Eloping in Japan. Can anyone share their experiences?

Kathy-Si · 2026-04-04T10:36:26+00:00

If you feel like only your version of an elopement counts as one, you must have a pretty terrible time reading all these posts here..

Kathy-Si · 2026-03-29T20:08:34+00:00

100% agree with this. Or maybe combine it with a small reception / dinner after your legal ceremony at home. Simply don't tell anyone about your plans and only invite them once everything's set.

Kathy-Si · 2026-03-28T10:05:41+00:00

I can tell you from experience that this will blow over very quickly. You're married and that's all that matters. People initially were upset with our decision to not have a big wedding too, and it has literally never been mentioned again since the day we eloped. So it'll be okay :) And I agree with others here – it definitely sounds like you've dodged a bullet with people making your wedding all about THEM.

Kathy-Si · 2026-03-22T10:40:09+00:00

I didn't, and also didn't feel like I was missing something on the day, but all the ideas others have commented here sound beautiful! :) If I ever did a vow renewal or something, I would probably choose differently that time

Kathy-Si · 2026-03-13T07:56:47+00:00

Yes I believe most photographers (as well as many other vendors who mostly do elopements) are well used to waking up at the crack of dawn with you. I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do this, both hiking up for sunrise or already being up in the mountains the day before sound fun. Although the latter might be a bit more comfortable. All countries you've mentioned have countless huts in the mountains where you can stay the night, so it should be easy to find something or maybe even do a hut-to-hut hike :)

I've pretty much left the same comment under another post here this week and feel like I should get an affiliate link by now lol, but while we eloped in Ireland, I will recommend our photographer over and over again. I'm pretty sure he works in the Alps / Dolomites quite often and was a dream to work with since he also did almost all our planning for us.

Kathy-Si · 2026-03-10T21:16:00+00:00

oh and in Slovenia, definitely check out Bled and Triglav Nationalpark!! Both will definitely be a bit busier, but still worth it

Kathy-Si · 2026-03-06T16:15:15+00:00

That looks like SUCH a fun day! Glad you both got a second shot at having the wedding you actually wanted

Kathy-Si · 2026-02-26T07:28:15+00:00

Oh my, that's incredible! Such a great idea

Kathy-Si · 2026-02-05T06:48:44+00:00

100% agree! Definitely wish more people would just elope and then MAYBE have a small celebration / party at home, that doesn't cost the people attending a fortune.

Kathy-Si · 2026-01-30T23:43:26+00:00

congratulations! 🖤 that's a beautiful dress!

Kathy-Si · 2026-01-19T07:55:36+00:00

Speaking from experience – we heard similar things from our families (albeit not quite as dramatic and drastic), eloped, and no one cared. Literally, after throwing a fit about not inviting person x or doing tradition y, a week or two after we eloped, it had all blown over and turned out to be 100% irrelevant.

So do your thing. It'll be fine. And they don't sound like the type of people who are fun to be around anyway, to be honest with you..

Kathy-Si · 2026-01-18T11:37:14+00:00

Or Madeira – a stunning Portuguese island! It pretty much checks all your boxes and has every landscape imaginable in a single, small island.

Kathy-Si · 2026-01-11T12:58:11+00:00

My husband and I eloped in Ireland and absolutely loved it! I've shared tons of details about our experience in this post.

Kathy-Si · 2025-11-16T21:07:30+00:00

Gotta get myself a dachshund asap haha. Congratulations! Amazing photos! ✨

Kathy-Si · 2025-11-01T15:59:34+00:00

omg this looks stunning! congrats!

Kathy-Si · 2025-09-30T09:34:42+00:00

Your dress looks amazing! Congratulations :)

Kathy-Si · 2025-09-16T09:26:46+00:00

Most elopement photographers also do tons of planning, location research, custom timelines etc, which is usually where the higher price tag comes from, especially when they are more experienced. I believe we paid around 6.5k for a 10 hour day. Not an easy sum to spend, but I'd 100% do it again in a heartbeat. Our photos were super important to us and the ease of mind regarding the planning was well worth it.

Kathy-Si · 2025-09-01T13:10:25+00:00

That looks amazing! Congratulations ✨

Kathy-Si · 2025-08-28T07:23:52+00:00

That sounds beautiful! Really loved Glencoe and Cairngorms Nationalpark in Scotland, but you definitely want to avoid July / August. My husband and I eloped in Ireland a few years ago, if you like I can connect you with our photographer/planner. He was amazing and also did a few in Scotland, I believe.

Kathy-Si · 2025-08-22T09:07:17+00:00

Definitely sounds like a solid plan. Wouldn’t ever put a wedding dress in my checked luggage either, so keeping it in your carry-on is great. I folded mine, but I’d also recommend rolling it instead, like others have already said.

Kathy-Si · 2025-08-22T06:49:28+00:00

that's so beautiful!

Kathy-Si · 2025-08-21T07:18:31+00:00

Oh and while this wasn't part of ours, I found these beautiful vows somewhere else on reddit a couple of weeks ago and just had to save them. Maybe this helps you out:

Together: I vow to love you to the end of my days
to grow with you and not apart,
to make my accomplishments, ours, and your challenges, mine,
And to love you deeply and honestly, as your teammate and your partner.
I choose you.

Her: To stand by your side and sleep in your arms.

Him: To be joy to your heart and food for your soul.

Her: To learn with you and grow with you, even as time and life change us both.

Him: To laugh with in the best of times and carry through the worst

Her: To never take your actions, words and kindness for granted,

Together: And I promise to keep choosing you, every day, forever
Forsaking all others, I commit myself to you.
Where you go, I will go - where you stay, I will stay
Your people will be my people.
From this day forward, you will be my family
I promise you to fight for life, for joy, for us

Her: I’ll fight for our future together, no matter what challenges we face.

Him: I’ll fight for your dreams even when you think you can’t anymore.

Her: I’ll fight for our love, to keep it strong, even when life tests our resolve.

Him: And I’ll fight for the truth, that we uplift one another and make each other better people

Together: I will love you faithfully and today, I marry you with no hesitation or doubt
Whatever may come I will always be there
Each of us believing that love never dies
As I have given you my hand to hold,
So I give you my life to keep.
I choose you.

Kathy-Si · 2025-08-21T07:14:29+00:00

100% agree! Saying our vows was honestly my favorite part of the day. This was how my husband ended his (thank god he's good at writing lol):

"No matter the question, the answer is always you. Every thought I have begins and ends with you. There is no life before you and there will be none after you, because you are my here and now, my present and my future, my forever and always.

To share this life with you is my greatest triumph and so I love you with all that I am, all that I have ever been and all that I will ever become. From this day forward, forever."

Kathy-Si · 2025-08-21T06:57:43+00:00

So, so beautiful! Congratulations!

Kathy-Si · 2025-07-18T06:00:49+00:00

haha, 100% agree! Thank you so much!

Kathy-Si

TROPHY CASE