Eloping first then big reception

We made ours special by making it secret and very intimate (just our officiant and his parents) and telling ppl weeks later! We just ordered some nice takeout and had a nice romantic night in.

My husband and I decided to have a minimony with 35 guests on our anniversary date and we are having our big wedding this March. It wasn't necessarily an elopement because it was other guests, but still 2 weddings.

We are eloping this April! We are hoping to have a very large wedding reception in the late fall. We'll just wait to see what happens right now. Best wishes to you!!

We did this. We got married at a park near us with a total of 15 people (ourselves, officiant, and photographers included). A month later, we went up to Yosemite with our photographers and did an adventure shoot, which I HIGHLY recommend to everyone (pictures in my profile). We'll have our reception this November as long as COVID allows. I'd strongly encourage you to think about doing an adventure shoot/post-wedding shoot/day after shoot/etc to help you celebrate. Not only will you get absolutely incredible images that aren't rushed due to timelines, but you'll also have another excuse to wear your dress! Honestly, our adventure shoot was the platinum lining to all of the crazy pivoting from last year.

We cancelled our wedding all together and are eloping. It will definitely be special

We eloped in our backyard. It was just us, our officiant, and our parents and siblings. We ordered BBQ from the local joint, set up our own music. I ordered a last minute dress for $80, hired a last minute photographer for $250 for an hour. Got some flowers from Costco to make into a bouquet. Got a hair appointment and did my own makeup. We borrowed tables and chairs from our neighbors and that was that! We did yard games afterwards and it was awesome. But we do hope to have our "real" wedding in August! I would say overall we spent >$500