Elopements, Micro Weddings & Pop-Up Weddings, oh my! But what’s the difference?

You’ve probably been hearing these terms all over the place lately, as tiny weddings have become so trendy. But it can be hard to figure out exactly what they are and what makes them different from each other. No worries, I’m gonna break it all down!

People choose to elope or downsize their weddings for lots of reasons, but most couples opt to go tiny because it’s intimate, more affordable, stress-free, and utterly romantic. It’s also a unique alternative to typical wedding styles, ensuring your big day is all about the two of you and your love story.

Scarlet Elopement, Micro & Pop Up Wedding packages are designed to be even easier than picking a show for your next binge-fest on Netflix. We work closely with exclusive venues in cities across the country, as well as destinations around the globe, to make running off together affordable and effortless. We do all the behind-the-scenes leg work and on the wedding day, you simply show up and say “I do.” Then you enjoy the rest of your time sipping bubbly and basking in the glow of being newlyweds.

It's the perfect beginning for your adventure as newlyweds in some of the most beautiful places on earth! But which one is right for you?!

Quick facts: Elopements are just the couple, Micro Weddings include a small guest list and have a larger budget, and Pop-Up Weddings have a guest list and typically happen within the next 90 days or so.

what is an ELOPEMENT?

An Elopement is about two humans, madly in love, deciding to spend the rest of their lives together, oftentimes without telling anyone about their plans to get hitched! 

Where can I elope?

Gone are the days of bland courthouse nuptials and cheesy Vegas ceremonies with Elvis officiating, today’s destination elopement locations are only limited by your imagination! Elopements are meant to be very intimate events and almost always take place at a destination location (hence the reason why its sometimes called Running Off!).

Whether you're dreaming of exchanging vows on the windswept Cliffs of Moher, an epic GoT locale in Croatia, or perhaps an ancient villa overlooking the Mediterranean, the possibilities are endless and your planner is dedicated to finding you the perfect place to say I Do! From Mont St. Michel to Marrakesh, Santorini to St. Lucia, Dubai to Dubrovnik and everywhere in between, Scarlet Plan & Design has designed and planned breathtaking destination elopements both in the States and internationally.

Another perk? Elopement locations don’t carry massive venue rental fees and can be planned from afar with ease!

skip the guest list!

A true elopement is just the two of you! No need to agonize over a long guest list, or even a small one, as this wedding day is simply about you and your beloved beginning a whole new chapter of your love story. Of course, your officiant will be there to make it official, your photographer will capture every last breathtaking moment, and your planner will be around to ensure the details are perfect and the day flows smoothly, but we stay out of the way and invisible. Haha!

how much should i budget for my elopement?

Most of our couples typically end up budgeting between $5,000 and $7,500+ as they tend to include not just the wedding itself, but their honeymoons, attire, travel plans, rings, and printed announcements in their overall budget.

Our all-inclusive elopement packages start at $4,500 and can vary based on location, time of year, and day of the week. All of our packages include the flowers, the photographer, officiant, cake, hair and makeup for the bride, and can be fully customized.

WHAT IS A MICRO WEDDING?

Micro Weddings are legit, complete weddings with all the trimmings on an intimate, tiny scale! Micro Weddings can take place anywhere, from the couple's home town to a gorgeous destination far, far away.

With a Micro Wedding there's a beautifully styled venue, a guest list of your nearest & dearest (usually no more than 40-50 guests at most), with gorgeous flowers, delicious food, amazing photography, and all the other bells and whistles that you’d find at a large wedding. They're the perfect choice for discerning couples who prefer a modest guest list, crave all the beauty and carefully curated details that go into creating a dream wedding, prefer to take their time with planning, and have more generous budgets.

They can take place any day during the week, but most couples tend to opt for something Monday-Thursday, or on weekends during off-peak seasons as most venues won’t have the same minimum food & bev requirements to meet or higher rental rates.

how much should I budget for a micro wedding?

Honest answer: it depends on a LOT of factors, but just to give you an example- for a micro wedding with 25 guests, including our services, the venue, dinner for your guests, custom floral designs and live music on a WEEKDAY I’d suggest a starting budget of about $12,000-$15,000.

Our all-inclusive packages for a wedding of that size start around $7,500 and can vary based on location, time of year, guest count, and the venue you choose.

what is a pop-up wedding?

Pop-Up Weddings can mean a couple different things so I’ll break it all down for you! Most often, pop-ups are SUPER similar to micro weddings, but they’re planned and take place within a very short amount of time. Just imagine, you could have everything planned and be married in less than 2-3 months! Think that sounds impossible? We planned Bailey & Abed’s big day for 50 people in less than 3 weeks and it was amazing! Check it out here!

Pop-Up Weddings can be held any day of the week, but you’ll have a better shot at your dream venue by going with something Monday-Thursday. Why during the week? Weekends are more likely to be booked waaaayyyyyyy in advance, especially during the busy times of the year, with spring and fall being prime wedding seasons in most cities.

Where can I have a pop-up wedding?

Biggest perk of a Pop-Up Wedding? Most vendors and even several venues offer steep discounts for getting married within such a short time! Bonus points for skipping months spent planning and the large price tag that usually accompanies a wedding. Although you can save a bundle by hitting fast-forward on months of planning, pulling off a wedding in under 3 months is not for the faint of heart or the indecisive types. No time for dawdling, venues, and vendors must be chosen swiftly or else you risk someone else snapping them up.

how much should I budget for my pop-up wedding?

Depending on your guest count, date, and location, you’ll probably want a starting budget of at least $8,500. Our all-inclusive packages for small Pop-Up Weddings start at $6,500 and will vary based on location, time of year, guest count, and the venue you choose.

The other type of Pop-Up Wedding is a planned event with multiple weddings taking place at different times on the same day. The venue, the backdrop, the officiant, the photographer, and every other vendor are all prearranged and designed by the vendors so that all you have to do is book a time slot and show up. They’re fast, 100% stress-free, and pretty budget-friendly, but the trade-off is that your big day will be less customized.

Ready for Scarlet Plan & Design to plan your Elopement, Micro Wedding or Pop-Up Wedding?

Now that we've explained the key differences between a Micro Wedding, a Pop-Up Wedding, and an Elopement, let me tell you why you should totally hire us to help you out! Scarlet Plan & Design's Elopements & Pop-Up Weddings are planned, designed and styled by the expert Scarlet Plan & Design team from start to finish at gorgeous venues around the globe. We will coordinate all the details and vendors to create the intimate, picture-perfect wedding you've always dreamed of!

We also offer complete elopement and pop-up wedding packages for engaged couples all over the world. Contact us for more details!

This blog post has been edited and updated since it’s original publication in 2018