There are so many things to love about eloping. The freedom and flexibility to do anything you want, a lower cost than an average wedding, and less pressure overall than a typical wedding just to name a few. One of the biggest things that my couples struggle with though is finding ways to include their loved ones in their elopement day since they might not be present for their actual elopement. With elopements typically having around 10 guests max for the day, and oftentimes no guests at all, finding ways to include your loved ones can seem challenging. I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be, and give you 4 great ways to include your loved ones in your elopement day!

Celebrate on a Different Day

My first and favorite tip for including your loved ones in your elopement is to celebrate with them on a different day. There’s no need for you to limit your wedding celebrations to just your elopement day, especially if you have people in your life that you care about who won’t be able to attend. Celebrate with them at an engagement party prior to your elopement, or set up a reception date after you elope for everyone to get together and celebrate your new marriage.  If the idea of a traditional reception sounds overwhelming to you, consider having two or three more intimate parties to celebrate with your families and friends separately. Your wedding day is an incredibly exciting time of your life, don’t limit yourselves to one day of celebration if you have loved ones you still want to celebrate with!

Include Details from Them

From decorations to locations, to vendors, to your wedding attire, there are a LOT of opportunities to include some details from your family in your elopement.  Think about maybe including your mother’s veil, a pocket watch from your grandpa, some flowers from your aunt’s garden, or anything you can think of that might carry meaning for you.  Sometimes family members save things for you from their own wedding days that you don’t even know about!  So don’t be afraid to ask if there are any details you can include on your elopement day from them.  

Have Them Write Letters for You to Read

I love this idea as it’s such a great way to get everyone you care about involved in your elopement day. Having your family and friends write letters for you to read the morning of your elopement day means you’ll start your day with all the love and support from everyone in your life. They can even alternatively send you a voice message or a short video for an added bit of personalization. This is an incredible option to involve all of your people in your day and really get the feeling that while they might not be there with you they’re still a major part of your elopement day.

Have a Loved One Officiate

If you have that person in your life that you can’t imagine not having present on your wedding day, whether it’s a sibling, best friend, or another family member, this is an incredible way to include them in your elopement. Having a loved one officiate your elopement is one of the most special ways you could include them.

A pro tip for this is to get all the legalities of your marriage taken care of prior to your wedding day. That way your officiant doesn’t have to be ordained and you won’t have to have a witness present or anything else your state requires. Then you can focus on the day and celebrate with the love of your life and you both can get married by your best friend!  If you do want your friend or family member to legally marry you, they can become ordained through the Universal Life Church online.

Bring Them With!

Contrary to popular opinion, you can actually have people present with you on your elopement day. Gather your closest friends and family and ask them to come along on your elopement day. They can be a part of your ceremony, you can share your vows in front of them, enjoy dinner with them and celebrate! Having your loved ones be a part of your elopement day whether it be in person or in another way listed above are all great options for including your loved one in your elopement.

It’s no secret that I love elopements, and I am SO happy that their popularity is on the rise!  With all the freedom and flexibility, I LOVE all the creativity that couples have been putting into their days.  If you’ve ever thought about eloping, but you’ve been on the fence due to not being able to have your friends and family there, I hope these ideas helped you to see how you can include your loved ones in your elopement.  For more elopement ideas and inspiration for planning your own, head to my blog for my latest posts!