How many people can be apart of an elopement?

I consider an elopement to only be the bride and groom. Intimate is immediate family members. Anything larger than that and including travel would be a destination wedding.

My FH and I researched and thought about this a lot. In the end we are having an intimate destination wedding!!!!

Elopement is you and your FH with 2 witnesses (usually random sometimes not).

An intimate wedding would be a small group of people who attend your wedding.

3. Bride. Groom. Officiant.

See, I've seen it both ways. I know the typical elopement is just the B&G and officiant but I've also heard people call it an elopement with more people. So torn. I never wanted a DW I guess that's why I'm having trouble calling it what it is LOL!

Depending upon the state you're getting married in you don't even need the officiant or the witnesses. Colorado allows couples to self solemnize.

I guess I could say intimate. @jessica I'll have to look into B&B elopements that sounds perfect.

We cap it at 10. You do need an officiant and two witnesses here, so that allows for parents too.

I'm having 13 guests we are calling it an intimate wedding vs an elopement as out extended families know about the wedding. I was nervous people would be upset that they weren't invited but everyone was very supportive.

We had orginally started with the plan of a 125 guest wedding. Then we wanted to elope. So instead we decided on a 60 guest wedding. We're only having the closest of family and friends.

Thank you all so much! Very helpful in the decision making.

Hey Jillian! Been there! We went from 100 guests down to 25. We were stressed to the max, getting cold feet about finances, and when our venue fell through, that was the final straw. We said enough, scratched everything we had previously planned, and are now having an intimate wedding. We booked an all inclusive venue (which also reduced our stress levels by thousands) and are only inviting our immediate family, a few aunts and uncles, and a few friends. I'm truly happy and excited about our wedding now, whereas before I was seconds from running to the courthouse. One website I really like to look at from time-to-time is intimateweddings.com. They have a "real weddings" section that shows pictures of how other couples pulled off their small weddings (elopements too), and has advice from each couple. I hope this helps.

Editing because I struggle to type sometimes.

Thanks so much @MsVanWinkle! Very informative, I will look into intimateweddings.com!

I would highly advise against having a surprise wedding. The two that I've been involved with turned out badly. One included the situation you described. People who would have definitely come to their wedding didn't come to their "engagement celebration." Lots of hurt feelings afterwards.

At the other one, people were very confused and shocked and it just gave a bad vibe to the whole thing.

30 should be a max. Immediate family and friends only

If I hadn't already put down deposits on everything I think I would elope. good for you!

I'm calling mine a hybrid elopement since we are having immediate family and some very close friends (about 20 people). Don't worry so much about what you call it - pick the wedding that works best for you and your Fiancé - if that's a 150 person wedding or a 10 person wedding who cares! I could not be happier to be doing a 20 person wedding!

Bride, Groom ,2 witnesses and an officiant. Add a beach, nice lunch, glass of champagne and a slice of cake.

PS. Add some smelling salts. They might be needed when you announce the news to family members. True elopements are done secretly!

In FL, witnesses are not required, but an officiant is.

I'd say up to 2 witnesses would be an elopement. More than that would be a small destination wedding. Most of my destination weddings are in the 20-30 people range, but some as large as 50-60.

On many etiquette pages I've read, it caps it at 12. Anything more than that is considered an intimate wedding. Good luck!