The Cost To Elope in 2025: A Look at Adventure Elopements

Bride and groom exchanging vows during an intimate destination elopement in Moab, Utah. The couple needed to know The Cost to Elope in 2025 before booking an elopement photographer

Ok its time for a real talk! What is the cost to elope in 2025? According to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Study and Zola’s Average Wedding Cost Report, the average wedding cost in 2025 is hovering around $33,000 nationally. In states like California, it’s often closer to $45,000–$50,000 once you factor in the venue, catering, and all the extras.

That’s a big price tag for one day, so it’s no wonder couples everywhere are rethinking what weddings can look like. More and more, they’re asking: How much does it really cost to elope in 2025 instead?

If you’ve been dreaming of something more intimate, meaningful, and adventure-driven, an elopement might be the perfect fit for you and your partner.

Adventure elopement couple kissing in a vast Moab, Utah desert landscape understanding The Cost to Elope in 2025 as told my utah elopement photographer hannah rita

Bride, groom, and officiant holding an intimate elopement ceremony on a red rock hill in Moab, Utah, providing a visual guide for finding elopement officiants and outdoor wedding venues

Cost To Elope in 2025 vs. Traditional Wedding: Where the Money Really Goes

When it comes to planning your wedding, the biggest question isn’t always where you’ll say “I do”; it’s how you want to spend your money.

The truth is, a traditional wedding and an elopement allocate funds in entirely different ways. Below, you’ll see how the costs stack up side-by-side, revealing where the money really goes in a traditional wedding versus an adventure elopement.

Line Item	Traditional Wedding Typical Cost	Adventure / Elopement Version
Photographer	2,500 – 10,000	4,000-12,000
Videographer	2,000 – 5,000	3,000-10,000
Wedding Planner / Coordinator	2,000 – 6,000	1,000 – 3,000
Officiant / Ceremony Fee	200 – 600	400 – 800
Marriage License	(varies by state)	same
Venue	8,000 – 15,000+	nature location/permit fees (usually under $300)
Catering / Food	100 per guest × guest count	small dinner or private chef for 10–30 people
Cake / Dessert	500 – 1,000+	something smaller or dessert experience
Dress / Attire	1,500 – 4,000	same
Hair & Makeup	300 – 1,000+	500 – 1200
Flowers / Bouquet / Installation	1,500 – 4,000	smaller arrangements, local blooms $500
DJ / Band / Music	1,500 – 6,000+	solo musician, playlist + speaker, or nothing
Invitations / Stationery	300 – 1,000+	digital invites, minimal paper
Travel / Transportation	to/from guest locations, shuttles	travel for couple + maybe a few guests
Accommodations	multiple nights + guest rooms	lodging for couple + few guests
Decor / Rentals / Lighting / Extras	many thousands	NONE
Miscellaneous / Contingency	tipping, overtime fees, extra rentals	buffer, travel, permit costs

Its not just about finances; you are aslo making an emotional investment

In a traditional wedding, costs multiply by your guest count. Every extra person means another meal, invitation, chair, and favor.
In an elopement, those guest-driven costs shrink or disappear entirely.
You gain flexibility: fewer rentals, simpler décor, and more freedom.
You can redirect your elopement budget toward meaningful details—like phenomenal food, exceptional photography, or a breathtaking destination.
Some expenses vanish altogether. Think: DJ vs. curated playlist, ballroom décor vs. wild mountain view, printed invitations vs. digital announcements.

At the end of the day, you and your partner get to decide what matters most.

Ask yourselves: “What do we truly care about?”

That’s why the idea of elopement is not just a money-saving move, but also a way to create an unforgettable, intimate experience. Elopements let you “spoil” a smaller guest list, invest in details that matter most (dinner, photography), and design memories that last. The goal isn’t just to save money, it’s to create a day you and your loved ones will never forget.

Bride and groom kissing on a red rock hill in Moab Utah

A black and white photograph of an eloping couple in Moab, Utah. The bride is wearing a white dress with a slit, holding the skirt out as if twirling, and smiling at the groom who is looking down at her.

How to Prioritize Your Elopement Budget

The beauty of eloping is that you get to decide what matters most.
If photography, videography, and a beautifully planned experience are your priorities, spend there! These are the keepsakes that outlive you.

If you’ve dreamed of an incredible dinner with your closest people, invest in a private chef. Noah Saks with In Season dining has SPOILED my couples and their family. His food tastes like love.

If your heart is set on a certain dress or floral look, then build around that. But if cake or elaborate décor doesn’t matter to you, there’s no rule that says you have to include it.

Eloping gives you permission to reimagine your day. You could splurge on a luxury lodge for your wedding night and then head out for a few nights of camping under the stars for your honeymoon. It’s not just a wedding! Eloping is an entire experience that blends adventure, intimacy, and intention.

So, how much is the cost to elope in 2025?

Anywhere between $5,000–$20,000, depending on your vision. It’s less about the number and more about the value. Because the truth is, the best investment you can make is in experiences that reflect you, not the expectations of anyone else.

Elopement Isn’t Deprivation, it’s Freedom

Eloping isn’t about giving up! Eloping is about choosing differently. It’s freedom.

It’s important to know The Cost to Elope in 2025, so that you and your partner can create something that feels intentional, personal, and unforgettable. You can even turn your elopement into your honeymoon, blending celebration and adventure into one incredible experience.

Instead of pouring your entire budget into one evening, you can invest in days (or even weeks) of memories. Maybe that’s a sunrise ceremony in Yosemite, a Moab adventure elopement among the red rocks, or a seaside celebration in Santorini.

Whatever you choose, eloping gives you permission to spend where it counts, on experiences, not expectations.

Close-up of a smiling couple in wedding attire and helmets rappelling down a canyon wall, with bright yellow aspen trees in the background

Wide shot of a couple in wedding clothing rappelling down a large, red-rock cliff face, framed by vibrant yellow autumn leaves

Making the Cost to Elope in 2025 Worth It!

If you want zero stress and a done-for-you approach, the all-inclusive package starts at 12,000, and it covers the heavy lift for you. Planning and timeline. Location guidance and permit help. Photography and the creative direction that keeps everything relaxed and beautiful. Trusted vendors and day of support so you can focus on each other. For what this includes 12,000 is a very smart price because you are bundling expert services that normally add up quickly when booked a la carte. Read the full breakdown here:
All Inclusive Elopement Package Blog.

Why I Believe Elopements Are the Way to Go

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of photographing couples, it’s that elopements strip everything back to what actually matters: you, your partner, and the promise you’re making to each other. You’re not performing for a crowd or worrying about timelines and table settings. You’re free to be present, to breathe, to feel, and to celebrate in a way that’s real.

That’s exactly why I created the Elevated Elopement Experience: to help couples like you design a wedding day that feels intentional, meaningful, and completely yours. From crafting timelines that honor your pace to scouting epic landscapes and capturing every quiet, emotional moment. You deserve someone who gets it and makes it seamless.