Can You Elope Without Leaving Home?

People choose to elope because they do not want to spend a great deal of money on a lavish ceremony and reception. One major trend for many people who elope is to have a destination wedding. Although choosing to travel outside of your city to a more exotic location or somewhere fun is a viable option for many engaged couples it is not viable for everyone. With that in mind the question becomes, can you elope without leaving home? The answer is a resounding yes!

Reasons to Elope Locally

One of the reasons some couples elope locally is their schedules do not allow them the time to travel. Some of the things that can hinder a destination elopement include the inability to get time off work, conflicting work schedules, military deployment, and a fear of flying. Furthermore, the inability to find a qualified person to care for pets can be a deterrent for some to leave home to elope.

Where to Elope Locally?

The great thing about eloping without leaving home is you will spend significantly less than a destination elopement. Here are just a few suggestions for eloping locally.

• City Hall – A viable option that, although it is not the most romantic, it provides what is important, the exchanging of vows.

• Parks, Beaches or Mountains – If you and your fiancé prefer to get married outdoors if you are only looking for a small ceremony, you, your fiancé, the officiant, and a couple witnesses, you can do so at a local park or beach. Verify with the city you live in to ensure no special permit is required for the size of your party. Check out our Beaches or Mountain pages for some ideas on good spots for a ceremony.

• Wedding Chapel – Many local communities offer wedding chapels, small churches or other romantic venues that will perform a quick ceremony at a low cost…

• A Backyard – If you, your fiancé, or a friend or family member has a nice backyard, consider eloping there. If your friend or family has one, more than likely they will not charge you for the use, consider giving them a small cash token of your appreciation even if they do not request it.

After your ceremony go to your favorite local restaurant for a nice dinner and if possible spend a night or two in a bed and breakfast or small romantic inn as part of a mini honeymoon aka minimoon. Do not forget to hire a photographer to commemorate the ceremony or if you need to save money have a friend or family member take photos for you. Remember the most important aspect to your marriage is the commitment to one another, not the location of the ceremony.

Wherever you happen to live, check out the relevant State Listings on WhereToElope.com and you are sure to find some local vendors offering elopement packages in your area.

Do you have any other local elopement ideas to offer to our readers who want to elope without leaving home?  Please leave a comment below.