3 Reasons to Elope

I would never take back my own wedding day because I am so happy I married my husband. He truly is my best friend, and even after more than 20 years together, I still feel like he is the only family I need most days.

However, if I could have planned the day completely for myself, I would have gotten married on a beach overlooking the ocean.

Looking back, my wedding day did not always feel like it was about me. It felt like it became more about my family, who was invited, and what everyone else wanted. If I could go back and talk to my people-pleasing self from more than 20 years ago, I would tell her to plan the day she truly wanted.

I might have seriously considered these three reasons to elope.

My own wedding experience also taught me not to live through my daughters’ wedding days. While I want to be part of those moments, their weddings are ultimately about them. If they choose to elope without anyone else there, I will support them wholeheartedly and be excited to celebrate with them afterward.

Because ultimately, the moment two people say their vows is about the two of them.

Elopements are also not viewed the way they once were. Today, couples are choosing to elope intentionally. It is not always about running away or keeping a wedding secret. For many couples, it is about creating a more personal experience, avoiding unnecessary stress, and spending their money on what matters most to them.

So, if you are wondering whether an elopement might be right for you, here are three reasons to consider it.

1. Elopements Can Be Less Stressful

If coordinating a large wedding sounds more exhausting than exciting, this may be one of the biggest reasons to elope.

Planning a traditional wedding can come with guest lists, seating charts, timelines, family expectations, and plenty of opinions about what your day should look like. I know from firsthand experience that once you start planning a wedding, people are not shy about telling you what they think you should do.

An elopement allows you to step away from many of those expectations. There may still be details to plan, but the decisions can remain focused on the two of you instead of entertaining a large group of guests.

You can spend less time worrying about whether everyone else is happy and more time enjoying the person you are marrying.

2. Elopements Are Intimate, Unique, and Personal

One of the best things about an elopement is the freedom to make it your own.

You get to choose the location, clothing, vows, timeline, and overall feeling of the day. You are not limited by what works for a large guest list or what other people expect a wedding to look like.

Your elopement could include hiking into the mountains, exchanging vows beside a lake, standing among the red rocks in Sedona, or traveling somewhere completely new. You could even plan your elopement and honeymoon as one unforgettable trip.

The memories of your wedding day are not created by how many decorations you purchased or how many favors you placed on tables. They come from what you experienced together.

An elopement gives you the freedom to create a wedding day that feels personal to your relationship, with the scenery and experience you want surrounding you as you say your vows.

3. Elopements Can Be Less Expensive

Weddings are expensive. Recent national wedding studies place the average cost of a traditional wedding at more than $34,000, although the actual amount varies depending on location, guest count, and the choices each couple makes.

Eloping does not necessarily mean spending almost nothing. You may still choose to invest in travel, clothing, flowers, photography, or a beautiful place to stay. The difference is that you have more control over where your money goes.

Instead of spending a large portion of your budget entertaining guests, you could put that money toward an incredible honeymoon, a down payment on your first home, or an experience you will enjoy together.

Even if saving money is not your main reason for eloping, having a smaller celebration gives you the freedom to prioritize what matters most to the two of you.

Your Elopement Can Still Be Beautifully Photographed

Choosing to elope does not mean giving up beautiful wedding photographs.

You can still have the day documented so you have photographs to look back on, share with your family, and someday show your children. You get to choose the setting, plan around the most beautiful light, and spend the day living in the moment together.

Meanwhile, I will be third-wheeling from a comfortable distance, capturing the scenery, the emotions, and all the little moments that make the day yours.

That is one of my favorite things about elopements. Your wedding can be smaller without feeling any less meaningful.

3 Reasons to Elope

1. Elopements Can Be Less Stressful

2. Elopements Are Intimate, Unique, and Personal

3. Elopements Can Be Less Expensive

Your Elopement Can Still Be Beautifully Photographed

Wanna work together? Let’s do this!