The 5 Most Common Reasons Couples Elope

Historically, eloping had many connotations. If a couple chose to elope it was often assumed that their families did not approve of the union, or that the bride had gotten pregnant out of wedlock! However, modern elopement is much more socially acceptable, and there are many different reasons couples elope! We’ve polled our readers to find out the most common reasons couples elope. In case you are wondering – pregnancy is not even in the top 5!

Let’s take a look at the most common reasons couples elope according to the readers of WhereToElope.com.

1 – We Want to Save Money

For several years in a row, the number one spot in our reasons couples elope poll has been money! Couples are choosing to elope in order to save money on the cost of getting married. With the average wedding costing in excess of $30,000, it’s no surprise that couples are finding it hard to justify the high price tag. An all-inclusive elopement package averages around $2500, and basic ceremony-only elopement can be as little as $300. If you are a couple starting out your life together, it is easy to see why you would choose to elope rather than take on substantial debts!

2 – Eloping Saves Time

Planning a big white wedding takes a lot of time and effort! Many couples don’t fully understand just how big of an undertaking it can be and when they start making plans they quickly become overwhelmed. It often takes up to 2 years to plan a traditional wedding. Couples who want to save time find eloping far more convenient. It is possible to book your elopement at short notice – sometimes even on the same day. Additionally, with the help of elopement packages planning to elope takes no time at all!

3 – Reducing the Stress of Wedding Planning

We have already touched on how expensive large weddings are and how much time it takes to plan one. When you put those two things together and add a sprinkle of family drama planning a wedding can become a stressful experience. Eloping is a great way to remove a lot of that stress.

4 – Eloping is More Fun!

Another common reason couples choose elopement is that it gives them the chance to do something fun and exciting! Many couples elope to a dream destination or choose to do something out of the ordinary to make their day even more memorable

5 – Couples Want Freedom

One of the great things about choosing to elope is that you have the freedom to do whatever you want! Often when planning a traditional wedding you will find that friends, family, colleagues, and even random strangers have an opinion on what a wedding is supposed to look like. With an elopement, you get to take charge of your day.

Other Reasons Couples Elope

While these are the most common reasons couples gave us for eloping, there were many others. Some of those additional reasons included:

• marrying quickly due to immigration issues
• avoiding family politics and drama
• it’s a second or third marriage and they have already done a big white wedding
• celebrities or notable executives elope for privacy reasons
• their parents are deceased, so they want something more intimate

These are some of the most common reasons couples elope instead of having a big, traditional wedding. What’s your reason for eloping?