There are so many more Options available now when it comes to getting marred.
Weddings are taking on a new form these days. With the changing norms in our society – along with rising costs for a Traditional Wedding – couples now have more options when it comes to getting married.
The Couple can decide exactly how much they want to spend on their Wedding.
As now couple have a choice to choose Traditional Designer Weddings, or intimate Weddings with up to 20 guests and or Designer Destination Elopements – with a photographer – one hired witness, and the Officiant or the couple brings their own witnesses or a Simple Elopement with an Officiant and two witnesses.
No longer does Elopement mean sneaking off to Las Vegas – Elopements can be as Elaborate as you choose – with the rings, the vows, the cake, the dress, the flowers – just without the extensive guest list.
For some it can be a romantic day to celebrate your love and have it all captured by a photographer.
I have been performing Wedding in the Northwest for the past 21 years and have seen a trend towards smaller more intimate weddings.
In the early years of being a Wedding Officiant almost all of my clients wanted your Traditional Weddings – especially if it was their first marriage
A beautiful Destination Venue – 100 Guests or more – a Wedding party of 5 to 8 – matching bridesmaid dresses -Â A formal Wedding Dress – Suits and Tuxedos – Ring Bearers & Flower Girls.
The families and friends come for up to a week to vacation and recreate
with the Nuptial Couple.
These types of Weddings usually require a Wedding Planner and or Day Coordinator to bring all the elements together.  It usually takes up to a year to plan and coordinate this type of Wedding. It can be a fun process for some Brides and Grooms but for some it is a highly stressful and expensive proposition.
The Knot a Wedding Planning website surveyed 18,000 Brides and found that the average cost of a Classic Wedding was $32,641 in 2015 ( not including the honeymoon).
In the past five years the average cost of a wedding has gone up by $5,500,
This type of Wedding is still 65 % or my business but since the economic down turn in 2008 - I have had more and more requests for Intimate Wedding or Designer Destination Elopements. Often couple want to put a down payment on a home together versus spending it all on one day or week to celebrate their Love.
What is new and different about these Intimate Ceremonies and the Designer Destination Elopements is that they have have many of the elements of a Traditional Wedding – but not with the large price tag or the stress.
The ceremony is more about the couple and their love-story – it is more about connections and their relationships.  They can still have the cake, the flowers, the music, the beauty, and a lovely venue it is just a a much smaller scale that is more manageable.
Often couples plan more extensive honeymoons because they have money to spare after these type of Weddings or they can put a much bigger down-payment on their new home.
What is new and different though is the Destination Designer Elopement.
Elopements can be more romantic than a Traditional Wedding – or even an Intimate Wedding as it is just about the couple – getting married.
You can find a beautiful spot in nature – and have the most extraordinary photo shoot..in your wedding attire. The entire Day is designed just for you.
For some the Destination Elopement -Â is the Wedding, honeymoon and vacation rolled into one.
The Destination Elopement is rather a new concept so with each new couple we continue to evolve what it means to Elope in the 21st century.
Destination Elopement clients hire me to design their ceremony with them, \to perform their ceremony and to support them in finding that perfect location in nature, a small venue or vacation rental.
Each Designer Elopement is created just for the couple together we figure out exactly how they want to celebrate their love.
Some clients are looking for a personal Chef to stock their refrigerator for the week, or to create a wedding feast, or beautiful brunch.
I support my clients to find someone to design their tiny cake or cup cakes, a Floral Designer, Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor, Dance Instructors, Mountain Bike Guide, Ski Guide……..the sky is the limit in what can be created and added to your basket of Love.
And then there are some Couple who just want it Simple – we find a perfect place to celebrate their love – and share beautiful words of Love. They take time alone – spend the day how they want – and usually share in a beautiful meal together.
Let us create together a beautiful expression of your Love.
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.â€Â Maya Angelou
“Only love itself can explain love and lovers.†– Rumi