Elopements, Microweddings, and Minimonys. Which Kind of Wedding Is Right for You? 


Choosing a wedding date is as important to many people as choosing a name for a baby! Very often, our couples choose their wedding date based on when they first started dating or when they had their first kiss. Some people decide to get married in their favorite season, like during the beautiful fall season here in the Poconos.


And then comes 2020, throwing a curveball into everyone’s life, and many couples are now facing concern about planning a wedding because of COVID-19. Wedding dates may have to change, and big plans may have to be paused, but love is not paused. We are here to help you decide which kind of wedding is the right fit for your wedding celebration. 


Elopement Weddings


Elopements are no longer two people secretly running off to the courthouse to get married without telling anyone! Elopements are planned just like more traditional weddings but have fewer guests.


I might be a bit biased, but we think the Lehigh Valley is one of the prettiest places to get married in eastern Pennsylvania. Elopements here are on the rise because of all the natural beauty and the ease of getting here; we’re just a short few hours’ drive from both Philadelphia or New York City, and no parking issues to be found!


You can get married anywhere a ceremony is permitted, or, if you love nature, here are some of our favorite locations if you are looking to be married in one of our beautiful parks in the Lehigh and Carbon County areas of PA.


(Due to changing regulations, please be sure to contact the State Park Division to find out if they have any restrictions on weddings before you choose your date)

Beltzville State Park- Lehighton, PA 

Located at the foothills of the Poconos, this state park has so many different areas that are scenic for an elopement, including a pretty beach, covered bridges, open fields, and waterfalls. The sunset over the lake is downright gorgeous; the whole park is a photographer’s paradise!

Engagement Couple standing in front of a tree in Allentown, PA  Rose Gardens and Lockridge Park
An engagement couple about to kiss at Bethlehem Steel Stacks and Lockridge Park
Engagement Couple looking at each other  in Allentown, PA  Rose Gardens and Lockridge Park

Lock Ridge Park - Allentown PA

It’s as close to a castle as we have here in PA! The old stone structures that remain from the coal-burning iron furnace and mill area provide an interesting setting for a wedding in any season. Popular in the spring because of the abundance of bluebells that bloom, and the mature trees are a riot of color in the fall. Rolling green hills provide a great photographic backdrop to the historic buildings. More about weddings at Lock Ridge Furnace Park.

Lehigh Valley Wedding Elopements Venues Micro Minimonys COVID-19 Cornavirus Hickory Run Boulder field
Lehigh Valley Wedding Elopements Venues Micro Minimonys COVID-19 Cornavirus Hickory Run Boulder field
Lehigh Valley Wedding Elopements Venues Micro Minimonys COVID-19 Cornavirus Hickory Run Boulder field

Hickory Run State Park - White Haven PA

This park has some amazing places to get married! Probably most notably is the area is a boulder field, which is a big field of rocks left over from the ice age. It also has lakes, a beautiful waterfall called Hawks Falls, and a small chapel. If you love camping, this would be a great choice because after your ceremony you could hike on one of the 40 miles of trails in this immaculately kept park.

Microweddings


A micro wedding is simply a scaled-down wedding from what you originally planned. Think of it as a bite-sized wedding! Usually comprised of 15 people or less, the timelines are shorter than a traditional wedding and have an abbreviated reception as the focus of a microwedding is the ceremony. Some ideas for a microwedding would be a ceremony followed by a brunch, a ceremony on the beach with a bonfire, or a backyard wedding.


If you are planning a microwedding, lean on wedding vendors for advice! We are always going to point you towards vendors we know do a great job and that we love to work with. 

Minimonys


Leave it to 2020 to give us a whole new word! A Minimony is a perfect choice for couples who want to honor their original wedding date. Get safely married on the date you chose with the closest people in your life in attendance and save the reception for 2021. 


The minimony is a good idea if you have friends and family from all over that you want to celebrate with but cannot attend because of travel restrictions. You can be sure that all the people who celebrate your union will be up for that party when we can all gather again!

Creative|Fun|Epic Wedding Photography


If you’re considering a wedding this year or next year here in beautiful eastern Pennsylvania, we’d love to talk with you more about your plans and your photography needs. It all starts with a conversation, and you telling us all about your story, and your hopes for your wedding day. Let’s chat!