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Eloping is a personal choice and not everyone will understand it. Your family and friends will probably have some questions about your decision. What will they think about this?
It’s not just you… most eloping brides are afraid of the answer.
Since they can’t attend your own wedding, will they be disappointed?
I will give you some ideas in today’s post, so it doesn’t get to that point.
You decided to elope… what about your guests?
Now that you made up your mind, you can start coordinating everything for your marriage, from legal to travel plans.
This is the moment when you bring this up in a conversation with a friend or close relative… and see their reaction. Some might be very excited for you, while others might be a bit disappointed that you decided to do this without them.
The pandemic brought a lot of bad associations with intimate events, but it also created some amazing solutions, such as being able to share unique moments with family and friends online.
You can include them and make it a very special part of your wedding day, even if you decided to travel far away for your intimate wedding ceremony.
How can I share my elopement with friends and family?
As it will be an intimate ceremony, you might want to document it by hiring a professional photographer. This is one of those things that I think you should splurge on.
It will help you remember all the unique details of your day, as well as give you some beautiful memories you can share when you get the photos back.
You can hire a videographer too, or you could live stream the ceremony instead. It would help you reduce your budget, as well as include all your family and friends who wish they could be there with you.
The best part is that you can do it yourself!
It is easier than it looks, and you can make it happen even if you don’t have other wedding vendors or a big budget.
You could also suggest your photographer to help you with this, and I can almost guarantee that they won’t mind moving a tripod here and there during your small but beautiful ceremony.
How to include your friends and family in your elopement
The easiest way to do this is by bringing a small phone and a tripod, and live streaming your wedding ceremony. No, not on social media. I mean live streaming it to a beautifully designed page, just for the ones that matter to you.
The reasons are endless, but I’ll stick to the most important ones:
- Your family and friends will be able to watch live, as it happens
- They won’t interrupt the intimacy of the moment, as it is a one-way stream, instead of a zoom call or a facetime video that you need to manage
- It’s affordable, so it helps you replace a videographer and stay on budget
- You will have a full recording that you can watch for your anniversary and share with the ones who couldn’t attend live.
What will you need?
- A smartphone (it doesn’t have to be yours)
- A small tripod or someone to hold the phone
Live streaming your ceremony is extremely easy. You have to install a simple app on your phone and schedule your elopement date. Please note that your guests do not need to install anything. They can watch your wedding with a single click.
About 10 minutes before your ceremony starts, you can tap “Go Live” on the smartphone, and enjoy your intimate wedding ceremony, surrounded by your virtual guests.
They will be notified automatically, so nobody will miss it.
Will everyone be able to attend?
Yes, even the elderly or people residing in a nursing home.
They can watch the wedding ceremony with a single click, and hear you say “I Do” with amazing clarity.
All your guests will need to watch is a device with an internet connection, such as a laptop, desktop computer, smartphone, or even a TV.
Conclusion and Final Tips
Eloping is a decision you need to make with your spouse and no one else. That being said, it is important to think about your family and friends when making this decision.
Some people are in favor of eloping because they feel it will save them from having to deal with their family's opinions on the wedding. But others feel that eloping is a selfish decision because they want their family and friends around them on such an important day in their lives. You can have them both! Your own small ceremony, plus all your family and friends being a part of it.
If you need help setting up your elopement live stream, don't hesitate to reach out. I'll be happy to assist you.
