The Cost of an Elopement vs. a Wedding

You guys already know you can save a ton of money by choosing to elope vs. having a wedding.

It’s not a secret. The cost of an elopement vs. a wedding is dramatically different. Weddings can range from $30,000 – $50,000, but of course there are always people who drop more than that. The cost of an elopement usually falls in the $5,000 – $10,000 range. So where are these totals coming from? Let’s break it down besties. 

Why are weddings more expensive than an elopement? 

The simple answer here is vendors and guests. Weddings are usually going to have way more vendors involved, like a DJ, wedding planner, rental company, and a florist to deck out your space. For an elopement, a lot of my couples only really book a photographer, a florist for personal arrangements, and a baker to provide some sweet treats! 

By definition, weddings also always have more guests, which means more people to pay for. If you invite 100 people to your wedding, that’s 100 people you need to feed, hydrate, host, and entertain. Catering bills can add a huge chunk of money to your final bill, and don’t forget about how much alcohol can cost. If you elope or have an intimate wedding, you’re maybe only inviting 10-20 people max, which won’t have as high a cost as a triple digit guest list. 

A breakdown of the cost of an elopement vs. a wedding 

Item	Elopement	Wedding
Photographer	$5,000 – $10,000	$5,000 – $10,000
Videographer	$4,000 – $8,000	$4,000 – $8,000
Marriage License	$50 – $100	$50 – $100
Venue	$0 – $150	$8,000+
Food/Catering	$400 – $800	$10,000+
Dessert	$20 – $200	$500+
Dress/Attire	$200 – $2,000	$1,000 – $3,000
Travel/Accommodations	$100 – $3,000	$0 – $2,000
DJ/Band	$0	$1,500+
Florals	$200 – $600	$3,000+
Hair and Makeup	$300+	$500+
Rentals and Extras	$0 – $4,000	$500 – $2,000
Total	$5,000 – $10,000+	$30,000+

More about the cost of eloping 

Listen. You don’t even need half of the stuff in that list to elope, especially in Colorado! Because of self-solemnization, you and bae can just show up, get your marriage license, and elope by yourselves up in the mountains.  

If you want to add a few things to make the day feel special, I’d start with a photographer, a fun dessert, some bangin’ outfits, and flowers. That would still put you well under $10,000, depending on the photographer and other vendors you choose. 

If you noticed, the only place you’re potentially spending more than a wedding is on travel and accommodations. A lot of my couples travel to elope in Colorado. That means they’re paying for flights, a rental car, and a hotel or Airbnb. If you’re traveling somewhere to elope, don’t forget you can always turn your trip into an extended honeymoon! You might as well take full advantage of jumping on a plane to go somewhere epic. 

At the end of the day, the cost of an elopement vs. a wedding is going to depend on your preferences. Ball out on the things that are really important to you. Find ways to save money on the things that are lower on your priority list. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure it’s what YOU want. 

More specifics on the cost of eloping in Colorado.