Elopement vs. wedding weekend: If you’re a couple seeking a nontraditional wedding experience, you may find yourselves stuck in the middle of this debate. But what if I told you that you didn’t have to choose? As an elopement and wedding photographer, I’ve worked with many couples who opted to have their cake and eat it too (no pun intended!). Today, I’m sharing why you can have an elopement and a wedding weekend, and how one couple did it!

Elopement vs. Wedding Weekend: Why You Can—and Should—Have Both

Recently, the industry has seen a shift away from traditional, one-day weddings. More couples are prioritizing experiences, whether that’s an adventure elopement, a getaway weekend with loved ones, or a combination of the two. This approach to wedding planning gives them a chance to connect with their guests—especially those who’ve come from far and wide to celebrate with them—for more than one day.

Planning an elopement and wedding weekend also gives couples the chance to personalize their celebrations in ways that aren’t traditionally possible. Do you want to exchange vows with your partner in the tiny park where you shared your first kiss? An elopement makes it possible!

Have you always dreamed of a trip to the mountains with your favorite people? You can bring that vision to life with a wedding weekend in your favorite alpine destination. The truth is, your wedding doesn’t have to fit into a box. You can stretch it out. You can make space for both intimacy and community. You can design a celebration that reflects every part of your story.

Grace and John, one of the couples I’ve had the privilege to photograph, did just that. Their Texas elopement and Colorado wedding weekend were simple, intimate, and authentically them. Read on to discover how they planned the unique festivities!

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Guests walking to a lakeside wedding ceremony

How to have an elopement and wedding weekend

Bride and groom kissing at a lakeside elopement in Texas

Map and Compass Photography - Texas Wedding Photographer

Bridal portraits on a lakefront property in Burnet, TX

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Bride and groom cutting a wedding cake after eloping

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Texas Elopement At Home

When Grace and John reached out to me about photographing both their elopement and their wedding weekend, I knew it would be something special. I specialize in documenting elopements and multi-day weddings, so working with them was the best of both worlds. These two are both introverts at heart, and they knew they didn’t want their entire wedding day to feel like a performance. So they started with what mattered most: a quiet, family-only ceremony in the Texas Hill Country over the Christmas holidays.

It was simple, intimate, and full of heart. Grace did her own hair and makeup. John’s parents catered. They exchanged vows at a private lakefront home with just a handful of people who meant the world to them. No pressure. No timeline to rush through. Just a day that felt sacred and true.

Colorado Wedding Weekend in Lyons

But the couple still didn’t want to miss out on connecting with their friends. With the assistance of Boulder Blooms, they planned a Lyons, Colorado, destination wedding for 80 guests in September 2024. The celebratory weekend opened with a rooftop welcome event and closed with an al fresco dinner and dance party at Lyons Farmette! The months between their elopement and wedding weekend allowed the couple to enjoy married life and avoid rushing the planning. Having both events was the perfect solution to their desire to have an intimate ceremony while still celebrating with all their loved ones.

String lights hanging above outdoor tables

Outdoor wedding dinner at Lyons Farmette

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Map and Compass Photography - Texas and Colorado Wedding Photographer

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Bride and groom dancing at Lyons Farmette

Wedding guests wearing heart-shaped sunglasses on the dance floor

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I love that Grace and John didn’t compromise on their wedding vision. They found a way to have both the elopement and wedding weekend of their dreams, and you can too! I call myself a wedding photographer and guide because I assist my couples with planning a celebration that’s uniquely theirs. Whether it’s an elopement, a multi-day wedding weekend, or a blend of both, I’m with you, helping you chart your course and capture every beautiful, fleeting moment along the way. I would be honored to help you chart your course and document the special day—or days—once it arrives! Ready to get started? Let’s connect!