Eloping

Just to verify... you are eloping, not having a destination wedding (ie, it will be just you and your SO, no family/friends going with you)? If so, planning an elopement can be so fun and not stressful! First of all, is Cape May, NJ local to you (or in close proximity)? Or will this be a destination elopement?

View Quoted Comment Just me and my fiancee. We live pa so we will be traveling there. Trying to figure out what I need-dont need

View Quoted Comment

Ok, so not too terribly far away! I would suggest either combing your elopement and honeymoon, or if you are planning a completely separate honeymoon, then at least do a little mini-moon in Cape May after your elopement (like a long 4 day weekend). I would also suggest keeping it simple! The fewer vendors, the less stress for you! The first thing I'd do is choose where you will be getting married. I would then reach out to your top choices of photographers (and videographers, if you want video as well) to secure them for the day. If you get an experienced photographer in the area, they can be a great asset! They will have worked with tons of vendors (and know who's the best and worst to work with), and will likely be able to give you great vendor recommendations! Really, all you would need is an officiant. If you want to carry a bouquet, then they could also recommend a great florist in the area. You could then just make reservations at a nice restaurant for the two of you after your ceremony. Keep it simple and don't stress!

View Quoted Comment I picked the officiant today. Photographers are so expensive

Karen, something that might make things easier is just remembering that you don't have to get everything set up in one day. As nice as that would feel, the stress doesn't seem worth it. Maybe wait another week or two before you start looking at photographers

View Quoted Comment They are! I knew they were expensive before we started planning, but I still had sticker shock once I got hard numbers from them! I just had to remind myself that these photos are an investment. They will be all we have left after the wedding day is over.
Luckily, with an elopement, most photographers will usually offer a much lower price option since not as many hours are needed, and it’s just the two of you to photograph. So even if they don’t advertise smaller packages/elopements, don’t hesitate to reach out to them!

View Quoted Comment I really want to thank you. I went on a site to hire pros and found someone who will do photography for 400 plus any travel.

Yes, I didn’t find eloping stressful. We eloped in a state where an officiant wasn’t required and we just signed the legal documents. It was only 400 miles away from our home, my mom paid for an Airbnb. We hired a photographer.