Best Wedding Elopement Ideas

Elopement is a small, low-key style of wedding with a limited number of guests (or, no guests) using a budget within your means. But does that mean such a wedding has to be simple or impersonal? Absolutely not! Actually, if you don’t have to worry about those things typically needed in large conventional weddings, such as choosing a banquet location, finding the right style of decorations, or selecting a DJ, then you will likely have more time (and enthusiasm!) to give to your actual wedding moment - which includes your elopement wedding and a photography session after.

So, instead of spending, say, a grand on food and drinks, you can invest that same amount into procuring the location of your dreams, which could come in the form of a fairy-tale like venue, and to perhaps giving yourself a polished, glamorous look that will make your photos after-look timeless.

At Perfect Wedding NYC, we feel blessed that we can offer you a wide range of elopement services in such a versatile place as Manhattan. Given the vast resources present in this city, we are able to plan genuinely creative events for you…

And, we absolutely love discussing with our customers their ideas for just how they want to make their unique elopement ideas happen. 

CHOOSE YOUR OWN THEME

One idea that has always been popular as a theme for events is to choose a leading color or set of colors that could present as a motif throughout the celebration. Such color flourishes, for example, could start in the wedding invitations, be present in a groom’s tie or bride’s bouquet, and then reappear in something like a reception event’s floral centerpieces. 

But, beyond color schemes, certain kinds of trend themes have recently emerged as popular in the wedding industry. Some newer ideas, for instance, include having: a rustic or bohemian style wedding set in a laid-back atmosphere with lots of natural elements used as decor; a beach wedding where a couple might be barefoot and a summer vibe is evoked; or, a grunge or punk wedding where a bride might wear combat boots and a leather jacket over a traditional gown and guests might drink champagne straight from the bottle!

This overall trend toward doing non-traditional weddings instead of classic ones, where a bride might wear a traditional white gown and where roses might be used for the floral arrangements, has made the process of preparing events for wedding planners a lot more fun. 

Now, you don't necessarily need to go to a place of worship or a city clerk's office to be married, have a row of bridesmaids in matching gowns present by your side, or to even do a traditional exchange of wedding bands at your event. This is because today’s weddings have become a lot more versatile in style than in the past. 

Given all this, what then might your best wedding elopement idea be? 

YOUR UNIQUE VISION

So, in order to decide which wedding style best reflects your personal vision, we can use a variety of approaches for planning. One method we can try, popularized by organization guru, Marie Kondo might be to just ask ourselves: which wedding style might spark the most joy? 

For example, when my now husband and I were talking, in the early stages of our relationship, about how we might see a future wedding ceremony for ourselves, we imagined something classic—with all the traditional touches. But after almost a year and a half of being together as boyfriend and girlfriend, when my husband did finally propose, which was right after the quarantine began, we started to plan the actual elopement wedding and realized, given all the unexpected changes, that we wanted to do an outdoor event. We decided, rather than a big event, that we wanted to have an intimate reception in the backyard of the townhouse where we live, right after doing a civil ceremony in Central Park. 

I imagined lots of greenery and lights, as we have ivy and rose bushes growing in our yard, all of which called to mind for me a rustic or bohemian style of wedding. So I asked myself: would such a wedding style spark joy for me? 

And it definitely did!

I am now so happy that we were able to make a beautiful wedding ceremony happen in Central Park, in a secluded gazebo, that offered wonderful city views. I also bought a bohemian style dress for the event and had a non-traditional green bouquet designed, with my favorite succulents on it, from our uber-talented Perfect Wedding NYC florist. And, to complete the look, I even wore a matching green headpiece! 

All this made me feel so much more comfortable than had I chosen to do a traditional style event—and, in the end, I was so happy I chose to be a “boho-bride” instead of just trying to make myself up into the image of a “classic bride.” 

What then is the unique eloping idea that you think could spark the most joy for you?

UNIQUE ELOPEMENT IDEAS

The wedding themes mentioned above are just a handful of options you may choose from. But choosing a special theme is definitely not the only way to design an elopement event. 

If you’re looking for something unique, why not use your favorite things as a base for inspiration? Many couples, for example, have favorite movies, hobbies or places in common. In fact, recently we even did an elopement event for a couple who are both Disney fans and the bride dressed for the ceremony in a veil and added a headband that had white Minnie Mouse ears. She looked so cute, with the addition of this unique accessory, and it brought a special vibe to the event. 

But what if the couple had wanted to wear full Disney costumes? That might have had a different effect on how the event played out—but, it’s all up to you and your imagination—and, what YOU envision.

To expand on this idea of unique wedding ideas, we have lots more suggestions. What if, for example, you and your partner were Home Alone Two fans? What then could be better than doing a ceremony in front of Rockefeller Center, with their famous Christmas tree in the background, and then taking a ride in a vintage yellow cab, the same one in fact that Kevin used in the film, over the Brooklyn Bridge? And, we’re serious about this event idea, too—as that exact car is actually available for booking! 

Thus, if you have a favorite movie, let us know—and, we’ll see if we can somehow turn that into a unique eloping idea for you.

For another possible idea, maybe you and your partner are foodies?—then, perhaps we could say, that a favorite hobby is to enjoy food and we could work that into your wedding plan! The easiest way would be to include various foods in your wedding photo shoot—as we always love a nice pizza slice or ice cream sharing shot! But, if you have something more festive in mind, why not make your elopement wedding into a romantic picnic in the park? We work with many talented caterers who will make you forget all about any previous bad experiences you might have had with zooming flies, runny ketchup, or stale potato chips--as they can prepare and arrange any kind of sumptuous feast you can imagine for your outdoor wedding experience! 

We are also always happy to recommend, for those people who love all things, one of the more unique places in all of Manhattan for a venue: Coney Island Amusement Park. Here one can take a ride on The Wonder Wheel, view vivid murals, and get tasty snacks like one of Nathan’s famous hot dogs or some cotton candy. If you’re a fan of retro America, love bright colors, and have an adventurous spirit, this place could be the ideal venue spot for you!

Another option, too, for a unique wedding idea might be to do a ceremony on a pier and make the event into a nautical one. There are so many piers in NYC, many of which can easily combine both a city and nature feel together; and, if you’re a boating enthusiastic or want to try something on the water, you can always book a private yacht for a few hours that will take you and your guests out on a romantic Hudson River voyage. 

Next, speaking of weddings on the water, what if you and your partner are beach lovers?—but, because of the pandemic, your plans to have a destination wedding on a remote Pacific island have failed. Don’t forget, we do have beaches here in New York City, too! Okay, the water may not be as turquoise as it is in Fiji, and we won’t be able to grow a few palms in time for your ceremony, but wouldn’t a New York beach wedding still be a great way to have a unique elopement? 

But maybe a wedding at sea level is not for you and you want something a little higher up, or, more central? What, too, if you’re the type who gets shivers from looking at New York City’s incredible skyline? If you are, then I would recommend that you choose an observation deck or a rooftop as an affordable wedding venue. For such places, there is always Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center; a new spot that recently opened up called “Edge” that features the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere; or, of if saving money is a goal, you can always use a rooftop in a building where you or a friend may live. 

But what if you and your partner want to get even closer to the clouds than a rooftop or deck—and, really do something unique? Well, then what about we plan for you a unique elopement event in a private helicopter!

And, if all the city options we suggest don’t feel right for you and what you really just want for your event is an escape from the city, we can also arrange for you to have your elopement in a more secluded place, like somewhere in upstate New York, among pine trees and hiking trails. I mean, why not? As long as you don’t need to stick to a city clerk’s office, you don’t need to stick to the city itself! 

Last, we can even design a virtual ceremony for you, via Zoom or some other platform, that can be truly special, if you’re willing to put some effort in it. Just bring your favorite flowers and candles, turn on some light background music, dress up, deliver your personal vows and enjoy your unique elopement experience! In fact, we’ve done many virtual marriage ceremonies already since Project Cupid launched in NYC, and all the couples we’ve worked so far were very grateful for the events we provided for them.

BEST WEDDING ELOPEMENT IDEAS FOR YOU

When you first begin thinking of elopement plans, it’s possible that you will not have any special ideas in mind but will still know in your heart that you want to plan an event that is different. This is why you should reach out for help from your wedding planner who can make lots of personalized suggestions for you. Together we can discuss various options based on your general vision, personal tastes, and interests. 

Remember: it is better not to rely on a family member or friend’s opinion if such a person might be trying to convince you to do your wedding in a certain way that you feel wouldn’t suit you. Better to work with a planner instead who can help you realize a vision even if you, yourself, may not have a full idea of what that vision is yet.

At Perfect Wedding NYC, we’re here to help you choose the most fitting choice among those best wedding elopement ideas we can come up with. Remember: the more creative you want to go, the more inspiration it brings us—as we believe that an elopement wedding, being a once-in-a-lifetime experience, deserves to be something extraordinary!