The Candle & Quill Elopement Experience
Our most intimate and customized offering for the most daring and adventurous love-struck couples.
So, What Does It Mean To Elope?
Elopement. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot these days, but we believe everyone has their own definition of the word and even their own preconceived ideas of what an elopement actually is.
We define “elopement” as:
“A small, intimate wedding involving 25 people or less, where the couple decides what THEY want their day to look like, and their love and union is prioritized over guest experience.”
That’s right. Your day can literally be and look however you want! You can take your elopement plan wherever you want from there. Want to venture to an epic location for the ceremony? You can! Thinking it’s more comfortable to elope in your backyard and head downtown for burgers afterward? Go for it.
The beauty of an elopement is that your priority is the two of you. You’re not trying to create an event that guests will love. You don’t have intricate seating charts to plan and menus to decide on. It’s all about the two of you.
Back in the day, people thought of eloping as secretly escaping off to Vegas and getting hitched at a drive-through chapel. You can totally do that, just make sure you bring us along to document it! Speaking of some of the old myths around eloping, let’s debunk some of those right now!
Five Common Misconceptions About Elopements
1. You have to go to an epic destination
While we’re definitely on-board for adventure elopements, you certainly don’t need to have a plane ticket to elope in an awesome way. Some of our favorite elopements have happened in backyards in our own town or a short drive away to the NC mountains. And if you do decide to go that route, consider booking an extra-special Airbnb for your elopement.
2. Family and friends will be upset
They might–but that’s okay. Your family and friends love you. It’s a compliment that they want to be a part of the most important day of your lives. However, if they’re thinking of the two of you, and your wishes are for it to be just the two of you, then they should understand. Plus, you can still have an amazing party to celebrate with everyone in the future. Or, if you want to bring your best of friends and immediate family along for the celebration, then by all means, go for it!
3. You’ll regret not having a traditional wedding
We’ve had clients where eloping was their Plan A, and we’ve also had clients who had planned a large, venue wedding but had to change their plans drastically because of Covid. In both cases, we’ve never had a client say that they regretted their day turning out the way that it did. The couple’s who wanted to elope from day one find that their day was everything that dreamed it would be, and the couple’s who switched up their plans were pleasantly surprised at how special and memorable their smaller, more intimate day actually was!
4. It’s not as special as a big wedding
Trust us, there’s nothing more special than spending an entire day doing exactly what you want with the person you love and are promising the rest of your life to. We actually think elopements can be even more special than a traditional wedding day—though we love both. We truly believe that a full elopement day doesn’t have to be “less than” or a “consolation prize” in lieu of a traditional venue wedding.
5. All of your costs will be less
In general, elopements usually cost less than a traditional wedding. Mainly because you’re saving on venue costs, food, rentals, and guest luxuries. However, if you’re hiring a photographer to spend the entire day—or weekend—with the two of you, those costs might be comparable to hiring them for a traditional day, or more. The advantage is that with an elopement, you can choose where you want to invest your money and splurge on the things most important to you…like photography, travel, and experiences.
Why We Love Elopements
Now that we’ve painted a picture of what eloping means, it’s important to dive head first into why we absolutely love elopements. Maybe we’re rebels at heart? We kind of feel drawn to couples who aren’t afraid to break rules and traditions. The kinds of couples who make a decision to escape to a bucket list destination, who help each other get dressed for their intimate ceremony, and those who dare to have their first dance on a mountaintop. An elopement is your chance to truly do things your way. There’s extra magic to be found when your day focuses on just the two of you. It’s as simple as that.
How To Tell If An Elopement Is Right For You
You want to prioritize your investments and splurge on what you value most. If you have a limited budget but still want to splurge on your day, an elopement could be the perfect way to eliminate spending on quantity and go for quality
You like to do things your own way. You’ve probably realized this by now, but elopements are the best way to create a day that’s totally customized for the two of you
You’re Dreaming Of Eloping—Now What?
Who’s coming with you? Do you want it to be just the two of you? Want to bring along your best friends and immediate family? Decide who you want to be there first, so you know who to bring in on your plans.
When’s it going down?. If you’re switching your big, venue wedding plans to an elopement, you’re ahead of the game–you already have a date. You could even send out “change the date” cards notifying your guests that you plan to elope, but can’t wait to celebrate with them soon. If eloping was plan A for you all along, consider a date or season that is unique to you and your partner.
Where are you going? Now, this is the really fun part. Have a stay-at-home dinner with your partner and braindstorm all the locations you’ve ever added to your bucket list. No idea is off the table. Have fun with it, and I guarantee your excitement is going to skyrocket during this part of the process.
Assemble your team. First on the list would probably be an elopement planner. Remember, you’re choosing this route to lower stress and to be able to fully enjoy and experience your day. Find someone who knows the area you’re eloping to, as well as the vendors near your elopement destination. Determine what other vendors you need on your team. For example, you’ll want your elopement planner, photographer, and a florist at minimum. If you don’t have vendors in mind, we would be honored to help you out with research and recommendations.
Close your eyes. (seriously, do it) Now imagine what you and your partner would do on your wedding day if you got to decide everything you were going to do from the time you wake up, until your head hits the pillow at the end of the day. Where would you go? What would you do? Would you rent a beautiful AirBnb in an epic and beautiful location? Would you say your vows surrounded by a majestic mountain range after a day of hiking and exploring? Share a beautifully created charcuterie, boho picnic or be served amazing food by a private chef?
Your day should be exactly what you and your partner want it to be, and you definitely deserve as much magic and attention to detail as the couple who chooses to go the “traditional” route.
We want to provide you this amazing experience. It is possible…and we can help.
