In this episode of Now That I’m Engaged, How Do I Get Married?, Kevin and August sit down with Jenny MacFarlane, owner of Eloping is Fun in New York City. With 15 years of experience crafting elopements and micro-weddings, Jenny has helped over a thousand couples throw out the rulebook and design days that feel authentically them—from private vows and first-look moments to donut-shop ceremonies and Dance Dance Revolution detours.

Drawing on real client stories and NYC know-how, Jenny breaks down why “breaking tradition” isn’t anti-tradition—it’s pro-you. She shares how to reframe pressure, communicate with loved ones, and swap performative “shoulds” for meaningful choices. You’ll learn simple ways to personalize your ceremony, what to do when the guest list feels complicated, and why some couples elope now and party later for a calmer, more joyful experience.

Highlights:

• Start with how you want the day to feel, then let that guide every choice.
• “Tradition” vs. meaning: keep what resonates, toss what doesn’t.
• Guest-list freedom: micro-weddings and elopements can preserve intimacy without losing celebration.
• Eloping now, party later: reducing perfection pressure by separating the marriage from the reception.
• Real-world inspiration: a shelter-dog walk in wedding attire, a DDR arcade morning, and a cozy donut-shop ceremony.
• NYC backdrops with personality: DUMBO’s bridges, the New York Public Library, Grand Central, and Coney Island.
• Stress you won’t miss: RSVP drama, seating charts, and expectation overload.

No matter what kind of celebration you’re planning, Jenny’s presence-first, permission-forward approach will help you design a day that’s 100% you—so you can skip the pressure, savor the moments, and start married life on your terms.

Madison Humphrey Venue Video

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All right, folks, welcome to another episode of Now That I'm Engaged, How Do I Get Married? I'm here with August, of course, but we also have Jenny Mack with us today. She's the owner of Eloping is Fun. And so our topic today is going to be how to break up with tradition and plan a wedding 100 % you. So I love this title because I feel like couples are starting. That's a trend. They're breaking up with traditions. And much to the dismay of grandmas and aunties and

Woo!

you

Yes.

Hmm.

uncles out there but that's kinda what we're seeing right now and it's kind of a fun tradition but Jenny before we jump in can you us a little bit about yourself and how we got you here today

Yeah, absolutely. Well, you know, similarly, I love the name of your podcast now that I'm engaged. How do I get married? Because that kind of sums up, that kind of sums up why we're all here. You know what I mean? That kind of sums up the, why I started eloping is fun. So yes, I am Jenny Mack, Jenny Mack Farlin. I go by Jenny Mack. ⁓ I live in New York City.

Wow, thank you.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

⁓ I'm born and raised here and I started a looping is fun. 15 years ago. ⁓ I am a photographer before it was called. do everything before it's cool. No.

Before it was cool, right? Before it was cool.

You're like an influencer. You're a trendsetter.

Yeah.

⁓

to like Gen X to even kind of like, you know what I mean? Be comfortable with that. But thank you. Thank you very much. You know, I have been told. ⁓ But yeah, no, I did kind of spot this pretty early on. ⁓ New York City, of course, is a destination for people to get married. ⁓ I mean, who doesn't love New York? I mean, I'm sure there's a few people. That's fine. You don't have to come here.

But a lot of people come to New York to get married. And as a wedding photographer, I was being asked to photograph weddings here and there at City Hall. And at first I was like, City Hall is so cool. And then very quickly I was like, no, City Hall's not that cool. So that's my stance on City Hall, just so that we know where we're starting from. Yeah, well, yeah, not the marriage bureau part of City Hall.

Yeah.

case anyone's listening from City Hall.

You

So I started a Loping is Fun, which is a full service, ⁓ lopement packages, ⁓ company. And we do photography. ⁓ we have a roster of incredibly cool, efficient, all very certified, very just interesting backgrounds as you know, I August was, we were just chatting about it before she was looking through all the bios. We got an interesting crew.

Yeah.

We've got a full-time planning guru and then there's a kind of very big eloping is fun universe of people that we've been working together for a while to just kind of bring these super unique fun elopements to couples. So that's what I do.

I love it. All right, so Jenny, we're here to talk about breaking traditions, and you built a business around helping couples throw out the rule book. So what does breaking up with tradition really mean to you?

Well, what it means, and I do want to clarify that I'm not against tradition per se. I am more for you doing things your way, what feels right to you. know, cause some of the traditions that we have in the industry now are, you know, they're ones that were created with, you know, kind of big dollar signs in mind, right? So, you know, like the...

Mm-hmm.

Yes.

reality these days is that some people just, if that's a tradition to spend a lot of money on a wedding, like, you know, yeah, I'll help people break up with that tradition, right? ⁓ But you know, we do do as far as what, but when, you know, tradition and all the other forms, I'm actually a fan of. But so before your wedding, I really am for you doing it exactly how you want to do it. And we've met couples who have expressed that in

Yeah.

many, many, many ways, which I'm sure you'll ask about.

Yes. Yeah, we definitely want to hear about those later. Well, I guess we wanted to ask just to kind of dive deeper into this. Why do you think it's so hard for couples to step away from like what's traditional or like quote unquote normal for a wedding?

You

Yeah, I think what's hard in some ways is that like, let's just say, and not to kind of, you know, puff ourselves up, but like, maybe they don't know kind of companies like mine exist, you know? Maybe they don't realize ⁓ what's possible, what's out there, how they can have a wedding that's really meaningful, really beautiful, really, you know, joyous, because some people...

Mmm.

Yes.

might still think eloping is like, well, you're just running away. It's just gonna be the to you, or that's gonna be weird, or people are gonna be upset if I don't get invited. And I could tell you over the 15 years I've been doing this, this has not necessarily been the case. A lot of people do find us, ⁓ and they're just so grateful. They're like, my God, I think this is what I've been looking for. And then they just, find it. You know what I mean? It catches up to them.

Mm-hmm.

So I think that's one. I always ask people when I do my consult calls with them, like, did you start off planning a big wedding? So I think that a lot of people are starting to plan the big wedding and call the venues and just realize like the insanity around that. yeah. Do you see that like TikTok comedian who she's blonde and she was doing this skit about touring wedding venues?

Listen

Humphrey. Yep. Yep. She is awesome. But yeah, it's so true and I'm watching it because I used to do venue sales. And I'm like, I mean, obviously it's exaggerated to a point, but it's pretty spot on. Like that's extra. That's not included. Yeah.

yeah, it's pretty, that's extra. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I like the two year wait list. I'm telling you like link to this video if you can. It's so brilliant for anyone who is in the process, been in the process, know about the process. It's a very beautiful therapeutic laugh.

I gotta see this video now. You guys...

I'll send it to you, Kevin, yeah.

love it. want everyone, August, you'll have to link that video in the show notes so everyone can see it.

Yeah.

Yeah, she's the best.

Yeah. But I think what- go ahead, Jenny.

Sorry, yeah, no, she, ⁓ look at that perfect timing. Sorry about that. Let's just like cut all of that, sorry. ⁓ Let me just turn this completely off. I'm so sorry.

No, that's okay.

That's okay.

No, that's okay. Yeah, Emily's our code word. And then we switch it out. No, but she's hilarious. It's so funny you say that because, ⁓ and she's quick. Okay, so not to get totally off topic, but, ⁓ Lindsay in our office here, she sent me a TikTok last night of, a wedding coordinator where the bride and groom were coming down this really big staircase and there, and it was made of marble.

We say the word Emily and Emily knows.

I'm

the Lou. Okay.

And the wedding coordinator just starts sliding down the side of the stairs while they're walking down the aisle, because she's trying to get to the front. It was hilarious. And Lindsay sent it to me last night, and I was like, my god, this is hilarious, but I'm kind of into it. And then this morning, I saw Madison Humphrey, who you were referring earlier. She already recreated the video, because she does parody videos, you know? So like, I was like, wow, that was so fast. I said, it's Lindsay. I'm like, this girl.

my god.

Hehehehe

work so incredibly quick. But ⁓ no, it's so funny. But I think it's overwhelming for couples. Like you're coming in and you don't know. I think you just see the Pinterest, you see the Instagram and you're like, my god, this is my dream wedding. This is what I want. And you don't understand the dollar signs that come with that. And it's probably a little depressing. So I love the reframe. Eloping is fun. It's it's still just as fun as you know, this wedding, you know, and I think

It's okay to give couples permission to do what they want because I don't think they realize they have permission to do that.

Yes, that's like one of my favorite articles that I always send people that I wrote is permission to have the elopement of your dreams. It was really, that's one of my like cornerstone contents. I'm like, if you want to know what I think about eloping, this is what I think about eloping. Like you're not, know, like forget any idea you had about selling yourself short. Most people don't think that there's still a few people that might like, ⁓ you know,

I was looking at that too, yeah?

Mm-hmm.

not gonna have this like whatever wedding, most people are kind of over it. But you know, if you did have any inkling of that, just a loping, feel like has so much to offer in terms of it being really personal, really creative, because I mean, that's where, that's what everyone wants for their wedding anyway, for it to like be unique and be personal. And I just think like this is one of the best ways to do it is to just like keep it.

small, do you know what I mean? yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, that's a good way to do it. All right,

so since we're talking about traditions, what are some of the that you see couples questioning most often? Like, maybe no bridal toss, no big bridal party, no first dance. Like, what are they throwing out the window?

Ha ha ha.

I know, like, for us, Kevin,

we don't see the garter toss anymore. Like, on our end in California, we don't see garter toss anymore.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's gone.

I know right

it's like

Yeah, I know. love that that's even a thing. Honestly, if you did see a garter toss, like first of all, anywhere in Brooklyn and like, let's say the past 15 years since like I started, it would be just totally like ironic. Like overdoing this, like, you know, yeah. So yeah, I mean, I think that... ⁓

yeah, and like a hee hee ha ha, yeah.

I never even thought

of people doing it to make fun of the tradition.

Yeah.

I

don't know. I think it just come from like a different, I think when I started doing weddings to begin with in Brooklyn, they were, I always more did non-traditional weddings anyway. So for me, I wasn't as exposed to that per se, you know, as like maybe in some other kind of markets and stuff. But I think the tradition, as far as the traditions around

Mmm.

Mm-hmm.

getting married, think that like who you invite is probably like top of the list of where I see couples just deciding. mean, some couples are like just having friends or, you know, of course, you know, we do elopements and micro weddings, right? Just to clarify. So, you know, I would say a lot of our weddings, people do have guests these days. I would say like the majority of what we do are

⁓

micro weddings, like we're always excited when it's just like a pure elopement. We're like, ⁓ it's an elopement, just the two of them, you know, but these days, like it's become more mainstream. So people do want to have a few people around. ⁓ And yeah, that's the thing. Sometimes people are just not inviting family for a lot of different reasons for, it's not that they don't like them. It's like the travel, they what?

can be shy. They

can be shy, you know?

Yeah,

and the traveling for the parents, they just see their wedding as something different, you know?

Mmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I love it.

Yeah, I get that. And just maybe not feeling like you can be like your full true self in front of family sometimes, you know?

That, that

literally too, that too, that is very true, especially when it comes to the ceremonies, because our ceremonies are super unique. know, like we interview the couples and we write, we write a wedding ceremony about their relationship and we don't really kind of censor it. Do you know what I mean? Like that's the kind of fun part. Like the real thing, you know, and you do get to show that face in front of your friends. So a lot of people love.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Mmm.

Yeah.

that feeling of being like, oh my God, that was like my wedding ceremony and it was irreverent and I would have never been able to get away with that in front of a hundred people, you know? So, yeah.

Yeah.

I was gonna say, here in California, at a normal, not a smaller micro wedding, but even here, we see first dance, and we see a speech, and outside of that, it's a mixed bag of tricks what you're gonna get. You don't know what you're gonna get, or what they wanna do, or what they don't wanna do, and silent cake cuttings are a thing now. I love that everyone's making it their own.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, exactly. You know, lot of couples for us are actually, I don't know how much this is spread in like the larger wedding industry, but are doing their vows privately. Yeah.

Mm-hmm, that's starting to catch on here.

Mm-hmm. feel like it's like 50-50

here. It's like pretty often, but not all the time. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, they're

doing it during the first look is what they do.

Yeah,

it's like one in the same. Yeah.

So nice.

Mm-hmm.

I love that. Like that's a new tradition. Do you know what I mean? Like we are making new traditions. Like that's what I think is fun and cool. Also a tradition that I think that we are doing is popping champagne on the street. That's like the...

Mm-hmm.

Yeah?

Yeah, that's fun.

I mean, the photos

are great. I'm sure you can appreciate that as a photographer, right?

Yeah, I think it just kind of it's like it really represents eloping. It's just like popping some champagne on the street. Like I'm breaking all the rules, you know, and this is one of them. So yeah.

Totally.

I love that. Yeah, know. Yeah, that is great. Especially

if you're going to do it and get like a New York City cab driving by and drench the cab.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Not with good champagne. Yeah. Yeah. But we, usually do, we usually do good. We usually do good champagne. Like what our pack, like our five and seven hour packages do come with a bottle of, of VUV Cliquot, which it's good. It's good. It's not like Dom Perignon, but it's like, it's good champagne. You know, I don't mess around when it comes to champagne. Like that is essential in life, you know? So yeah.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, the cheap stuff.

wow. Yeah, well, you know what? Yeah. No, no, but it's it is Yeah

Yeah

That is good stuff.

And I know we mentioned this earlier, but I'm kind of wanting you to share some of the creative ways couples have made their wedding 100 % years. I'm sure you have a bunch. And yeah, we're just curious to hear some.

Yeah, I I love, I love meeting couples. Of course, like I started the company. you know, I still, I, you know, I run the company, but I have a very big team who really kind of orchestrates almost everything, you know, as far as like, like everything, right? The planning, the editing, blah, blah, blah. So, you know, I get to kind of still stay in that like creative and what I call like receptive role. And I always meet with every new client.

Mm-hmm.

you know, the console calls are always with me because my favorite thing, I love talking to couples and I love just hearing about them and I love kind of dropping little things like getting little clues and being like, well, here's something we could do because people's brains just like, you know, so on some people really run with that. like just this year, we had a couple who ⁓ shelters dogs. They live in Chicago.

Hmm.

Mm-hmm.

⁓

but you know, they're really big into rescue dogs and they couldn't imagine being in New York and on their wedding without a bunch of dogs. So we're also dog people. So we, we got an appointment at one of the shelters to kind of hang out with the dogs and go for a walk and lick our, lick their faces. And they were like, I cannot believe, mean, they were fully decked out too.

⁓ that's cute.

Yeah

And they were like, I can't believe that was my wedding. And I did the thing I love to do, you know? And I'm like, of course. And you know, like it was a small idea, but we ran with it. Like we take the small ideas and we're like, hey, we can make that, we can make something like this happen. What do you think? Other times couples come to us, they're like, I know exactly what I want. We had another couple this year who was like, we're obsessed with dance dance revolution. We want to spend the morning.

Hmm.

Of course, yes.

Yes, there's a special arcade in Long Island. I drove out to Long Island, like, of course I'll go to Long Island for an arcade, come on. They're like, there's special arcade that has like these, like all these crazy versions of Dance Dance Revolution and this arcade's amazing. So went out there, hung out, played all the games, did all the things. And then we actually met up later in Brooklyn for their ceremony at sunset.

You

But I remember it was really cute. was like, oh, do you guys want to drive back to Brooklyn together? You know, and they were like, no, no, no, we're just going to stay and play video games. like, also like, this is not just for the photos. Like, this is just what you want to do. They were totally serious. So another, like one of my heroes. So we just, like, we just get a lot of couples like that. And we of course encourage it. So, you know.

my God, good for them.

No, they were serious, yeah? ⁓

Are there any more fun or unexpected things couples have done instead of the traditional elements?

Yeah, I mean a lot like I could go on and on I mean Yeah, sure sure totally so Yeah, it's creative

I love it. It's just, I think it's creative for folks.

think it'll like also

for listeners like couples listening they might get some ideas sparked in their head too. Because I'm trying to think of ones, Kevin, I mean like we get unique stuff but nothing crazy like that, you know? No, I know.

Be like, yes, I know, start. Yeah. Why not?

Nothing as cool as a video game and...

I

know, I know. Well, it's hard to pull that stuff off. It's just hard to pull that stuff off. A lot of times with the bigger weddings, there are so many logistics and there's so much stuff that it becomes really hard to create something from the ground up. So like, you know, like we've kind of created this like template for being able to like have this day where you're just having an adventure, but a normal wedding day, like, you know, it doesn't always allow for that.

Yeah, it's true. Yeah.

because there's a lot more structure to it, you know? So that's why we take advantage of it. But so I'll tell you just, I'll tell you like two more of my favorites. So another one was a couple that were obsessed with donuts. Like again, like just after my own heart, I love donuts. It's like my treat. And they wanted to get married in a donut shop. So I had a friend who owns, yeah.

Mm. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

I love

it.

My god.

I had a friend who owns a really cool vegan donut shop in Bushwick. It's really good. You can't even tell the donuts are vegan. No offense to vegans, you know, like, I'm not a vegan, you can't tell. Yeah. So we got to the, you know, we didn't want to do a private thing. We wanted to do it when it was like open, low key, like in the afternoon. So we came, they had four or five of their friends. They had our officiant, Matt Dallow, who plays the accordion.

They're that good.

No, but if you can't tell, why not, you know?

And what I loved about them, so we got there and I was like, okay, like we can stand here and we could do this. They're like, no, we're gonna sit down and have donuts and coffee. And I'm like, I love it even more. So they sat down during the ceremony with their friends with donuts and coffee. I'm like, this is amazing. Yeah. And then we bought like, yeah, we bought a few dozen donuts. We had them on the table in the front for people who walked in. We're like, wedding happening, please take a donut. People were like, that's so cool. And just left.

Why not, you know?

It's like New York, you know? Yeah, exactly. They're like, this is awesome. Cool. Thanks. I'm going to work now. Just another day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I was going to say, free doughnut.

That's wow, just so open. ⁓ I love that though. What it's

like, I feel like you really have to have like confidence and courage almost to like do something like that. But but not if you have a whole team behind you, right? Like, and I think that's what the beauty of it is, is like you have this entire team supporting you in the in the day and like you can do those types of things. But it's just cool. I think it's cool. I really admire someone who can

Just go out and do something like that, you know, it's cool.

Yeah,

I do too. Like I love our couples more than anything. Like, and no matter what they choose. And I'm like, I also just want to say like not every couple wants to do these like quirky things. You know, like we get a lot of couples who just like, you know, are obsessed with gossip girl and like want to get married at Bethesda Terrace. And I'm like, I got you. Like, I get it. Like, I know exactly what you want. And like, so we're here for all of it. You know, we're here for...

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

you know, whatever kind of draws you to New York and eloping, like we're here to, you know, have fun with it. So it doesn't have to be like donuts, but donuts are a plus, you know.

Do you have some like favorite elopement spots in New York that...

You can't beat donuts.

⁓ yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. This, this will be a good one. If, if anyone is now like tipping the scales towards like eloping in New York, like this, this will be a good one. And like one more thing before I say that too is like, I should have mentioned this earlier that as far as like people are eloping, they're having their like, like just for us wedding. mean, there's a lot of different ways that people say people are kind of

Yeah.

like running off and eloping before their big wedding. So a lot of people are doing that too. Like that, that, yeah. Yeah. A lot of people are just for, for lots of different reasons. Like they just want to have their little thing. You know, they want to do this thing in New York and then they're going to go have the big wedding. So anyway, so if there are people out there listening who are like, I'm already doing a big wedding. Well, look, you could do this too. So let's talk about locations.

Yes, yes, we get that a lot.

I love Dumbo. So Dumbo is a neighborhood in Brooklyn. It's on the waterfront. ⁓ When I was growing up, it was like wasteland. And now it's just like, it's like quintessential New York. It's beautiful. There's the Manhattan Bridge. There are these old warehouses, the Brooklyn Bridge, cobblestone streets, just like there's a ⁓ vintage restored carousel. It's like,

Mm-hmm.

Ugh.

everything and then some. So it will always, always be one of my favorite places, especially around sunset as like, you know what I mean? The sun comes down, the lights come up. It's just the best. mean, everyone in New York loves the waterfront because Manhattan is like this long skinny island. We're always just like gravitating towards the waterfront.

Hmm.

Mm-hmm.

you know, whenever we can, like that's where our parks are. That's where we, you know what I mean? Like that's where we like to hang out. And that's where you get like the best photos and like that best feeling of like being in New York and like New York witnessing you, you know what I mean? And being like, ⁓ my God, know, so Dumbo, super high on the list. ⁓ New York Public Library.

Mmm.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm going to say that's really popular, right? It's because of Ghostbusters and you name it. I know. I'm old. I'm old.

Yup.

Well, Ghostbusters again, like you're kind of aging yourself. Sorry, no offense, but yeah, I get the reference.

I get the reference too. Trust me. I get the Ghostbusters reference. You know, we, we do the Ghostbusters, ⁓ firehouse also. Yeah. yeah. It's totally real. And they are so nice. They are the cool. mean, they're New York city firefighters. They're like the best. They're like, you know,

Yeah.

do you really? I didn't even know that was real.

That's really cool.

Yeah.

⁓ yeah, they always let us go in, go on the trucks, do whatever we want. know, ⁓ yeah, they're so not because it's not like one of these, like, you know, it's not like super Instagram cool. If it was people would be like, that stuff goes through cycles and people get really burnt out on those things. And I get it. We, try and kind of move around that, but, ⁓ but yeah, no, the New York public library is absolutely beautiful for.

really for photos? That's awesome.

Wow.

Yeah.

All over it. Yeah.

Yeah.

for ceremonies and photos and it's just gorgeous. It's it's absolutely gorgeous. ⁓ Grand Central, we do a lot in the winter. It's really cool. We have like a kinda little hidden corner that we do, not like a corner. I mean, it's still, it's a beautiful part of Grand Central. Central Park and then pretty much like Coney Island, ⁓ pretty much anywhere and anything, but.

Mm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, we take advantage of all of New York City for photos and ceremonies. Yeah.

I mean, it's picturesque. There are probably

not many places you go that is not, I mean, other than the hood or whatever. you know, yeah, there's just so much you could do there. It's just endless. You probably couldn't even do it in a day if you tried to get it all. Yeah.

Yeah.

No, definitely

not. I wouldn't recommend it either, you know? I definitely wouldn't recommend it. Yeah, take it slow.

Yeah.

Well, that's the

booty of your guys' location too. Like you got all these different types of couples, but all these different locations to accommodate that. So super cool.

Yeah, exactly.

Like we can kind of match everyone with like their perfect kind of like New York itinerary. And yeah.

Mm-hmm.

All right. Well, how can couples communicate their vision in a way that helps loved ones get on board with this whole elopement?

that's a good one. Yeah.

Well, I don't necessarily always help in that way, like I under, well, you know what I mean? I mean, most people have already like made the decision by the time they've gotten to us, but I understand a lot of people's process, like what they've had to go through. And I think that, you know, for the couples, like once they make the decision of what they're going to do, I think it's just about,

⁓ okay.

think once that decision's kind of made, ⁓ the family accepts it, you know, as long as, you know, there are ways to still kind of make them a part of the day. You know, we offer like a ceremony video, you know, so like, we'll just have a videographer come because you can't do a video of like, with a phone, you know, like ridiculous. so we can do that. So instead of getting like,

Mm.

Yeah, that's too hard.

Yeah.

the whole videography thing, which is, you know, might be outside of some people's budgets. We could do ceremony only video and I always say like, that's just a nice gift for people. Like, you know, you're kind of gifting them your ceremony. And you know, everyone has their own ways of kind of approaching it. I mean, we have people who have like canceled their weddings and we wrote an article on that. Yeah, people have canceled their weddings. Like people have gotten in.

Mm-hmm.

and like started to kind of be like, no, I can't do this. Like my mental health is suffering. So it's not, it can be like a lot of, a lot a lot of pressure. So, you know, we've helped people through that. we even created some like unsaved the date, like templates. Have you seen those?

It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure, so...

That's...

that's really cute, actually.

No, but that's amazing.

Well,

if you're canceling a wedding, that's where you need to really put a lot of effort in, especially if people have already marked on their calendars or bought flights. That's where you have to make some personal phone calls. But if you're just deciding to elope, I think just sitting down with your family and just being like telling them why you made this decision and...

Yeah.

you know, just sharing like it's super individual for each person. So.

people are going, family, you're too much. Yeah, there you go. I like that. Your inside voice because...

Yeah. Well, that's like your, inside voice. And then there's like, then

Yeah.

there's, then there's the, you know, the real way. Yeah.

Well, I

mean, my wife and I had 219 guests at our wedding and I still like, yeah, well, I just remember, I don't know why I remember that number, but I remember it all these years. Well, the worst part, the seating chart was the worst part and making sure.

You're like 219.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Because you said that was the worst part, Kevin, your seating chart. ⁓

I'm not, not

Yes, seating

the guest.

charts, seating charts. It's like such a trope. Seating charts. and then everyone's got to...

⁓ it was the most...

alone,

It was the RSVPs, are you coming to the wedding or not? And it was the seating chart. And it's like, we can't put this person with that person. ⁓ and we were moving them around and we grabbed little Post-It flags and we were picking people up and moving them to the, you know, it was...

Yeah, like what they

do for fashion shows. I just watched the Victoria Beckham documentary and that's what they're doing for the fashion. Like, we'll put this person here and Anna Wintour there. That's like, but not everyone loves to do that, yeah.

⁓

Yeah.

Yes, yes, literally.

Yeah,

but it was, I mean, was the most stress and the most we fought during the whole wedding process was over all this because it was just, you know, cause then once we, we came to a decision, then, ⁓ maybe a parent or somebody, ⁓ you can't do that. And then, then it came to a point where we stopped telling people and it yeah, you know, yeah. No.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah. So eloping is

Yeah, don't update them.

like getting to that point in the process, just like a lot quicker and then just like, and just sticking with it. You know what I mean? And, you know, so, and I think too, like, I think we, talked about this before, ⁓ when we did, ⁓ the mind your wedding business podcast together is that a lot of

Mm-hmm.

You're bypassing a lot.

families and parents are super on board with a low pay. Less pressure for them, less expectations for them to pay for it. Or of course, if your parents were gonna contribute, then they can contribute towards a house or something. The houses are expensive and mortgage rates are nuts, but whatever. Just something like a nest egg. So there's...

Yeah.

Hmm.

Yeah.

Yes.

there's that too. Like there's definitely a lot of parents who also might not want to go through this process. like maybe your older brother or sister got married already and that almost like killed your family. So it's like, then you get to like slide in and be like, we're going to New York. You know, we're going here, we're going there. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's, I never even thought about that. Like you've watched a sibling or a family member go through the process and everything they dealt with and you're like, hell no, I don't want it. Yeah.

No, yeah, that's

Yeah.

what a lot of people like when I meet them, that's a lot of times what they say. They're like, I've just seen friends go through this and it's just not for me. You know, I just can't do this. So they just know already. Yeah.

And that's okay. That's okay.

And I'm in the wedding industry and I tried to get my wife. I'm like, let's go to Hawaii and let's have a small intimate wedding, just us. And she's like, no. She's like, no, we need to have a wedding. And then part way through she goes, we should have eloped. We should have eloped. So.

Yeah.

yeah, I

I say that to Kevin

all the time. I feel like with wedding pros specifically, there's like two types of wedding pros. There's the ones that are like, ain't no way am I putting myself through that. And then there's the ones that are like, no, it's my turn. It's my wedding now. You know, and I feel like those are the two you see. So they're either like very elaborate or like super low key. It's just no in between. It's so funny.

Yeah.

super low key.

Well, and I was a little of both because I was like, OK with going away and doing a small intimate, know, just immediate family kind of thing. And when she said we're doing it, I'm like, all right, we're going to do it. We're going to have, you know, we're going to do it and we're going to do it big. So yeah.

Yeah.

You see the

beauty, the beauty in both.

Yeah, and I love those weddings too. I'm really like, you know, like they say in my kids' elementary school, like don't yuck my yum. Like they're great too. They're, what? Yeah, don't yuck my yum. Yeah, yeah, but it's true.

Yeah.

Jenny, that is my mantra. I say that every single day. Ask Lindsay. I

Yeah.

say it every day. Don't yuck other people's yums. Yeah.

Yum, yeah, like do

what's right for you. That's what I am here for. Like, I don't expect everyone to want this, but if you want this, then hi, you know, like, let's go. You know? Yeah. Of course everyone's different. That's like the, you know, everyone needs to accept that everyone's different. We just want to do our own thing. You know what I mean? So the less opinions, the better, you know, but yeah.

Here I am.

then go

ahead, it's up to you. Everyone's different. Yep.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

All right, I guess we're getting kind of to the end here. to wrap up, I was just kind of curious. What advice do you have to someone that's on the fence or thinking about it, to jump in and to do an elopement? I love that.

Yes. Yeah, just try it out. Try it out. I mean, if you didn't

like it, you can always go have a big wedding.

It's true, you could do both, really. You could do both.

Bye!

Well,

and actually I am doing a wedding in January next year that they're already married and She's they she said we went and got eloped our guests don't know that we did this But we we did that because we just didn't want the pressure of the day But then we got the pressure to have the party. So we're like, all right, we'll do the party, but there's no she she that bride felt relief because It's it's already done You know it does the

Huh.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Having to be perfect. She goes if something happens something happened, you know, like there's no Zero pressure on her and I was like this is genius. I love I love and they've been yeah Like she goes our family and friends have or me our parents and our siblings know but other than that No one else knows

Yeah.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah, and then, you know, like there is a lot of pressure for, for yourself. it's your, like getting married, like the ritual and the ceremony of it is, it's a really powerful thing, you know? Like it's, that's the thing, you know? Like that's what this is. It's like all the other stuff is like the fluff around it, but it's true. Like once people have been able to kind of like do that,

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I mean, everything else is just like fun. And also some people, you know, just really feel that desire to just get on with it and like start their lives. Like I just like, I don't want to keep pushing this off because of this like thing I have to do this party, I have to plan this, this, you know, they're like, we just wanna, we just wanna do this, you know, or some people are engaged or engaged for a long time and they just can't figure out the wedding thing. And then they just like, alope.

Yeah.

and then boom, and they're married in like two months, you know?

Well,

that's it's funny. I've been hearing this theme a lot lately with some of my couples that they've been engaged for like six years some of one I just did they've been Engaged for ten years and then they finally decided to get married, but they probably Yeah Yeah, I just I I guess I'm

Yeah, so normal.

That's so normal though, Kevin. Most of my couples before were like that too, yeah.

Well, I only ever had

Yes.

one couple. They literally dated for eight months and they were venue shopping. And I was like, whoa, that's crazy. But to each their own. I'm not going to yuck their yum. So, but, most of the time.

Yeah, that's a little.

Yeah.

Exactly. had one of my first,

one of my first delopement couples. I love, they were from Canada. They were together for three months and they got married and I'm like, I love it. was so just exactly, exactly. were, they were a close couple. yeah, totally. Yeah. Yup. Yup.

Whoa.

But if you know, you know. Yeah. No, that's definitely going to be the story for sure.

and they're probably gonna be together forever. yeah. Yeah, yeah.

All right, so if I would like to have you take care of me in New York, how do we get ahold of you and all that good, all the good fun stuff?

So hopefully you can remember my company, Eloping is fun. That's it. We own Eloping is fun on the internet. Like that is us. If anyone tries it's trademarked. So like don't even try. know, people have, people it's okay, it's fine. You know, yeah. So Eloping is fun. We're very active on Instagram. We're active on TikTok. I love TikTok.

Thank

It's fun!

Don't even try it, guys!

Of course our website, think, you know, I'm still a traditionalist when it comes to that, like please visit the website. Please come read the blog. We've done our own little podcast. ⁓ It's just six episodes, but they're really kind of, it's really kind of like evergreen content with, yeah, with our team about, ⁓ you know, how to have the best photo shoot, like.

educational.

Mm-hmm.

you know, was me and the photographers just kind of all talking about that process of, you know, being behind the camera. ⁓ We have episode about micro weddings, your ceremony. And then we have a special one just about the crazy shit that happens in New York City. Literally that's a good one. That's a good one. Listen to that one. There's some crazy, there's a couple of fun stories. I we could probably do a whole series just on that forever. And maybe we will.

NAH!

Listen to that one.

my God.

So yeah, those are the places to find me. We have a great email list. We're always, you know, we do emails twice a month of, you know, if it's like restaurant week in New York, well, you know what I mean? Like they're very kind of New York and elopement centric. So ⁓ yeah, I recommend to, yeah, just check all of it out.

love it. I when I was with a president you you folks won't even know what whip it is but New York was my well I mean mean the listeners won't really know what whip it is but yeah but but New York yeah New York was my yeah yeah but New York was my favorite chapter to visit by far it just I fell in love with the city through by through them actually by them showing me yeah like we did a an event at Carnegie Hall

⁓ right, because they're not in the industry.

Yeah.

It's a wedding organization, guys.

Cool.

You know, and we were in Julie Andrews' former apartment and there was just all these cool shit that you don't get to experience anywhere else. Yeah.

yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, so cool. New York is like wild, the stuff

that's like at our fingertips sometimes. It's the food. Food's so good. Yeah, speaking of which, yeah. It's like dinnertime here in New York. There's a pizza calling my name out there somewhere.

And the food is the best. Yeah. Yeah.

Dinner time!

I

love it. right. All right, Jenny, we can't thank you enough. And folks, we'll have all of Jenny's information in the show notes. And we'll see you again on another episode of Now That I'm Engaged. How do I get married? Thanks, Jenny.

Yeah, absolutely. Yay.

Thank you guys.