Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Elope
Why Elope?
Why not elope is the real question. These days eloping is actually not uncommon. First off what does it mean to elope? The word has definitely taken on a new meaning. It used to strictly mean running off in secret all of the sudden to get married. Although that is still true a lot of times couples put more planning into it and it is usually no secret. Sometimes there are no guests and sometimes couples include some of their closest friends and family in the ceremony. Some couples even have a big reception with everyone they love when they get back home to celebrate. Just know that Vegas is not the only place to elope these days!
Thanks for tuning in! Best,
Whitney
1. Less Stress and More Fun
Big weddings aren’t for everyone; especially during a pandemic. It’s 2020 and the way we do things and interact with people is changing. Planning and having a wedding can be stressful in normal times but even more stressful in this current time. So many couples want to have the perfect wedding with all the people they love and sometimes all that pressure can cause them to be overwhelmed and they forget to be present on their own day.
I’m here to let you know that your wedding doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety and it shouldn’t be stressful at all! It is supposed to be a fun celebration. Elopements require much less planning with more flexible options and you are free to do things at your own pace. You can have the best day ever with minimal planning and zero stress.
2. Out of the Spotlight
If you’re anything like me you don’t love being in the spotlight so the thought of having a traditional wedding gives me anxiety. Eloping gives you the freedom to be who you are and you don’t have to consider the audience or what they might think. The thought of all eyes being on you as you walk down the aisle or when reading your vows or having your first dance might give you anxiety. But you don’t have to worry about being judged or pleasing everyone. When you elope you get to be completely vulnerable and yourselves.
3. More Intimate and Intentional
Your wedding day is about you and your significant other right? Well for a lot of people it ends up being about their guests.Most people who want a big wedding want everyone they love in one place. Which is a great reason to have a traditional wedding but will you really have the time to talk to all 100+ people and have a meaningful conversation? No, because your day is already so full and you barely have anytime to talk to your new spouse which is unfortunate.
Who says you have to pack everything into one day? A lot of people who elope still have a reception when they get home with all the people they love to celebrate. You get to spend your wedding day with the person you married and still get to celebrate with friends and family. Elopements are much more intimate and intentional.
4. Less Drama
Weddings bring a lot of people together and a bunch of people in one place can cause drama. Will a bridesmaid be upset when you don’t pick her for your maid of honor or will a family member get hurt if you don’t invite a specific person?
When you think of getting your whole family together that might sound like a blast for some people and a nightmare for others. It might be a cause of drama on your wedding day but it’s your day so don’t let anyone ruin it for you. It’s ok to have a healthy and strong family relationship and still elope.
When you elope you don’t have to worry about any of that. You can do it alone or you can even invite 10 of your closest people. Either way you don’t have to worry about Karen starting drama on your day.
5. More Unique
Have you ever been to a wedding and already knew what it was going to look like and what was going to happen? That’s because traditional weddings are a tradition and people love traditions. Some people have been dreaming of their wedding day forever and it will be all new to them because it is their first time being a bride and groom.
The truth is big traditional weddings can be very vanilla and a lot of couples don’t feel connected with that idea. Some couples want a totally unique day tailored to their personalities. You can do whatever you want! After all it is your day and you deserve an adventure.
6. Cost
Weddings are expensive! And most of the things you are buying are for your guests and not yourselves. From the invitations to the center pieces everything quickly adds up. Not to mention the venue, caterer, DJ, planner, etc. Some couples just don’t have the option of a big traditional wedding because of the costs. Now don’t get me wrong, eloping can be expensive especially if you are going halfway around the world to do it but overall eloping is a great way to save money. It is like your wedding day becomes a part of your honeymoon.
7. Less Planning
From booking the venue to sending out thank you cards there is so much to do in between. Do you have to cut down on how many people you invite? Will you require masks? If you do/don’t will that make certain guests upset? Do you have to change your original venue? All of those things to consider on top of everything else like who will be in the wedding party?, who will make save the dates and when will you send them out?, what will the color scheme be?, who will cater?, what rentals do you need?, what will the center pieces be?, how will you plan the rehearsal? Plus so much more.
Wedding planning is a lot of work and takes months. You are planning a day for so many other people as well as yourselves. Some people love the idea of that and others would rather have a simpler day. Eloping requires minimal planning and you get to plan the day around yourselves.
8. Environmentally Friendly
Big traditional weddings produce approximately 500 pounds of trash. That is crazy to think about but i’ve seen the aftermath of weddings and it’s true. Weddings are bad for the environment. If you want to have an environmentally friendly low-impact wedding the Leave No Trace way you can by eloping. Little or no guest will produce far less waste than a traditional 150 guest wedding.
9. Epic Wedding Photos
Your wedding photos are really the only thing you have left when your wedding day is over. That is why I think it is so important to invest into wedding photography. Wouldn’t it be awesome to get your wedding photos on top of a mountain or in your favorite national park or on a beach? I think that is just so unique and awesome to be able to have that option. Your wedding photos could be so epic!
10. Valuing Experiences over Things
Would you rather spend money on things that ultimately don’t matter or on a trip to somewhere amazing? You can have both but why spend money on things that you don’t care about and that won’t last? Experiences even though they don’t seem like it last a lifetime. You can always look back on that awesome trip and share it with other people and the things you learned. It is scientifically proven that people are happier years down the road when they spend money on experiences vs material things. Also why not start your marriage off in an epic way? Make it an adventure that you will remember for the rest of your life.
There is no right or wrong way to get married because every couple is different. Elopements are magical but they are not for everyone so be intentional and true to yourselves in your decision. You only get one chance (hopefully).