What Vendors Should You Hire for Your Elopement?
Elopements are truly an individualized and personal thing for every couple. Whether you want to keep things really simple or go all out with a “done for you” team of vendors, the right people will make your elopement experience all the more amazing!
The following is a list of the most common vendors couples choose to hire for their elopement, but it’s by no means a requirement to hire any or all of these vendors for yours! What matters most is that your day reflects the two of you honestly and that you feel excited about the people coming alongside you to celebrate your love.
Most Common Elopement Vendors
Let’s start with the vendors that many couples book and why, and then we’ll talk about some of the more unique vendor options that not everyone hires (but you should totally consider).
FLORIST
Let’s get one myth busted right off the bat: elopements are not cheaper, miniature versions of weddings. Rather, they’re a way to take your big day and turn it into something 100% aligned with what you want to get out of your wedding experience. So if you want grand, beautiful flowers, you should absolutely go for it!
Florists are incredible artists that I have the utmost respect for. What they’re able to do not only with bouquets but creating elaborate displays and decor absolutely blows my mind. I’ve always loved flowers, so incorporating them into my day if I were eloping would be a must!
A couple of things to keep in mind when it comes to florals for your elopement:
Make sure your florist understands Leave No Trace and will not create a bouquet with any invasive species for the location you’re eloping (if you don’t know how to ask or what plants are considered invasive, I can help!)
Double-check whether your location allows real flowers or not. Some locations will only allow artificial flowers.
Find out whether it’s allowed (and appropriate) to have floral installations where you’re eloping. Some locations will allow them, and others will not. If there are no specific rules for your location, we can chat about what would be least impactful to the landscape and go from there!
My biggest tip for hiring a florist would be to get your location picked out first, then find out what’s allowed and what’s not. Not all locations are going to be too picky, but others will have strict rules that you’ll want to adhere to. Then, you’ll be able to find a florist that will make the most beautiful florals for your day!
HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST
Whether you’re getting ready at an Airbnb, waking up before the sun to hike out to your ceremony spot, or doing a backpacking elopement, there are some incredible hair and makeup artists out there! Some will even get up early with you or travel/hike out to remote locations, so just be sure to ask when you’re inquiring with HMUA’s whether that’s something they can do for you.
My best tip for hiring a hair & makeup artist is to find someone who can give you the look you’re going for, whether it’s more natural and subtle or totally glammed up. Also be sure to gauge whether they sound super excited about your elopement plans when you’re chatting with them initially, especially if it involves an early wake-up call or hiking. Your hair and makeup artist should be able to make you feel just like you on your elopement day!
VIDEOGRAPHER
A great elopement video can be the icing on the cake of a really special elopement experience! I personally love working with a videographer, and there are so many out there who make truly beautiful and moving elopement films.
I’m often asked whether it’s worth it to hire a videographer, and my answer is of course, yes! However, every couple is different, and what matters to someone else may not be as high of a priority for you. Or, bringing along just a photographer might already be plenty for the two of you in terms of being in front of a camera, and that’s okay! However, with that in mind, I will say I’ve never heard anyone say they regretted hiring a videographer, but I have heard people say they wish they had.
OFFICIANT
An officiant is one of those vendors that while it may seem like you “have” to have one, that’s not always the case! In most states, you are required to have an officiant of some type to lead you through your ceremony and send in your marriage license in order to have a legal marriage. But, you don’t always have to do it the traditional way.
For the ceremony portion of the day, some couples are uncomfortable with having someone they don’t know present during their vows. It’s not always easy to find an officiant who will hike to a remote spot with you, and even if you do find someone, not all couples like the idea of having an additional person tag along. There are a couple of ways you can go without an officiant:
Don’t legally marry on your elopement day (hear me out!)—take care of the legal stuff before or after your elopement day so you can self-solemnize, or legally marry without an officiant (only in Colorado)
Have your ceremony in an easily accessible location that an officiant can get to and go on your more private adventure at another point in the day (or the next day)
Invite a trusted family member or friend to “officiate” for you on the day of your elopement (this usually involves guiding you through the typical ceremony events such as vows and a ring exchange), and get married at the courthouse before or after your elopement
Have your officiant-led ceremony to cover your legal bases, then have a private vow exchange with just the two of you later
DESIGNER
Another way to take some of the planning stress off your plate is by hiring a designer to create a beautiful display for your elopement! This is a great way to make things even more beautiful and personalized, and they do some absolutely incredible work.
A designer will do things like create a tablescape, set up your ceremony decor, and take care of creating a beautiful aesthetic for your elopement day. Taking that responsibility off your hands means you can focus more on enjoying your day with your partner, and that’s really the whole reason you decided to elope anyway, right?
PHOTOGRAPHER
Woohoo, that’s me! Obviously I’m biased, but I think a photographer is the most important vendor you could hire for your elopement. Not only do we document your entire elopement day, but we also help with planning and logistics so your experience is so much more than just showing up in a pretty place for pictures together.
When you work with me, you’re not just getting a photographer. You’re getting someone to craft a custom timeline for you, create a personalized location guide, throw ideas and suggestions your way, give you personalized vendor recommendations, and be your biggest supporter throughout the entire process.
By the time your elopement day rolls around, we’ll be such good friends! Having someone there who has gotten to know you, understands what you want and what you don’t want, and knows all the ways to make sure your elopement is the best day ever, is so much more fulfilling than simply hiring someone who takes good pictures. It really matters to me that you feel seen, heard, and loved, and all of that leads to us creating some beautiful photos together. You’ll be totally surprised how effortless it feels when the person behind the camera feels like your bestie cheering you on!
In the end, you only get this day once, and having a photographer there to capture the way it all felt is how you’ll be able to remember every little detail for years to come. You can go back and look at your photos any time you want for the rest of your life—transported back to those moments together long after your elopement day has passed.
Less Common Vendors for an Elopement
PRIVATE CHEF OR SMALL EVENT CATERER
Depending on the structure of your elopement, a private chef isn’t always something you can realistically bring along. But for the celebrations with guests or ones that take place somewhere fairly accessible, you and your loved ones don’t have to think about cooking unless you want to!
Even if it’s just the two of you, having a private chef is one of the ways you can go all out and feel completely taken care of. After all, it is your elopement day, and the last thing you should have to worry about is making dinner.
DJ OR LIVE MUSIC
If you’re having a reception at a rental property (always check the rules on this with companies like Airbnb), you might want to have some music that isn’t just playing off a playlist. This is where a DJ or some live music can create a really fun atmosphere complete with dancing and good vibes all around.
You can also play music as a part of your ceremony! Whether it’s an instrument or a song that means something to the two of you, music gives an even more personal feel to your ceremony. Just keep in mind that amplified music isn’t allowed in national parks, and it can be disruptive to other visitors if it’s played too loud. I recommend going somewhere secluded if you’d like to incorporate music into your ceremony so you can have all the privacy you need.
Exclusive vendor recommendations for eloping couples
One of the things my couples get when they work with me is recommendations for amazing elopement vendors! From florists, private chefs, videographers, and more, I’ll help you save tons of time researching and narrowing down potential vendors by sharing some of my favorites!
No matter who you hire for your elopement, make sure the people you invite to celebrate alongside you understand your vision and desires, and will work hard to ensure your elopement dreams can become a reality. All this will help the two of you relax on your elopement day and will give you all the space you need to truly be present, while making sure your day is everything you could’ve dreamed it would be (and more).
Ready to begin planning your elopement? Inquire with me here and let’s get started!
