You’ve Eloped. Now, Let’s Throw the Elopement Party You Want.

Weddings can have a reputation for spiraling into full-blown productions. Spreadsheets, second cousin guest lists, and heated debates about whether the napkins should be blush or dusty rose. Somewhere along the line, the whole “celebrating your love” thing can get buried under layers of expectation and noise. But what if you didn’t want the performance? What if you wanted something that feels a little more real to you and your partner?  Something more stripped down for you and what actually matters? If you’re dreaming of a day that’s more about connection than convention, an elopement package might be exactly what your love story needs.

Make Your Own Rules

A post-elopement party lets you celebrate on your own terms. (Just remember one term: you do need a marriage license to elope.) You already said your vows in whatever way felt meaningful to you. Now, you get to invite your people, your ride-or-dies, your inner circle to be part of a stress-free post-elopement party. And the best part? You get to do it without any rules. No traditions you don’t want. No forced speeches that might make you feel uncomfortable. No overpriced venue pushing you to book the “gold package” because the silver one doesn’t come with chairs. You don’t have to do the cake-cutting unless you want to. You don’t have to do a first dance, a parent dance, or any dance at all if that’s not your jam. But if it is? You can absolutely turn the lawn into a full-blown dance floor with a rented speaker and a disco ball from your cousin’s garage. And get that Chicken Dance on, friend. 

But here’s the thing: You can still have a wedding, even after you’ve eloped. You already made it official, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have the big “wedding” experience with your loved ones afterward. Think of your post-elopement party as your second chance to create the celebration you might’ve envisioned but didn’t need on the day you eloped. Want to wear that big white wedding dress? Go for it. Want to walk down an aisle (even if it’s in your backyard or a local park)? Nothing is stopping you. Maybe you didn’t have that first dance in front of everyone, but who says you can’t have it now? You can still celebrate your commitment to each other, exchange vows in front of your friends, or even have that symbolic moment where you share what your love means. You get to curate that experience. This is your version of a wedding, minus the pressure.

Celebrate Without the Financial Hangover

Let’s talk budget. Eloping probably saved you a truckload of cash—like, actual tens of thousands. The average traditional wedding in the U.S. is now over $35,000, and more than half of couples are going into debt to make it happen. That’s unhinged. You could take a sabbatical. Buy a camper van. Fund your dream business. Or throw a killer elopement party that doesn’t require a catering minimum or a linen upgrade. You can celebrate in your backyard, a friend’s barn, your favorite brewery, a beach house, a mountaintop, or a rooftop with a view. Destination elopement? Keep the party going in a cozy Airbnb, a lakeside cabin, a vineyard, or that one weird-cool restaurant you found in Lisbon. The options are endless… kinda like your love. 

Just because you skipped the formalities doesn’t mean anyone will go home hungry. Food at your elopement party can be whatever you want: hire a private chef, grill out, get dim sum or a full-blown grazing table covered in cheeses, fruits, dips, and vibes. You can cater it, potluck it, or order a ridiculous amount of takeout from your favorite spots. Serve tacos. Order pizza. Celebrate at your favorite restaurant. Hire a food truck. Need some elopement dinner ideas? Cool. We got you. Just remember, people don’t show up for prime rib. They show up for you.

Decorate with Meaning

Decor? Make it personal—seriously personal. This isn’t a showroom; it’s your love story, so tell it like you mean it. Print out your elopement photos, the blurry ones, the goofy ones, the “we can’t believe we just did this” ones, and string them up with lights or clip them onto twine with clothespins like a DIY art show. Scatter them across tables, tape them to the wall, or tuck them next to little handwritten notes full of inside jokes, song lyrics, or that one quote that’s been following you since your first date.

Forget matching centerpieces or florals that had to catch a red-eye from Ecuador just to wilt under a heat lamp. Pick wildflowers from your backyard or the side of the road (bonus points for dandelions). Borrow vases that don’t match. Raid your bookshelf, your record collection, your kitchen—whatever reflects who you are and what lights you up. Use old Polaroids, vintage postcards, trinkets from thrift stores, or souvenirs from your road trips.

The goal isn’t to impress your great-aunt’s bridge club. It’s to express yourself loudly, weirdly, beautifully, and with every little detail. This is your space, your vibe, your story on display. So go ahead. Get a little messy. Get a little sentimental. Make it unmistakably you.

Invitations That Reflect Your Vibe

Planning on sending invitations? Great. Don’t want to deal with stamps and envelopes? Also great. Digital invites can be your friend. They’re fast, cheap, and eco-conscious. We don’t all need to be like your third cousin’s formal wedding invite that came printed on linen cardstock with gold foil; yours can actually sound like you. Say something fun. Say something irreverent. Say, “We got hitched, and now we’re getting the band back together. Come celebrate with tacos, tunes, and a whole lot of love.” That tone is real. That tone is you.

Need a timeline? There isn’t one. You can throw your post-elopement party a week after you elope or a year later. You can do it as part of a holiday weekend or make up your own excuse. You don’t owe anyone a “soon.” You don’t owe anyone a reason. This is your moment. Your calendar. Your rules.

Formal? Casual? Costume? Yes.

Not sure what to wear? Great news: anything goes. Wear what you wore to your elopement. Wear the thing you wanted to wear but didn’t. Wear something thrifted, sparkly, comfortable, dramatic, or nothing that could ever be described as “bridal.” Invite your guests to come casual, themed, semi-formal, festive, or in costumes if you want. You don’t have to do traditional, because you didn’t do traditional. Keep that same energy.

Still wondering what to do at the party? Here’s your freedom pass. You don’t need a timeline. You don’t need a welcome speech, a DJ, a first dance, or even a plan. You can throw the rulebook out the window and then turn that window into a mimosa bar. Want to set up stations for cocktails, Polaroids, handwritten notes, and spontaneous group selfies? Go for it. Want to keep it low-key with drinks, snacks, and your favorite playlist on repeat? Perfect. You can do karaoke. You can do nothing. You can have a heartfelt toast, a chaotic dance battle, a live band, or a single speaker playing lo-fi beats. This is not a wedding reception template. It’s a blank canvas. Whatever feels fun, meaningful, or just easy, that’s what belongs.

Not Just Another Wedding, Just the Best Night Ever

And if you’re thinking, “But won’t it feel weird if there’s no ceremony?”—don’t overthink it. You already had your private ceremony. What this gathering does is expand the celebration to the people you care about. You’ve got options: show a short video of your elopement (if you had one), share photos, or simply take a moment to tell the story of how and why you eloped. Your guests will eat it up because they’re here for you, not for some scripted ritual. They just want to witness your love story and maybe eat cake.

Now, if you’re thinking, “But what will people say?” they’ll say what they always say. Some will love it. Some won’t get it. Some will post Instagram stories saying it was the best party they’ve ever been to. You don’t owe tradition anything. You don’t need validation from your second cousin’s Facebook post. You already did the real thing: you married your person. This is just the fun part. The good part. The low-stakes, high-vibes, everyone-hugging kind of night.

Happily Ever After

So here’s the truth: you don’t have to follow the wedding rulebook because you already burned it. Now you get to throw the kind of party that celebrates your love without the pretense, without the script, and without the weight of what it “should” be. Let it be weird. Let it be wildly imperfect. Let it be a little chaotic, a little sentimental, and very, very you. You eloped. Now throw the party you actually want.

Plan Your Perfect Post-Elopement Party With Simply Eloped

An elopement party should feel like you, not like someone else’s Pinterest board. Whether you’re dreaming up a backyard bash, a rooftop toast, or something wildly unexpected, our job is to make it happen without the stress. Simply Eloped has the vendors, the know-how, and the planning muscle to turn your celebration into something easy, joyful, and fully yours. You bring the vision; we’ll bring the magic.

Sources:

Erika Giovanetti, Erika. “‘Memories Fade, Bills Don’t’: Wedding Debt Survey Reveals Remorse.” U.S. News and World Report, 4 Jun. 2025, money.usnews.com/loans/personal-loans/articles/2025-wedding-debt-survey. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.