It's the Week of My Elopement... Now What?
For those who choose a big wedding, there is a lot of build up and familiar structure around the days leading up to your “I do”s. You might have a bachelor/ette party, a welcome dinner, or any number of events that help you transition from your everyday life to the day of your ceremony. But for two-person elopements it’s a little different. When those familiar group structures aren’t there to prime you for excitement, it may leave you wondering, “It’s the week of my elopement… now what?”
We hope that the purpose for choosing an elopement is still present for you: less stress, more travel, and greater emphasis on quality time with your partner. It feels counter intuitive to the socially conditioned notion of what it is to “get married”, but believe it or not, YOU CAN CHILL IF YOU WANT TO. While there may be thoughts triggering your “Am I missing something?” instincts, remember that you chose to elope for a reason. So rather than leaning into what those socially conditioned triggers tell you to feel, pause, take a deep breath, and let that shit go.
IDEAS TO FOCUS YOUR EXCITEMENT + ENERGY.
If you want some ideas for where to focus your excitement and energy, then we are happy to throw some inspiration your way!
How are those vows coming along?
It’s easy to put this to do on the back burner until the last minute. I mean, your partner knows how you feel about them, right? While you may speak your love with your words and actions each day, there’s something special about the opportunity to put your feelings and intentions into words during your ceremony without the everyday buzz of your life surrounding it. So if you have a half day to spare in your travel plans, we love hearing about couples who wake up with coffee and take some time in nature to write the final version of their vows down on paper. Check out our blog on Elopement Accessories for sweet vow notebooks. Having trouble figuring out where to start with your vows? Take a look at our Vow Writing Workshop.
Are you traveling somewhere new for your elopement?
Go explore! Your brain loves making new connections and getting out of its routine! Creating new experiences with each other will couch your elopement memories with positive feelings. Getting out of your routine and moving your bodies will also help you process any stale energy from the lives you left back at home (or on the plane). So feed the need and get moving in the day(s) preceding your elopement.
If you have loved ones that are not a part of your elopement day, reach out + connect with them.
Just because you chose to have your commitments in a private setting doesn’t mean that your family and friends can’t be a part of the ramp up into the experience. After all, they are the community that will hug in your marriage for years to come. So if you want to connect and share with family or friends before the big day, give them a call, schedule a video chat, or invite them for a meal. How special to have the people you love most share their love with you in an unconfined manner (unlike at a wedding)!
HOW THE TAPESTRY TEAM SUPPORTS YOU.
With Tapestry as your coordination team, here is what we are up to the two weeks before your elopement:
We are finalizing the timeline.
We send a first draft of the timeline, vendor contact information, mood board, and relevant scouting and adventuring information to your whole team. We BCC you on that email so that you see it was sent and so that you aren’t spammed with all the emails that follow to coordinate drop offs and pick ups and logistics on your behalf.
We are coordinating all the vendors + acting as the single point of contact.
We email, text, video chat, and phone call to touch base with each of your vendors to ensure they are plugged into the plan and set up for success. If there is anything we want to run by you, we do it on your vendor’s behalf. We want everyone to have a single point of contact for making changes and we want to get your vendors in the habit of contacting us for their needs so that your brain can start to exit Logistics Land and enter Experience World. So if your radar is more silent than expected, GOOD. We built it that way.
We are collecting your promised decor + add our Tapestry touch.
We pre-pack a box with all the items we promised to bring, as well as a few extra pieces of decor or inspiration we found along the way while working with you. This box may also include rentals, snacks, last minute requested items, and orders made on your behalf. We are paying attention and like to make sure nothing goes overlooked in the packing process.
We are staying up to date on weather conditions.
We actively scout your sites for the week prior to your big day. We check on trail and weather conditions to understand how those factors may shift the game plan. We often have an explicit Plan A, B, and sometimes C (depending on location). But you can bet we’re also working on plans D and E as needed, only unveiling what you need to know as it becomes relevant. If there are any changes, we get in contact 24-48 in advance of your day to seek approval for any shifts, then coordinate those location shifts with your on site vendor team. Mother Nature is the one logistic we have no control over, but good communication and rigorous preparation are a great match for any tricks she may have up her sleeve.
We are making the final adjustments, as decided by you.
We send a final logistics communication to your squad the week of your elopement (often after we have a final read on the weather), again with you and your partner BCC’d. If you want to take a final look at the game plan before releasing your experience into our trusty hands, this is your opportunity to do so.
Photos courtesy of Beginning and End Photography.
AND THEN YOUR DAY HAPPENS!
We work hard to establish a close working relationship with you so that, by the week of your elopement, you can trust that we understand your vision and will make the best decisions to foster your elopement experience. Nothing ever goes perfectly to plan, so know that the purpose of the plan we create together is to get everyone on the same page and prepared in the same way so that we can break the plan intelligently to create the best experience possible for you. That’s right, the plan is here to be broken in the name of presence, joy, laughter, and happy tears. If we see a change that will amplify what you value about this day, we will make that game time call while remaining mindful of how it may affect other parts of the day.
If you don’t have guests…
If you are eloping without any guests, think about Tapestry as your personal assistant and energetic anchor. We show up on site with pick-ups in hand. We style your items for the photographer to capture. We help you get into your dress, adjust your suit, and gather your accessories. We stage for a first look or pre-ceremony photos. We ensure your bag is packed with everything you'll need. We lead the caravan of cars out into the wild to our launch location. We journey to the ceremony spot, gather ourselves, take test shots with the photographer, and welcome you to the space. We host the ceremony, assist with the portraits and snacks that follow, and regather our belongings when it's time to move on. We lead the journey back to the cars or on to a second location, ensuring you are safe, taken care of, and don't have to think about a thing throughout the experience.
If you do have guests…
If guests are a part of your day, think about Tapestry as the general manager of the event. We show up on site, check in with all parties for last minute details, then get to work on constructing your day. We check in your vendors, assist with set-up, adapt the plan as new information arrives, and keep as much off your radar as possible. We check in with you periodically and minimally so you can enjoy the getting ready process, then we or your photography team (in coordination with us) will come gather you when it's time to get dressed and take the scheduled festivities outside. Trust our lead; we got you. Because we are busy architecting your event when there are guests involved, we do not have as much time to act as personal assistant to your needs. We recommend assigning 1-2 friends or family members to help you stay personally organized and grounded on your celebration day. That ensures you have the emotional support you need throughout the day, while also staying removed from the logistics that rest in our capable hands.
Of course, you can always reach out and ask questions. If there is something you want to confirm or ask or get off your chest, we are here for it! We want to help you get to a place of receiving the experience and the joy of the day, rather than running it (that’s our job!). So give yourself the week to unwind what you think you should feel responsible for and let us know how we can support you.
If you are already part of our team, we thank you for sharing your adventure with us as you step into this next chapter of your life. If not, we would love to be part of your day.
— Kate, Tapestry Creative Director