Elopement 101- What, When, Where, Who, How, and Why
What is Eloping?
The first thing to cover in our elopement 101 guide is what is eloping? If we take things literally, then eloping refers to running away to get married in secret, a practice that can be traced back to 1753 in Scotland’s Gretna Green. However, the modern definition is much different! These days when we talk about eloping we are usually referring to a small, intimate wedding.
Elopements traditionally involved only the bride and groom and often took place somewhere away from home. While some couples do still choose to go it alone, many modern elopements also include a small number of guests. Some might say that this is a micro wedding rather than an elopement, but in our eyes, it’s all the same thing with a new label attached! Small weddings and elopements have gained popularity over the last few years, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and they are very much the hottest alternative to a big traditional wedding!
when to elope?
The simple truth is that there is no short answer to the when to elope question. It comes down to the couple’s personal preferences. Wedding ‘season’ runs from May through October, but traditional rules do not apply when it comes to eloping! Your location and budget are usually the two biggest deciding factors. So, pick your wedding date and enjoy!
Where to Elope?
Once you have made the decision to choose elopement instead of a big traditional wedding, the next step in our elopement 101 overview is to select where to elope. There are many different factors that might be considered for this part of the planning process. Some couples might choose to elope internationally, although this can be trickier in the current global situation. However, if you do go down that route, it is wise to check our summary of the easiest and most difficult places to elope! The majority of couples play it a little closer to home when planning an elopement and we have a huge selection of vendors listed on our Where to Elope directory pages. If it seems a little bit overwhelming, why not check out our top 15 places to elope for some inspiration.
Who Should Elope?
If you are still on the fence about whether or not you should elope then you may find yourself thinking about what type of people choose to elope. The short answer is anyone! Couples from all walks of life and various age ranges are choosing to elope. There is no longer one demographic that is more likely to elope than any other. However, some of the people who might be more open to eloping might include:
- Those who have previously been married and have already had one large wedding
- Couples who cannot afford the cost of a traditional big wedding
- Those who have a busy schedule and cannot find the time to plan a big wedding
- Couples who just want to be married but have no interest in an actual wedding celebration
- Those wishing to get married in a hurry due to an unexpected or terminal illness
- Couples where one partner is facing a military deployment
Elopement 101: How to Elope?
Once the decision has been made that you will be eloping, the next question is how do you do it? We have put together our step-by-step how to elope checklist to make things easier for you!
Why Choose to Elope?
Finally, let’s round up our elopement 101 summary by exploring why couples choose to elope. We frequently run polls to determine the top reasons to elope and year after year the number one answer is always the same! By an overwhelming margin, the majority of eloping couples do so in order to save money! An all inclusive elopement package has an average price tag of around $2500 which is more than a 90% saving on the average cost of a traditional wedding. Millennials in particular feel that money is better spent on securing their future. Things like buying a home paying off student loan debt, or creating a college fund for future children are more of a priority.