Figuring out how to include guests in an elopement, while maintaining the intimate and private nature of the event, can be stressful. That’s why I am here! To help assist in the planning and coordinating and offer up the best locations for you and your guests while maintaining the intimacy and privacy you are looking for.
Hi, I’m Jenna! A Georgia based adventure elopement photographer. I’m a coffee obsessed, dog loving, adventure finder, reader, and epic photo taker. I’m here to tell the story of your wedding day– from the crazy fun adventure filled moments to the quiet in-between moments and the endless love you share. I will capture all the love and emotions you share on your wedding day so when you look back on your pictures, it takes you back to all the happiness, love and freeness you felt in that moment to remember forever.
Chances are, you are eloping because you want an intimate and private way to celebrate your love. Adding in family to this day doesn’t mean you have to lose the intimacy you are looking for. There are plenty of ways to celebrate with your family whether it’s having them with you or finding special ways to include them without actually having them there. One important thing to remember when wanting to bring guests to your elopement is that not every elopement location will be accessible to all and that the more people you include, the more limited your elopement locations become.
Here are some ways to include family and friends in your elopement either physically or just planning a special announcement!
Having a Post-Elopement Celebration
This is a great option to have the best of both worlds! You can elope privately in an epic and secluded location and then plan a celebration or reception later to include your friends and family. This allows you to keep the ceremony itself private while still sharing the joyous occasion with loved ones.
Wake up in the morning, enjoy time with your partner getting ready. Or, enjoy some coffee with your loved ones. Get ready with your family before having a first look with your partner. Then the three of us can head out to your epic ceremony location. Enjoy getting married in an intimate and private ceremony and having an epic adventure to kickstart your marriage. Spend the day celebrating your love, just the two of you in the way you always imagined it. Finish up the day by heading out to dinner with your family or head back to the airbnb where your family and private chef awaits you to have an intimate reception with your select loved ones with great food, drinks, dancing and cake!
Pre-Elopement Gathering
This is a great way to allow family to be a part of your special day without having to sacrifice the intimacy and privacy on your actual elopement day. The day before your elopement ceremony you can host a small gathering of your chosen loved one. You can have this at your house, airbnb, or a local restaurant. Spend the evening talking about your love story and relationship with your loved ones. Celebrate your relationship and receive well wishes from your friends and family. You can even have them write letters and love notes for you to open on your actual elopement day! This option is great for allowing your family and friends to be a part of your journey and share in the excitement leading up to your wedding day without having to sacrifice the intimate elopement day of your dreams.
Include Personalized Touches
If you are not wanting to have family with you in person, there are still ways to have them be a part of your special day in spirit! You can still follow family traditions whether it be wearing something from your mom, dad, grandpa or grandma’s wedding day like a hair piece, piece of jewelry, shoes, tie, tie clip, handkerchief, cufflinks, etc. This will make you feel like they are with you on your elopement day, even though they may not be able to make it. You can also have friends and family write letters or messages of love and support that you can open and read privately before or after your ceremony. These words of encouragement and love can make you feel as if they are right there beside you while maintaining the privacy and intimacy you are looking for.
Photos and Videos
For those wanting the ultimate privacy on their wedding day, while still wanting to share their special day with loved ones afterwards, having a professional photographer on your elopement day is a must! Having someone who knows the in-and-outs of photography along with specializing in elopements ensures that they will not just take pictures, but be able to tell the story of your elopement day for you to share with your loved ones. You want to be sure they can capture all the love and emotions you share on your wedding day so when you look back on your pictures, it takes you back to all the happiness, love and freeness you felt in that moment to remember forever. I not only share sneak peaks within 24-48 hours of your elopement so you can share them ASAP with your loved ones, but you will also walk away from your elopement day with polaroid pictures to be able to share immediately! This allows you to maintain as much privacy and intimacy on your elopement day as possible while still allowing your loved ones to experience the beauty and emotion of your special day without them being physically present.
Small Group Elopement
If intimacy and privacy isn’t on your must-have list, consider inviting a small number of close family and friends to witness your elopement in person! The amount of people you invite can limit your location options as not all places are accessible, have restrooms, or are big enough for even a small group. I always recommend a maximum of 10 people however, it is ultimately up to you! Having a very small group of loved ones allows you to maintain intimacy while sharing your love and celebration with those you cherish most!
It is important to know exactly who you are planning on inviting so we can work together to brainstorm locations. If you plan on inviting your parents, grandparents, or anyone with mobility issues this means we can cross crazy hikes off the list and narrow our search to easy drive up locations and overlooks. Having a bathroom may also be a priority with having guests which can further narrow down our options. If including family is important to you, we will make it happen! However, it is highly recommended to narrow down your guest list to the must-have loved ones if you have a specific location in mind!
Here’s some further locations and their guest list recommendations to give you a better idea of how many people might be able to attend!
Providence Canyon – an overlook ceremony is a flat ~200ft walk from the road which makes it easily accessible for guests. It is not a private location so you may have extra onlookers on top of your guests. The area is big enough to have a good number of guests with nearby bathrooms and very limited seating. If you are wanting to elope in the canyons, it is a steep decline/incline and not recommended for those with mobility issues. The canyons are smaller and can get crowded so it is recommended you have <5 guests.
Cloudland Canyon – there are 2 great spots here for an elopement, the waterfall and the overlook. The waterfall location is not easily accessible, so it is not great for older family members. The hike to the waterfall is ~0.5 miles down a decline and steep stairs so anyone you bring must be able to ascend and descend the stairs to get to the location. There is an overlook trail with lots of great spots for a ceremony. This is a dirt trail with lots of roots making it difficult for anyone that may be older or have mobility issues. The main overlook is close to the parking area however, does have stone stairs leading down to it and the space itself is small making it suitable for <10 guests. There are nearby bathrooms to the main overlook however no other restrooms are available on the overlook trail or at the waterfall.
Toccoa Falls – if an easily accessible area for family members is a MUST, this location is for you! This location requires you to rent it out, which you can inquire about here: https://tfc.edu/the-waterfall/weddings-events/. The falls are located on a Christian college campus which does not allow alcohol on the premises and requires a Christian minister to perform your ceremony.
Lake or Beach – There are lots of different lakes and beaches throughout GA which tend to have plenty of walk up areas for you to elope, making it easier for family members to attend! Some of these spots, especially the more secluded and private areas, may not have restrooms so knowing your guestlist and requirements is important to narrow down our locations!
Personalized Invitations or Announcements
For those wanting to elope in private, you can send out announcements before or after your elopement to let your friends and family know about your decisions to elope privately and share your happiness with them! Send out an announcement before the big day sharing your decision to elope in private. If you are planning a celebration with loved ones afterwards, this is a great way to let them know your ceremony will be private but to save the date for your celebration afterwards! Or, if you chose to elope in private and not let everyone know ahead of time, you can send announcements afterwards announcing you eloped! You can include pictures from your elopement day to let others see how beautiful and intimate your day was and allow them to experience the emotions you felt on your special day.
Incorporate Traditions or Rituals
If you want to elope in private, you can still include family traditions to feel close and connected to your loved ones! Whether your tradition is a certain song, scripture reading, poem, or something else unique to your family, we can include it in your elopement day to feel connected to your family. If you are choosing to include family in your elopement day, we can also have them get involved in these rituals. Have a family member walk you down the “aisle”, or say a special prayer for you. You can have your first dance as a couple, with your parents or whomever you choose! The possibilities are endless and I will work with you to create the perfect timeline and elopement day of your dreams!
Private Vows
This is another great option for having private and intimate moments with your partner while also having your family and friends involved in your big day! You can enjoy a private and epic adventure doing something you love with your partner. Hike to a secluded mountain overlook, take a hot air balloon ride to watch the sunrise, enjoy coffee in a canoe on the lake while steam rises all around you. You and your partner can share your vows during your epic adventure or travel to another location to share your vows in private or have a whole private ceremony with just the two of you. If you choose to read your vows in private, you can meet up with your guests afterwards for a small, intimate ceremony. Either way, enjoy time with just the two of you and then have a small ceremony, celebration or dinner with family and friends afterwards!
Ultimately, how you include guests in your elopement should reflect your personal preferences and the level of privacy and intimacy you are wanting on your day. If you chose to elope in secrecy, that’s your choice! The most important thing is creating a meaningful experience that honors your relationship and your wishes!
Click here to view my Georgia Elopement Photography page!
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