Eloping in Europe

Eloping in Europe: The Pros and Cons

Deciding that you would like to do when eloping in Europe, the main attraction is the romance of it all! What could be better than running off to a beautiful European destination and marrying the love of your life? There are few who would sniff at the chance for a wedding in France, Spain or maybe even Cyprus. However, while in theory eloping in Europe sounds pretty idyllic; in reality there are many things to consider. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of eloping in Europe.

The Advantages of Eloping in Europe

Ask any bride which European city is the most romantic venue for a wedding and it is around 85% certain that she will say Paris. Who could blame her; it is known as ‘The City of Love‘. What better place in Europe to stage an Elopement? Check out Bliss Travels for some great value wedding packages if Paris sounds like your dream destination, after all one of the biggest pros when it comes to eloping in Europe is having your travel agency arrange everything!

However, if you are looking for something that is perhaps a little less clichéd, there are plenty of other destinations to keep in mind. This is especially true if you are looking for an elopement destination where there are no complex procedures to navigate. One such destination is Gibraltar where you can follow in the footsteps of one of the Beatles John Lennon and Yoko Ono by getting married on the famous Rock which lies just off the coast of Spain. The marriage requirements are simple and efficient making this the ideal place for those wishing to elope in Europe. Or you could choose to be married over the famous blacksmith’s anvil in Gretna Green Scotland where the concept of eloping began over 200 years ago.

The Disadvantages of Eloping in Europe

So far we have noted a few of the advantages of eloping in Europe including the romance, the beautiful backdrops and the ease of having a travel agent book most of the wedding for you. However, where there are pros there must also be some cons. One of the main downsides is that eloping in Europe means you may not have all of your friends and family by your side – although that sort of sums up the very nature of an elopement!

The other major disadvantage is that certain countries may have strict residency laws and other marriage procedures which are tricky to navigate. For example, Germany is one country to avoid when you consider eloping in Europe simply because they require a long list of notarized documents which can prove to be very costly and time consuming to obtain. And in France if you are a US citizen one of you has to reside there for 40 days. However, there are plenty of other locations across Europe where elopement is a little easier.

Finally, you will also need to ensure that your marriage is legal in your home country as you may require an additional legal procedure upon returning home. Please check back on our Eloping in Europe web page for updates on the marriage license requirements and destinations in the European Union (EU) countries.

What European City would you elope to?

Eloping in Europe has both pros and cons since what you gain in romance and excitement may be canceled out by cutting through the red tape! Which city would you choose if you were eloping in Europe? We would love to hear about any hurdles you might have encountered when you are eloping in Europe.

European Elopement Destinations:

Based on our in depth research here is a list of places for eloping in Europe ranked by “Ease of Elopement”.  Please let us know if you agree with  our findings.

 

 

 

 

 

Our WhereToElope Elopement Planning research team has discovered that there are many beautiful and romantic places to “get married” when you are Eloping in Europe.  But the concept of “elopement” or “eloping”  is not as widespread or common in Europe and in some cases the laws, customs and local regulations allow a “ceremony only”, not a legal marriage.

We’ve also discovered that in Europe eloping seems to be more popular or common in the major resort and tourism areas.  So, to help eloping couples with their search for that romantic small wedding spot, we will be listing European destinations, packages and service providers that offer elopements when and where we find them plus small destination wedding or ceremony locations in other countries.

NOTE: Please return to the Eloping in Europe page often as we’ll be adding more elopement and small destination wedding locations and info as we discover them.