How to Elope in Chicago | Plan Your Perfect Chicago Elopement

Eloping in Chicago

If you’re wanting to keep your Chicago wedding plans intimate and small, we recommend eloping! The definition of an elopement has certainly evolved over the course of history. It used to mean that the couple would get married - just the two of them - in secret.

Now, lots of couples choose to elope but share their plans with their friends and family and even invite a very small number of guests to bear witness! Whatever you choose to do, we’re here to help you plan the Chicago elopement of your dreams.

Hire Your Chicago Elopement Vendors

Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean your Chicago elopement is any less special than a traditional wedding. We believe this so much so that we’ve created packages to ensure your elopement feels monumental without feeling over-the-top. Our small group of vendors is dedicated to small, intimate Chicago elopements and micro weddings so that everything feels stress-free and easy

We know how important it is for our couples to keep their love and commitment to one another at the forefront of their planning experience.

We offer curated all-inclusive elopement packages that include a seasoned and talented coordinator, photographer, officiant, two personal floral designs and a small celebration cake. The best part? The package is totally customizable — by simplifying the process and minimizing options, you avoid decision fatigue and overwhelm. You truly get to enjoy your Chicago elopement without fretting over the nitty gritty.

Save Money on Your Chicago Elopement

By choosing to celebrate your Chicago elopement with an all-inclusive package, you’re able to save money (and time!) The average cost of a regular-sized wedding in Chicago is upwards of $65,000!

This cost far surpasses the national average, which is why so many Chicago couples choose to celebrate their union by eloping!

The reason this number is so high is that each individual vendor has what we call an “out the door” rate. In other words, in order for them to even consider taking you on as a client, you’ll need to spend X amount of dollars.

For example, most florists have a minimum spend of $6,000. With Tiny Wedding Collective, you get around those minimums by hiring your vendor team all in one. Click here for more money-saving tips for your Chicago elopement or your micro wedding in Chicago!

Get Your Marriage License

Before saying “I Do,” whether that’s at City Hall or with one of our officiants at a Chicago park or venue, you’ll need to apply for a marriage license in Chicago. You can do everything from start to finish in person at the County Clerk’s office, or you can begin the license process online and then go to the office for the final step. Either way, you’ll have to go down in person together at some point.

Marriage licenses in Chicago are only valid for 60 days, so once you’ve decided on your date, plan this step accordingly.

Announce Your Elopement!

Let your friends and family share in the excitement by sending out wedding announcements! Now that you have beautiful photographs from your Chicago elopement (thanks to our crazy talented photographers), you can put them to good use and have them made into elopement announcements!

For 25% off ALL wedding-related purchases, head over to Minted.com and use code WEDPLLAURENLOUISE!

Your day is supposed to encompass everything you both love. Not all couples want the same type of wedding day so we want to make this day special for you two. Elopements can be an absolutely fun way to be creative and bring in what you love most about each other to a small, intimate moment together. We can’t wait to hear from you and start planning your perfect Chicago elopement with us.

The Tiny Wedding Collective offers all-inclusive elopement and intimate wedding planning services for Chicago, Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland. A Tiny Wedding is for couples who want to celebrate their commitment in a thoughtful, stylish way but don’t want the stress and fanfare of a big, expensive wedding. Not all couples fit inside the same traditional box and it’s time that we make space for inclusivity, diversity, and creativity. To find out more about what it’s like to work with us, please fill out our contact form here.