Should We Elope? The Pros & Cons of a Private Ceremony

It’s about 3 years since the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of the wedding industry forever. In 2020 and 2021, many couples were forced to exchange their vows alone or with just a handful of guests out of necessity. However, many of them discovered that a smaller, more intimate wedding may have been what they wanted all along! Even as restrictions on larger gatherings began to lift, a large number of couples were still wondering ‘should we elope?’ Now that life has more or less returned to how it was pre-pandemic, we are still seeing far more elopements and small weddings than ever before as couples begin to embrace more private ceremonies. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of elopement to help you answer the question -‘ Should we elope?‘

A Change in Perception

Even prior to the pandemic, the popularity of elopement was already growing. If anything, quarantine requirements just gave it a push that sped up what was always going to become a huge trend in the wedding industry. A huge factor in this is that the perception people have of eloping has changed. It was once seen as a shameful thing done in secret either to conceal a pregnancy out of wedlock or because of family disapproval. Often when a couple questioned should we elope? It was because they were concerned about what people might assume. However, society has moved on and in 2023, elopement is no longer synonymous with scandal! These days, eloping just means having a smaller and more intimate “micro” ceremony either on their own or with just a handful of guests.

Should We Elope? – The Pros

If you are currently trying to decide if eloping is right for you, let’s talk about some of the pros of choosing a private ceremony over a traditional big wedding.

• Save Money – Eloping can save around 90% on the cost of a traditional wedding!
• Be Spontaneous – Although some venues have a waiting list it is often possible to elope on very short notice!
• Relax – With an elopement, there is less stress, less pressure, and more opportunity to relax and enjoy your special day.
• Feel Free – If you want to buck the societal norms, eloping gives you the freedom to have your wedding your way – not the way people think you should!
• Focus on Love – Sometimes big weddings become a circus and the reason for the marriage is lost in a flurry of trying to keep up with the Joneses! Eloping lets you focus on the marriage, not the party!

Should We Elope? – The Cons

We love elopements, but we appreciate that they are not right for everyone, so it is only fair that we also cover some of the downsides that could sway your decision.

• Guest List Restrictions – The nature of eloping means guests are limited and you will need to leave people out. If having a larger number of guests is important then eloping is not for you.
• You May Not Receive Gifts – Getting married is not about getting gifts, but some couples do rely on their wedding registry to furnish their first home together. If you choose to elope you may find that people opt out of sending a gift so you will want to consider if this matters to you or not.
• Limited Planning Resources – We are including this one on the list even though we don’t necessarily agree with it! However, many wedding bloggers and industry professionals seem to think that eloping limits your options! In our experience, the opposite is true. Smaller weddings often mean being able to access unique venues that can’t or won’t accommodate larger celebrations!

Are you wondering – ‘Should we elope?’. We would love to hear if these pros and cons help you to solidify your decision.