Elopements vs. Engagements: Which Do You Need in New York City?
An elopement is an intimate, adventurous celebration centered on just the two of you (and maybe a few of your closest loved ones) exchanging vows and making it official. An engagement session is a fun, romantic portrait session that captures your connection as a couple before the wedding — no vows, no ceremony, just the two of you being yourselves in front of the camera. If you're planning to say "I do," you want an elopement. If you're celebrating being engaged and want images to share or display before the big day, you want an engagement session.
If you're still not sure which applies to your situation, that's completely normal — the names sound similar, and plenty of couples reach out unsure which box to check. This page breaks down what each service actually is, the signs that point you toward one or the other, and how Made with Mara can help you figure it out with a quick conversation.
What Is an Elopement Session?
An elopement, as Mara describes it, is "an intimate, adventurous celebration" — it's your wedding, scaled down. You're exchanging vows and making a marriage official, whether it's just the two of you or a small circle of your closest people. The focus is on the ceremony itself: the vows, the emotion, the moment you become married. This falls under the "intimate weddings" and "elopements" specializations Made with Mara documents throughout New York City and the surrounding area — Brooklyn, Manhattan, DUMBO, Williamsburg, the Upper East Side, the West Village, Central Park, Hoboken, and Jersey City all fall within the service area.
If your day includes a ceremony — an officiant, vows, a "you may now kiss" moment — you're in elopement territory, even if it's small, unplanned-feeling, or doesn't look like a "traditional" wedding.
What Is an Engagement Session?
An engagement session is described on the Made with Mara site as "a fun, romantic session that captures your unique connection." There's no officiant, no vows, no legal paperwork — it's a portrait session built around you two as a couple. Engagement photos are commonly used for save-the-dates, wedding websites, social announcements, or simply as a keepsake of this specific chapter before the wedding happens.
If there's no ceremony involved — you're just looking to document the engagement itself, the "we're getting married" phase — you want an engagement session, not an elopement.
The Signs That Tell Them Apart
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is there an officiant or vows involved? If yes, that's an elopement. If no, that's an engagement session.
- Are you becoming legally married that day? Elopement. If you're already engaged and just want photos of this season of your relationship, engagement session.
- Is this the "big moment" or the "lead-up" to the big moment? Elopements document the moment itself. Engagement sessions document anticipation and connection beforehand.
- Do you need one session, or will you also need a separate wedding-day photographer later? If you're planning a larger wedding down the line and just want engagement portraits now, you need an engagement session — and you can always talk about wedding-day coverage separately when the time comes.
Elopements vs. Engagements: Side-by-Side
| Elopements | Engagements | |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | You're exchanging vows and making it official, intimately | You're engaged and want portraits before the wedding |
| Scope | Documents the ceremony and the adventure around it | Documents your connection as a couple, no ceremony |
| What It Solves | Gives you a real wedding-day record without a big production | Gives you shareable, romantic images ahead of the wedding |
Both fall under Made with Mara's specializations alongside intimate weddings, so whichever one fits your situation, it's a service already offered — this isn't an either/or in terms of availability, just in terms of what your day actually calls for.
How Made with Mara Helps You Decide
Because Mara shoots both elopements and engagements regularly, there's no incentive to steer you toward one over the other — the goal is figuring out what your day actually needs. The approach described across the site is about relationships, not just button-pressing: "it's about the relationships I form while doing so." That same get-to-know-you process applies whether you're planning vows in front of a few loved ones or a portrait session celebrating your engagement.
The contact page outlines exactly how this works: you fill out a short form (which includes an option to specify "Elopement," "Engagement," "Event," "Small Wedding," or "Other"), and you'll hear back within 48 hours with a custom pricing guide. From there, you'll schedule a call to talk through packages and make sure it's a good fit before anything is booked. If you're still torn between the two, that call is exactly the place to sort it out — just flag it in the "tell me more about yourselves" section of the form.
You can also browse real examples of both in the portfolio gallery, including the wedding and elopement gallery and the couples and engagement gallery, to see which style of session matches what you're picturing for your own day.
Key Takeaways
- An elopement includes vows and an officiant — it's a wedding, just intimate.
- An engagement session is a portrait session with no ceremony, typically used for save-the-dates or pre-wedding keepsakes.
- Made with Mara specializes in both, plus intimate weddings, so neither is a stretch outside the normal offering.
- The contact form lets you select "Elopement" or "Engagement" directly, which is the fastest way to start the right conversation.
- Both services are available across New York City, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, DUMBO, Williamsburg, the Upper East Side, the West Village, Central Park, Hoboken, and Jersey City.
- A 48-hour response time and a custom pricing guide follow every inquiry, regardless of which service you choose.
- If you're unsure, the scheduled call after your inquiry is built specifically to help you land on the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an elopement or an engagement session if we're already married but never had photos?
Neither, technically — both services as described are tied to a ceremony (elopement) or a pre-wedding portrait session (engagement). The best move is to reach out directly through the contact page and describe your situation in the inquiry form; there's an "Other" option specifically for scenarios that don't fit neatly into the standard categories.
Do I need an elopement or an engagement session if we're having a small ceremony with just a few guests?
That's an elopement. Made with Mara describes elopements and intimate weddings as scaled-down, personal celebrations — a small guest list doesn't change that it's your wedding day with vows involved.
Can I book both an engagement session and an elopement with Made with Mara?
Yes — both are listed specializations, so there's nothing preventing you from booking an engagement session ahead of time and an elopement for the wedding day itself. Mention both plans when you fill out the contact form so the custom pricing guide reflects what you're planning.
Do I need an engagement session if we're planning a full wedding later, not eloping?
Yes, an engagement session is independent of your wedding plans — it's about capturing you as an engaged couple, regardless of how big or small the eventual wedding will be.
How do I know which option to select on the contact form if I'm still unsure?
Select whichever feels closest, and use the "tell me more about yourselves and how you dream your big day" field to explain your uncertainty. The follow-up call is designed to sort out exactly this kind of question before anything is booked.
Does Made with Mara travel across New York City for either service?
The service area covers New York City broadly, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, DUMBO, Williamsburg, the Upper East Side, the West Village, Central Park, Hoboken, and Jersey City — so location shouldn't be the deciding factor between the two services.
Ready to Figure Out Which One Fits Your Day?
If you're still weighing elopement against engagement, the fastest way to get clarity is to reach out through the contact page, select the option that feels closest, and explain your situation. You'll hear back within 48 hours with a custom pricing guide and the chance to schedule a call to talk it through — no pressure, no guesswork required on your end.