Hi, friends! Let’s talk about elopements! Elopements are becoming more and more popular, as more couples are choosing to ditch tradition and go on a wedding day adventure instead. If a traditional wedding is for you, then great!! But what if you’re just not feeling it?? And with all the pressures and expectations of having a traditional wedding, how do you know if eloping is right for you and your partner??
First, what exactly is an elopement? It no longer means running off to Vegas or scandalously getting married in secret. Couples who elope just decide that they’d rather have a personal, intimate wedding day without all the stress and pressure that come with a traditional wedding. Elopements are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be incredibly intentional with your wedding and spend your time and money on an experience you both will remember forever! Sometimes elopements include a small handful of close family or friends, sometimes it’s just the couple. Some elopements involve hiking up a mountain and saying your vows in front of an incredible view, others are a chill getaway in a cool Airbnb. Just like weddings, elopements don’t have to fit in a box. They can literally be whatever you want it to be!
So, if you’re liking what you’re hearing so far, here are 6 signs that eloping might just be perfect for you and your partner!!
1. You just aren’t loving wedding planning.
There is SO MUCH that goes into planning a big wedding, and it can be crazy overwhelming! Decor, color scheme, bridesmaids dresses, food, DJ, venue, just to name a few! Plus, you often feel pressured to take everyone’s opinions and preferences into consideration. While some couples thrive on planning + details, for you maybe it’s just all too much and you’re not even able to enjoy the process of planning your wedding day. While there is definitely some planning that goes into elopements, such as travel, lodging, + activities, overall it is much, much less than a big wedding. And the only people you’re making decisions for are yourselves!
2. Being the center of attention makes you uncomfortable + sweaty.
Where my introverts at??? So many couples have told me that they dreaded their wedding ceremony because the thought of standing in front of 150 people and saying very personal, private vows made them want to run in the opposite direction. That’s definitely not what you want to be thinking about in the moment you’re committing the rest of your lives to each other!! Eloping allows you the opportunity to say your vows completely in private, just the two of you. You can take as much time as you want, say what’s in your heart, and really be present in the moment without hundreds of eyes watching.
3. You’d much rather spend your wedding day relaxed and enjoying the day with your new spouse rather than stressed about if the centerpieces look good or if your relatives are getting along.
This one pretty much speaks for itself! Big weddings come with a lot to think (i.e., worry) about, no matter how chill you are. I am the most chill person I know (lol) and planned what I thought would be the most laid-back wedding, but the week of I was a hot crying stressed-out mess. Also, you will be SHOCKED at how quickly your wedding day flies by because of how busy it is. Most couples I talk to say they don’t even remember their own wedding because they were constantly being pulled in a hundred directions. With elopements, it’s just the two of you, so you can choose to slow it down and enjoy the day!
4. Planning a big wedding will inevitably cause drama and tension in your family.
This is a big one. Wedding planning can be a nightmare for some couples because it’s simply impossible to please everyone in their families. In a perfect world, family members would all get along and rise to the occasion, but sadly that doesn’t always happen. If planning a wedding will cause more arguments than unity in your families, eloping might be the perfect solution!
5. You hate the idea of spending money on things that aren’t important to you.
Weddings are a $53.4 billion industry. The national average cost of a wedding is $33,931. Now just think about where that money goes: invitations and save-the-dates, buying dinner for 200 people, venues, cake, drinks, favors, wedding party attire, the list goes on and on! And so much of that money goes toward items you won’t even get to enjoy on your wedding day or will just be thrown out the day after. With an elopement, you could be intentional about your wedding budget and put it towards an amazing adventure you both will remember forever!
Also, just because elopements are cheaper, that doesn’t mean they are any less valuable than a big wedding! Don’t skimp on your dream dress, a stunning bouquet, and a professional photographer (shameless plug lol) just because your wedding is small. It’s still your wedding day, and it deserves to be celebrated!
6. You feel most like yourselves when you’re on an adventure.
Think about your favorite memories with your partner. They might involve something fun or spontaneous you did together, a roadtrip, exploring a new place. You two feel most alive, most yourselves, most at home when you’re adventuring together. If your favorite moments together have been hiking on a mountain or even just enjoying the outdoors in your favorite local spot just the two of you, then just imagine picking one of those locations as the place you say your vows! Imagine spending your wedding day exploring the glaciers of Alaska, star-gazing in Joshua Tree, hiking waterfalls in the PNW, or watching the sunset in Yosemite. Imagine being able to soak in the day and start off married life with one heck of an adventure. If that’s speaking to your soul and sounds much more appealing than a traditional wedding, then yeah, eloping just might be for you. 🙂
At the end of the day, just trust your gut. If a traditional wedding just doesn’t feel like you, you’ll know it! Eloping is a brave choice, but 1000% worth it if you want your wedding day to be an experience you’ll remember and treasure forever!
Hi! I’m Payton! I’m a traveling wedding + elopement photographer based in Oklahoma City, documenting weddings in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, and beyond! I specialize in working with intentional, adventurous couples who are focused on making their wedding day exactly what they want it to be, regardless of tradition. If this post resonated with you and you’re considering an elopement, yay for you!! I would love to chat and help you craft your one-of-a-kind adventure elopement experience and document your love story, whatever you’re dreaming of! Inquire with me today!!
