Elopement packages couples actually book are simple to understand, built around an experience rather than a list of services and priced in clear tiers. The winners usually offer three options — a minimal ceremony, a signature half-day and a full experience — with the legal, logistical and emotional essentials handled so the couple only has to say yes.
Eloping isn’t a smaller wedding. It’s a different product, with a different buyer who wants freedom, meaning and zero stress. If your elopement packages look like a cut-down version of your full wedding planning menu, they’ll struggle. Here’s how to design packages that match what eloping couples are really shopping for.
Who books elopement packages — and what they want
Eloping couples come in many shapes. Some want just the two of them on a mountain. Some bring a handful of loved ones. Some are second-time couples, some are avoiding family politics, some simply want to spend money on the experience rather than the reception. What unites them is a desire for intention.
- Simplicity: one decision rather than fifty.
- Meaning: a ceremony that feels personal, not performed.
- Place: a location that says something about them.
- Time together: space to actually experience the day.
- Beautiful memories: photography and video are often the top priority.
Your package has to deliver all five without the couple feeling they’re managing a project. That means doing the thinking for them — recommending, not just offering.
The three-tier elopement package structure
Three tiers work because they give choice without overwhelm. Most couples gravitate to the middle option, so make that your signature offer.
| Tier | What it includes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Simple ceremony | Location scouting, celebrant coordination, short ceremony, small bouquet and buttonhole, coordination on the day | Couples who want it short, legal and beautiful |
| Signature half-day | Everything in Simple plus photographer, styled ceremony space, hair and make-up coordination, celebration toast | Couples who want an experience with great photos |
| Full experience | Everything in Signature plus private dinner, accommodation liaison, guest coordination for a few loved ones, video, a curated adventure | Couples who want a mini destination wedding |
Name your tiers so they feel like experiences — evocative names linked to your location work far better than bronze, silver and gold.
What to include in elopement packages
Planning and logistics
- An initial consultation and a short questionnaire about the couple’s story
- Location recommendations with backup options
- Vendor booking and liaison
- A detailed timeline for the day
- Permits and location permissions where needed
- Weather contingency planning
Ceremony essentials
- Celebrant or officiant coordination
- Ceremony styling suited to the location
- Personal flowers
- Vow-writing guidance — a lovely, low-cost value-add
- Witnesses, if the couple needs them for a legal ceremony
The experience layer
This is where you stand out. Think about what happens before and after the ceremony: a sunrise hike, a picnic, a private dinner, a boat trip, a tasting at a local winery, a handwritten letter exchange. These moments turn a ceremony into a story — and they’re what couples remember and tell their friends about.
A sample elopement day timeline
Showing a sample timeline is one of the fastest ways to make a package feel real. Here’s how a signature half-day might flow. Adjust the timings around light, travel and the couple’s energy levels.
| Time of day | Moment | What you handle |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Relaxed getting ready at the accommodation | Hair and make-up arrival, flowers delivered, photographer briefed |
| Late morning | Letter exchange or first look | A quiet private spot and timing with the photographer |
| Midday | Travel to the ceremony location | Transport, permits and directions confirmed |
| Early afternoon | Ceremony | Celebrant, styling, witnesses and paperwork |
| Afternoon | Portraits and a toast | Location route, champagne and glasses, weather backup |
| Evening | Private dinner or picnic | Reservation or set-up, cake and a final send-off |
Notice how much breathing space there is. That’s the point. Eloping couples are paying for time together, so don’t pack the day the way you would a hundred-guest wedding.
Including a few guests in elopement packages
More couples now invite parents, children or a couple of close friends to their elopement. Decide where your line sits between an elopement and a micro wedding — many planners cap elopements at a small number of guests and move anything larger into a micro wedding package. Price extra guests as an add-on that covers transport, seating, catering and extra coordination time, and make sure the location’s permit allows for them. Clear boundaries protect your margins and keep the experience intimate.
Legal requirements: keep it clear
Marriage laws vary hugely between countries, states and regions. Some couples have a legal ceremony at home and a symbolic elopement elsewhere. Be upfront in your packages about whether the ceremony is legal or symbolic, and advise couples to check the requirements with the relevant marriage registry or authority — and their own lawyer if needed. Never guess on legal paperwork.
Pricing elopement packages
Elopements are smaller but not small effort. Location scouting, vendor coordination and permits take time, whether there are two people or forty. Build your pricing from the ground up.
- Your time: estimate hours for planning, communication and the day itself.
- Vendor costs: photographer, celebrant, florist, hair and make-up — either included or coordinated separately.
- Travel and permits: location fees and travel time.
- Margin: enough to run a sustainable business.
- Add-ons: extra hours, extra guests, video, dinner, accommodation.
Decide whether you’ll sell an all-inclusive package (you pay vendors) or a coordination package (couples pay vendors directly). All-inclusive is simpler for the couple but adds financial risk and admin for you. Talk to your accountant about how it affects your tax and record-keeping.
How to present elopement packages so they sell
Presentation matters as much as content. Eloping couples are often visual, emotional buyers. Lead with imagery and the experience, then show inclusions.
- Open with the feeling — what the day will be like for them.
- Show a sample timeline so they can picture it.
- List inclusions clearly, grouped by planning, ceremony and experience.
- Show add-ons on a separate page so the core package stays clean.
- Answer the obvious questions up front: legal paperwork, weather, guests, travel.
Marketing elopement packages
Your packages need to be found. Build a dedicated elopement page on your website and write blog posts about your best locations. Partner with photographers and celebrants who already attract eloping couples, and share real behind-the-scenes content — scouting trips, styled set-ups, the logistics you handle. That shows eloping couples you’re the expert in this format, not a general planner dabbling.
Then make enquiring easy. Eloping couples often book quickly once they feel understood, so reply promptly with a short, warm email, your package guide and an invitation to a video call. Ask about their story before you talk about inclusions. A couple who feels heard on that first call is far more likely to book than one who receives a price list and nothing else. Follow up once, kindly, if you don’t hear back.
If you want deeper frameworks, the Micro, Intimate & Destination Wedding Handbook by Jac Bowie includes planning checklists and worksheets for smaller-format weddings, from elopements to micro weddings abroad.
Common elopement package mistakes
- Too many options: endless add-ons create decision fatigue — the opposite of what elopers want.
- Underpricing: assuming smaller means cheaper ignores the work involved.
- No plan B: outdoor elopements need a weather backup built into the package.
- Unclear legal status: couples must know whether the ceremony is legally binding.
- Generic offer: packages that don’t reflect your location or style blend into the crowd.
Designing, pricing and marketing elopements is a big part of our intimate and micro wedding course, which covers small-format weddings, destination planning and how to run a profitable boutique business. You can also browse the full range of online wedding courses.
Frequently asked questions
What should an elopement package include?
Most elopement packages include planning and location scouting, celebrant coordination, ceremony styling, personal flowers, a timeline for the day and often photography, plus optional experience add-ons.
How many elopement packages should a planner offer?
Three tiers usually work best: a simple ceremony, a signature half-day and a full experience. It gives choice without decision fatigue.
Are elopements legally binding?
It depends on the location and the paperwork. Some couples marry legally at home and have a symbolic elopement elsewhere. Always tell couples to confirm requirements with the relevant marriage authority.
Should elopement packages be all-inclusive?
All-inclusive packages are simpler for couples but add admin and financial risk for you. Coordination-only packages let couples pay vendors directly. Check the tax implications with your accountant.
How do I learn to plan elopements professionally?
The Wedding Academy’s Certificate in Intimate, Micro & Destination Weddings is studied online and covers elopements, micro weddings, destination planning and boutique wedding business skills.
Ready to build elopement and micro wedding packages that couples fall in love with? Study online at your own pace with The Wedding Academy’s Certificate in Intimate, Micro & Destination Weddings.
