There are more ways to get married than there are raindrops in a cloud. What is the best type of wedding? The first big thing to consider is this: elopement vs. wedding. Those of us in the wedding business can point out many important aspects of each option to help you decide which is right for you.
Reasons to Elope
Listing out all the reasons to elope could take a while! Eloping is a great way for a couple to start their married life in a way that they can control and in a way that they can afford. Elopements are simple and easy to plan. There are just a few key choices to make that require very little planning. The simpler the style of the elopement, the smaller the guest list, the easier it is! Couples who are still in college or graduate school, or couples with high-stress demanding careers often embrace the ease of booking and minimal planning required with eloping. Beyond simplicity is affordability. Elopements are a low cost, low stress way to get married. Setting a reasonable budget and paying for an elopement without having to go into debt or depend on parents is easy to accomplish.
Reasons not to Elope
Some couples may like the simplicity and affordability of an elopement, but it may not be the right choice due to certain family dynamics. If a bride or groom have an extremely close relationship with many people in a large family, and if budget is not an issue, there may not be the need or option to elope. Some couples may find themselves in a situation where they have many close friendships and business relationships where a traditional wedding may be appropriate or even necessary. If a bride or groom truly wants to have invitations, guests, bridal showers, live music, dancing, floral arrangements, catering, wedding cake and all the trimmings for a large group of friends and family, then an elopement may not be the best option.
Reasons to have a Traditional Wedding
Many fathers watch their daughters grow up and look forward to giving her the wedding of her dreams, walking her down the aisle, and having the second dance at her wedding reception. Many mothers look forward to helping their daughter buy the perfect dress, plan the perfect ceremony and reception as a way to celebrate the beginning of her adult life. Many men may want to give their fiancées the wedding of their dreams. If the bride and groom come from very large families with strong expectations for family weddings, and if the couple and the families involved have the money and want to spend it on a traditional wedding, that is certainly their choice to make. Many couples, especially those entering a first marriage, feel a strong draw to have the big wedding, to involve the parents, the grandparents, the siblings, the extended relatives, friends and coworkers. If a traditional wedding is what everyone wants, and if there is a budget for it, then go for it!
Reasons not to have a Traditional Wedding
If the bride and groom do not have the budget for a large wedding, and if they don’t have relatives able to fund it, they should not go into debt to have one. If the bride or groom have anxiety issues, a traditional wedding is very bad idea! If the bride and groom have difficulty with the idea of months of planning, dozens of guests and tens of thousands of dollars spent, then a traditional wedding is not the best idea. If the bride and groom have strained relationships with family members, especially with parents, a traditional wedding could make certain problems even worse. Traditional weddings require lots of time, lots of planning, lots of disruption over many months of preparation, with lots and lots of money spent. If all of that sounds overwhelming, that’s because it is! For many people, there isn’t even a matter of choice. For these couples, getting married means having a traditional wedding with all the trappings.
The choice is yours!
Each couple must do what is best for them. For some, that will mean the large traditional wedding and reception that involve all the relatives, all the friends, all the colleagues and all the money. For others, the best choice is something small, simple and affordable. At the end of the day, each couple must evaluate their family dynamics, their budget and any other factors that may impact the way in which they get married. If you are considering eloping and you want to talk to experts who have built and hosted both traditional weddings and elopements, contact the professionals at Elopements, Inc.We can walk you through the options and help you find what works best for you.
