How Much Does It Cost To Elope? Create Your Love Story Your Way

Elopements are often misunderstood. Some imagine a rushed $200 courthouse quick “I do” without intention or celebration. 

The truth? A thoughtfully planned elopement is anything but cheap or careless. It’s an investment in your relationship, life experiences, and future relationship traditions.

That being said, you want us to answer, ‘how much does it cost to elope’? Right? 

If it’s not cheaper than a traditional wedding, what do you have to budget for?

The answer varies depending on location, vendors, and the type of experience you want. This isn’t about extravagant spending just because. It’s about understanding where to invest, what creates lasting impact, and how to plan an elopement that feels personal and meaningful. Intentional celebrations deserve thoughtful planning.

We’ll provide an honest, transparent breakdown of elopement costs so you can approach your big day with clarity and confidence.

Kirby & Jonathan’s winter Lake Louise elopement captured by The Organic Moment

Key Takeaways: 

• How to redefine the elopement experience for your personalities
• Our elopement packages
• Other elopement cost considerations
• How to figure out your investment
• Money-saving strategies

Redefining the Modern Elopement Experience

We’re moving away from an elopement being a cheap alternative to a full-blown wedding, to an intentional celebration between two people. An elopement reflects your values as a couple, not budget constraints. You’re investing in meaningful wedding details, whatever that looks like for you.

Couples still want the wedding experience without the stress of hosting all their family and friends and being on display all day. They want a ceremony just about them and what they want, with no outside distractions or expectations.

A modern elopement experience sometimes includes an elopement week—a full week celebration—instead of an elopement day. We worked with a couple who roadtripped up the west coast leading up to their elopement day. You have time to relax and truly celebrate your union with your partner. 

A lot of couples travel somewhere on their bucket list for their elopement, and extend their trip to include a honeymoon. Some of our popular destinations are:

• Costa Rica
• Iceland
• Banff

Here’s more information on the best time of year for elopement, along with an example day-of timeline.

Starting with Transparency: Our Elopement Investment

Organic Moment elopements: Michael & Nicole’s iceland elopement; Emily & Jon’s helicopter elopement; Lauren & Amber’s outfit sneak peek

We never say an elopement is a cheaper alternative to a traditional wedding. Some low budget weddings are $30,000 and an elopement could be more than that, especially if you invite guests. The cost all depends on what details are important to you. 

We’ve shot hundreds of elopements across the world. With 17+ years of experience, we developed a comprehensive elopement planning package that includes everything you need for a memorable, stress-free elopement.

All packages include…

• 1 photographer
• Unlimited planning assistance
• Guidance, friendship, and a chill, fun time
• All our travel costs anywhere in Banff & Alberta
• 10 sneak peeks delivered within 48 hours
• Full gallery delivery within 8 weeks
• Customized elopement planning guide
• Optional Add On: Albums and framed prints

Adding video? You also get…

• 1 videographer
• Professional audio with vow audio overlay
• Full video delivery within 12 weeks
• Option to add a Personalized video album
• Option to add full ceremony video

Prices start at $7,900 CAD or $6,400 USD.

We can’t wait to help design a day that fits you just the way you fit each other. You can view more details about our full-service packages on our pricing page.

Beyond Our Packages: Your Complete Elopement Investment

Many couples underestimate how much it costs to elope, but planning ahead ensures you get the experience you truly want. 

We try to include as much as possible in our elopement packages, but there are still a few things you’ll need to add to your elopement budget.

1. Creating Your Elopement Home Base

Organic Moment Elopements: An Iceland Northern Lights elopement; a cabin in Algonquin Park

Where are you going to stay during your elopement trip? A hotel is always an option, but what about an Airbnb where you can truly settle in and feel at home? It could double as a getting-ready suite, too, depending on the location.

Choose locations that align with your vision and budget. 

A luxury resort might sound nice, but the price tag could be unrealistic. A cozy cabin Airbnb can be just as memorable. And vice versa an Airbnb makes sense but you’re craving a luxury all-inclusive experience and can fit it into the budget. 

How long you choose to stay impacts cost. Stay for 2 nights for your elopement, then travel somewhere else for your honeymoon, and the cost will be very different from staying 7-10 nights for an elopement week.

2. Transportation 

Organic Moment elopements: Kili + Joanna in Iceland; Michael & Nicole in Iceland

Please budget for transportation needs! This is a common elopement mistake we see often.  

• Are you going to rent a car or a 4×4 to navigate to remote locations? 
• Will you rely on Uber (or the country’s equivalent) to get around? 

This isn’t a “sexy” budgeting item, but transportation can add up really fast if you’re not careful. 

Consider when to splurge on convenience vs. save with planning. Maybe you only need to rent a car for a few days to get to your elopement destination, then rely on Uber during your honeymoon. Or you could use your Airbnb to get ready photos or for a nice meal, instead of traveling to a different location. 

Travel time is a big factor in your elopement day timeline. We can help plan transportation and make the best use of your budget.

3. Hair, Makeup, and Shopping

Jacob & Samantha getting ready for their Banff elopement; Nicole getting her makeup touched up in Iceland

Are you doing your own hair and makeup, or are you hiring a professional artist? Are you going to them or are they coming to you? 

If you’re hiring, invest in a stylist who specializes in outdoor or destination elopements so your look lasts through weather and adventure. It’s not worth skipping hair and makeup artists if this is important to you and it really stresses you out to achieve hair and makeup styling on your own.

I’ve had brides do their own hair and makeup if they’re confident about the look they want to achieve and their ability to do it themselves. If you pick this option, practice in advance!

Do you need to do any last-minute shopping, or are you bringing everything with you? Some couples prefer to plan, while others want to go to their destination early and get some local items for their elopement. We usually recommend budgeting for a little spending money!

4. Additional Touches 

Organic Moment elopements: Virginia & Derek elope in Iceland; Kirby & Jonathan elope in Banff

We do our best to plan a day that’s uniquely special for you and your partner. We want your elopement to feel like the perfect day for you two.

What does that look like?

• If flowers are important to you, we’ll find a location with wildflowers or get you a bouquet with local flowers.
• Want a special dinner afterwards? We’ll find a private chef to cook for the two of you in your Airbnb.
• Prefer to take some photos at a local park? We’ll find the perfect location.
• Want to include your pets but they can’t come? Get photo cut outs of their faces! 
• Do you love whiskey over ice? Let’s have a moment to pour your favourite drink while admiring the sunset!

We love to add celebration treats and special touches to our couple’s elopement package. Tell us your vision (and budget) and we’ll make it happen. 

Just make sure to build certain non-negotiable preferences into your budget.

5. Adventures and Experiences

Organic Moment elopements: Emily & Jon’s Alberta helicopter elopement; Joanna & Kili’s Iceland elopement

We can’t forget to budget for adventures and activities based on your interests! But don’t forget to balance adventure with relaxation. We don’t want you to feel like you need a vacation from your vacation!

One of our couples wanted to ride in a helicopter to their elopement destination. It was so fun, and definitely a story worth telling.

And that’s truly what planning an elopement comes down to—creating memorable experiences with your life partner.

Investment Planning Based on Your Love Story

Organic Moment elopements: Virginia & Derek in Iceland; Kristen & Adam in Iceland; Kirby & Jonathan in Banff

Identify items that matter most to you both. If neither of you cares about having music during the ceremony but you really want your ceremony to be at the beach, spend your energy making that happen and forget the music. 

This is your day. You get to decide what stays and what goes. Create a budget that feels realistic and also tells your love story.

How To Figure Out Your Investment

Organic Moment elopements: Leah & Darin in Iceland; Brandon & Jamie in Mistaya Falls; Kirby & Jonathan in Banff

Start by clarifying the experience you want, not the price tag. 

What are you envisioning for your elopement day or week? Break your budget into categories so you can see what matters most and what’s on the chopping block.

And yes, there are times when you should go all out. If it’s something that will elevate your experience (epic location, bucket-list adventure, once-in-a-lifetime stay), do it! Splurge on the elements of your elopement that you’ll remember vividly.

Examples:

• Private boat charter
• Private chef
• Rent a vintage car
• Ocean-view villa
• Horseback ride

Add luxury touches that create a lasting impact. Thoughtful details — handwritten vow books, custom florals, local picnics, designer attire — make your elopement feel intentional and elevated.

Think about your non-negotiables.

I encourage couples to visualize themselves in 10 years: You’re sitting by the fire—just the two of you—and who’s beside you? Cats? Kids? Friends? You’re laughing and flipping through wedding album pages remembering what it felt like when the sun set as you were having your first dance. 

Those details that will matter to you in 10 years are where your investment belongs. 

Many couples invest in photography and videography because that’s something you can look back on for years to come. Other things, like the color of your flowers or the shoes you’re wearing, might not matter as much. Let your must-haves guide every other decision.

You can find creative alternatives to traditional wedding details that add personality to your elopement. 

• Replace a formal reception with a sunrise hike. 
• Instead of a sit-down dinner, hire a food truck. 
• The little things make the day feel fun and special for you both.

Money-Saving Strategies That Preserve Magic

By identifying your non-negotiables, you’ll also find areas where it’s okay to save without sacrificing meaning.

Some examples:

• Off-season travel dates
• Mid-week elopements
• Be open about the location
• Handmade signage
• Simple attire

Using a photographer that also helps you plan (hint: it’s us!) saves another vendor hire. We know all the money-saving tips to make the most of your budget.

Your Elopement Investment: Worth Every Penny

Organic Moment elopements: Lauren & Amber in Banff; Sunny & Kitty at Lake Moraine; Joanna & Kili in Iceland

Reframe the cost to elope as an investment in your relationship. The way you choose to begin your marriage sets the tone for everything that follows. An intentional elopement — one shaped around experience, meaning, and presence — becomes a memory you return to for years. 

When you invest in a day that reflects who you are and what you value, rather than what tradition dictates, you’re creating memories built on authenticity, partnership, and shared joy. 

These aren’t just pretty photos; they’re the foundation of stories you’ll tell, moments you’ll revisit, and reminders of what truly matters as you move through your life together.

Want to chat with us about planning your destination elopement? Contact us to get started!