5 (Simple) Reasons to Elope in 2025

Hey friend. If you’re here I’m guessing you might be thinking about eloping this year! After going full-time as elopement/intimate wedding photographers 6 years ago, I can tell you that eloping is nothing short of amazing. We, and our couples, have had some of the most amazing and breathtaking experiences. If ditching the big wedding is on your mind, let me give you 5 reasons to elope in 2025 so you can be sure that this is for you.

#1 The Big Wedding Doesn’t Appeal To You

Some people dream about this day. A venue, a dance floor, a big entrance, speeches, the whole thing. And that’s 100% fine – we’re not against big weddings by the way, we love them. But they’re not for everyone, just like eloping isn’t for everyone. So if the thought of planning an event for 100+ people simply stresses you out instead of getting you excited, then the big wedding might not be what you’ve always dreamt of. And that’s okay. It can be a decision that’s hard to make, but it’s worth being true to yourself and to what you’ll truly enjoy – especially when we’re talking about one of the best days of your lives!

Now, if you haven’t seen much about eloping or having an intimate wedding, I highly encourage you to check out some of our galleries! You can picture yourself having a day like:

• Lauren & Riley – an intimate wedding exploring Yosemite’s backcountry
• Megan & Michael – a rock climbing elopement in Yosemite Valley
• Kayleen & Nick – intimate wedding during a rainy day
• Kayla & Jordan – hiking elopement (under pouring rain) to Taft Point

#2 You’re Not About Wedding Day Drama

Maybe your family doesn’t get along so well, or maybe you know some friends will be terribly upset if they aren’t part of the wedding party. Maybe you’re afraid of what people will think and say about the food, drinks, venue, etc. All of those thoughts are causing you stress, and you’re starting to wonder if a big wedding with 150+ guests is for you. I’m here to tell you that it’s 100% okay if it’s not.

I’m also here to tell you that your family and friends will understand your choice to elope or have an intimate wedding. They might feel weird about it at first, even protest, but trust me, once the day is here and especially when they see your photos and the genuine happiness on your faces – they’ll be happy for you!

And if you’re thinking, well, but I want some guests there, just “everyone”. Well, guess what? You CAN have guests! A lot of the weddings we shoot have 10-20 guests. But we’ve shot weddings with up to 50 guests as well.

#3 You Don’t Want to Spend Your Savings on One Night

Traditional weddings in the state of California cost an average of $41,000. Even if you’re planning a LUXURY elopement (think multi-day, destination wedding + honeymoon kind), you’re probably not going to spend $40k – 50k. Now, it is true that with elopements or intimate weddings the cost can vary immensely. So it’s hard to estimate an “average” – there is no average. You can spend as little or as much as you’d like to.

One thing we’ve heard from our couples that might help you is that they plan their budget based on their priorities. If location is a priority, first they’ll figure out the cost of travel (airplane tickets, lodging, car rental, etc). Then, if the photography/videography is the next priority, that wil most likely be the highest cost of the whole wedding. If you choose a beautiful “venue” (aka gorgeous mountains, giant trees, national park vibes), then you want to make sure it’s captured right so your pictures can reflect your gorgeous location.

From there, you can think about the next things you MUST have on your day. For example, if you don’t want to stress about doing your own makeup, and you want to make sure it lasts all day – you’ll want to hire a makeup artist. So that you’ll be added to your budget. And if there’s room left, you can think about things you really WANT on your day – a beautiful flower bouquet, a wedding cake, a picnic basket for sunset, etc.

Unlike traditional weddings, where you usually have to rent a venue (and that alone can cost $25k +), a wedding permit for Yosemite National Park for example costs $150. So if you think that way, you really can spend as much or as little as you want to.

#4 You Want Your Day To Be An Experience

If you prefer to take a trip together rather than buy each other birthday or anniversary gifts, or if you rather take a picnic on a hike to watch sunset than going out to a fancy restaurant… then hear me out:

If you’re one of those people that always tends to spend money on experiences versus things, then eloping might just be the perfect way to spend your wedding day!

Most of our couples have never been to their elopement location until their wedding day. They’ve always wanted to go to Yosemite, or Sequoia National Park, and they decided… why not get married there?! They spend most of their day mesmerized and having so much fun! Not only because they’re getting married, but because they’re seeing a beautiful place with their own eyes for the first time! It’s a win-win situation!

#5 And Finally…

Life is currently already quite overwhelming and overstimulating… planning your wedding shouldn’t be an added cause to your anxiety. It should be exciting, fun, and (almost) stress-free.

If all of the elements of a traditional wedding are stressing you out, then you should elope in 2025!

The bottom line is… this is YOUR day. Do what makes YOU happy, what makes sense for you! Invite guests, or not. Have a reception after, or just a simple picnic.

Do what feels less overwhelming and more joyful!