Elopement or Destination Wedding: Which One Is Right For YOU?

Let’s decide…together.

Regardless of where you stand, your nuptials are going to be special. I first should lead with that because, in these times of uncertainty, it’s comforting to know you’ll have someone who has your best interests at heart. That’s me: my name is Francis and I’m a destination wedding photographer in San Juan, Puerto Rico. If you're coming across these words, chances are you’re also considering coming to this enchanted island for a coveted bride and groom getaway and you know what? I don’t blame you: this is paradise.

The question is: how will you be celebrating it?

This is where I come in. After being a photographer in Puerto Rico, I’ve had the privilege and honor of capturing some of the most grounded and fascinating couples to which list I would love to add you. In this short article I’ve prepared, I’m going to pinpoint the deciding factors of whether you should choose to have a cozy, intimate elopement with your closest friends and relatives or if you should go all out and have the wedding you’ve always wanted. I’ll be outlining some pros and cons of both for benefit; this way you’ll have the most important talking points clear before you reach out to me.

1. Planning

Let’s get organized…

It goes without saying but, for all intents and purposes, I will: it doesn’t matter if you go with elopement or destination wedding, planning is going to be crucial. Nuptials that are not well planned and shot from the hip are bound to be a disaster regardless of size. Granted, I think it’s safe to say that an elopement will require a lot less planning than even a micro-wedding (four hours or less). That does not necessarily say that you should wing it and be spontaneous on the spot either. In this section we’ll be discussing how planning is always going to be a part of the equation and how the tasks of putting together a timeline may ultimately affect the way you lean.

Elopements are much less convoluted than any style of wedding and rightfully so. An elopement is usually done on a whim and is something that comes naturally to couples. Partners who are more laidback and relaxed as far as their relationships are concerned tend to choose elopements over a wedding simply because they won’t want to get tangled up “in a hot mess”. Elopements are shorter and this require much less attention to detail as opposed to weddings. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that an elopement can be planned in literally a day if you do it right. All you really need is to book a flight to Puerto Rico (which can take minutes if you fly often), check out a venue you like and book a suite and finally hire an officiant to take care of business for you. That’s exactly what my couple Anthony & Joanna did when they paid me a visit at Copamarina last year. Fun fact: I was one of their witnesses! The extra mile can also be applied by asking just a handful of folks to tag along but, for the most part, the planning for elopements is easy, quick and should constitute no more than 10 people.

Weddings, on the other hand, is a whole different story. From micro-weddings to more lavish ones, the planning can be quite overwhelming depending on just how complex you’d like your special day. Based on my experience as a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, most couples usually resort to the hiring of a wedding planner to do all the heavy lifting. This takes a load off and makes the planning more enjoyable for the fact that you’re paying someone to do it for you. A wedding planner is tasked with most of the more important aspects of your wedding such as picking the venue, the photographer/videographer, DJ, catering, decor, etc. The list goes on and on depending on the magnitude of your special day but I’m sure you get the picture.

Choosing to put all of this on your shoulders can be a daunting feat but the good news is that you get to decide just how big that weight is since you’re in control one hundred percent of the time. Not delegating does have its benefits and one of those is being behind the wheel of the vision you’ve had in your head this entire time. This may prove to be useful if you’re in the business of not butting heads with anyone and prefer having a bird’s eye view for the day to come. Conversely, having that person by your side who is equally invested in you will go above and beyond to make that happen.

2. Investment

Money matters…

Let’s not cover the sky with your hand here: both options on the table will put a dent on your finances. From a simple, one-hour elopement to a ten hour destination wedding, either choice will not come cheap. This section isn’t about money as much as it involves deciding just how much you’re willing to invest in a day that will (hopefully) come once in your life. A few factors to consider when taking budget into consideration is your current financial state of affairs. If you’ve got a heavy mortgage, paying a premium on a luxury vehicle, up to your neck in student debt or simply lack the savings on which to fall back, then eloping with a handful of folks or, at most, having a micro-wedding is going to look like a viable option.

Like with all matters of life, there’s a flip side to every coin. If you’re one of those couples that has always wanted to experience getting married like royalty and/or you’re affluent enough that a few thousands wouldn’t matter as much then a full-blown wedding might just be up your alley. What exactly does that entail? Well, for starters hiring a solid planner to tie up loose ends is a good start. Right after that comes entrusting the documentation to a reknowned Puerto Rico destination wedding photographer like myself. If you’re willing to spend this amount of money to commemorate your big day, the last thing you want to do is to allocate that responsibility to someone not experienced enough to know what they’re doing. Details, getting ready, first looks, the ceremony, bride and groom sessions, cocktail hour and reception are all moments that you’re going to want to capture and coverage like that will not be inexpensive. Add to that the venue rental, catering, musicians, floral arrangements and all of a sudden you’re looking at a pretty penny.

At the end of the day, what matters is how you feel, not what you spent.

One thing is certain: money comes and goes. When it’s all said and done you have to check the wallet and ask yourself one very important question: if I’m going to do this only once, will I be happy with something low-key and modest or will I eventually regret not having the wedding of my dreams? Only you can answer that.

Whatever you choose, make sure it will make you happy.

Make it special…