starting your journey

what to discuss to begin 

To read before sending the deposit

"Bonjour all the beautiful, adventurous, and ambitious ladies, our wonderful brides. And our respect to the intelligent handsome future grooms. Hope you have a good time reading. Let's begin!"

Article by — HELEN
had a wedding herself and could not sleep

Planning an elopement is more than just picking your photoshoot locations. It's about creating a special, intimate day.

Your relationship is the only thing that matters. Don’t let planning take over your relationship. Cherish each moment together, go on romantic dates. Say nice things to each other, and never go to bed upset. Say I love you as much as you can.

How much time should we spend planning? 
Discuss how much time you’ll spend planning. Some days you might focus on it for hours, other days just a few minutes. Discuss your elopement and everything that comes with it, and not only at home but on a walk or at a café. New places can bring new ideas. Don’t let planning your Paris trip feel like a chore.

Questions to start with:
  • What time of year feels right for us? How many months do we need to plan everything without rushing? Do we have enough time?
  • How many people do we want to invite?
  • How much can we spend on outfits, restaurants, and hotels? Will our families help financially? Do we need to save?
  • How much time every week can we spend on planning?
  • Who can help us? How will we share the responsibilities?
  • When will we start planning?

HOW TO PREPARE FOR the ELOPEMENT?

The city of Paris
When beginning every new task, ask your partner what matters to them. You might find out there's a good reason why they love or hate something and be willing to meet halfway.

COMPROMISE WITH LOVE

Champagne cork keepsake 
Decide early on who will handle what, so there’s no confusion later. Both of you should be involved 50-50. It’s important that no one feels like they’re doing all the work. You might love focusing on details—like flowers and a bridal look—while your partner might handle bigger things like the flights, itineraries, where to go in Paris, etc. 

Use a spreadsheet or sticky notes to list all your tasks. This will keep you organized and reduce stress.

PLAN TOGETHER

Avenue Camoens portraits
Wedding date? Read the article about which day is the best for Paris elopement.

A special date, maybe? A meaningful day, like your first date anniversary or your first kiss day.

Your season? What would be the best season to fit your work schedule? A warm summer elopement is very nice, but hotels are way more expensive. Autumn elopement is super dreamy, but it might rain.

The budget? Summer trips tend to cost more. If you have a tight budget, consider spring or autumn.

Is there enough prep time? If you got engaged in March but want a May elopement, decide if it’s worth rushing or if you should plan for the next year. Six to eight months is ideal.

WHAT TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU SEND THE DEPOSIT

Try to make the experience as relaxing as possible
When people give you advice you didn’t ask for, just smile and say, "Thanks, Aunt Barbara, I appreciate your thoughts," and then stick to your own plans. Share your ideas only with those who truly support you, or keep your plans to yourselves entirely.

BE READY FOR OPINIONS, BUT DON'T LISTEN

EVERY COUPLE GETS THROUGH IT BY TAKING THINGS ONE STEP AT A TIME, AND YOU WILL TOO—ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

Shall we go on a dessert date and spend more time together?

We should have included 3-4 articles on similar topics here to recommend to you. But we don’t want you to just read these top picks. Please read all of our articles from beginning to end. We promise, it's FOR YOU.







— tim & helen

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by Tim and Helen

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