More than a wedding alternative
Elopements are increasingly popular for their intimacy, simplicity, and authenticity. They let couples celebrate love without pressure or excess, focusing on what matters most.
Elopements are the ideal choice for couples who want a minimalist wedding that reflects who they truly are, or who don’t want to plan their wedding for months. At Maison May, we create full-service experiences designed around what matters most: your connection.
Whether it’s a post-courthouse elopement dinner or party, or a small, intimate ceremony and celebration with a few loved ones, our approach is rooted in intention, warmth, and meaning.
Couples are increasingly opting to create meaningful, stylish, and memorable experiences that reflect each couple’s values and personality more than following traditional formulas. Specifically two trends are noticeable:
Personalized & Intentional Experiences
Couples are making weddings feel deeply personal rather than performance-oriented. Personal stories and meaningful rituals tailored to each couple are top priorities. Vendors report that personalization — from decor to the flow of the day — is one of the strongest overall trends for 2026.
Intimate & Alternative Venues
Unique and character-driven venues are trending, from gardens and rustic farms to libraries, historic homes, and theatres. Smaller, more intimate celebrations — including town hall weddings and curated micro-weddings — continue to grow in popularity as couples opt for meaningful over massive guest lists.
Elopements allow couples to write their own story.
People elope to focus on what truly matters: commitment. Elopements are more intimate and personal, allowing couples to focus on their love rather than logistics or expectations. With no traditional timeline, you can create a day that honors your relationship. expectations.
“(…) For a bride with a high-intensity job who couldn’t dedicate 100% of my time to planning every detail, I felt like everything was perfect. What mattered mattered, and what didn’t was handled for us.”
Eloping can reduce stress, cost, and complexity. Many couples seek flexibility, privacy, or a unique setting—whether a garden, a destination, or an intimate gathering. For others, elopement means freedom from tradition, large-scale planning, and prescribed expectations.
Why elopements are the ultimate luxury
Especially celebrity couples or couples that are for professional reasons constantly in the public eye often choose to elope quietly instead of hosting a big wedding. Elopements are also not just a thing of the recent past, they have been popular for decades. Audrey Hepburn, for example, married quietly in Switzerland in 1954, keeping the focus on her relationship rather than publicity.
These couples show that eloping isn’t about skipping the romance or saving money —it’s often about redefining it. For many, choosing a private or intimate ceremony allows the moment to feel more personal, meaningful, and true to who they are.
Holding space by offering space
Due to their size or unique nature, elopement parties sometimes must make choices. A venue may be too big, leaving a smaller party feeling lost, or too small, leaving guests without room to move. Maison May is a rare find for couples seeking the perfect balance between intimacy and spaciousness. Located in a historic Brownstone, Maison May offers the luxury of space.
Couples may choose from three distinct settings: the Garden, the Parlor, or the Main Dining Room. Each setting is equally beautiful and available for your celebration. This gives couples the opportunity to set the tone with their selections and allows their vision to unfold naturally. No trade-offs.
Elopements designed for couples — not traditions
Eloping doesn’t mean giving something up. It means choosing differently. Our elopement packages are created for couples who want a couple-centric celebration, free from rigid expectations. Every experience is personalized and flexible, allowing you to shape the day in a way that feels true to you. It’s not about tradition. It’s about intention.
Our elopement options include:
- Courthouse Ceremony + Intimate Dinner
- Small Guest Elopement Celebrations (family or close friends only)
- Non-traditional House Parties + Dancing
- Seasonal Menus shared family-style
- A calm, supportive environment for personalized vows
Expertise & Honesty
Some elopements are simply born out of necessity. And that is okay. We get it.
People are too busy with work and life which forces them to outsource certain tasks and keep it small. Sometimes things need to happen faster than expected. Sometimes, they are not even in New York – maybe not even in the United States – and need somebody else to take care of the logistics. And sometimes couples simply don’t care that much about the details.
Whatever the reason may be, in those cases it is even more important to have a team of experts taking care of things. You need people around you that know what and how to do things and can fully trust the process.
We have been hosting events at Maison May for two decades. That means that when we say we’ve seen it all, we really have seen it all. Not only does that make us experts in what to do, but also what NOT to do.
Our take away from hundreds of celebrations is simple: Don’t overthink it and keep it simple.
Whether you envision a quiet moment together, a meaningful gathering, or a fun-filled party, we help create an experience that feels effortless and authentic, with every detail intentional but nothing excessive.
We provide you with tried and tested solutions, a Brownstone venue that is not just beautiful, but also fully equipped with everything you need, a list of trusted vendors that make working with them super easy and an inhouse culinary team that knows how to feed your people.
Couples often praise Maison May for its intimate, romantic vibe, versatile indoor and outdoor spaces (including a lovely garden), and attentive service, which make it well-suited for elopements or small, meaningful ceremonies followed by a reception.
Guest reviews and venue descriptions highlight the warm, personal atmosphere and overall positive experiences that many have had there.
“(…) Maison May is the perfect venue. We wanted an intimate house-party feeling for our wedding, with a space that limited the guest list, and we didn’t want to plan much.
Plan Your Elopment With Us
Maison May specializes in hosting intimate, seasonal, budget-smart luxury weddings inside our historic Brownstone. If you’re dreaming of a warm, effortless, heartfelt experience, our team is here to guide you through every step. Explore our Elopement packages
Our approach is simple: create celebrations that feel intentional, delicious, and deeply human.
