XOXO … your eloping! Elopement planning is the most important time to follow your 💖 with your wedding day look. 5 Elopement Style Tips for an Unforgettable Elopement will help you plan yours in 2023.

The intimate adventure planned by the couple is still the focus; however, elopement fashion has more of an anything-goes vibe. And it may even involve two dresses! Yes, two dresses, one for the ceremony and one for the festivities. Select the outfit you and your partner will love without paying attention to rules, must-haves, or worry about disappointing anyone. It is one of the most important dresses you’ll ever buy and accessorize. Let’s get started with 5 elopement style tips you’re going to love for an unforgettable elopement. 

1. An Elopement Style Tip You’re Going to Love for What to Wear

Photos: 1-Keelajophoto 2-ColourAvenueShop on Etsy 3-LovestoryUA on Etsy 4-MoraBrand on Etsy 5- V.Chapman Naomi Dress on Anthropologie 6-Jen’sPirateBootyOdyssey on Free People

 Finding the look, you feel the most beautiful in may take a bit of time. So save planning time for shopping. The time you spend will be so worth it, and if you love what you’re wearing, your look will go with any venue you choose for your elopement. 

Not sure where to start? Start at a Bridal Shop. Bridal owners are super knowledgeable about their styles and their inventory. I recently visited with Morgan, owner of the local bridal boutique, The Dress by Morgan Lynn, and she offered this tip: 

• A dress off the rack at a Bridal Boutique may be a choice. At her boutique, find sizes from 6-22 available for off-the-rack purchase. She has styled Brides with all kinds of timelines. So go and check Morgan’s selection of dresses and have a fabulous experience finding “the look” for your elopement. 

Other options, look for the section on wedding shop websites that offer “last-minute wedding dresses” ready to ship.” BHLDN is one site with an entire page of last-minute wedding dresses in stock and ready to ship! Perfect for a surprise elopement, or if you’re simply a fuss-free bride, a ready-to-ship wedding dress can be yours in just days. 

Dress shopping and scheduling alterations for the elopement bride need to happen simultaneously because alteration appointments can vary in availability. A bridal alteration sewist can adjust most dresses to fit two sizes smaller or one size larger.

2. STYLE TIPS FOR HAIR ACCESSORIES

Accessorizing is one of my loves! The truth about accessorizing is it’s a bit of a process to choose and style your accessories.

Let’s start accessorizing by deciding on your hairstyle and if you want to add a veil, a headband, or a jeweled hair comb. Any or none of these bridal hair accessories will work. Above are two examples of Brides one who chose no hair accessory but opted for an illusion cape, and the other bride chose a gold wreath. Both Brides looked stunning. 

If you’re choosing a family heirloom to weave into your elopement, hair accessories give you lots of options:

 • refashion your Mom/Grandmom’s headpiece into a chic modern hair accessory (see photo #7 below, headpiece refashioned by Marti at Marti & Company) 

•a sewist can use lace offcuts from an heirloom bridal dress and make a headband or a hair comb. 

•for custom-made accessories, check milliners, alteration professionals, or a Bridal Boutique that offers custom services like Marti at Marti & Company. 

Two other tips, I recommend in-person shopping and scheduling your hair appointment as early as possible in your elopement planning. See the pictures below for more inspiration for your wedding day hair accessory.

Macrame Headpiece – UntamedPetals  Other Hair Accessories & Cape Veil Marti & Company

3. JEWELRY ELOPEMENT STYLE TIPS

The jewelry selection is another place in your planning where you can incorporate a wedding tradition from your family and your spouse-to-be’s family. Whether it’s a borrowed piece of jewelry or the same jewel your Mom wore, it doesn’t necessarily need to be the item. It’s a thoughtful way to include them in your day.

Here it’s good to stay close to your style rather than selecting a new look for your elopement. I think more is more and less is more; both are stylish. Mixing metals is still popular and always adds presence to your wedding day look. What’s most important is to select your style. Here are some inspirational photos to help you decide on the jewelry for your elopement.

4. STYLE TIPS FOR SHOES

When selecting your shoes, a comfortable style that you love is the #1 priority in deciding what to wear, with one exception, if stilettos are your style, then bring another pair for dancing the evening away. Two other style points, consider the detailing and embellishments on your dress/gown/pants, and add these details to your elopement shoe style to tie your whole look together.

Here is another place in your planning where you can bring in a family tradition, like maybe wearing the same color shoes as your grandmother did. It’s a sentimental toast to their chic style. 

I gathered photos of types of shoes with varying heel heights and open toe vs. sling back vs. a pump. The center photo shows a satin pump customized with lace from the alteration pieces from the bride’s dress. The first photo is of shoes customized by The Crystal Show Company on Etsy. The pair of flats is from ASOS. Look for stores with free online returns, a significant feature to save money and time. Try von maur (also interest-free credit card), Nordstroms, or Zappos

 

5. FLOWER ELOPEMENT STYLE TIPS

Flowers and greenery add ambiance to your elopement look, and the fragrance from your favorite flowers will be a memory you’ll always have. The biggest tip here is to select flowers and or greenery in season for your elopement location to save money and stress. Whether you choose a bouquet or flowers as decor or no flowers, it doesn’t matter; do what works for you. And a florist is a valuable resource for making decisions for your elopement bouquet or floral decor.

DIY or a custom-made floral accessory is also a stylish option with faux flowers, and sometimes it’s preferred, especially for a destination elopement. This Boho wreath (in the photo below) was perfect for this Bride for her wedding while providing the ease and convenience she hoped for in packing and traveling to her Destination Elopement. Another feature of the floral wreath is the repeat of the greenery design used in the invitation. Using a similar theme throughout your planning gives a unique, even elegant, look to your elopement

Once you have your flowers selected for your bouquet think about other details that might add glam and elegance to your bouquet – a bouquet cuff, a vintage family heirloom either a brooch or a hanky, silk chiffon ribbon streamers from FrouFrouChic, or lace from your Mom’s wedding dress. The choices for addons are endless.

Your Elopement Look 💘, Unexpected & Unforgettable! A true-to-you adventure.