing in on complimentary perks (free daily room service breakfast, free spa credits, early checkin and late check out to name a few) and relieving you of the mental load that is complicated itinerary building and trip planning. For a destination wedding, the last thing you want is to deal with logistics or the stress of planning accommodations, transfers, and VIP experiences on your own and making sure you are not getting screwed. Booking with a travel advisor with connections and partnerships in your desired destination will make this decision a no-brainer.


While our photographer will be a good resource for scouted ceremony locations, a travel advisor will curate a seamless trip, making sure your stays are nothing short of luxurious from depature to your return home as newlyweds. From booking the most romantic, cushy resorts to arranging private tours, excursions, and special treatments, a good travel advisor will ensure your destination wedding feels like a once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience.


They can also help with the local paperwork and legalities involved with getting married abroad, ensuring that everything is in place so you can focus on enjoying the moment.


Contact The Honeymoon BFF and First Class Elopements today to submit an inquiry and get started on your travel and elopement planning.



Sedona AZ Elopement | Carrie Rogers Photography
Sedona AZ Elopement | Carrie Rogers Photography

THE 'AFTERPARTY' RECEPTION BACK HOME

After the elopement or destination wedding, you can host a relaxed reception at home with friends and family. This could be a cocktail party, small garden venue dinner party, or even a full scale venue reception, depending on your budget and vibe. The great thing is that by this point, you’ve already had your private ceremony and can just focus on having fun with your loved ones.


Without all the traditional wedding ceremony stress, you can kick back, relax, and enjoy the celebration without worrying about every detail. This laid-back approach means fewer headaches and more joy! Contact us today about planning this at-home afterparty.


 

OUR PERSONAL, NON-TRADITIONAL WEDDING APPROACH

Hi All! Some of you may know (I love posting pictures from this day) that my fiance and I decided to get creative with how we approached our wedding celebrations. A few things and preferences we were working with:


WHAT WE WANTED/DID NOT WANT

  • We hate the spotlight, being introduced into a ballroom and doing a cheesy dance is our worst nightmare

  • We did not want speak mushy, pillow talk vows into a microphone

  • We wanted a destination wedding, we love to travel

  • We have family primarily in Maryland, and all on the east coast

  • That family would be sad if they couldn't join us to celebrate in some way

  • We had liberal access to the engagement party venue to load decor in

  • We wanted the focus to be on the PARTY, not the formalities


OUR PLAN

  • Engagement Party June 2024

  • Bachelorette Party June 2024

  • Bachelor Party January 2025

  • Bridal Brunch April 2025

  • Wedding May 2025


WHY WE DID THINGS THIS WAY

  • Allows wedding party to have ample time to plan, save for trips and arrange childcare

  • Allows out of town family and friends plenty of time to save special dates

  • Groom wanted his bachelor trip to be to the mountains to snowboard (Jan-March)

  • Bride wanted her bachelorette trip to be to Portland Maine (June-Sept)

  • Bride elected for a Bridal Brunch instead of a shower, where only those attending the wedding ceremony come out to a intimate brunch in a meaningful location. A shower would be tacky and rude as anyone attending is already spending money on travel and accommodations for the destination wedding.

  • We chose Zion National Park for our ceremony location for a plethora of personal sentiments and reasons. We chose May because it is the most comfortable month with the least amount of precipitation historically

  • Our day-of wedding 'reception' is an intimate dinner at a steakhouse outside the National Park

  • Our wedding weekend party ends in Vegas where guests can attend a hosted cocktail hour, and then choose their own adventure (Nightclub, Jazz Bar, or a Speakeasy) and even stick around the next day for a pool party if their personal schedules allow.


WHY YOU SHOULD BUILD-YOUR-OWN-WEDDING-ADVENTURE TOO!

  • Everything is about being intentional. You want enough time to plan comfortably but not so much time that you drive yourself crazy

  • At the end of the day, the people who truly love and care about you will want you to celebrate your union in whatever way feels most authentic to you as a couple

  • You hopefully only do this one time! Do it in a way that makes sense to YOU as a couple.

  • THE PICTURES from a destination wedding location on a pristine carribbean beach, mountaintop or canyon ledge will be worth every penny and ounce of energy spent planning.


Imagery from June 2024 Engagement Party | Photos by Hayley Stidham Photo | Read More Here

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