RUNAWAY AND GET MARIEDRunaway and get married
ELOPE AS A FAMILY
Elope with an Officiant and Photographer, on your own, in any location you like
Elope as a Family
Get married with your kids, your parents, your dog — your people.
Some of the most moving ceremonies we have ever been part of have had children in them. A daughter carrying the rings. A son standing beside his parent as they make their vows. Kids who have been hoping for this moment for years finally watching it happen. Family elopements skip the expensive venue and the 200-guest guest list — but they do not skip the people who matter most.
What a Family Elopement Looks Like
A family elopement is not a compromise between eloping and having a wedding. It is its own completely right thing. You are choosing a small group of the people you love — your children, your parents, a sibling, your best friend, your dog — and you are taking them somewhere meaningful and getting married there, properly, with vows and a registered officiant and photographs that will hang on a wall for decades.
No distant relatives you had to invite. No colleague table you had to manage. No DJ playing songs nobody asked for. Just your people, your ceremony, your day.
Children as ring bearers — your kids carry the rings to you during the ceremony. One of the most reliably beautiful and funny moments in any elopement.
Including children in vows — many of our officiants can write ceremony language that speaks directly to the children present, welcoming them into the new family. Bring tissues.
Family unity ceremonies — a sand ceremony, a candle ceremony, or a simple moment where everyone present holds hands. Simple, immediate, extraordinarily moving.
Dogs as best man or bridesmaid — we fully support this. Many of our best ceremony photos have involved a very proud dog.
Perfect Locations for Family Elopements
When you have children or elderly family members with you, accessibility matters as much as beauty. Here are our top picks across our locations.
A flat, beautiful, easily accessible location perfect when you have grandparents or young children in the group. Stunning architecture, the fountain, the lake — and everyone can reach it comfortably.
Children are most themselves at home. A backyard ceremony means the kids can run around before and after, nobody has to be on their best behaviour for four hours, and the whole thing feels real and warm rather than performative.
Get married at the table of your favourite restaurant, then have a meal together as a newly official family. Some of our most joyful ceremonies have ended with pasta and tiramisu. Your officiant says the words, you sign the licence, and the food arrives.
Our tiny timber chapel in Richmond is perfect for a family elopement. Small enough to feel intimate, proper enough to feel like a real ceremony. As seen on Good Morning America. The kind of space where children sit quietly because the room asks it of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our standard elopement packages cover up to 10 guests. For 11–20 guests we recommend our Fancy Pants upgrade (+$200) which includes a more personalised ceremony with a bespoke introduction. For groups up to 30 our small wedding package is ideal. For outdoor locations, most parks allow groups up to 15–20 with no permit required.
Yes — and we actively encourage it. Our officiants can include children in ring carrying, in vows spoken directly to them, or in unity ceremony moments. Let us know how old the children are and what you have in mind and we will build something that includes them meaningfully without overwhelming them.
Yes — at most outdoor locations dogs on leads are completely welcome. Central Park and most NYC parks allow leashed dogs. Virginia outdoor locations are dog-friendly. Some indoor venues may not allow pets — check with us when you book your specific location. Dogs as ring bearers or best men are fully supported.
It is genuinely the best courthouse alternative for couples with children or close family. At the courthouse you get 60 seconds with a maximum of four guests, no vows, and fluorescent lighting. With I Do Drive Thru USA you get a proper ceremony at a meaningful location with the people you love, personal vows, and a photographer capturing every moment — for a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding.
Ready to Get Married With Your Family?
Any location. Any day. Kids, parents, dogs all welcome. From $500.
Book Your Family Ceremony →
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