Elopement vs Micro Wedding in New Mexico - which might be right for you?
What Is an Elopement?
An elopement at Desert Harbor is hallmarked by a private wedding ceremony - just the couple, wrapped in a two or three-night retreat experience. It is the most intimate way a couple can “tie the knot.” It is perfectly suited for couples who desire uninterrupted connection with their partner, with no audience, distractions or stress. At Desert Harbor, our elopement packages include many aspects of a wedding, but just for two. They are that “just right” between too little and too much.
How Elopements Have Evolved
Elopements were once the naughty thing to do, cloaked in secrecy and surprise, but they are no more. There is no longer the stigma around them. Many married couples and parents we know wished they had eloped!
What Defines a Micro Wedding?
Though tiny in guest count, a micro-wedding is still styled and usually involves many aspect of a traditional wedding: decor, flower arrangements, catering, music and photography. You can think of a micro-wedding as something in-between a big, traditional wedding and an elopement. Micro-weddings are for couples who don't necessarily want a big event with hundreds of guests, but they don't want to compromise on experience or smaller details, either. Oftentimes, this means a more thoughtful event with intimate and sentimental details.
A micro-wedding is necessarily thousands less than a traditional wedding (hundreds smaller guestlist), but it’s not about cutting corners. Instead, many couples use the lower guest count to prioritize amazing food, live music, breathtaking views and an intimate, private venue being shared with no others.
Guest Count: What “Micro” means at Desert Harbor
Due to our small venue, micro means twenty-three guests, plus the couple, for a total of twenty five. It is your family and closest friends.
Why Couples Are Choosing Micro Weddings
Couples are choosing micro weddings because they want a traditional wedding experience, with all of the beautiful things involved, but on a smaller, more intimate scale, at a fraction of the cost.
Elopement vs. Micro wedding: Key Differences
Cost
Our respective elopement and micro wedding packages are a great value compared to the traditional route, but they are at very different price points. With photography included, which varies between photographers and videographers, our three-night package may range between $6000-$7000, while a micro-wedding can be twice this much.
Experience & Atmosphere
The experience of an elopement at Desert Harbor is privacy and intimacy. It is elegantly adorned yet minimalistic, focusing on the couple and their journey down the aisle together, but alone.
The experience of a micro wedding at Desert Harbor still includes days of intimate alone time for the couple, but invites their closest to share in the commitments and to celebrate with them. The event is surrounded by New Mexico’s breathtaking high desert, and grounded in it’s silence.
Planning
While a micro wedding necessarily involves more decisions, because guests are involved, we have streamlined the process to make either eloping or choosing a micro wedding a stress-free process.
In reality this translates to a few extra phone calls and a longer informational form to complete for the micro wedding option.
Benefits of Choosing a Desert Harbor Elopement or Micro Wedding
More Meaningful, Less Stressful
We are on a quest to create the most psychologically and spiritually meaningful wedding experience possible. We are inspired by ancient wedding rituals that were more like rights of passage, that helped couples transition from a life lived for one and a life lived for two. We tirelessly work with you to craft a ceremony script that is personally significant and transformative.
Whether you choose to elope or have friends and family, our mission is to thoughtfully handle all the details so very little mental energy is required of you with either choice.
Budget-Friendly Without Sacrificing Beauty
We care deeply about details, but we care most about the ones that actually are significant. Will your guests remember all the details about your table wear choices years after? Probably not. But few will forget the silence the desert offers or the sunset that will paint the backdrop for your ceremony.
More Time for Connection
The secret that the wedding machine never cares to mention until after is that in a traditional wedding, your wedding day will quite possibly be the most tiring, stressful day of your life. Even with an unlimited budget and an accomplished wedding planner, there is little space for rest and connection with your mate AS it happens.
At Desert Harbor the experience is designed around togetherness: taking daily hikes, watching the stars, reading together, playing games, listening to music, taking naps, talking without interruption…
Planning an Elopement or Micro Wedding
Choosing the Right Date & Season
In our experience there really isn’t a right date or perfect season to tie the knot. Every couple is different and has unique priorities. For some, the soonest possible time is the best. For others a special date significant to the couple’s history drives the date choice. But for those who are open and simply want the best weather for their outdoor ceremony, we recommend mid-April till late May and Late September to early November.
Finding Your Perfect Photographer
Choosing a great photographer/videographer is crucially important. Most couples want their wedding adventure to be documented but few except professional models feel comfortable in front of the camera for multiple hours. The right photographer is the difference between feeling awkward and feeling comfortable and carefree on your big day.
Most photographer’s portfolios speak for themselves. While couples may not be able to technically discuss the difference between styles, usually an approach will resonate. We encourage couples to take the next step and get a feel for the photographer's personality. Is he or she shy and introverted or bombastic and extroverted? Not all approaches work for every couple, but you should get a since of ease with your photographer.
We have a list of vetted photographers/videographers whose work we know and believe in. They have shot extensively at Desert Harbor and know their favorite spots to shoot.
Writing a Ceremony That Reflects You Both
We take the lead in sending our DHR couples a starter ceremony script to consider. Some change nothing about it and others change everything. It’s a great starting point to understand the basic outline of a ceremony so a couple can build something deeply meaningful to them.
Choosing Vendors for your Desert Harbor elopement or Micro Wedding
Fortunately we are personal friends and colleagues with New Mexico’s best wedding vendors. Our packages include florals, officiant, cake, food, and additionally, hair and makeup. These partnerships create a stress-free pathway for the beautiful, tasty items of a wedding to appear, without the usual hassle and anxiety.
Ready to Begin Your Elopement Journey?
How to Reserve Dates
Please fill out the interest form and send it our way. We will be in touch within 24 hours. Feel free to check availability on our calendar by clicking the “Book Now” button. This will take you to a calendar where you can view available dates. When we get back to you, these dates will be helpful in planning.
