As your elopement day draws closer it is very very normal to start feeling overwhelmed by the logistics of your day. And while your wedding day is very much “your day” it’s also about two families becoming one. I encourage you to consider the list of tips to recognize your family and include them in this process.
After all, these are the people who were there for you throughout your entire life. They love you, support you, and help you become who you are today.
As you start to plan your elopement, it’s important to decide whether you want the experience to be private and just the two of you, or if you want family to be there too. You might be thinking, “Hold on, we’re eloping, should we have a guest list?”
It depends! Your elopement is all about you two, it’s about being intentional and carving out time to connect, explore, feel, see, and be with your favorite person/people. So if you view your wedding day as a moment to celebrate your two families coming together, or it’s important to you to include loved ones, go for it!
Of course, if you want to reserve this day for just the two of you, there are other ways to include family in your elopement. Just because they’re not physically present doesn’t mean that they can’t be part of the process. Here are a few meaningful ways to include your family throughout the elopement process.
How to intentionally include your family before the elopement:
- Invite family members to help you shop for the perfect elopement attire,
- Reach out to family members and ask them to write letters or words of wisdom for you two to open and read through together on the morning of your elopement,
- Plan a send-off dinner a few days before your elopement,
- If you planning on handling the paperwork at a city hall before your actual elopement day, consider inviting a couple of family members to be your witnesses.
How to intentionally include your family during the elopement:
- Take a few minutes to call or Facetime your family on the morning of your elopement,
- Consider bringing “something borrowed” or “something old” from a family member to wear,
- Invite the people you love,
- Have a family member be your officiant or witness.
How to intentionally include your family after the elopement:
- Throw a reception, and invite family members to celebrate this exciting milestone – this can be as casual as a backyard potluck!
- Send family members a printed elopement photo and a thank you note letting them know you’re appreciative of the love and support they’ve given your relationship,
- Host a dinner party and share photos from your elopement, walk them through the experience, and share details about what made eloping so special for you two.
Bottom line: this is your commitment, your experience. Invite your family into your elopement in a way that feels intentional to you.
Hi there! Thank you for stopping by! I’m Marta Mannuzza, owner of By Mannuzza Photography, a Moab UT elopement and wedding photographer specializing in capturing your story and your love in Utah and Western Slope. I hope you found my “Benefits of “How to Intentionally Include your family in your Wedding?” feature I shared today to be helpful and if you are interested in chatting with me more about booking a wedding, or an elopement let’s connect. Not quite ready, but know you want to keep me in your back pocket? Easyyy! Here’s my Instagram and let’s be friends!
Marta Mannuzza is Moab, Utah family & wedding photographer. She offers elopement, wedding, maternity, newborn, and family photography in her relaxed, natural, and luminous style. Her clients love that not only do they get digital files from their session but artwork to display in their home. She is happy to design custom wall art galleries to show off your favorite photos!
Marta serves Moab, Utah and Western Slope, Colorado including Salt Lake City | Grand Junction | Montrose | Durango| Telluride | Ouray
