How to Write a Wedding Announcement After Eloping

Elopment Announcement

Couples decide to elope for many different reasons, but you still may want to share that important milestone with your friends and family. This article will give you instructions on how to send out tasteful wedding announcements after eloping, or having a destination wedding where not everyone could come.
Sending wedding announcements is a fun way to announce that you got married, as well as a good way to make people feel like they got to be apart of your big day.

Instructions

1. 

   First, you need to decide if you are going to have a reception for all the people who couldn't attend the wedding. This is a great way to celebrate, without having a formal wedding reception. Once you know this, you can decide whether you are sending just announcements, or announcements/reception invitations.

2. 

   There are many great options for elopement announcements. A good way to share your big moment is to send out an announcement that includes a photo of the two of you on your wedding day. This way people will feel included, and have a memento to keep. These announcements should include the date and location of your destination wedding.

3. 

   There are several great online sites to order announcements from. You can even get great inexpensive photo cards from Walgreen's or CVS, starting as low as $12.99 for 25 cards and envelopes. Also check out http://www.announcingit.com
   http://www.sunrisecreations.com
   http://www.cardsshoppe.com
   http://www.classyannouncements.com
   http://www.invitationhaven.com

   You might also check out Etsy.com, where there are tons of graphic designers that will make you something truly unique. You can even post an alchemy request and name your own price.

4. If you decide to have a reception, you'll need to get all those details in place before you send out your announcements. There are several different ways to word these, as long as you make sure people understand that the invitation is to just a reception, and not an actual wedding.

5. Examples of elopement announcements:

   The pleasure of your company is requested at the wedding reception of
   Alice N. Wonderland to James Earle Jones
   Saturday, the twenty fourth of February at three o'clock
   Golden Sunset Club House
   4444 Lovers Lane
   Santa Clause, IN 48596

   OR...

   Just Married!
   Because you've shared in our lives with your friendship and love, we are
   very proud to share our happy news.
   BRIDE'S FIRST MIDDLE
   daughter of BRIDE'S PARENTS
   and
   GROOM'S FIRST MIDDLE
   son of GROOM'S PARENTS
   were married in a small/intimate wedding
   on DAY the FORMAL DATE of MONTH
   YEAR
   at FORMAL TIME o'clock in the TIME OF DAY
   LOCATION
   ADDRESS
   CITY, STATE

Tips & Warnings

• People prefer elopement announcements, as it holds the recipient to no gift-giving requirements

• Traditionally, getting gifts is a perk of having a actual wedding. Many people will still send a gift in response to an elopement announcement, but there is no obligation.

• You should make sure the wording of the announcements stresses that it was a spontaneous wedding, and that no one was invited.

• Very often people's feelings are hurt by news of an elopement or destination wedding. You should try to strongly stress in your announcement that NO ONE was invited, that it was a moment shared by just the 2 of you.