Why Eloping ISN’T a Secret-Runaway Wedding
Elopements have quite the history! For a long time they have had a negative connotation associated with them. But thanks to progress (and a pandemic to push it along), Elopements are a VERY common & positive way to get married!
How You Get Married is Between You & Your Partner
First off, how you and your partner decide to get married is 100% up to you! No one else should have a deciding vote on how you get married. You and your partner are the only people in your relationship, and how you decide to celebrate your love and marriage is a very personal decision. Whether you elope or not, as long as you get married in a way that is right for you & your partner, it’s a perfect wedding!
Elopement History
For so long elopements were associated with drunken-mistakes, accidental pregnancies, disapproval from one partners parents, rebelliousness, affairs, spontaneity, & secrecy.
The most common reason to elope in the 1800s and 1900s was to be rebellious and/or because of disapproval from family. Thankfully the 2000s aren’t completely like that.
Of course, elopements and weddings still happen for reasons like those, but most elopements today happen out of love, intention, and dedication.
Elopements Now
Most couples who elope today report that they eloped was because they wanted an intimate celebration of their marriage without the stress & anxiety of a large celebration.
For whatever reason a couple elopes, it’s up to them on how they get married.
Elopements today can be planned just as far in advance as a larger, more traditional-styled, wedding. When planning a traditional wedding, many of the decisions are based on the guests, not the couple. Many of the thoughts & decisions when planning an elopement are based around what the couple wants, likes and what they don’t want.
Ultimately, elopements today are planned out of intention.
How To Plan Your Own Elopement
If you’re considering eloping, first off I am so happy for you, no matter how you get married! Secondly, there are so many ways to elope! From a courthouse, to a National Park, to your backyard. The possibilities are endless.
I work with adventurous couples who want to get married outdoors, primarily in National Parks. There are endless possibilities on how to elope, and in a National Park is just one of them.
Some basic steps you can take when planning your elopement are …
#1 Choose how & where you’re going to get married
#2 Establish priorities, what’s most important to you? (For example, is there a certain date you want to get married on? Or are there specific vendors, such as a photographer, that you really want to work with and can be flexible with your date dependent on your availability?)
#3 Create a budget (or budget idea) based on your priorities
#4 Get to work planning and make it happen
By the time you get to #4, the planning process is dependent on SO many things, such as dates, activities, details, etc.
How in-depth and detailed your elopement is, is 100% up to you! Some couples want to keep it simple, while others want to incorporate personal activities, some traditions, and details.
Many of the couples that I work with plan their elopements 6 months to a year and a half in advance. They choose to include activities, such as hiking, kayaking, off-roading, rock climbing, etc, because those are things that they love doing together, and they want to use that as a way to celebrate their marriage.
Choosing activities and personal details that are meaningful to you and your partner is the best way to make your elopement intimate and personalized.
However many people, or no people, that you choose to include in your elopement should be dependent on the quality of their relationship with you and your partner. It is typical for people to include up to 10 guests in their elopement. It is all very common for people to not bring any guests with them to their elopement.
Each elopement is wildly different because each couple is! No two elopements look the same!
All In All
Why a couple elopes is no one else’s concern. How a couple chooses to spend their wedding is up to them, and no one else! If you think an elopement is right for you, I have tons of resources on my blog and throughout my website. I’m happy to chat with you and your partner to help you make an informed decision.
If you need help planning your elopement and want me to document your day for you, I hope every couple I work with plan their elopement from start to finish. I love to chat with you and your partner further to see if we’re a good match and document your elopement for you! Let’s chat! Can’t wait!
