One of the biggest draws for couples choosing to elope is the ability to have a personal and intimate wedding experience. While many dream of being surrounded by friends and family on their wedding day, others may want to be in the moment with their person. Maybe you want a bit of both? Would you still like to include family and friends in your elopement without losing the closeness of your day? You can have both! Colorado’s beautiful scenery and landscape is an incredible backdrop for your intimate wedding. Throughout planning, with some creativity, you can incorporate your family and friends into your Colorado elopement in a meaningful and memorable way. All without losing the private and romantic feel of your ceremony. Here are a few ideas to help you find the perfect balance on your wedding day.

Plan a Same Day Post-Elopement Celebration

Over the years as a Denver elopement photographer, I’ve had many couples get the best of both worlds. They can have a private ceremony and celebrate with friends and family after their ceremony. A post-elopement celebration is a simple way to incorporate family and friends in your Colorado elopement. If you plan a snowy winter elopement and invite guests to a cozy cabin dinner or a full reception after the ceremony – it’s up to you and your partner! This allows you the best of both worlds. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner after your ceremony or a casual party, your loved ones will enjoy being invited to celebrate with you!

Incorporate Family and Friends In Your Colorado Elopement By Hiring a Videography or a Zoom Invite

With the advancements in technology, we can welcome family and friends virtually to your Colorado elopement! If you and your partner are choosing a destination elopement, live streaming your elopement via Zoom is an excellent long-distance option. I love the idea of a Zoom ceremony for those who can’t be there physically. They can still support you and watch you on one of the happiest days of your life. You can set up a simple tripod with a phone or laptop or even look into a professional videographer.

Hiring a professional videographer to capture your elopement is a great way to be able to relive your elopement over and over. Videography is a great way to preserve your memories in a way that allows you to step back into that exact moment in time while sharing your elopement ceremony with friends and family. Not only can a videographer capture the day for relatives to watch who couldn’t attend, but they’ll be able to capture the sound and emotions felt that day. As an elopement photographer I’ve worked with lots of incredible videographers and can always provide recommendations if needed.

It all comes down to your wishes for the day. Most importantly, this lets your family and friends be involved without interrupting your intimate and personal experience.

Invite a Few Guests to the Ceremony, Then Celebrate with Everyone Later

Lastly, you can invite a select few guests to the ceremony and then celebrate with everyone else at a later date. Keeping the ceremony small with just parents, siblings, or your absolute best friends is a great way to maintain the integrity of your intimate ceremony. This is a simple way to incorporate family and friends in your Colorado elopement. Afterward, plan a celebration later for everyone else to attend and join in on the excitement. Thus, we invite everyone important to you without leaving anyone out of the fun.

Eloping doesn’t mean excluding your loved ones and running off together—it just means doing things your own way. Whether you celebrate with a few guests during the ceremony or with a larger crowd afterward, you’ll still be able to enjoy an intimate, stress-free elopement.

Ready to book your photographer for your upcoming Colorado elopement? Reach out today!