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Shawnee National Forest Surprise Elopement in Illinois

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Kristine + Michael

Herod, Illinois
- 10/27/2023
Total wedding budget $3,000

Budget Breakdown

Below is an estimated wedding budget breakdown provided by the couple.

  • Flowers
    6%
    $180
  • Photography
    93%
    $2800
  • Total wedding budget
    $3000

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

We included quite a few personal aspects into our wedding! We made sure our pets were included, and we bought them flower crowns!

We included our pregnancy announcement on our elopement day. Our elopement was actually a complete secret! We surprised our family the weekend after with a double whammy.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

The biggest thing we did to save money was have a private, intimate ceremony in a public park without any guests.

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

The best advice we can give is to prioritize your experience. Focus on what the day is truly about!

What was your biggest splurge?

Our biggest splurge was photography!

What was your favorite detail?

The location we chose! The beautiful fall colors surrounding the cliffs was everything we dreamed of.

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

Saying our vows in a small little slot canyon we found with absolutely no one else around was the most memorable moment of our day for us.


Vendor Credits