You said yes! Congrats on your engagement from us at the Alt Wedding Co.
You’ve got a whole load of decisions with your forever person to make about the kind of wedding day you want.
First thing – what kind of celebration do you want? Since the pandemic came around and changed weddings as we know them, it actually threw a lot of light on micro weddings and elopements. Elopements usually have less than 20 guests (although there’s no rules here) and they can be way more flexible than planning a day with three hundred people. So, we are here to show you the positives of an elopement… and also the up side of a traditional celebration!
Both can be a wonderful way to celebrate your marriage… it’s just finding what suits you both best!
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The possibilities are so much more with an elopement. Want to get married up a mountain in Scotland? Or by a lake? With your dogs? Do it! Elope! You can be more creative with your wedding celebration when you have less to worry about logistically.
In the UK, Scotland allows outdoor wedding ceremonies with a lot more flexibility than in England. Although, if you’re happy to be creative with the layout of your day, then there’s scope for loads of options in England too!
Flexibility on the day is much easier too. If you want to change the order of the day around to suit the weather or how you feel, go for it.
Elopements are super affordable compared to a traditional wedding day. The average wedding costs about £30 grand. Whereas an elopement can be as little as a few hundred or £1000.
We are all trying to keep tabs on budgets this year, so keeping things within our budget can be a good choice. You can still have a stunner of a celebration, with beautiful photos, for a fraction of the cost.
When you take the pressure off catering for hundreds of people and worrying about if everyone will have a good time… the stress really does lift. No drama about guests not getting along or having to design the perfect seating plan. Just your closest family and friends.
And really, at the end of the day, your wedding is supposed to be enjoyed by you and your partner! It is your special day. If you’re a couple who worries about keeping everyone happy… maybe an elopement is a good way to make sure you really enjoy your wedding day with less stress.
Looking after loads of guests and decorating large wedding venues often comes with a lot of waste. Single use items, favours, name tags, printed programmes and menus… so many items that ultimately only get used once. Not super sustainable if we are honest here. If saving the planet is your vibe then an elopement could really be in line with your ethics.
Sharing your celebration day with loved ones… is honestly where it’s at. Its all about the special moments on your wedding day, and it’s the part of our job as wedding photographers that we absolutely love! Capturing those stunning moments – laughs and tears, all of it so emotional!
Whether you choose to share it with ten or a hundred and ten people, make sure your closest fam is there to share it with you.
We are big believers in not doing traditions just for the sake of them. Buuuut, some traditions are kinda worth it. Pick your favourite, whether it’s walking down an aisle, cutting the cake, having a first dance or a massive squad of bridesmaids… these are just some of the favourite parts of a wedding day for our couples.
Wedding traditions have been around for literally hundreds of years.. sometimes with good reason! If there’s a tradition you love, sometimes a big wedding is the perfect place to do it!
Of course… the real reason we all love a big wedding reception… the dancing! There’s nothing better than celebrating your wedding day with all your loved ones and having a dance at the end of the night.
So whether you choose an elopement, a massive wedding reception… or anything in between – we are here for it!
Check out some of our real wedding inspiration (including elopements) here!
May 5, 2025