Eloping
You’re engaged- wahoo!! After you’ve basked in the post-engagement glow, now you have to start thinking about your wedding. Weddings can be as big or as little as you want, and there are many factors in deciding what type of wedding is best for you. While eloping may have been a rare occurrence for our parent’s generation, and may have been thought of as taboo in years past, eloping is on the rise. Read on to find out the benefits of eloping, and why it may be the best fit for you!
1) Finances
Wedding costs can add up ridiculously fast! Between the food, the florals, the attire, the band/DJ, the photography and/or videography, you may quickly realize your wedding budget isn’t near high enough. You also may be in a situation where your families are not able to contribute to the wedding funds. Eloping can easily save you tens of thousands of dollars. As a result, it can provide you with a healthier start to your marriage. The first year of marriage can be tough, but added financial strain just increases the chances of failure.
2) Tradition
Weddings by definition are a relic of tradition. While some traditions are well-loved, some are dated and rejected by today’s couples. What’s more, if you and your spouse-to-be practice different religions, or even practice different sects of the same religion, the wedding ceremony can quickly become a stressor. “What church are we getting married in? What style of wedding are we having? Who is marrying into who’s religion?” can be a cause for overwhelm.
Elopements allow you the freedom to do what you want, without fear of being tied down by tradition. Many couples “combine” traditions and create a hybrid ceremony they are equally happy with. Sure, you can get away with doing this at weddings, but it’s often not as easy. Some families may not be on board with the idea, thus you may find yourself running into lots of red tape through the planning process.
3) Other Interests
You may have the budget for a lovely wedding, but you find yourself wondering how else you can spend that money. This thought process occurs often with the millennial generation. If they weren’t around for the dot com bust, they and/or their families were affected by the 2008 housing market crash. Hence, letting go of a large sum of money can be hard. You may have mixed feelings about how to spend your money because you would like to pay off your student loans/car, put a downpayment on a house, or travel.
Nowadays eloping doesn’t necessarily mean having a courthouse ceremony either. Officiant Daniela VillaRamos of Once Upon a Vow says, “If you keep wondering how else you can spend your money, chances are eloping is the answer you’ve been looking for. Nowadays, that doesn’t just mean getting married at city hall. You can pretty much get married anywhere your heart desires and treat yourselves to a luxurious experience without digging yourselves into such a deep financial hole.”
4) Intimacy
As said by Elope to Nola, “The simplicity and small nature of elopements is actually a draw in and of itself.” Elopements are inherently more about the couple. You can invite a few close family and friends, or no one. They are how you like, where you like, when you want it to be with no strings attached. If reciting your vows, maybe taking some photographs, and then sharing a quiet candlelit dinner sounds like more of what you envision, elopement is most likely right for you.
I have a friend who chose to go the elopement route to marriage. It was perfect for what she wanted, and envisioned. She and her hubby flew to Utah and got married in a gorgeous canyon, took breathtaking photos in their wedding attire, and enjoyed a small vacation as part of their trip. Hence, don’t feel confined by what you think the definition of a wedding is. Do what feels best to you, and will make you both truly happy.
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