The Best Wedding Dresses for Elopement

Tiny weddings, elopements, and last-minute ceremonies are on the rise. How can you find the perfect dress for the occasion?

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed wedding plans for brides across the country. Many are postponing their ceremonies until they can have the big party they always dreamed of. Others are making more practical decisions—moving their wedding date forward, planning smaller ceremonies, or simply eloping.

Even before the pandemic began, elopements were becoming a trendy marriage choice, as more and more brides, turned off by the high costs of extravagant weddings, chose a simpler option instead. But, despite the desire to tighten wedding budgets, one area where brides are still willing to make an investment is their wedding dresses.

This makes sense, if you stop to think about it. The biggest wedding costs are the venue and the catering—each of which are usually several times the cost of a dress. Unlike either, the dress will feature prominently in wedding pictures. And many brides still dream of having a gown that they can pass down as a family heirloom—something their own daughters might want to get married in, or something that might be repurposed into baptismal clothes.

A bride looking for a wedding dress to elope in usually wants something budget friendly and that can be delivered on a shorter turn-around than the 6 or more months required for a typical wedding dress. This poses a challenge for brides—but not one that can’t be overcome. If you’re a bride planning an elopement—or simply a smaller wedding—here’s what you should look for.

1. Delivery time: how fast can you get your dress?

The first and most pressing question most brides have when they begin looking for an elopement dress is: will it arrive on time? Brides who are planning a smaller ceremony on a short timeline can’t wait six or seven months for their dress to arrive. If you’re looking for a dress that needs to be custom ordered for you, this could be a major sticking point.

Instead, look for dresses that can be delivered more quickly. Some bridal boutiques may have some dresses in stock that they can sell to you that very day. You can also look for sample sales, or ask your boutique about any dresses that could be ordered within your timeframe.

2. Location: what do you plan to be doing on your elopement day?

Some brides are very low-key about their elopement. They just want to walk down to the courthouse, sign the wedding registry, and call it a day. But a growing trend among many brides is to choose destination elopements that add an element of adventure to their story. They’re ready to hike five miles down a mountain trail to get married in front of their favorite waterfall at a national park. And they won’t be doing that in a mermaid dress.

Fortunately, many of the styles that are favored for elopement dresses are also in the more affordable price range, which often also means a faster delivery. If you’re not getting a bling-covered gown with layer upon layer of petticoats, you’ll have a much better chance of finding something that will work for you—and your location.

3. Style: what does your dress NEED to have that special “wedding” feel?

Even though elopement dresses tend to be simpler than one a bride might choose for a large wedding, a bride still wants to feel like a bride when she wears one. The wedding is still a real wedding, even if it is an elopement. The wedding dress shouldn’t feel like just another dress.

For elopements, however, we recommend brides think about what details they need their dress to have to still feel wedding-appropriate. For you, is a sweetheart neckline essential? Is your heart set on a certain style of lace? Is it boho or bust? Determining that essential detail can help you look past dresses that aren’t fitting the bill.

4. Budget: can you find a good deal on your elopement dress?

Finally, while many brides are happy to set aside a comfortable budget for their elopement dress, most still aren’t ready to pay multiple thousands of dollars for it. The appeal of an elopement is that it gives the new couple more room to plan for their future life together, after all.

If you’re looking for a good deal on your wedding dress, keep an eye out for sample sales. These usually happen when boutiques are trying to clear their stock in preparation for the new wedding season. You may be able to find a gorgeous gown, right off the hanger.

Our recommendation: the Adore line by Justin Alexander.

If you’re starting to feel like finding your perfect dress might be more difficult than you’d first envisioned, let us offer you a lifeline. Wedding dress designer Justin Alexander has recently released a new line of wedding dresses, Adore, that offer the perfect balance of budget, style, and timely delivery for brides who want to elope, but don’t want to compromise on style.

The gowns are designed with simpler details so that they are more budget friendly and have a faster delivery time. This also makes it easier for boutiques to carry dresses in stock for brides who want to walk out of the store with a dress that same day.

Choose a wedding dress you want to keep with you for a lifetime.

You may only wear your wedding dress on your big day, but it will stay with you for a long longer—as an heirloom and as a reminder of the love that brought you and your spouse together. If you’re going to invest in something special, this is it. And you can have a dress that lives up to your dreams without breaking the bank.