How to Plan the Ultimate Post Elopement Party in 2024

Elopements have been gaining popularity amongst couples. We love hearing couples around the world reaching out to our team on how to elope, and what it means to elope. While elopements can be intimate and amazing, some couples worry about not including family and friends on their special day. Have you heard of a post-elopement party?

Here’s everything you need to know to plan an epic celebration together!

What is a Post Elopement Party and Why You Should Have One

A post-elopement party is a party to celebrate your marriage together after you elope. This celebration is typically the equivalent of a reception from a traditional wedding. However, post-elopement parties really aren’t receptions by any means, but get-togethers to celebrate their new marriage with their family and friends who weren’t there during their elopement day.

It’s important to remember that a post-elopement party can be whatever you want it to be. We tend to think of a post-elopement celebration allowing couples to have the best of both worlds. You can have a “just us” elopement experience and then party it up with your favorite people without worrying about all the “traditional” aspects of a wedding reception. 

But what is the main difference between a wedding reception and a post-elopement party? 

The biggest difference between a post-elopement party and a wedding reception comes down to the cost. The average wedding reception costs over $12,000 and often caters to over 100 people. A post-elopement party can cost $3,000 and under and way less stressful to plan than a wedding reception. You don’t need to worry about the technicalities and requirements of a traditional wedding reception.

A post-elopement party can actually be as simple or complex as you would like. We have seen couples spend under $1,000 and couples who spend over $5,000 for their party. 

Why Should You Have a Post-Elopement Celebration?

If you both want to plan a romantic elopement and focus on each other, then go for it! A post-elopement party is a great way to include your loved ones after you both say your I do. This is also a great opportunity to announce your elopement to others and share your amazing photos with them.

Another reason to plan a post-elopement celebration is if you both decide to elope internationally or if your elopement location is not easily accessible for your immediate family.

In general, you should plan a post-elopement party if you want to keep your wedding day as intimate as possible. You can still invite family and friends and plan a micro wedding, but you can invite even more family and friends to your celebration after your ceremony.

How to Plan a Post-Elopement Celebration

Planning a post-elopement reception is not complicated at all!

When planning your elopement reception, you’ll first want to consider your overall budget. You can think of this as your reception, so we recommend planning an overall elopement budget to keep you on track. After your budget is set you can get into the 4 steps below:

1. Decide when your celebration will be
2. Where are you going to party?
3. Who are you going to invite?
4. Consider entertainment & food 

Pro tip: Team up with your elopement photographer and videographer to discuss possibly having some of your photos/video ready for your reception.

When Should You Have a Post-Elopement Party?

There is no correct time to plan a post-elopement party. 

You can plan your celebration the same day you elope later that same day, plan the following day, the following week, or even the following year. The right answer doesn’t exist and depends on what works best for you.

Here are some ideas from other couples we have seen:

• Plan sunrise elopement and post-elopement party as a “BBQ” later that day to surprise everyone.
• Elope, wait a month, and then have a party to show everyone your elopement photos and video.
• Plan an adventure elopement at a national park, have a post-elopement party at one of the campsites, and go off on your honeymoon after.
• Plan a post-elopement party after your honeymoon.

Where Are You Going to Party?

Thinking about where you are going to party is probably the most important factor when it comes to budget. The average cost of a wedding reception is $12,000, which is a pretty high number. This number tends to be so high for weddings because couples have to pay per plate, for the actual venue, decorations, clean-up, and more. Remember, you don’t need to plan your post-elopement party at a banquet hall, and most couples avoid the “reception package” route to avoid spending that much money.

Here are some locations to consider for your post-elopement party we have seen in our featured elopement stories:

• National Park campsites
• Restaurants and local bars
• Rental Properties
• Glamping properties
• Parks and Beaches
• Family home

Who Are You Going to Invite?

Alright, you know the details of when and where. Let’s talk about who you are inviting to your big(ish) celebration. Again, no right or wrong answer. Do you see a growing theme here? You can invite a bunch of family and friends, invite only your closest loved ones, or plan your post-elopement party with the same people you took on your elopement (think your immediate family and best friends). 

Whoever you’re inviting, think about if you want to disclose that you eloped or if you want to surprise them at the event with your new marriage. If you want to let them know it is a post-elopement party, then our biggest advice here is to be completely honest on your invitation announcing your elopement together. 

Consider using these phrases in your party invitation wording:

• We got Hitched! Now it’s Time to Party!
• Nothing Fancy, Just Love.
• We Eloped!
• We Tied the Knot!
• It’s an After the Wedding Celebration.
• We Just Couldn’t Wait!

Another great idea is to include a small message on where you eloped, when, and why. 

You can also send these invites way in advance and include a cash registry link for those who want to get you and your partner a small gift to celebrate and help you towards a money fund you can put towards your honeymoon and future.

“Will some friends and family get upset that I eloped?”

Maybe, it’s possible. 

While some loved ones may be upset, make it clear that you both are hosting this event to celebrate your marriage together. We also recommend telling your immediate family before you elope if you’re still worried.

Consider Food and Entertainment

Let’s start the fun part and think about all the details and activities involved in planning your party after your elopement together. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

What are you doing?

Now is the time to think about activities you want to do during your party. You can keep things as simple or as extravagant as you want. You can plan a BBQ or a weekend getaway with your favorite people! Consider what games, music, and other activities you want to incorporate. Don’t worry, we’ll mention some ideas below in the next section!

What food and drinks will you have?

Some couples plan a seated dinner with catering or a private chef (if their party list is small). You can also have a potluck-style party or even a BBQ with huge coolers of your favorite beers. 

Do you need any vendors?

We have seen many couples rock casual post-elopement parties with no vendors besides a photographer. However, it’s OK to outsource and hire vendors for your party, just like you would for any party you’re throwing. Think about what is most important to both of you and go from there. 

Post-Elopement Reception Ideas

We have seen so many couples plan a post-elopement party with their family and friends. The limit literally does not exist on the ideas you can incorporate for your celebration. Just like elopements, post-elopement parties have no rules either. 

We wanted to share some of our favorite ideas to help you get started:

Incorporate Your Favorite Wedding Traditions

Some couples hesitate to plan an elopement because they fear missing out on some of the traditions they love.

Planning a post-elopement party can still give you the opportunity to incorporate wedding traditions such as your first dance, dances with anyone significant in your family, or even a bouquet toss if you really want to get crazy!

We love this idea because it allows your guests to feel included in some of the traditions they would have loved to be a part of while giving you a more casual environment to do these traditions in a “non-traditional” way.

Show Your Elopement Photos on a Projector

If you’re sold on having a fun elopement party, then consider mentioning this to your photographer and videographer before your elopement day.

A great way to celebrate together is showcasing a clip of your actual elopement ceremony, and even showing them some photos from your adventurous day. Make sure your photographer captures some cool elopement announcement photos!

We want to stress how important it is to talk to your elopement vendors about this idea. While most, if not all, would be super ok with providing a couple of photos in advance, you would still need to let them know beforehand.

Rent a Cool Airbnb to Have a Homemade Meal After Your Elopement

If you’re having an intimate elopement, but still want to include your closest family and friends, then a great way to celebrate together is to rent an Airbnb for your post-elopement reception. Do you have a family home nearby? Consider having your celebration there!

Hosting your elopement celebration at an Airbnb is also an awesome idea if you want to keep the experience intimate and meaningful. Consider talking to your parents, friends, or other loved ones about cooking together or ordering your favorite takeout.

If you’re looking for an Airbnb, then we suggest checking out our favorite Airbnbs perfect for small wedding receptions.

Have a BBQ Together

We love post-elopement receptions because they can be as dressy or as casual as you want. If you want to plan an intimate dinner at a restaurant, go for it. If, however, you want everyone to keep it casual and just enjoy a laidback BBQ together, then that’s ok too! If you want to have a BBQ in your wedding attire, then that’s OK too!

A BBQ can also be a great option if you plan on inviting a bigger number of people. Since this isn’t a “wedding”, you won’t feel the pressure of pleasing your guests with a fancy 5-star dinner or worrying about decorations.

Plan a Brunch the Next Morning

Elopements can be exhausting! We have seen couples who plan an all-day adventure from sunrise to sunset. This often leads to little time to have a post-elopement party. Instead of squeezing everything in the same day or planning far in advance after your wedding day, consider planning a brunch. That way you can sleep in and have a boozy brunch as you toast to your new marriage with delicious mimosas.

Play Some Fun Games

Maybe you both are a little silly and want to incorporate something to get everyone on their feet. If you’re looking for a day full of laughs, then consider planning a game night.

You can even incorporate wedding theme games! Some cool game ideas can be who knows the bride and groom the best, or playing beer pong with the bride and groom on your team.

Here are some more ideas:

• Lawn games such as ring toss, cornhole, giant connect four, or Jenga
• Wedding shoe game (a cheesy and fun icebreaker)
• Flip cup
• Wedding guest bingo

Hire a Food Truck

Do you love food? Then you should totally incorporate your love for food during your post-elopement reception.

By hiring a local food truck, you can keep the event casual, fun, and as unique as the whole elopement experience. Hiring a food truck is also a great way to ensure you and your guests get fresh, hot food without the worry of preparing anything.

Honor Them With a Special Speech

Deciding to elope can make some loved ones feel left out. While your wedding day is your day, and you should never feel bad about doing what you love, honoring your guests with a meaningful speech is a great way to make them feel included.

By hosting a casual and intimate elopement reception, you can also take the time to thank them for coming.

Hire a Local Band… or Hook up Your Favorite Playlist

If you both love to dance, then make that the main event of your party! Hire a local band, singer, or hook up your favorite playlist.

This is such a fun idea to celebrate your marriage together with everyone, without the stress of planning an actual wedding. Dance the night away, and enjoy celebrating with your family and friends.

Have a Picnic

We were serious when we meant you didn’t need to plan anything fancy. If you’re hiking together during your elopement, you can plan a small picnic with some of your loved ones. Bring some subs, charcuterie boards, and even some mini cupcakes to seal the deal! Just remember to pick up after yourselves to leave no trace and leave the area even better than you found it. 

Have a Personal Bar With a Couple Signature Drinks

Who says you can’t have a bar with signature drinks for your post-elopement party?! If cocktails are meaningful to both of you, then this is a great detail to mix into your celebration. Pick two drinks to enjoy throughout the night that represent each of you, and let your guests get a taste of who you both are as a couple (spicy and sweet, maybe?). 

Re-read Your Vows

Wedding vows can be intimate and personal, but maybe you want to recreate a shorter version of your vows during your celebration. This will allow you to have that small wedding ceremony feel without all the “required” bells and whistles. This may also make your parents a little happy if they can’t make it to your elopement ceremony. 

Party on a Catamaran or Private Boat

Nothing says party, than a party boat! Catamarans are awesome because of their laidback nature, but all boats are a full go-ahead in our opinion. This is as laid back as you can get while enjoying the sun and water together! You can bring along your favorite chips, beer, and sandwiches to seal the deal. 

Make Your Dog the Guest of Honor

A lot of traditional wedding venues do not allow pets. Planning a post-elopement party at the venue of your choice, allows you to include your furry friends without any stress because you’re not limited to “banquet hall” locations. 

Have a Celebration at a National Park’s Campsite or Picnic Areas

Suppose you’re adventuring and hiking in a national park like Yosemite or Olympic. In that case, it’s a good idea to consider meeting your party at one of the park’s campsites or picnic areas to share a small meal, make a toast, dance, and enjoy some cake together. 

Have a Beach Party  

Who needs a wedding venue for a reception or decorations, when you can enjoy the sound of waves and the sun, for free? You don’t have to complicate this at all! Invite your family and friends to one of your favorite beaches close to you, and have everyone bring a little something to eat and drink. Make sure to pack your sunscreen and umbrellas!

Wear Your Wedding Attire Again

Some couples reach out to us because they aren’t sure what they could wear for their post-elopement party. Honestly, you can rock your wedding attire again. This is also a great opportunity for your family and friends to admire your gorgeous wedding dress you love so much.

By wearing your wedding attire again, you are also making the most out of your purchase, without worrying about what you two would wear during your celebration.

If you want your family and friends to dress casually, but you both are considering wearing your wedding attire, then consider keeping it a secret!

By letting everyone know your get together will be a casual event, you can really surprise them with the wedding look you wore on your actual wedding day.