Today I’m going to give you some reasons why you should elope. But first, let’s dive into just what is considered an elopement.

What is an Elopement?

When you think of a wedding, what comes to mind may be the stereotypical, large event. One filled with cake tastings, making a wedding website, family seating charts, and everything else that comes with planning large weddings. Most people think that elopements are for couples who 1) prefer to have their weddings more intimate and 2) don’t want to do all of the extra planning. But that doesn’t have to be the case! But that doesn’t have to be the case! Elopements are a beautiful blend of both the non-traditional and traditional parts of weddings. You can make the day just as amazing you want!

So what is an elopement? An elopement is typically thought of a wedding in which you just run away without telling family or friends and have a ceremony. But that has evolved, especially after the pandemic, elopements now are weddings that can be held anywhere (you don’t need to have it at a fancy venue if you don’t want to, but if you want to look at venues, you can see a list here) and they don’t need to have a huge guest list (sometimes they have just the couple, an officiant, and the photographer. Other times they have just closest friends and family members.)

Having said that let’s get into why you SHOULD elope

Your wedding is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. And if you’re like some of my other couples, you want it to be an event that’s more personal and memorable than anything else. But not everyone feels this way. Weddings are huge business in the United States, after all, and some people feel pressure from their families or society in general to have a big wedding. If you’re interested in having an intimate wedding but are worried about what other people will think of it, here are some reasons why you should elope:

1) They can be more memorable.

There are many reasons why an elopement is the perfect choice for you. It will be more intimate, and you can choose a location that’s more personal to you. You can also make your own decorations, and serve food and drinks that reflect your tastes.

Furthermore, you can choose music that reflects how you feel about each other. If one of your favorite songs includes lyrics about “growing old together” or “being together forever,” it might be an appropriate choice for this special moment in time!

2) You don’t have to invite people who you barely know, or like.

It’s not easy to cut out people from your wedding, but if you really want to make it small and intimate, there are some reasons why you should make that decision.

A smaller guest list means you can invite people you actually know—and not just the co-worker who speaks only when spoken to and never asks questions at social events (or worse yet, tells stories about their kids). A smaller guest list also means that if there is someone on the fringe of your life whom you would like to get to know better, they may be more likely to attend because they won’t feel obligated. And finally, a smaller guest list means less drama over who gets invited or not because everyone knows why they were chosen: They were a part of one couple’s life (or future!) story!

3) You can get married pretty much anywhere.

You can get married pretty much anywhere!

Don’t feel limited to a church, temple or synagogue; you can also get married in a park, restaurant, hotel or even in your backyard! If you have your heart set on getting married somewhere special to you and/or your partner then there are so many options for elopements.

You could choose an elegant ceremony, with an amazing view at the top of a mountain or by the ocean. You could choose an awesome restaurant that has great food and wine pairings that make their menu stand out from others (and they will most likely be happy to host your reception as well). Or you could hold hands with your significant other as the sun sets in your own backyard!

4) You have more control over when and where the wedding will be.

If you’re the type of person who likes to have control over every aspect of your wedding day, then an elopement is one way to do that. You can choose your venue, the date, and time, of your ceremony, what dress you want to wear (or not wear), how many people are invited, who will be in charge or making sure that someone is photographing all of those moments for you *clears throat*.

Basically: The possibilities are endless!

5) You can save money by having a smaller guest list.

The more people you invite, the more expensive the wedding will be. So being able to only have those super close friends and/or family members there will go a long way in keeping the costs down.

It’s also important to consider whether or not you want a large ceremony at all. In some cultures, big weddings are customary and expected; in others, small intimate ceremonies are preferred above larger ones because they aren’t over-the-top and overwhelming for both the bride and groom (and their families). Having a smaller party allows everyone involved with planning it—the couple included—to focus on what matters most: honoring, and celebrating, their relationship with everyone who love them! Plus, it’s less stressful on everyone involved…especially if there are lots of other things going on at once (like work deadlines) during this busy time when emotions might otherwise run high.

6) You won’t have to compromise with your family or the groom’s on anything.

You won’t have to compromise with your family or the groom’s on anything. You can plan the wedding exactly how you want it. You can have a wedding that reflects your personality and values, or even religious beliefs if that is important to both of you. You will not regret having an elopement because it will be completely unique and special for just you two!

7) You don’t have to to sacrifice authenticity

Some feel that when you have large, and lavish, events that you may end up sacrificing the elements that make the ceremony, and the whole day, reflect who you really are as a couple.

Everyone is unique, and on their wedding day, everyone deserves to be completely themselves. A typical celebration may leave those who don’t really enjoy large weddings with the impression that they are doing what everyone else is doing. Elopements are about doing what you want, the way you want.

I hope this has helped you see why you should elope and the benefits of an elopement. Your wedding day is ultimately about you two—the love you share and the life you’re going to create together. Pick a wedding that honors your aspirations for the future!