How to Include Immediate Family in Your Elopement (Without Losing Intimacy)

If you’re considering an adventurous elopement, you’re likely envisioning your special day as a small, stress-free, and intimate celebration of love. Waving goodbye to your family’s traditional expectations for your wedding might feel liberating and exciting… but the thought of leaving your parents or siblings behind on your wedding day might feel like a whole different story!

Here’s the truth — the beauty of an elopement is that you get to choose exactly how you want your wedding to look — and if that encompasses your family, then by all means… you should include them in as many aspects of the day as possible!

Below, I’ve rounded up a few creative ideas and helpful tips about how to plan an elopement with family. Let’s dive in!

How to Include Family in an Elopement – During the Elopement

Include Family Members in the Ceremony

Have you always envisioned your dad walking you down the aisle? Or would having your grandfather officiate the ceremony mean the world to you?

You don’t have to give up all tradition because you’re eloping — remember, eloping is all about celebrating your love on your terms! If you invite immediate family to your elopement and have a more “traditional” ceremony, you can always include them in the processional or as the officiant.

Break the Day Into Two Parts

If you’d love to include family members in some parts of your elopement but not every moment, it’s possible to break the day into a “part one” and “part two” to preserve the intimate moments you envisioned when choosing to elope!

For example, consider planning a “couple’s adventure” before the ceremony — you can take photos somewhere scenic, wild, and beautiful and then meet up with family members to exchange vows. Or, consider exchanging vows during a private first look earlier in the day and invite family members to a second ceremony in the afternoon.

Get Ready with Family Members

Do you want to share a special moment with your family on your elopement day without inviting them to your intimate ceremony?

If so, consider hosting a special breakfast with your immediate family on the day of your elopement (bring on the pancakes and mimosas, right?). Then, get dressed and ready with your family’s help before heading off to exchange vows privately. Brides can have their mom help with their hair, makeup, and dress, while grooms can have their dad or brothers help with the tie. You can even do a “first look” with your family members!

Celebrate During an Intimate Reception

Suppose you’ve been envisioning your elopement ceremony as just you and your partner but would still like to include family in the celebration. In that case, you might love hosting a wedding reception on the evening of your elopement.

A reception is a great way to incorporate the more “traditional” wedding elements into your special day — like the father-daughter dance or special toasts — while still enjoying an adventurous elopement and intimate ceremony. This is truly the best of both worlds!

How to Include Family in Your Elopement – Before or After the Elopement

Plan a Second Reception at Home

If you and your partner would rather elope by yourselves away from family but would still love to celebrate your union with a small group of family and friends — having a small reception after you arrive home from your elopement is the perfect alternative.

Couples who want to travel somewhere exotic to exchange vows or those with family members who might be unable to participate in an adventurous elopement are often drawn to this option.

Plus, your post-elopement reception can be as “formal” or “informal” as you’d like. Some couples have a complete reception at a small wedding venue. Others host a casual hangout with food, drinks, and wedding cake. It all depends on your personality!

Host a Small Engagement Party

Many couples have well-meaning family members eager to participate in the wedding planning process. For those who choose to elope, this level of coordination is usually unnecessary (and is often the reason why couples decide to elope in the first place!).

While some couples elope to avoid the family drama, if your mom or aunt is itching to throw a special event to celebrate your special day — consider allowing them to host an engagement party!

An engagement party is an excellent opportunity to celebrate your upcoming marriage with your close friends and family and a great time to set the expectation that you’ll be eloping. This way, no one will be disappointed not to receive a wedding invitation in the mail. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Shop for Wedding Attire with Family

Though elopements might not be “traditional,” you can still share “traditional” moments with your family while wedding planning. For example, one small and meaningful way to include family members in the process is to shop for wedding attire together!

Although you might not have bridesmaids or groomsmen to bring along, brides can invite their moms and sisters to pick out a wedding dress, while grooms can bring their families to choose a suit. This gives your family a “sneak peek” into what you’ll look like on your special day, even if they won’t be there to watch while you exchange vows.

Capture Your Intimate, Adventurous Elopement with Immediate Family with Claire Hamilton Photography

As a professional photographer in Colorado who captures intimate weddings and elopements, I believe your special day should reflect your unique love story.

Whether your elopement includes immediate family members during the ceremony and reception or is simply an intimate celebration for just the two of you, I’m here to help you capture each and every special moment from your wedding so you can remember them forever!

Contact me to learn more — I can’t wait to hear from you!