Has anyone eloped and then had family join the next day?

How far of a trip would that be? Is this immediate family only or a larger group? If it’s under 45 minutes, fine. You would invite guests to a “celebration of marriage” since you’d already be husband and wife.


If it’s a larger distance and would require an overnight stay that is more problematic IMO. You run the risk of implying “We didn’t want you at our wedding, but please travel an inconvenient distance to take our idea of your weekend getaway in the mountains.”

View Quoted Comment Yeah it would be folks flying in. We live in Idaho and would do it in the mountains here. While our families live in Washington/Kansas/California. I was worried the optics of that may not he great. I wonder if we did private vows in the mountains and then a real ceremony a few days later?

View Quoted Comment That plan would be fine since they would be invited to the actual wedding and it’s local to you so not considered a destination wedding.

View Quoted Comment

If the goal is to have a private ceremony on a mountain, just the 2 of you, then I would definitely go this route. Maybe arrive a day or 2 before your guests to do the private mountain vows, then host an event for your guests at a venue the next day, where you can repeat your vows.

My older cousin for his second marriage did something like this where he had a destination wedding with the immediate family and then a month later had a reception for everyone else he didn't invite. It was nice especially since I couldn't afford to be there anyways.