Elopement Vendors to Hire
Even though taking the elopement route can save you money, I highly recommend hiring an additional few vendors to elevate your elopement day experience. Eloping isn’t about how cheap you can get married – if that were the case, just take a trip to a Colorado courthouse and pay $30 for your marriage license! Eloping is about spending your day intentionally with your partner.
How Elopements Differ from Weddings
If you’re unsure of the difference between elopements and large weddings, I’m here to help! Eloping has become a popular move amongst both the younger and older generations getting married. Older generation couples have likely been married before and don’t want the stress of a traditional wedding again. Younger couples are usually looking for ways to have an enjoyable wedding day with their partner without having to pay exorbitant amounts of money to have family and guests attend. Eloping is about stripping away traditional wedding values when they don’t suit the couple. It’s also about making wedding day memories between two people – not only having an intimate ceremony, but doing fun activities that resonate with the couple, whether that be visiting a brewery or hiking or even paddle boarding in their wedding attire.
There’s a fine line between the terms “elopement” and “intimate wedding.” I think it boils down to wedding day activities, guest count and overall order of events for the day. Intimate weddings usually resemble larger weddings to some scale. The order of events is usually get ready, ceremony, guest photos, reception. Though you can also have guests at your elopement, the order of events varies for each couple. Some couples choose to do their vows privately and have guests join for a celebratory moment, while other couples choose to share their ceremony with their guests and then dismiss them so they can have some time alone on their wedding day. Some eloping couples choose to cater a celebration meal to their guests, while other couples would rather spend dinnertime descending a mountain hike.
How Vendors Can Elevate Your Elopement Photos
Though it is common to assume that most couples elope to save money (and they usually do), I will always recommend splurging on a few vendors for your wedding day. The first being photos. Photos will always be the one thing that lasts from your elopement adventure. You might keep the dress, you might preserve your flowers, but photos are the memories.
Because photos are the one lasting thing you’ll look through from your elopement, you’re probably going to notice things while looking through them. You might wish you had gotten your makeup done or hired a professional florist to design your bouquet.
Best Elopement Day Vendor Splurges
I will always recommend two (sometimes three) vendors in addition to hiring a photographer for your elopement day: a florist and a hair and/or makeup artist.
Florist
I always highly recommend couples to hire a florist to design their bouquet for their elopement day. Florals can make or break photos. And I hate to say it, but I’ve seen so many DIY bouquets that didn’t make the cut. This is also a great way to add some personality to your day. Florals can be personalized to your liking, or you can have them match your location surroundings.
Beautiful florals will make you feel so special and make your elopement day feel even more real. Not to mention, they are one of the few things that lasts after your day is over – should you choose to preserve them.
Tips:
• If you’re traveling from another state to elope in Colorado, hire a florist near your elopement location.
• The best elopement bouquets are sturdy enough to handle a hike, being bounced around in the car, and won’t fall apart in the wind. Your elopement day is bound to have one of those factors.
• If you want your flowers preserved but don’t want to fly or drive home with them, find a floral preservation artist local to your elopement location. They can dry and press your florals or pour resin and then mail you the finished product!
• If you want to fly home with your bouquet, I’d highly recommend wrapping it in a trash bag or walmart bag and then putting it in your carry on (totes work best for this) or using it as your personal item.
Colorado Florist Recommendations for Elopement Bouquets:
CENTRAL COLORADO
BoulderBlooms
Calla Lane Florals
RBT Florals
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS
WoodlandBreck
GrowingWild BV
WESTERN SLOPE
Flowers by Ella
Lady Southwest
Hair & Makeup artist
Hiring a hair and makeup artist is a great way to treat yourself on your wedding day. Why worry about it when somebody else can do the work? Whether you’re having a sunrise elopement or hiking a mountain for an afternoon ceremony, there are plenty of hair and makeup artists willing to wake up at 2am and/or meet you in a remote location.
Tips:
• A good makeup artist will know how to do makeup that looks amazing in photos, and make it last through tears, sweat, rain, and dirt.
• Talented bridal hair stylists will know how to style hair that looks amazing -withstanding wind, weather and physical activity.
• These artists can specialize in hair or makeup or do both!
Colorado Hair & Makeup Artist Recommendations:
CENTRAL COLORADO
Brianna Macias | Makeup
Brook Mae | Hair
Tiffani Star | Both
Ally’s Beauty Bar | Both
Olson Bridal Co. | Both
The Makeup Chair & Hair | Both
Face of Makeup Artistry | Both
WESTERN COLORADO
Rachel Maier | Both
Libby Tener | Both
Additional Vendors for Intimate Weddings
If you’re having an intimate wedding with guests, definitely consider hiring the vendors mentioned above. But also, consider a few more – especially if you plan on entertaining.
Planner or Day-of Coordinator
While I can definitely help with a lot of planning and suggestions, there are a lot of things a planner or a day-of coordinator can assist with that are well beyond my capabilities.
Planners can help with:
• Booking vendors and lodging
• Arrange catering and transportation for you and your guests
• Coordinating your intimate wedding day. This includes working with and organizing all vendors you’ve hired to create a seamless experience.
• Creating elaborate day-of styling setups, table settings, arches, florals, etc. They’re very good at designing the details!
While I don’t think hiring a planner is always necessary, it can relieve some of your stress if you’re inviting guests, value ceremony or reception design and/or want a seamless wedding day.
Catering or Private Chef
If you plan on entertaining your guests after the ceremony, you’ll definitely want to consider how you’re going to feed them. This could include catering from a restaurant or catering business or even hiring a private chef to cook dinner for your family right at your house. The bright side of both of these options is you don’t have to travel anywhere, ensuring everyone can celebrate as little or as much as they’d like.
As a Colorado elopement photographer, I specialize in intimate and intentional wedding days. From suggestions during the planning process to documenting your elopement day, I’m here to help you create a unique wedding experience. If you love the idea of sharing an intimate and intentional wedding day with your partner, reach out and we’ll start the planning process. I would LOVE to help you dream up your perfect day!
