How to Include Family in Your Elopement

Many couples are gravitating towards elopements as a personal, intimate alternative to a traditional wedding. The unique charm of an elopement lies in its ability to create a deeply personal experience for the couple, free from the stress, expectations (and expenses) often associated with large weddings.

Your family can support you from afar, or in person – that’s the magic of elopements! It’s all completely up to you and your partner how you choose to plan it!

Here are some ideas for meaningful ways to include family in your elopement!

Live Stream The Ceremony To Include Your Family in Your Elopement

Nowadays, physical distance is no longer a big issue when it comes to sharing your big life moments with others, so you could choose to live stream your elopement ceremony!

That would allow your family and friends to witness your vows in real-time, from the comfort of their homes. You can set up a video conference, or use a social media platform. There is also a live streaming service made exactly for this called Lovecast. I haven’t used it personally nor am I affiliated with it, but thought it was a cool option to share!

One thing to note about this is that we might not get cell service at your chosen elopement location, so if this is your plan, we have to double check we have service!

Write Letters

A sweet and sentimental way to include your family is to have them write letters for you to open on your special day! That allows them to wish you well, share a sweet story or two and say whatever they’d like to say if they were present in person.

It would be a beautiful thing to preserve after the day too!

Incorporate Family Traditions or Heirlooms

Even though you’ve chosen a less traditional route, you can still choose to incorporate a family tradition. You could wear a family heirloom (something old, something new, and something borrowed, am I right?!) or maybe you’d like to incorporate a traditional cultural element. 

This not only adds another special and personal element to your elopement but also allows you to honor your family in your celebration.

Plan a Post-Elopement Celebration or Reception

Once you’ve exchanged your vows and done all the activities you wanted, you can still plan a celebration with your friends and family after your elopement! Whether you hang out with your family and friends on the same day, or celebrate at a later date, is totally up to you!

Include Your Family in Pre-Elopement Activities

Even if your loved ones cannot be physically present at the elopement, you can involve them in the planning process. This can be as simple as asking for their advice on your attire, sharing your elopement location choices, or even having a pre-elopement send-off party. 

Create a Keepsake

You could create a keepsake album of your elopement day to gift to your friends and family. In my elopement photography packages, I deliver 10-15 sneak peek photos within 24 to 48 hours of the day, so you can put together an album ASAP! It will allow them to feel like they were there in the moment! <3

Alberta Elopement Photographer | Kelly Szott Photography

Elopements are as much a celebration of love as any other wedding. And while you might choose to say ‘I do’ in a private and intimate setting, remember that there are countless ways to include your family and loved ones in your celebration. 

And if you’re still looking for someone to help you plan and capture your elopement, shoot me a message and let’s chat!!