Why More Couples Are Choosing to Elope

Why Are More Couples Choosing to Elope?

The decision to elope is becoming increasingly popular among modern couples, and for good reason. While traditional weddings hold their own charm, I see couples choosing to elope because it offers a unique and intimate way to celebrate your love – free from the narrow walls and rules of tradition. If you’re on the fence about whether to elope, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make this important decision.

Signs Eloping Might Be Right for You:

1. Traditional Wedding Planning Feels Overwhelming

If you’ve started planning a traditional wedding and found yourself feeling stressed and overwhelmed rather than excited, this could be a sign that eloping is worth considering. Wedding planning shouldn’t feel like a burden that takes away from the joy of your engagement.

While elopements and micro weddings still have planning involved, more couples say they feel relieved at deciding to elope, and that the amount of planning it took to elope was as much as they would want.

So if you’re looking at all the potential wedding venues, deciding on dates, wondering who can make it and when, worrying about tables and linens and chairs and arbors and cakes and favors and invites and save the dates and sparkler exits…. maybe eloping is for you!

“We didn’t want a big production. We just wanted it to be us.”

“When we were in the middle of planning our traditional wedding, the excitement quickly turned into dread and was overwhelming! we’ve always loved to explore new places, and the idea of an intimate ceremony in the mountains brought the excitement back!!”

2. You Value Intimacy Over Tradition

Some couples find that the idea of sharing their vows in an intimate, private setting feels more authentic than declaring their love in front of hundreds of guests. If you imagine your perfect wedding as a moment shared just between you and your partner, eloping might be your ideal choice.

Beyond that, some couples feel no connection to traditional wedding days. Some things couples have told me they don’t like about weddings include:

It feels like planning a day for everyone else.

Everyone has expectations and traditions you have to follow.

It’s more like going through the motions than having an intentional day that we’ll love.

The traditions are cringe (garter toss? really?)

You’re the center of attention for the whole day.

“We decided to elope because we wanted our wedding day to be our day to celebrate each other. The idea of planning a large ceremony and reception felt like we were shifting the focus from marriage to event-planning. We wanted the chance to relax and fill the day with opportunities to enjoy our transition into married life.”

Fun fact: I actually held a micro wedding myself (before that was even really a “thing”) because we felt really estranged from traditional weddings but still wanted something that focused on sharing a perfect day in our favorite season showing everyone we loved the magic of fall in Colorado. I really believe these types of wedding days are the absolute best way to get married!

3. Family Dynamics Are Complicated

Complex family situations can add stress to wedding planning and the big day itself. Eloping allows you to avoid potential family drama and focus solely on celebrating your love without managing others’ expectations or conflicts. It can be easier to leave everyone out than having some people feel excluded sometimes! Plus there are no rules saying you can’t have your moms along for the day if you really want them to be there.

Whether you speak to your family or not, it can be a hard conversation to have with your loved ones. Check out my article here all about approaching this subject!

“We wanted our day to be about us and not about us catering to people’s needs! We wanted something intimate with those closest to us and the people who have supported us through our relationship!”

“Weddings are expensive and family drama on both sides, I don’t want to have to worry about relatives who haven’t seen another in years or are not in good terms having to reconnect on our wedding day.”

4. You’re Budget-Conscious

While traditional weddings often cost upwards of $30,000, eloping typically ranges from $8,000 to $12,000. This significant cost difference could allow you to allocate funds toward other priorities, such as a down payment on a house or an extended honeymoon! Many couples I work with do in fact combine their elopement with a honeymoon, as these places I work are such iconic destinations with so much to see and do!

“The money and stress of having a wedding was never what we wanted. We want it to be about us and our love.”

“We wanted to enjoy our wedding and honeymoon in one.”

Wondering what you’d be spending your money on for an elopement? Check out this article.

5. You Love Nature and Adventure

If you’re drawn to the idea of exchanging vows against a backdrop of mountains, beneath a waterfall, or on a secluded alpine lake beach, eloping offers the freedom to choose unique and meaningful locations that might not be practical for a large wedding. Maybe you began to look at wedding venues but couldn’t find anything quite as amazing as your favorite mountain range or little desert town that feels like Mars. If you opt to elope instead, that amazing backdrop you’re dreaming of could be your “venue” after all!

“We decided to elope because it could just be us and we could go anywhere! And we absolutely fell in love with Ouray on a trip we took a while ago.”

“It’s like a fairytale for us. Being surrounded by beautiful mountains with our closest family is a dream. We are so excited to spend time together with one another while we are there.”

Additional Considerations for Eloping

Before making your decision, consider these important factors too:

• Guest List: Sometimes having no guests is easier than trying to decide who makes the cut for a small wedding.
• Photography: Elopements often allow for more creative and intimate photo sessions without the time constraints of a traditional wedding schedule. It’s not a full day photoshoot, but about planning your favorite day and capturing all those moments for you to relive the best day ever.
• Personalization: You can focus on what truly matters to you as a couple without pressure to incorporate traditional elements that don’t resonate with you.
• Timeline Flexibility: Elopements can be planned more quickly and aren’t as dependent on venue availability or vendor coordination! Plus you can schedule your day however you see fit – none of the traditional wedding timeline constraints here.

Making Your Decision to Elope

Ultimately, choosing to elope should align with your values, preferences, and vision for your wedding day. There’s no right or wrong choice – only what feels authentic to you as a couple. I help plenty of couples document authentic larger weddings and micro weddings as well!

If you find yourself nodding along 🙌 to several of the points mentioned above, and the idea of an intimate, stress-free celebration appeals to you, eloping might be the perfect choice for your wedding day. Remember, your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple and set the tone for the beginning of your married life together!

You’ve Decided to Elope – Now What?

If you’re now one of the many couples choosing to elope, start by envisioning your perfect day. Consider locations that hold meaning for you, think about whether you’d like to include any loved ones in the celebration, and research elopement photographers who can help document your special day. Click here to check out my full guide to the elopement journey! The beauty of eloping is that you can create exactly the experience you want, free from traditional expectations and pressures, and I’d be stoked to help you begin the adventure!

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