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What Does It Mean To Elope? | The Definition of Elopement and How To Do It
Many people think that when a couple chooses to elope, it means that they “ran away” and got married in secret without including their family and friends. While some couples choose to not tell their families until after they are married, this definition has morphed over time and is actually celebrated just like any other wedding. There is actually very little that is different between an elopement and a wedding in today’s day and age!
So What Exactly Does It Mean To Elope?
There are a lot of different definitions out there, but all of them revolve around the same concept: an elopement is an intimate wedding that is completely focused on the couple and what they want for their wedding. There is a small difference between an intimate wedding and an elopement which is the number of guests, typically an intimate wedding is 50 guests or less and an elopement is 10 guests or less, but for the most part they are the same.
An elopement is a day that is planned in a way that revolves around the couple, their relationship, and personalities. Having an elopement instead of a traditional wedding does not mean the day is any less special and it does not mean you have to run away in secret — which you totally could if you wanted to.
Elopements look completely different for every couple, because every couple is different in their own ways! Elopements are truly about creating a day that is unique to you in order to celebrate the fact that you are committing yourselves to one another for the rest of your lives! When it comes to eloping, there are no rules.
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, where you’re doing it, or who is there; as long as it reflects your needs and wants for your wedding day. Getting married is a day of celebration that reflects your adventure instead of focusing on everyone else’s needs and expectations; you have complete freedom!
SO HOW DO YOU ELOPE?
WHO?
Elopements are different depending on the couple, it really is all about what is important to you. Are you really close to your family or have friends who have poured in your relationship?Include them in your ceremony!
Want to have a private ceremony with just the two of you, but you still want to include your family? Have a reception to celebrate with them! You have complete freedom, so its time to discard any stress and anxiety! This day is about you, so celebrate it the way you want to!
WHERE?
Elopements can take place absolutely anywhere! Because you’re eloping, you are not confined to a venue, rather your venue is God’s incredible creation! You could choose to elope on a white sand beach by the sea, on top of a mountain, in an ice cave, in the desert, or even hop on a helicopter and reach places that only a handful of people have been! I have a very long list of options, but when it comes to choosing a location, it all comes down to what you love the most.
One thing to consider when choosing your location is if you want to have guests or not. If you choose to include more than ten guests, you may need to choose a place that is easily accessible (eloping on a mountaintop could be a little difficult with guests unless you hire a fleet of helicopters to transport everyone).
Many destination weddings are intimate weddings, so the options really are endless. You could get married in your backyard, in a courthouse, or you could travel to a destination you’ve always wanted to see (helloooooo, the Swiss Alps, Amalfi Coast, or Iceland??). As long as your special day is meaningful and all about YOU, that’s all that matters!
WHAT?
Many think that elopements are quick and can only last as long as the vow reading, but actually elopements can be just as long and fun as a traditional wedding day!
Because elopements are smaller than a traditional wedding, many people think that means a shorter day, but I definitely disagree! I believe that you should enjoy and revel in every single moment of your wedding day, and every moment deserves to be captured.
Elopements are completely customizable depending on what is most important to you, but I definitely encourage any kind of adventure! Think about the best possible day you could spend with your love, and turn that day into your elopement. This could include hiking to an epic spot and catching the sunrise, going snowmobiling or rock climbing, having a slow morning getting ready for an afternoon elopement, or even spending the whole day hanging with just your family and closest friends.
Some couples choose not to have a formal reception and instead focus on a longer couples portrait time while others still want to have time to party. Intimate weddings (50 people or less) generally still have a reception, but it is much more casual that a traditional wedding reception depending on the couple.
FIVE STAGES OF PLANNING AN ELOPEMENT
DREAM
Come up with a vision for the best day of your life. Think of a fun, adventurous day that could include anything you can think of, and turn that into your elopement day! If you could get married anywhere in the world, where would it be? In this stage of the elopement planning process, you’ll pick the part of the world you’d like to get married in and what time of year.
RESEARCH
After you brainstorm and dream about your big day, it’s time to research to start making your day come to life. Research the area you’d like to get married in, look for vendors, and find out what’s possible to make your dream into a plan. Look into marriage laws, permits and regulations, and seasons. Hiring an experience elopement planner, travel guide, or elopement photographer can really help you with this part!
START BOOKING
Start by setting your date! Next up, finalize your location, book lodging, look into flights, and book your transportation.. Finalize your wedding vendors, whether they are local or will travel to your elopement spot.
GET READY
Purchase your elopement attire, finalize details with your vendors, plan your activities, and work with your elopement photographer to develop a timeline. If you’re having guests attend, finalize travel details and lodging with them. Communication is key in this part of the planning process!
ELOPE
You’ve worked incredibly hard to make this dream come to life, so in this part of the planning process you get to experience the materialization of your elopement day!
Soak up every single moment.
WHY SHOULD YOU ELOPE?
Elopements aren’t for people who want to breeze through the most important day of their lives, rather it is for the ones who care deeply for one another and are brave enough run away from the norm to choose something different.
Elopements are for the people who desperately want to spend a day, or however long, soaking up every single moment of the day they commit their lives to one another. Elopements aren’t about just a quick license signing and a couple of portraits, they are about taking the hand of your love and jumping into the biggest adventure of a lifetime.