What is a Pop Up Wedding?

For some couples, there is nothing quite as romantic as spontaneity. Whirlwind adventures forge memories that you just can’t manufacture. For others, they dream about an easy-going small wedding, where they can simply kick back and bask in the love. If this sounds like something you’re looking for, than you might want a pop up wedding! While the phrase suggests that your wedding can just appear from thin air, there’s a little bit more that goes into planning a pop up wedding (but don’t worry, it’s not too much effort!).

What is a pop up wedding?

A pop up wedding is similar to an elopement, typically consisting of a short and sweet ceremony with a small guest count. What sets it apart, though, is that the venue is a temporary space and is usually created and broken down by a team.

A pop up wedding can vary depending on where you are, or what experience you want. Do you want to be in the mountains surrounded by nature? Would you like to celebrate at your favorite park, with your community embracing you? Wondering how to elope, but still have a pop up wedding as well? The true spirit of small weddings is to reduce stress and planning. Vendors are generally responsible for all-things-ceremony: the officiant, the florist, the photographer, and all prep for their responsibilities. This leaves you with not much effort in terms of planning! You’ll be responsible for what you want to wear, who you want to be there, and where you want to say yes to forever. 

Why choose a pop up wedding?

Pop up weddings are for more spontaneous or laid back couples, but that’s not the only reason to choose this kind of wedding. They’re also budget-friendly, and generally less complicated. Prices for pop up weddings can vary for a lot of reasons. It depends on which vendor you choose, where you’d like your ceremony, and which services you’d like to incorporate into your day. The day of the week also might influence the price — weekends can drive up the price of services across different vendors, whereas you might get a better deal if you were to have your wedding on a weekday. 

What do I need to know before I choose a pop up wedding?

Promptness is key. Some vendors have a handful of ceremonies in one day, so it’s important to show up prepared. Be dressed in your wedding attire when you arrive. If you have a hair and makeup service, it’ll be easier for them to get started – and if you don’t, come as dolled up as you want. Also, be sure to have a bar or restaurant reservation for your congratulatory hours after you tie the knot. Tightness on time is why most pop up wedding vendors do all the set-up for you — so you can focus the time you do have on soaking up every moment of love that surrounds you. Bonus tip: if you have a favorite local spot, ask if you can come in before they open or after they close to have your ceremony. Want to get married in the diner you had your first date? Or the bakery you always get Sunday brunch at? The first step to making it happen is to ask!

For the couple who doesn’t want the stress of planning, or who wants to experience the whirlwind wedding of their dreams, definitely look up pop up weddings near you. Don’t know where to get started? Contact our team with any questions that might… pop up (sorry, we had to).

Written by Tori Ward

Victoria Ward is a writer at Simply Eloped as well as a Keats Marginalia scholar and Storyfort finalist for her fiction and creative nonfiction. When she is not writing about elopements, she writes grants for her research and non-profit work.