Announcing an Elopement: Must-Know Etiquette, Plus 5 Card Designs
There’s nothing more romantic than running off together to elope. Forget the storybook wedding. You and the person you love alone in a remote locale — that’s the stuff storybooks are really made of.
Eloping can save you time, money, and stress, and it can provide the intimate wedding ceremony you both want. But there’s one advantage that traditional weddings have over elopements — after it’s over, all of your nearest and dearest know you got married. With an elopement, nobody knows so you have to share the news.
While planning elopements is usually less stressful than the traditional wedding planning process, announcing an elopement can also be stressful — especially if your loved ones are going to be disappointed that they weren’t part of your big day (or that they weren’t invited to an open bar party). But remember, it was your big day. You did it your way. And the people who love you will be excited for you — even without an open bar.
Your elopement announcement will help you share your excitement. And with a few etiquette tips and the right announcement card, you can make sure announcing your elopement doesn’t cause any hard feelings. Here’s how to do it.
Etiquette for Announcing Elopements
Design: Septembre Papeterie
When you’re reveling in newlywed bliss, you don’t have time to call everyone in your phone book and tell them the big news. But there are a few people who do deserve a call.
Most of your friends and family members can learn about your private ceremony from a wedding announcement card or from an invitation to your post-elopement party if you’re having one. Meanwhile, your more distant connections can learn about your special day from social media. Here’s a quick breakdown of who gets each type of announcement and when to make them.
Who Gets a Phone Call?
Immediate family members and close friends should hear about your “I dos” directly from you. Some couples invite this select group to their elopement wedding — if that’s the type of elopement you had, then you can skip this step.
But if your elopement was truly just the two of you, then you should call your parents and siblings, as well as other family members who you feel as close to as your parents and siblings. If you have a close relationship with your grandma, give her a call. If you have an uncle who was like a second father to you, give him a call too.
As far as friends go, you should call the close friends who you talk to almost everyday or who you think of as an extension of your family. Picture the friends you would’ve asked to be in your wedding party if you’d had a traditional wedding reception and ceremony. Those are the friends who deserve a phone call.
When Should You Make the Call?
Your closest friends and family members should hear about your elopement day from you before they see the news anywhere else. Call them before you send out an elopement card or an elopement reception invitation, and definitely before you post anything on social media.
Some couples tell their nearest and dearest before the elopement even takes place. This has advantages and disadvantages. Your parents might be happy to get the news beforehand, but they might also invite themselves and start booking plane tickets right in the middle of your phone call — even if you’re having a super remote destination wedding.
If that’s OK with you, by all means tell your family beforehand. But if you’re worried about your loved ones taking over your special day, then it’s perfectly fine to wait until after the ceremony to make the call.
Who Gets an Announcement Card?
Design: Claudia Owen
Once you’ve told your inner circle, you can send out elopement announcement cards or post-elopement party invitations. You may even want to send out some of each if you’re having a small elopement party with local friends and family members, but also want to inform loved ones near and far about your big news.
You should send announcement cards to everyone who got a phone call. Even though they already know about your wedding day, they’ll want to see your announcement, especially if it includes a wedding photo.
You should also send announcements to the friends and family members you haven’t told yet. This could include grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, college friends, childhood friends, former roommates, and anyone else you’re close with but don’t see daily. Basically, anyone you would’ve invited to a traditional wedding should get an elopement announcement card.
For your announcement wording, all you need to include is your name, your partner’s name, your wedding date, and a few words that clearly state that you have already gotten married. You want to make it clear that this is a wedding announcement and not a wedding invitation or a save the date.
Phrases like, “We tied the knot,” “We’ve started our happily ever after,” “We did,” and “Just married” will make it clear that the wedding has already taken place. Add an epic elopement photo of you and your partner with a wedding dress or tux in the shot, and your message will be clear.
When Can You Post It on Social Media?
A social media announcement will tell your more distant friends — like former coworkers or teammates from that adult dodgeball league you used to play in — that you got married. But the only people who should find out through social media are people you wouldn’t have invited to a traditional wedding anyway.
To make sure your close friends and family members see your official elopement announcement before they see it on social media, you’ll need to wait a short period between when you send out your announcements and when you post.
If you send paper announcements via snail mail, it can take up to eight days for your elopement cards to get delivered. To be safe, wait 10 days after mailing your announcements before posting on social media.
If you send out digital announcement cards, your big news will be delivered in minutes, directly to your loved one’s phone number or email address, which means you can post your social media announcement the same day. Or you can wait a couple of days to make sure everyone has time to check their email.
Your social media post is a great place to include more shots from your wedding photographer, but if you didn’t have a photographer at your elopement ceremony, you can make your announcement cards part of your social media post.
5 Elopement Announcement Cards
An announcement card is a beautiful way to share your big news. Use one of these designs to let loved ones share in your special day, or browse hundreds of other marriage announcement cards designed by independent artists.
All of these announcements are customizable digital templates that you can update with your own wording, photos, music, and more. You can even upload your own design for a completely custom DIY elopement card.
1. Eager Love Announcement
Design: Signature Greenvelope
The message on this announcement card tells your loved ones exactly why you eloped — you just couldn’t wait! Add your favorite photo to help your friends and family feel like they were there.
2. Husband and Husband Announcement
Design: Claudia Owen (Photo Courtesy of Carina Skrobecki)
With “Husband and Husband” written in elegant cursive script, this is a beautiful engagement announcement for members of the LGBTQ community. It’s also available in a “Wife and Wife” design.
3. Letterpress Knot Announcement
Design: Nicole Winn
If you didn’t have an elopement photographer, or you just can’t wait to get the photos back before you share the news, then this simple “We tied the knot” design is a fun way to announce your special day. The play on words is paired with a nautical knot that’s especially appropriate for beachy destination weddings or elopements aboard a boat.
4. Did the Damn Thing Announcement
Design: Signature Greenvelope
For lighthearted couples, the message on this announcement is spunky, playful, and full of excitement. It expresses the sense of accomplishment that this moment deserves, and it has room for you to add an epic photo from your big day.
5. Crown Monogram Announcement
Design: Colin Cowie
If your intimate ceremony included your immediate family, you can honor their presence at your wedding day with this textured announcement card. The message also thanks friends and family members who weren’t invited for their love and support, serving as a subtle reminder that love is what it’s all about.
Small Ceremony, Big News
You and your partner just took the leap into life together. And no matter how small your ceremony was, that’s big news you’ll want to share with all your loved ones so they can share in your excitement.
For any loved ones who are sad that they didn’t get to join in on your ceremony, remind them that life is full of big moments. You’ll have plenty of reasons to celebrate with them in the future.
From an elopement after party to birthday parties and housewarmings to anniversaries and maybe even a baby shower (or maybe a puppy shower), Greenvelope is here to help you celebrate all of those big moments and more. Congratulations on your elopement!
