With romantasy books growing so much in popularity and influencing the creation of events like the Starfall Ball, weddings are becoming another avenue for couples to express their love for magic. Whether you’re an avid Sarah J. Maas reader or a fan of games within the fantasy genre, I’ve put together a guide to help you plan the magical wedding of your dreams.

Start with your idea

Before we get into the how, it’s important that we figure out what it is we are trying to create. When planning a fantasy wedding or elopement, I like to ask my couples if there is a particular book, game, or movie they want to emulate. Sometimes the answer is simply one thing, which is great! But you also don’t have to limit yourself to a single idea. If you are fans of more than one story (maybe you are a fan of something and your partner is a fan of another), you can definitely find ways to incorporate both and still have it make sense. If you aren’t drawn to a particular story, consider the themes that you gravitate towards. Do you like witchy elements like crystals and dried flowers? Or are you more fond of high fantasy? Perhaps you want to include both! What’s most important is choosing something that makes you both feel giddy when you think about incorporating it into your big day.

Determine the size of your wedding

The way your wedding day feels can be greatly impacted by how many people you decide to include. Elopements and micro weddings have risen in popularity because they offer an experience that focuses more on you—the couple—than entertaining a bunch of guests. Fantasy-themed weddings fit in perfectly with this concept, allowing you to create an incredible adventure to celebrate your marriage instead of a huge party.

Elopements and micro weddings not only make your day more about you, but they also give you more room in your budget to explore your ideas. When you’re not spending thousands on food for over a hundred people and filling large venues with expensive florals and decorations, you can instead spend that chunk of your budget on a beautiful location and a smaller amount of higher quality decor that matches your vision.

With that being said, you also don’t need to downsize your wedding if you don’t want to! If you want to go the more traditional route, you can still have a magical wedding. Maybe you want it to feel more like a fantasy ball or a festival. The beauty of this day is that we can make it whatever we want it to be!

Find a dreamy location

When it comes to finding a location for your wedding, you can go as far from (or as close to) home as you want. So many couples think they have to travel across the country (or even to an entirely new one) to have a magical wedding. While I always advocate for dreaming big, you don’t need to travel crazy far to have a wedding day that feels surreal. There are very likely some hidden gems close to you that you haven’t discovered yet!

Whether you decide to stay close to home or hop on a plane to the other side of the world, the process of finding your perfect location depends a lot on your initial concept. Ideally, you want to find a place that you can imagine existing in your favorite fictional world. For example, maybe you’re planning a Lord of the Rings inspired micro wedding. You can go all out and travel to New Zealand to some of the real locations from the films, or you can plan to have your day in Knoxville, TN in Ancient Lore Village, a dupe for The Shire that can feel just as magical. While some of the spots close to you may not be as obvious, they can still create a perfect backdrop for what you have in mind.

Plan your outfits and accessories

Your outfits (and your guests’ outfits if you have them) are one of the key elements to setting the vibe of your wedding. You could have your wedding or elopement in a majestic castle but it won’t be quite as immersive if you’re not dressed for the part. Similarly, you can make a location that’s not specifically medieval/fantasy themed (like a mountain range) fit the mood perfectly if you dress according to your theme. That doesn’t mean you have to go full-on renaissance faire with your look; you just want to find outfits and accessories that are enough of a nod to your theme that the point comes across elegantly.

For wedding dresses, I’m a huge fan of off-the-shoulder straps, corsets, and long, flowy sleeves. Accessories can really bring any dress to the next level, like a crown or other kind of magical headpiece, scalemail, or—my personal favorite—a cape. Many people think that dressing for a fantasy themed wedding can be corny or tacky, but it has the potential to be absolutely gorgeous and unique if you thoughtfully plan your look.

Don’t forget the details

Similar to your wardrobe, the way you style your wedding can bring the fantasy aspect to the next level. Even if you’re eloping, you can still include little details that make a huge impact. Are you thinking of eloping in a national park with just the two of you? Consider adding crystals to your bouquet or carrying lanterns or (prop) swords. Are you planning a larger event with tablescapes and a dedicated ceremony space? Replace some of your cups with drinking horns and base the food you serve off of a Renaissance feast.

The key to having a timeless fantasy wedding is to use your inspiration as a guide to how to decorate and make decisions for your day. You don’t need to directly reference it; instead, style the space as if you’re a character within that world.

Include activities that let you nerd out

Especially if you’re eloping, having activities to do with your partner can make your day feel less like a super formal occasion and more like a magical, once-in-a-lifetime adventure with your best friend. I love the idea of incorporating horseback riding, archery, and/or swordplay into your wedding experience to satisfy that itch to roleplay in your fantasy attire. But even something simpler like a picnic can be planned in a way that feels like a magical activity in your favorite book or game. Elopements give you so much flexibility to plan little excursions and activities together, and they are also fantastic photo opportunities.

Even if you aren’t eloping, you can still incorporate some of these ideas into your day. There may be a little less flexibility when more people are involved, but it’s still very possible. I’ve seen a couple have an archery station at their more traditional wedding, as well as swordplay. You could also add entertainers to your event, like a fortune teller or a fire dancer if it fits your theme.

Overall, I think the activities and entertainment you plan for your wedding is where you can fully nerd out. There’s so much room to get creative with this and truly make this an immersive experience inspired by your favorite stories.

Choose a Photographer and Planner that can bring your vision to life

You may have gotten this far and have thought to yourself, “this sounds perfect but I wish I had help from someone who understands my vision”. When planning an elopement or micro wedding, your photographer can help guide you through this process and give you ideas to make your day exactly how you’ve dreamed it to be. This is why finding a photographer you love is so important. They will be with you for your entire day and can truly make your experience as stress-free and incredible as possible.

Similarly, if you’re having a larger wedding, choosing a planner that totally gets your vibe will help you immensely. Sometimes, when we are so overwhelmed with planning, we skip the finer details that can add that extra bit of magic to our day. Having a trustworthy photographer and planner will ensure that everything comes together and nothing is forgotten.

As a fantasy nerd who LOVES a good romantasy series and has played through Skyrim more times than I can count, I am a strong advocate for having an out-of-this-world adventure to celebrate your marriage with your other half. After I planned my own elopement this way, I’ve realized how passionate I am about this concept and how much fun it would be to help other couples have the same experience.

For my clients, I not only take dreamy photos of their big day, but I also guide them through the planning process so they can spend less time researching and more time enjoying their engagement.

So, what are you waiting for?

Start Planning With Me

How to Plan the Fantasy Wedding of Your Dreams