Standard vs Adventure vs Luxury Elopements: What Couples Get Wrong
If you’re planning an elopement, you’ve probably noticed one thing very quickly:
everything is labeled "elopements" and “luxury.”
Standard elopements, adventure elopements, and fully designed elopements are often grouped together, even though they are very different experiences. This confusion leads many couples to overpay or to book something that doesn’t actually match how they want their wedding day to feel.
In this guide, we break down the three main types of elopements so you can clearly understand the difference and choose the option that truly fits you.
The 3 Types of Elopements Explained
There are three distinct categories most elopements fall into:
- Standard elopements
- Adventure elopements
- Luxury elopements
Each serves a different purpose. None are “wrong.”
The problem starts when they’re confused with one another.
Type 1: The Standard Elopement
A standard elopement is the most common and entry-level option.
These are typically:
- photographer-led
- or planned through services that specialize in simple elopements
They are short, usually two to six hours, and built around a fixed structure.
What’s usually included:
- one location
- a simple ceremony
- a basic bouquet or boutonniere
- a short photo session
Add-ons may be available, but they are pre-set rather than custom.
In many cases, the photographer is also acting as the planner. Choosing the location, setting the timeline, coordinating the ceremony, and photographing the day. There is no separate planning or design role.
Other services offering simple elopements use the same package repeatedly for many couples. The structure stays the same, and personalization is minimal.
Standard elopements work well for couples who want something simple, affordable, or last-minute.
Typical investment: $2,000–$8,000
Type 2: The Adventure Elopement
An adventure elopement is centered around photography and location.
These often involve:
- hiking
- boats or jeeps
- helicopters
- remote or iconic landscapes
Most adventure elopements are photographer-led and planned around reaching a specific location for photos. Because of travel, permits, and extended photography coverage, pricing is often higher.
Adventure elopements are frequently marketed as “luxury,” but they are still primarily photo-driven experiences.
The couple is usually doing much of the physical work and often part of the logistics as well. The focus is on the journey and the location, not on comfort or a fully supported wedding day.
Adventure elopements are a good fit if:
- photography and scenery are key priorities
- you enjoy physical activity
- you’re comfortable with unpredictability
Typical investment: $10,000–$20,000+
Type 3: The Luxury Elopement
A luxury elopement is professionally planner and designed.
It is not a package and not a photo shoot.
It is a fully curated wedding experience.
Luxury elopements are built around:
- privacy and exclusivity
- pacing and flow
- custom design tailored to the couple
- high-level service from start to finish
This often includes:
- private estates or villas
- venue buyouts
- personalized experiences
- multi-day itineraries
- a professional team handling all logistics
On the wedding day, the couple is not managing details, making last-minute decisions, or coordinating vendors. Photography is integrated into the day without interrupting its natural flow.
Luxury elopements take the care, expertise, and intention of a large luxury wedding and distill it into something intimate and deeply personal.
Typical investment:
Starting around $20,000–$30,000 just for a couple
$30,000 - $50,000+ for intimate weddings with guests and/or multi-day experiences
Why So Many Couples Get Confused
One reason for the confusion is how loosely the word luxury is used.
Many couples inquire about luxury elopements at $10,000 or less, which usually signals a disconnect between the language being used and what’s actually included.
Before reaching out to any vendor or planner, it’s important to:
- review real elopement work
- understand their actual role
- see how the day is structured
- make sure their approach aligns with what you want
Labels don’t define the experience.
The work, process, and level of expertise and support does.
Choosing the Right Elopement for You
There is no single “best” type of elopement. Only the one that fits you.
- If you want something simple and streamlined, a standard elopement may be right.
- If photography and location drive your decisions, an adventure elopement can make sense.
- If you want a calm, intentional, fully supported wedding experience, a luxury elopement is the right category to explore.
Your wedding day is a real experience, not a label or a trend.
Choose based on how you want the day to feel.
For a detailed explanation of each elopement type, watch the full video here.
