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If there’s one thing that has been good out of the world coming to a standstill it is the refocusing of the true reason behind weddings. It’s not about the big party or the flower bouquet toss to see who will be next in line. Weddings are a celebration of marriage because marriage is a union through love. Elopements are so wonderful because they allow you to leave all the fluff out of it and focus on the true emotion behind the event. For this reason (and many others) I chose to elope, and I had an Airbnb elopement so they have a special place in my heart.
When Planning Our Airbnb Elopement I Picked up a Few Tips on how to Make it as Seamless as Possible.
My passion is to help other couples with their elopements. So if you are considering having your elopement at an Airbnb, these tips are for you.
Search for Airbnbs that have wedding photos posted.
The last thing you want to do is fall in LOVE with an Airbnb for your elopement to find out that it can’t accommodate your plan! If you find Airbnbs that have wedding pictures posted, they’ll be much more willing or likely to accommodate you and your guests! And it will be likely to have a space designated for ceremonies or parties. (Or even supplies like dishes, flatware, chairs, and tables.)
Always message the owner about your event.
You want to be as transparent and honest with all of your wedding vendors, so think of your Airbnb as your wedding venue. It’s so important that you are aware to not just book and not inform the hosts of your intentions for booking their home. (No matter the number of guests!) Keep in mind that an Airbnb isn’t like a hotel, they are people’s homes. So, let’s respect their place like we would a friend or family member’s home. Especially since they are providing us with a dream location to exchange vows!
Message the host before booking and find out the rules or add the message when booking so they can decide to accept or decline your stay. This way you can request to use the home for an event or ask more questions to see if the location can accommodate what you need.
Don’t Judge a Home by its Pictures.
Excitement about finding the “perfect” location can lead to us convincing ourselves that this is the one! So remember that even if you think the place looks like it would be able to accommodate your elopement because of the online gallery and details of the home, it doesn’t always mean it is. Not all Airbnbs can handle many guests, even if they aren’t staying the night!
For example, there may be a big yard, but nowhere for everyone to park! Or the house’s septic system is not rated for that many people. Or maybe they have a garden that they don’t want to be ruined by people walking on it.
Fees!
So many moving pieces go into having an event at an Airbnb. Something very important to keep in mind is that there may be an additional cleaning fee or event fee because of the elopement or intimate wedding being hosted at the location.
Communication is key! Inform the owner first so that any of the details that need to be arranged can be hashed out with enough time to change plans if you need to.
I know it’s so exciting to find a place that looks perfect and is available. And it might be hard to fight the impulse to book now and tell them later! But just booking the Airbnb and having the event without telling the owner of your intentions is not okay.
I Could Talk about Airbnb Elopements All Day. But Let’s Take a Moment to Appreciate this Amazing Styled Shoot Treehouse Elopement!
Asia and Jeff are as cool as they seem, and they’re even nicer than they are cool. They were so happy to just be spending time together and you could see how much they love each other. So we built the day around that love! It was so beautiful!
We started the snowy winter day getting ready at the treehouse with the snow as the perfect backdrop for the ceremony.
The pristine snow against Asia’s vibrant red hair was striking and they had such a blast taking pictures. After all that fun, we went into Park City for dinner in the AMAZING Alpenglobe booths to enjoy the views of ski season. Then we ate and watched the skiers zip through the snow.
Then, we walked around the town. We took in the beauty of the sights while I photographed Asia and Jeff’s love on display. The cold eventually got to us and we returned to the treehouse for some more (indoor) celebrations. There was champagne, pie, and ice cream. And then we cozied up and enjoyed hot chocolate in the Airbnb. We watched as the sunset painted the sky for the last time that day before the stars peeked out.
Hair and Makeup – Janelle Ingram
Treehouse – Airbnb
Flowers – Flora Event Floral
Alpenglobe – Butcher’s Chop house & Bar
Vow books/engraved details – Beck Engraving Design Studio
Desserts – Lone Pine Bakery
Rings – Staghead Designs
Jumpsuit – J Avery Designs
So, you’re in love with Asia and Jeff’s Airbnb elopement shoot and want more resources and inspiration? Well then, check out more on my blog!
