What Vendors do you need for an elopement ?

The beautiful thing about eloping is that you can craft your wedding day to match your unique style and enhance your experience by hiring the vendors you care most about! There are no hard and fast rules for which vendors you need to hire for your elopement, but I do have some recommendations and food for thought to help you decide!

wedding photographer in british columbia Estelle Gonord Photography

My Best Advice for Choosing Your Wedding Vendors

With any wedding or elopement, you have to decide what is the most important and what you think will enhance your day. So if hiking up your favorite mountain is really important, then definitely spend the money on it—but if you are happy getting a beer at a airbnb soaking in a hot tub – do it!

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Most Common Elopement Vendors

Photographers

Of course you’ll want a photographer to capture one of the most meaningful days of your lives 🤍 This is usually where most of a wedding or elopement budget goes — and for good reason. Photos are forever. While I love being there from sunrise to sunset to tell the full story, some couples choose fewer hours of coverage, and that works beautifully too.

Florists

Flowers are easily one of the most popular wedding vendors right after photographers — and honestly, I get it. A beautiful bouquet adds the perfect natural touch and instantly elevates your day !

Hair & Makeup Artists

You’d be surprised how many hair and makeup artists are happy to start super early to support couples on their wedding day! This is such a great vendor to consider if you want to feel pampered — or if hair and makeup just aren’t your thing.

Officiants

Officiants are often one of the most overlooked elopement vendors! In BC, you can’t self-solemnize, but you can work with a licensed officiant, a religious officiant, or even have a close friend get temporarily licensed to marry you. If you’re planning a true “just-us” elopement and want it to be legal on the spot, this is a must — and it’s always worth double-checking local regulations depending on where you’re getting married. You can also choose to get legally married before or after your elopement if that feels easier

Planners

A lot of elopement photographers work with you as planners to help you craft a breathable timeline and figure out the logistics of your day, but many couples outsource for this with planners.

Caterer

Even if you’re not feeding 100 guests, you’ll still want something delicious to enjoy on your wedding day — and that’s where caterers or private chefs come in. If you love good food, why not turn your elopement meal into part of the experience? It’s such a fun way to make the day feel extra special.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Elopement Vendors

What wedding vendors do I need to book for my elopement?

Whichever ones are most important to you— couples typically hire some of these vendors: photographer, planner, hair & makeup, florist, officiant and caterer.

Do elopement vendors require a deposit?

Absolutely! It is typically a percentage of your total cost.

**Do I actually need vendors for my elopement?**

Short answer—no. You only need to book the things that bring you joy and will have the biggest impact on your day!

How far in advance should I book my wedding vendors?

Each wedding vendor varies, but the sooner the better! Here are the recommended booking windows for typical vendors:

Hair & Makeup: 3-6 months

Florists: 9-12 months

Officiants: 9-12 months

Coordinator: 7-14 months

Photographer: 12-15 months

Caterer: 2-4 months

If you’re ready to dive in but want a little extra guidance, head over to my blog post:

5 Steps to Plan Your Dream Elopement

Or if you are ready to directly chat and start planning, hit this button below !

LET'S GET STARTED