How To Include Friends & Family in Your Elopement Adventure

Planning a small wedding or elopement doesn’t mean leaving your loved ones out of the celebration. In fact, one of the most beautiful parts of an intimate wedding is the space it creates for more intentional moments—with each other and with the people who matter most. Whether you’re eloping just the two of you or keeping your guest list tiny, there are plenty of thoughtful ways to involve your family and friends in the journey! From creative keepsakes to virtual toasts, here are 10 meaningful ways to make your loved ones feel included, supported, and celebrated, no matter where they are on your big day. Hopefully, you find these tips useful when planning your elopement adventure!

Ways to Include Family in Your Elopement Before or After the Ceremony

Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean your loved ones can’t be part of the journey! There are plenty of meaningful ways to include family and friends before or after your elopement day—whether it’s celebrating with an engagement party, asking for help with planning details, or sending keepsakes once you’ve tied the knot. While these thoughtful gestures are not necessary (it’s YOUR day after all!), they allow your friends and family to feel connected to your elopement day without needing to be there in person. It’s a great way to honor your relationships with loved ones while keeping the day true to you!

1. Host A Pre- Or Post-Elopement Celebration

One of the most meaningful ways to include friends and family in your elopement journey is by hosting a celebration before or after the big day. This could look like an engagement party to share the news, a fun bachelor or bachelorette weekend with your closest friends, a cozy dinner party at home, or even a full-scale reception following your elopement.

These celebrations are a great opportunity to have your loved ones be a part of your wedding story, even if they won’t be present at the ceremony itself. If you’re planning a post-elopement celebration, it’s the perfect time to share photos and videos, tell the story of your day, and relive the experience together!

You can celebrate the same night, the next day, weeks or even months later—there’s no right or wrong timeline. Whether it’s a dinner out with family or a weekend getaway at an Airbnb or venue, choose what feels right for the two of you. The beauty of eloping is that the celebration can be just as flexible and personal as the ceremony itself!

2. Invite Them To Help With The Planning Process

Another meaningful way to include your family and friends in your elopement is by involving them in the planning process. Just like with a traditional wedding, you can give your loved ones special roles to help you two. Whether it’s helping with DIY decor, shopping for accessories, or simply grabbing a drink and chatting about the big day, these moments can make your loved ones feel like they’re a part of the journey.

The beauty of elopement planning is that you can include people however and whenever it feels right. You might want your grandma there when you find your dress, but save the nail appointment for a day out with your best friend. There are no rules. You get to decide what feels meaningful!

That said, don’t feel pressured to assign roles or include everyone. You’re not obligated to turn planning into a group effort. But if you do need a hand, know that most people will feel honored to be involved. Chances are, your friends and family will love being part of such a special moment in your life.

3. Ask For Video Messages

There’s something so powerful about hearing the voices of the people you love. The sound of their laughter, the way their eyes light up, the emotion in their tone. If that resonates with you, consider asking friends and family to record short video messages to celebrate your elopement from afar!

These messages can be as simple as a 30-second clip wishing you love and joy on your big day, or a longer video filled with advice, stories, or even a few happy tears. Want to make it extra special? Ask a loved one to collect the videos and edit them into a single compilation you can watch together on your wedding day. It’s a beautiful, personal way to feel surrounded by love, even if you’re eloping just the two of you. ❤️

4. Have Loved Ones Write Letters

Another way that we’ve seen a lot of couples include their family and friends is by having them write letters to read. These letters can be filled with love, memories, advice, or blessings, giving you something tangible to hold onto during such a personal, emotional moment. On your elopement day, you and your partner can take a quiet moment to read the letters together, feeling the presence and support of your people from afar.

To make it easy, ask your loved ones to send their letters by a certain date, either through email (which you can print) or by mail. You can also have a close friend or family member collect and compile them for you, and seal them in envelopes to open on the day. Some couples even pack the letters to read at a specific time on their wedding day, often choosing to read them when getting ready or before/after their ceremony. However you choose to do it, these written words become lasting keepsakes you’ll treasure forever!

5. Send Keepsakes or Elopement Announcements

After your special day, sending keepsakes or elopement announcements to your friends and family is the perfect way to share your exciting news and include some favorite photos from your adventure! Whether it’s “Just Eloped” postcards, custom stickers, fridge magnets, or another creative memento, there are endless fun and unique ways to celebrate your new chapter with loved ones.

How to Include Loved Ones in Your Elopement from a Distance

Eloping often means a more intimate ceremony, but that doesn’t mean your loved ones have to miss out completely. Thanks to technology and thoughtful touches, there are plenty of heartfelt ways to include family and friends from afar. Whether you livestream your ceremony so everyone can witness the moment, incorporate meaningful heirlooms or gifts into your attire, or carry photos of loved ones with you, you can keep your people close even from a distance.

6. Livestream Your Ceremony

Whether you have no guests attending or a few of your closest people, livestreaming your ceremony is a great way to include those that weren’t able to attend! Free platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, or even Twitch make it easy to share your special moment in real time. To ensure everything runs smoothly, we recommend setting up the livestream in advance, doing a quick test run, and making sure guests know exactly how to join. Designate someone to manage the video during the ceremony, and double-check that your location has strong Wi-Fi or cell service—a portable hotspot can be a great backup. This option works best for ceremonies taking place at small venues or Airbnbs!

7. Include Heirlooms or Gifts

Including heirlooms or meaningful gifts in your elopement attire is a beautiful way to carry your loved ones with you, especially if they can’t be there in person. Whether it’s your grandmother’s necklace, a handkerchief from your dad, cufflinks from a sibling, or a special gift from a close friend, these small details can add emotional significance to your day. Not only do they honor your relationships and shared history, but they also create a sense of connection and comfort as you step into this new chapter. These sentimental touches are perfect for elopements!

8. Bring Loved Ones Into the Moment with Photos

If you’re eloping outdoors just the two of you or with just a few guests, you can still feel the presence of your loved ones by including their photos in meaningful ways. Consider printing small portraits of family and close friends to tuck into your bouquet, attach to your backpack, or place inside a locket you wear during the ceremony. You could also bring a few photos to set out at your ceremony site. You can prop the photos against a rock, nestle them in a bouquet, or even string a few photos onto a line between trees for a simple display (you won’t be able to do this in places like a National Park, but it’s a great idea for an Airbnb). These small gestures can make it feel like your people are right there with you!

P.S. This is a great way to incorporate your furry friend(s) if you’re having a National Park elopement or an adventure that they can’t be a part of!

Make Your Elopement an Adventure You Share

Eloping doesn’t have to mean doing it entirely alone. Whether you’re hiking a mountain or exploring a new-to-you National Park, there are creative ways to bring loved ones into the adventure. From having someone special officiate (virtually or in person) to inviting a few close family or friends to join you on the trip, there are lots of ways to share your elopement experience with loved ones.

9. Have Someone Close Officiate or Say A Few Words Virtually

If you’re eloping somewhere a loved one can’t physically attend, consider inviting them to be part of your ceremony virtually. They can pre-record a heartfelt message, read a blessing live over Zoom, or even officiate your ceremony (either legally or symbolically, depending on your location’s rules).

In fact, more than half of our couples choose to involve friends or family this way! Whether it’s a parent offering a prayer, a sibling sharing a few meaningful words, or a best friend leading the ceremony, it adds a deeply personal touch. We love seeing how couples creatively include their people—it’s often one of the most memorable parts of the day!

10. Have Them Join In Your Adventure

Okay, this might sound like the most obvious way to include family and friends, but hear us out, because it’s probably not what you’re expecting. Yes, you can invite your closest people to join you for your elopement, but don’t just stop at the ceremony. Invite them to be part of the entire adventure. Plan a few days before or after your elopement to turn the experience into something truly unforgettable. Think hiking to epic overlooks, whitewater rafting, exploring a local brewery, or simply spending a slow afternoon by the river. These shared moments turn your elopement into more than just a one-day event… they become memories that you and your loved ones will cherish forever. It’s the perfect way to begin your marriage: surrounded by connection, laughter, and the people who mean the most to you.