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WEDDING VS. ELOPEMENT COSTS

Anthony Bourdain

SPENDING CATEGORIES

Your spending limit is the total amount of money you have to spend on your nuptials; your budget is the manner in which you allocate those funds by category -- invitations, flowers, food, drink, etc. An elopement, even a luxury one, renders many of the spending categories associated with a traditional wedding obsolete, dramatically affecting how your money is spent. See how spending limits are broken down by category for a wedding and a luxury elopement below.

WEDDING

Pre-Wedding

Rehearsal Dinner     

Legal Fees  

 

Wedding

Attire 

Beauty 

Ceremony  

Favors + Gifts  

Flowers + Decor 

Music + Entertainment 

Photography + Video 

Reception 

Wedding Rings 

Invitations + Stationery

Transportation 

 

Post-Wedding

Honeymoon 

ELOPEMENT

Attire

Beauty

Bridal Bouquet

Ceremony

Legal Fees

Photography

Wedding Rings

Travel + Accommodations

 

Post-Elopement (optional)

Announcements

Champagne + Cake Reception

 

50%

of your spending limit can be saved or redistributed by switching from a wedding to a luxury elopement.

A NEW WAY TO LOOK AT WEDDING SPENDING

According to unbiased nationwide research*, 43% of American brides and grooms spend between $11,000 and $30,000 on their weddings -- not inlcuding the honeymoon. What most don't realize is that more than half of that spending goes towards elements that enhance the guests' experience, not the bridal couple's. A luxury elopement allows you to take the funds that are typically devoted to guests and reallocate them towards your own wedding experience, complete with an amazing destination and lavish honeymoon.

SAMPLE BUDGET FOR A LUXURY ELOPEMENT

The below is an example of how you can allocate your spending limit by category for a luxury elopement. Simply divide your spending limit by the percentages below to calculate how much we recommend devoting to each elopement category.

CATEGORY
PERCENTAGE

Attire

Beauty

Ceremony

Flowers

Legal Fees

Photography

Travel + Accommodations

Wedding Rings

 

​

20%

2%

5%

5%

3%

15%

40%

10%

​

*Research provided by Splendid Insights

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