More and more couples decide to follow a new trend that allows them to transform their wedding into a romantic getaway. This new trend is called “Elopement Wedding” and is a more intimate and special kind of wedding, in which the bride and the groom decide to literally elope alone or only with few friends and family members to celebrate their love in the destination of their dreams and fully enjoy the sentiment of their ceremony without any frills or distraction.
One of the most romantic destinations in the world, especially for weddings, is Tuscany. The beauty of the landscape, the perfect mixture of art and history, the almost infinite possibilities of exclusive and refined locations are an irresistible call for many couples. Located right in the heart of this region, the well preserved medieval town of Siena and its surroundings will be the perfect background for the most important day of your life.
Whether you’re overwhelmed by the thought of a big wedding, short on time and budget, or dealing with complicated family dynamics, an elopement might be exactly the kind of wedding you’re looking for. Based on our own experience as wedding planners, in this article we will give you a selection of ideas on how to plan your Elopement Wedding in Siena without feeling guilty or hurting loved ones’ feelings.
Let Your Budget Guide You
The most important step while planning your elopement wedding is defining your budget. Only you know how much you have and want to spend on your Special Day, so let your budget guide you. If you’re working with a smaller amount, a weekend getaway could be a great option to celebrate your wedding in style in the Sienese countryside, in a castle or in an beautiful hamlet and have a lovely minimoon at the same time.
Want to go all out? You could plan to have a multi-week trip in which you will have a plenty of time to celebrate your destination elopement and enjoy the beauty of this Italian region in an unforgettable honeymoon.
Mind the Season and the Weather
The thought of running off and getting married spontaneously is deeply romantic, but you have to keep in mind that different seasons and weather play a big role in creating the atmosphere you want for your wedding. For this reason it is always advisable to think how seasons look like in the country you want to elope to. It is also very important to consider how you want your most special day of your life to look and feel, e.g. if you would prefer to have an outdoor or an indoor ceremony and reception.
Talking about Tuscany, and in this case Siena, this beautiful region offers infinite options to suit every taste and need. No matter which month you choose to get married, Siena will always be the perfect scenery for your Special Day.
If your idea of a wedding includes warm weather and a sunny day, than the best period to have an elopement wedding in Siena is between May and September. This months offer indeed beautiful weather and long days, allowing you to enjoy the best day of your life to the fullest.
The pleasant weather of the Tuscan autumn makes September and October perfect months for late afternoon weddings with an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception, as temperatures in this period of the year start to become a little bit cooler in the night.
If you want to enjoy the peacefulness of this region at its best, then winter is the right season. Breathtaking indoor venues such as medieval castles, restaurants and luxury hotels become the perfect locations for a cosy winter wedding in a timeless and magical atmosphere.
Wedding Guest List: Feel Free to Keep It Short
While it’s true that a traditional elopement is typically celebrated almost in secret, if you really want to invite a selected number of people to join you on your adventure, you can.
Spare yourself complications while planning your Elopement Wedding in Siena by limiting the guest list to only your closest loved ones. You will limit stress, travel arrangements and costs, while maximizing the time you can spend with each individual. While deciding who you want to spend your Big Day with, don’t feel obligated or pressured to invite anyone. The beauty of an elopement is that you and your spouse are the only people required to be there, and anyone else is extra. That means that if you just want to bring two of your best friends as witnesses, you can, without feeling guilty.
There are no hard and fast rules for inviting guests. Some couples decide to have a few guests, others prefer to have only the officiant and the witnesses, eliminating their guest list completely.
Choose your Location among Infinite Possibilities
Siena and its surroundings offer infinite possibilities. This area boasts of beautiful castles, villas and medieval hamlets, situated in a position of breathtaking beauty with a dramatic view on the hills and valleys, just waiting for you to discover!
We will help you choose the right venue and create your dream wedding exactly the way you pictured it, depending on your needs and requests, as for example the type of ceremony (civil, religious or symbolic) or type of reception (indoor or outdoor).
An Elopement Wedding places the focus of the experience on you and your spouse (unlike a traditional wedding, which focuses heavily on the experience of the guests). That means that you should elope exactly where and when it will be most memorable for you exclusively. You just have to choose!
Inform Yourself about Important Legal To-Dos
Before jumping on board of an airplane, there is a bit of marriage paperwork that the bride and the groom need to go through if they want to have their marriage legally recognized. Whether you choose to get married in Siena with a civil or a religious ceremony, our advice is to inform yourself about which documents you will be asked to produce enough time in advance, if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises. Make sure that all of your personal documentation has not expired and check if you will have to arrange an appointment prior to the wedding at your country’s embassy to get the paperwork required to nonresidents to get legally married.
You won’t have to do this on your own. We are here to assist you with the requested wedding documentation depending on your nationality, making the whole bureaucratic process easier and quicker and helping you to save time and avoid unnecessary stress.
