Have you considered eloping? Just saying screw it to the crazy, stressful, exhausting planning process? Do you worry your friends and family will be upset? Do you still WANT the wedding but feel like its too much money to spend, too much work and way to much planning to take on with the rest of your life?
Well I’m here to tell you that eloping doesn't have to mean you don’t get a wedding. You can still have a wedding dress, a beautiful bouquet and even your closest friends and family if you want to. Don’t forget that this is YOUR WEDDING it can look however you want it to.
Over the years I’ve shot MANY elopements and intimate weddings and they have all been a little different and just as special, romantic and perfect as every other big shindig wedding. So if the idea of eloping sounds just a little bit tempting to you… here are my 4 top reasons to consider eloping:
It can cost less money but you don’t have to sacrifice quality. If you decide to elope your wedding dress wont cost any less, your bridal bouquet wont be cheaper and the JP will still cost the same, but one of the best parts about eloping is that you can splurge on a few things that really matter (cough, cough the photography) and still not break the bank with the whole events budget. You can spend a little more on that dress if you are not going to be buying dinner for 100 people. You can get the bouquet of your dreams with the cascading florals and huge blooms because you don’t have to pay for bridesmaids bouquets or centerpieces. You can save a lot of money by eloping but you can still splurge on those few things that will make that day the most special one.
You can do things your way! If you choose to elope you’ve already broken the mold and are going off tack. So get married on top of a mountain, on a boat, in a field, at your favorite restaurant, your favorite waterfall, a random field of wildflowers. The options are endless when its just the two of you. Pick a spot that means something to you or a spot that you just LIKE. You don’t have to worry about how many people it will seat, what the accommodations are like or whats included. You can say “I do” anywhere you want to and make it personal to your love story.
I think the biggest reason people who consider eloping end up doing the “whole wedding” is because their family voices how upset they would be to miss such an important moment. I get this, I think if my daughter decided to elope I might be sad that I didn’t get to be there but the fact is that your wedding is not about your family. It can be- if you want it to be but it’s really about the two of you and your choice to start your lives together. Trust me I am ALL ABOUT FAMILY its the #1 most important thing to me but the reality is… if you want to elope and your family means the world to you… take them with you! You can plan an intimate wedding instead of a classic elopement if you want to. No one has rules as to what you can and can’t do for your wedding. So elope with your immediate family, elope with your best friends… elope however you want to. I’ve shot many elopements/ intimate weddings that were 6 or8 people, not just the two who were saying “I do”. I’ve also shot intimate weddings that were 25 people- there are no rules guys!
When you elope you really get to actually focus on whats important- the two of you. Wedding days can be overwhelming and honestly really busy! So many of my brides end up spending more time with me then their groom on their wedding day. When you choose to elope you get to spend the whole day together if you want. You can get ready together (if you don’t mind breaking the whole seeing one another before the ceremony tradition), you can go out to a nice dinner together after thats just the two of you and no one else that you have to get up and walk around to talk to while your dinner gets cold. You two get to spend time being together which is what the whole day is really about. If you choose to have professional photos taken you can take all the time you want. Want to hike to the top of a mountain, sure. Want to swim in your wedding attire in a pond, why not? Want to capture an epic sunset on the coast, do it!
The best parts of eloping are that you can throw off the “should” and “have to” parts of a wedding day and make it your own. No I’m not saying you can’t do that and still have an epic wedding and party to go with it- of course you can. I’ve been to pig roast weddings, weddings on sailboats and all kinds of fun unique wedding over the years. Every wedding is special no matter how many people come, how many months you spend planning and how much money you spend. Your wedding day is about the two of you so do it your way- eloping or not!
