Numerous couples planning to wed soon are weighing the pros and cons of eloping. Both choices have merits and drawbacks, making it difficult to find a middle ground here.
No matter how long you've been dreaming of a non-traditional, adventurous elopement or how familiar you are with the wedding preparation process, you'll find that elopements and weddings are very different.
Our concept of elopement is a deliberately intimate, meaningful, and real wedding despite its modest size.
In most cases, the day of the wedding is about more than simply the bride and groom.
- entertaining and accommodating guests
- the event itself
- incorporating traditional elements
The ultimate goal of eloping and getting married is the same: making a lifelong commitment to one another.
Elopements differ greatly from weddings due to the excitement, thrill, and novelty of the experience.
What does that entail, and what are the main differences between a wedding and an elopement in practice?
Is it enough to say that an elopement differs from a wedding because it focuses on the pair rather than the ceremony?
What sets an elopement apart from a wedding is the fact that it is a private, uninvited affair. In reality, the purposes of an elopement and a wedding are different.
The day of the elopement should focus on the couple and their desires. However, there are other distinctions, all of which we welcome the opportunity to discuss.
For the record, we can't stress this enough: the day you decide to get married, the day you and your spouse take hands and swear to stay by each other's sides, and the day you're committing to one another are all about you.
Whether you call it a wedding, an elopement, a ceremony, or something else, the two of you deserve a day that perfectly reflects who you are and what you want in life together.
We are not against weddings, but we do prefer that people elope. As a group, we believe that couples should be free to celebrate their love however they see fit.
We're happy to answer any questions, but our primary goal is to dispel the myth that couples must have a traditional wedding just because society dictates it. Your wedding day, in whatever form that takes, should be perfect for you.
It's important for couples to realise that. If having a big, traditional wedding is what makes you happiest, then, by all means, go ahead and plan one. Please do what you want and enjoy your day to the fullest; you deserve it.
However, it is also acceptable to choose to elope in a peculiar, offbeat manner that challenges the wedding industry if this means rejecting tradition. We're here to back you up while you plan a wedding that's completely out of the ordinary.
What Does It Mean To Elope?
One who has "eloped" has left permanently. In contrast, eloping has a slightly different meaning when it comes to weddings.
In the past, eloping meant leaving for a distant location to get married, usually without the knowledge or permission of the bride's or groom's families (or knowledge).
In many cases, the decision to elope was made on the spur of the moment. However, that is not what is intended by the term in its current usage.
Today, "elopement" generally refers to a wedding with few or no guests at all.
Many people elope do so in public areas like registrar offices or remote beaches. There is no reception or party following the ceremony.
Does Eloping Have To Be A Secret?
The vast majority of runaways go elsewhere, whether across the country or the globe.
Many couples choose to vacation in a warm climate, get married, and then jet off on their honeymoon without returning home.
However, this is hardly a reason to keep the elopement a secret. It's completely up to you how many people you tell and when you tell them. A lot of people tell their loved ones ahead of time that they're going to elope.
This allows people to plan for others' responses and ease the emotional burden of missing the celebration on those they care about. But if you'd rather not reveal the secret right now, you can always wait.
Main Differences Between Eloping And Wedding
Here are some striking distinctions between eloping and having a traditional wedding that we believe exist:
People
This is a major shift, but not in the way you might expect because we aren't focusing on the difference in attendance.
However, the objective of an elopement is in part that it involves fewer people.
People are slang for an elopement when the bride and groom can have as few or as many guests as they like.
Since elopements are about the couple and how they want to create their own wedding experience, they have far more leeway to impose restrictions on the number of guests.
This may necessitate an intimate ceremony with just the two of us, as is the case for some couples.
Others take this to mean inviting only those closest to them, such as parents, siblings, and friends. That may mean inviting a small group of individuals to celebrate with them, anywhere from 15 to 20.
Why is this particular number so significant? Intention. When you elope, you decide exactly who you want to invite to your special day.
To rephrase, you should only invite the people you truly care about and would enjoy spending your wedding day with.
Guests at a traditional wedding typically include relatives, friends, and even the parents' superiors. So the guest list grows and grows until there are 300 people there, and you can't breathe.
You can cut back on planning, preparation, and guests with an elopement. That suggests inviting only the individuals you want to share your special day with, down to bringing Fido the dog.
Authenticity
Recent coverage of our efforts to survey over 200 engaged couples for insight into what motivates them to elope may be seen here.
We found that the "just us" component was the most important consideration for couples planning their wedding day. Another major consideration? Authenticity.
Some couples feel that their wedding day will reflect who they are as people more closely if they elope.
Many look forward to a wedding with all the trappings of a formal celebration: the guests, the speeches, the cake, the dancing, the gifts, the glamour.
A couple out there finds the idea repulsive for everyone who loves it. It's not simply a matter of extroverted vs introverted personalities, but individuals in general. It's about partners' deep hopes and dreams for their wedding days.
When two people marry, it often produces outcomes that are too generic to portray each of them as individuals accurately.
Conversely, elopements provide engaged couples the opportunity to say, "You know what, this is us—this is what we actually want."
Choices
While we don't want to imply that all traditional weddings are the same (there is an entire wedding industry out there that assures that), the concept of a traditional wedding typically conforms to a formula.
With no rules to follow or commitments to fulfil, eloping couples have much more freedom to customise their wedding day as they see fit.
Particularly when it comes to the specific locality.
While there is no shortage of beautiful settings for the traditional wedding, eloping presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities.
For starters, you are not constrained to choosing from traditional locales; instead, you can choose among mountaintops, rapid rivers, waterfalls, dunes in the desert, cliffs, and canyons. In addition, you can choose any location in the world for your venue.
Why?
The possibilities are endless if you don't have to worry about pleasing a set number of people, a predetermined menu, set rituals, etc.
If getting married in the midst of a desert, while kayaking in an alpine lake, or at the top of a cliff screaming into the wind resonates, eloping might be the ideal option. The primary motivation for elopement is the desire for a more intimate ceremony.
Stress
Before we go any further, let us be clear that we are not saying that weddings and elopements are stress-free.
That depends on who you are, what you have planned for the day, and how you plan to approach it.
Even so, unlike traditional weddings, elopements don't typically involve the same kinds of stressful red-flag zones.
You aren't trying to throw a party for 200-300 guests when you elope (even if you are taking folks with you).
Planning accommodations, transportation, thank-you presents, and everything else that goes along with weddings for a large group will be unnecessary if the party is less than the average number of guests at a traditional wedding because it won't be just the two of you.
Those with significant others may find that eloping is a great way to reduce their stress levels. In a large, traditional wedding, guests are more likely to be related to the bride or groom, which can cause tension for some guests.
Your family ties may be frayed for several reasons. It's possible you do, but you two would rather have a day to yourselves. Eloping gives you that option if you want your wedding day to reflect who you are as a couple.
It's more essential to have the day you want than to worry about not inviting anyone. As unfortunate as it may be, inviting only close friends and family to your wedding makes it much more challenging to have a large celebration.
If you want to get married on a specific day, and that's all that matters to you, then, by all means, elope.
Whether by elopement or in a more traditional manner, marriage should be a happy and joyous occasion for everybody involved.
Enjoy the day that causes you the least amount of stress.
Values
Traditional wedding ideals and elopement experiences are fundamentally different; the fact is.
We don't say that any particular experience is better than any other; rather, we say that every experience has its unique way of illuminating the human predicament.
People who desire a big, traditional wedding usually care a lot about having their friends and family there to celebrate with them, getting lots of attention, and having a great time.
Elopement couples, on the other hand, often value experiences over gifts, lavish ceremonies, and the limelight on their big day.
For some other couples, this means spending upwards of $30,000 on a lavish party for all of their friends and family. So, let's talk about that. That is wonderful. You should do it if you feel called to.
However, for some couples, doing so necessitates preceding material possessions in favour of shared experiences, private time, breathtaking photography, and a heart-pounding trip to the start of their greatest adventure to date.
If you and your partner value anything other than what a large, traditional wedding can provide, eloping is an option that doesn't require you to skimp on the wedding experience.
FAQs About Wedding
The wedding ceremony is developing into one more tailored to the couple. Smaller elopements and more private wedding ceremonies are becoming increasingly popular as a substitute for traditional weddings among an increasing number of couples.
Simply Eloped, who spoke about this topic, claims that there is a reasonable justification for this. In comparison to traditional weddings, elopements typically have lower overall costs and allow the newlyweds to spend more time together on their honeymoon.
Why Should You Elope?
Thus, why should you think about eloping, and why do people do it? Eloping rather than having a traditional wedding has five key advantages.
Avoid Wedding Planning Stress
If you decide to elope, you can skip the hassle of planning the wedding and all the associated details, such as the guest list, invitations, RSVPs, and seating chart.
In this case, neither the bridesmaids nor the groomsmen need to buy special attire.
You won't have to stress out about finding food, entertainment, decorations, babysitters, activities for the kids, or how to handle your drunk relatives.
The stress of organising a wedding can be reduced significantly. The wedding ceremony is private and special for just the two of you. Bliss!
Save Money
The largest wedding expenses are the venue rental fee and the meal budget.
When you go away together, you don't have to worry about providing food for anyone. No prior planning is required to get married at a park, a chapel, a registry office, or even a beach.
If there is a fee, it would not be very important in comparison to the cost of renting out a more conventional venue. Also, flowers and other ornaments are unnecessary if you don't want them.
The money you save may go towards your dream wedding dress, your honeymoon, or even a professional photographer.
Get Married Anywhere You Like
When you elope, you can have your wedding ceremony wherever you wish.
Since there won't be any visitors, you won't have to stress over whether or not the venue can accommodate everyone.
A marriage can be performed in any jurisdiction that offers marriage licences. So the sky is the limit for you. Disneyland? That's the Eiffel Tower, by the way. Under the roaring cascade? Norwegian ice cap? In the end, the choice is yours.
Spend Quality Time With Your Partner
Anyone who has been through a "traditional" wedding can attest that the bride and groom don't get to spend much time alone on what is supposed to be a day dedicated to them.
When you factor in getting ready in the morning, greeting guests, attending speeches, and celebrating with family and friends, there isn't much time left for great conversation or quiet reflection.
If you choose to elope, you will have the entire day to yourselves. Nothing could be more romantic than that!
Have a Drama-Free Wedding Day
With no guests to please, no catering to planning, and no vendors to coordinate, the chances of something going wrong are greatly reduced when the couple chooses to elope.
No one in this family is a troublemaker or tries to make everything about themselves.
There are no drinking buddies or fight partners at work. You won't have to worry about guests being late and derailing the festivities, nor will you have to worry about noisy children disrupting your vows.
If you want to get married without much fuss and bother, an elopement might be the way to go.
In addition, you can still have a party when you return with all your loved ones if you choose.
Disadvantages Of Eloping
There are drawbacks to everything, including eloping, sadly. So, think about the drawbacks of having a "formal" wedding before you make your choice.
Then, since it's a personal choice, you may determine whether the advantages exceed the disadvantages for you.
You May Cause An Upset Or Offence
To what extent would you like your loved ones to travel to celebrate your big day?
Some people's hearts may be broken if you decide to elope and forgo having a wedding celebration with your loved ones.
Some fathers, for instance, may feel let down if they are unable to fulfil their fantasy of walking their daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
The number of guests at an elopement is limited. If you invite some members of the family and not others, you may hurt someone's feelings.
No one is "obligated" to come to your wedding, but it won't stop some people from being annoyed if they have to go.
You Will Face Judgement
Being judged by other people is inevitable. Whether or not this is a major worry depends on your sensitivity and appreciation of other people's opinions.
You can count on getting some strange stares, snarky comments, and unwanted advice if you announce to your friends and family that you've eloped (or are preparing to elope). But, in all honesty, the only real justification is its rarity.
Don't deny yourself the chance to elope if that's what you want to do. But know that there will be detractors.
Less Opportunity For Extravagance
The dream of a fairytale wedding is ruined by eloping.
The puffy ball gown and the romantic photographs will only add so much glamour if nobody shows up.
Nothing of the sort happens if the couple decides to elope. No one is giving speeches, and there isn't even a reception where everyone can celebrate and dance the night away.
You may find none of that to be of any interest. Think long and hard about whether or not you want to elope if you do. If you don't, you might be sorry afterwards.
Missing Friends And Family
Most individuals think that marriage is for life. As a result, your wedding day will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable days of your life. Do you want to have a party without any of your friends or family members?
Weddings are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with loved ones, renew friendships with those you haven't seen in a while, and create cherished memories with your closest friends and colleagues. Unfortunately, if you choose to elope, you will miss out on this wonderful moment.
No Wedding Gifts
Last but not least, a very worldly disadvantage, but one that must be mentioned, is that eloping does not allow for wedding gifts.
You miss out on the fun of making a wish list and receiving gifts on your special day.
Plus, you won't have to spend money on food or hotels, so you can always get some things instead.
Is It Better To Elope Or Have A Wedding?
You get to make that decision on your own. Some may claim that a more conventional ceremony is better, especially for those who have dreamed of a wedding since they were young, while others may insist that a more daring elopement is more fun. Whatever you decide to do, do what feels right to you.
Why Is It Better To Elope?
It is, and it isn't; that is the question. You may make the case that eloping is the best option in many situations.
There are a lot of positive aspects associated with eloping, including the lower price tag, the absence of unnecessary drama and stress, the ease of planning and coordinating, the availability of a wider variety of venues and service providers, the quality of the photographs, the sincerity and authenticity of the presentation, and the value of the experience as a whole. However, remember that the term "better" can be subjective.
Conclusion
Don't allow the specifics of your wedding day to get in the way of the most important thing: celebrating the beginning of this beautiful and exciting new chapter in your lives together in a way that is uniquely you and your partner.
It's ideal to have at least a few days you can recall with fondness since you enjoyed every minute of them. Verify that every detail of your wedding day goes off without a hitch.