Let’s be real, I could not elope without including my friends and family in at least one aspect of the day. And the good news is, whatever goes. So if you want to elope just the two of you and celebrate with your closest friends and family afterwards, here are some ideas to get you started.

Why Have a Reception After Eloping?

Eloping is such a fun way to say “I do” without the stress of planning a traditional wedding. If you’re like me and can’t imagine celebrating with loved ones some way, having a reception after eloping can be a way to do it!

Just because you chose to have a private ceremony doesn’t mean you have to skip the celebration with loved ones!

Whether you want a casual backyard BBQ, a black tie affair, or a themed celebration, there are so many ways to make your reception special.

Post Elopement Party Ideas

Have a private catered dinner

One way to include friends and family is to include them in the meals throughout the day, whether that’s making brunch together in the morning, having a picnic before you head off solo to your ceremony, or hosting a dinner party when you return in the evening. If you’re like me and LOVE food, then this is the prefect way to include friends and family in your elopement.

Tips & tricks for having a private catered dinner after your elopement: If you’re looking to have an outdoor reception after eloping, I can’t recommend enough having some source of ambient light once the sun sets: twinkly lights, large lightbulbs, or candles (if there isn't a fire ban). And I'm totally a fan of risking the weather (and avoiding large white event tents) in order to keep the ambiance of dinner parties what they are: and your photos will be so much better for it.

How to have a reception after eloping: Host a Dinner Party at a Restaurant

2. Host a dinner party at a restaurant

If you’re looking to head out to a restaurant after you elope, you can also looking into different larger capacity restaurants to host your reception after! Some of my favorite places that might be able to host your party include restaurants, breweries, wineries, arcade bars, speakeasies, or cowering spaces.

3. Have a picnic at a trailhead or your campground

You also don’t have to do anything wild and crazy and can always opt to go the simpler route of offering a grazing board/picnic at your elopement ceremony site, your campground, or your favorite trailhead. There are quite a few local options that source ingredients directly from Western Colorado too! Some of my favorite meat & cheese companies are Nibbles & Sips, Meat & Cheese, and Wander + Graze.

4. Enjoy your favorite local beverages around a campfire

Nothing says Colorado quite like sipping -anything but- Fat Tire around a camp fire (just kidding, if you like Fat Tire, you do you, no judgement here!). It’s a way to collectively wind down in the evening, possibly see some stars, tell some good stories over the campfire, and more. There is truly no camaraderie that is built like that around a campfire when you’re in you’re an adult and usually in bed by 9 pm.

5. Host a get-together at your rental property

While rental companies like Airbnb currently have event limits, some rental companies like Peerspace still allow larger events with hosts approval. Nothing lets you unwind like unbuttoning those pants and running around in your socks like a get together at your rental property.

Some great ideas my couples have done to celebrate with family after their elopement at their rental includes hosting a potluck, meal, or BBQ—playing cards and board games, karaoke, watching movies, star gazing, having a campfire, swimming, and more.

6. Get takeout from your favorite restaurant

If you’re like me and would rather head home than sit in a restaurant booth, you can always pick up some take out or have food delivered to where you are staying! Double check that the place you want is open as a lot of mountain towns have low staff and therefore are closed on random days of the week. Nothing kills the mood faster than talking all day about how excited you are for tacos, only to realize the taco place is actually closed.

For larger groups you’ll want to let the restaurant know ahead of time, but if it’s just a few of you and you’re looking to split a couple of pizzas, you’re usually okay waiting until the day of.

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: Hire Food Trucks

7. Ask a food truck to cater for you

A lot of smaller mountain towns have more food trucks than they do locally owned restaurants, which means there is no shortage of local community you can support by asking them to cater your reception after eloping!

You can even have more than one food truck come if you are having a larger “traditional” sized reception after eloping which allows guests to have options as well as not overwhelm the food trucks! You can also get different ones for the main course, as well as dessert.

8. Have a silent disco party in the desert

Okay this one is reallllly specific but if you’re the type of find this idea super cool then you know this idea is super cool.

9. Hang out with friends and family virtually

If you are heading out of town for a destination elopement then celebrating with friends and family virtually is still a great way to have a reception after eloping! Whether a pre-planned Zoom call, a Facetime call, or a quick little Skype session - this is a great eay to still include friends and family in your elopement!

Tips & tricks for celebrating with loved ones virtually after you elope: Use an app that allows you to pre-plan your call if including more than a few people, that way everyone knows when to expect your call!

10. Go camping or glamping

While this is kind of like #4, it’s a little more general and my favorite way to have a reception after eloping. If you have family or friends like mine who couldn’t imagine sleeping in a tent… on the ground… in the middle of nowhere … look into renting cabins or yurts. You can play board games, star gaze, go for sunrise hikes, go swimming in that alpine lake, or even sit around the campfire.

Tips & tricks for camping or glamping with loved ones after your elopement: If you have a larger group, forgo yurts and cabins at state parks and instead opt to reserve on private property instead. That way you don't have to worry about upsetting any other campers in case you get a little loud! Hipcamp is a great resource for locations for private camping.

If you’re looking for a venue to host your reception, check out a few of my favorite small wedding venues in western Colorado.

11. Have a Themed Celebration

Choosing a theme that reflects your personality, interests, or love story adds an extra layer of excitement for both you and your guests! Some theme ideas could be—western, disco, 80’s/90’s/2000’s, black tie, or even adventure themed.

If you love the great outdoors, consider a camp themed reception! Grab those twinkly lights, have a cozy bonfire, and some cozy decor. S’mores, grilled favs, lawn games, storytelling, and stargazing can help create relaxing nature-filled celebration!

For a full guide on how to plan a camp themed wedding, check out this blog post: How to Have a Camp Themed Wedding or Elopement.

How to Plan Your Reception After Eloping

Decide on the Type of Reception

The first step is deciding what kind of celebration fits your vision, budget, and guest list. For some ideas you could go with a:

Casual Gathering: A laid back get together with food, drinks, music. Think BBQ, picnic, or potluck.
Formal Reception: A sit down dinner at a restaurant to banquet hall for more of a traditional feel.
Themed Party: Incorporate a fun theme that reflects your personalities, like a camp, western, or retro theme.
Destination Celebration: Turn your reception into a vacation by hosting it in a scenic location.

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: Send Out Invites

2. Set a Date and Send Invites

Unlike a wedding, a post elopement reception can happen weeks or even months after the ceremony! When choosing a date, consider these factors:

Give guests enough notice to travel.
If hosting outdoors, pick a good season.

You also don’t have to send paper invites! These days we’ve got Facebook events or Evite. You can also share a wedding website!

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: Choose the Right Venue

3. Choose the Right Venue

Your venue sets the tone for your reception. Here are some options:

At Home: Perfect for an intimate and budget-friendly celebration.
Outdoor Spaces: Parks, beaches, or gardens offer a beautiful and relaxed setting.
Event Venues: If you want a formal atmosphere, book a banquet hall, restaurant, brewery, or winery.
Vacation Rental: Renting a cabin, lake house, Peerspace, or Airbnb can create a weekend-long celebration.

Make sure to check venue availability, alcohol rules, parking, and guest capacity before booking.

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: : Incorporate Personal Touches

4. Incorporate Personal Touches

A post-elopement reception is your chance to share your journey with loved ones. Consider adding some fun elements from your elopement like:

Photo & Video Display: Set up a slideshow or print photos from your elopement to share the moment.
Vows & Toasts: Read your vows or give a short speech about your elopement experience.
Memory Table: Include keepsakes from your elopement, like dried flowers, souvenirs, or a framed marriage certificate.
Customized Favors: Send guests home with small tokens, such as engraved keychains, candles, or mini photo albums.

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: Plan Food and Drinks

5. Plan the Food & Drinks

Food-wise, you have plenty of options. You could:

Hire a private chef or caterer
Order a bunch of pizzas (no problem with a couple of hot’n’readys!)
Order takeout from a restaurant
Hire some food trucks
Eat on location at a restaurant or brewery
Cook everything yourself!

As for food and drinks, that just depends on what style you’re going for! You could do a:

Casual Buffet: Tacos, BBQ, or pizza stations.
Sit-Down Dinner: A multi-course meal with wine pairings.
Cocktail Party: Light appetizers and signature drinks.
Dessert & Coffee Bar: A low-key option with sweet treats and warm beverages.

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: Decide on Entertainment

6. Decide on Entertainment

It might seem like you don’t need to keep guests engaged but there’s nothing wrong with giving them something to do as you’ll be busy running around talking to everyone! This is also helpful if you’ll have kids around. Keep loved ones engaged with fun activities:

Music: Hire a DJ, live band, or create a playlist.
Games: Lawn games like cornhole, giant Jenga, or trivia.
Photo Booth: Set up a DIY backdrop or photo station with a Polaroid camera and props.
Dancing: Rent a dance floor or have a themed dancing.

How To Have a Reception After Eloping: Dress However You Want

7. Dress However You Want

One of the best things about a post-elopement reception is that there are no rules! You can:

Re-wear your wedding attire for a second chance at gorgeous photos.
Grab a post elopement party dress! This can be another wedding dress, cocktail, semi-formal outfits—whatever matches your vibe.
Go casual and comfy if you’re hosting a relaxed celebration.

You can also change through your reception! I’ve had couples who wear their wedding clothes for an hour or so and then change into something more comfy.