Have You Considered an Elopement Wedding
Celebrate your love in the most intimate, and personal of ways, with an elopement wedding.
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The very definition of an elopement may be ‘running away’, but the days of eloping couples escaping across the border to marry scandalously over an anvil are long gone. An elopement wedding in 2021 is a far more chic, and sophisticated affair, with a focus not on what other people want on your big day, but on what you want. Because with an elopement wedding, you can create whatever kind of celebration you desire! It doesn’t even have to be chic, it can be rustic and raw, or casual and uncomplicated. Or a mixture of all the above.
But what is an elopement wedding? Traditionally, to elope meant to run away from your parents and marry without telling anybody. These days that is certainly not the case, and in fact parents sometimes attend an elopement ceremony, and party afterwards with the newlyweds. In general terms, an elopement simply means you are forgoing the traditional big wedding, and you are choosing to wed with an extremely small ceremony, either with a minimal group of guests (no more than 4-5), or none at all. It’s the baby sister to the micro-wedding!
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Intimate ceremonies because very popular over the last year and a half, for obvious reasons, and for many they were a necessity. But for others they were embraced, and enjoyed much more than a larger celebration. That is why today we’re going to share some benefits of an elopement, in the hope that maybe we can inspire your wedding planning.
The Benefits of an Elopement Wedding
You Make the Rules
When you make the decision to elope, you are suddenly free to choose every little detail of your big day. You want to tie the knot in a pub in Edinburgh with 4 of your closest friends? Go for it. You want to blend your honeymoon and wedding into one, and get married on a rooftop in Manhattan? Go for it! With an elopement wedding, you can tailor your day/honeymoon to be exactly as you wish. The ultimate selfish celebration, in the best possible way.
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Budget
One of the major benefits of an elopement wedding has to be how much control you will have on your budget. Because you can choose to spend as little, or as much, as you want. Maybe you have been saving for a big wedding for the last 5-10 years, and now you have a sizeable chunk of cash. That could be spent not just on a trip of a lifetime for the two of you, which would include your elopement wedding. But also, it could be spent on a house, babies, a new garden etc. Those big ticket items that you may struggle to save that much for again. Whether you go big, or keep it small, an elopement gives you the option.
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Anxiety
If you, or your partner struggle with anxiety, then a big wedding is probably not that exciting a prospect. The extensive planning, number of people involved and the pressure of the spotlight can be daunting for some couples. That is why an elopement wedding can be a blessing for those who suffer with nervousness. Because it’s just the two of you, a celebrant and a photographer – because you still need to share with the world your happy news! And if you’re struggling with the idea of posing for the camera, bring along some props because they’ll give your hands something to do. We have this charming ‘We Eloped’ sign that would be perfect as part of your Instagram announcement – check it out below!
Photo: The DIYBB Etsy
You’ll Actually Be Able to Celebrate Together
Most couples who have a big wedding rarely get a chance to spend anytime with their new spouse, let alone their very closest friends. The day is tightly scheduled and full of people who all want to share in your special occasion, and spend time with you. This can be wonderful, especially when you get a chance to catch up with friends and relatives you haven’t seen for a long time. However, it can seem strange to be having a wedding, and to not be able to share any real moments with your partner. This all changes with an elopement wedding. Your time together is guaranteed, and your experience is shared exclusively with one another.
Photo by Sofia Hernandez on Unsplash
Obviously, there are downsides to an elopement wedding, such as the fact that you are away from all of your friends and family on your biggest day. Or that said family and friends may be offended, or upset that you have chosen to marry in this way. But at the end of the day, this wedding is all about the two of you, and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
We hope we have informed, inspired and maybe influenced your thinking towards an elopement wedding! You are welcome to check out our other wedding planning posts, and if you’re in need of any DIY ideas/tips, head over to our tutorials page and get creative today!