Why should I elope? What is the difference between an elopement and a traditional wedding? What is an elopement? These are questions that we get a lot, and frankly, we wish more couples would ask these questions! For many, the idea of eloping means running off to another city to get married quickly, quietly without any friends or family present. For some, it means going to the courthouse to get married by a judge or a justice of the peace. For others, it means getting married in the pastor’s office at the church or at his home. While these are versions of an elopement, they are by no means the only ways to elope! Couples have lots of options for an elopement, especially with Elopements, Inc. Some couples want an affordable way to get married that offers more than just going to the courthouse. Some couples want to avoid the months of planning and all the complicated family dynamics that a traditional wedding requires. Some couples want the convenience of eloping close to home, while others want to combine an elopement with a honeymoon trip. Whether you elope in your own city or in a different part of the county, you can boil it down to two words: affordability and simplicity. At Elopements, Inc., we pride ourselves on offering elopement options that bring together these two foundational elopement pillars while also providing beautiful settings, and highly qualified professional to officiate and photograph your special moments.
Reasons to choose an elopement
- Elopements are affordable
- Elopements are simple to plan
- Elopements are an opportunity to travel
Affordability
By far, the number 1 reason to elope is cost. A traditional wedding can easily cost $30,000.00, which can be on the low side. There are some high-end wedding venues that chare well over that, which is just the venue. When you start to add up catering, bar service, flowers, photography, videography, musicians, dresses and tuxes, limousine, invitations, rehearsal dinner, wedding planner, officiant and then a traditional honeymoon, the costs can easily match or exceed the down payment on a home purchase. At the end of the day, you are no more married with a $100,000.00 wedding than with a $1,000.00 elopement. If you or your family have that money available to you, think of all the things you could do with that $99,000.00. You could pay off student debt. You could make a down payment on a home. You could invest the money and get a jump start on a college fund for your children, or for your own retirement savings. If you don’t have the money available, you can avoid starting off your marriage with wedding debt. Elope instead!
Simplicity
Traditional weddings are not only expensive but require months of planning. This planning often involved agonizing over who to invite, what venue to use, who should officiate, how many bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and ring bearers to include, who to escort the bride, what music to select. So often, the traditional wedding takes on a life of its own and overwhelms the bride and groom to the point that their wedding is a burden and not a joy. An elopement wipes all that way! At the end of the day, a couple only needs a place to get married, someone to marry them, a marriage license, and someone to take some pictures to remember the day. If the couple chooses wisely, they can find all they need with one call to one company who can provide the place to get married, the person to marry them and the person to take the pictures. All the couple needs to do is get the marriage license and show up. Yes, it really can be that simple!
Travel
Most couples take a honeymoon trip after their traditional wedding. For many couples, this may be the part of the wedding experience that they are the most excited about, because it is the part of the wedding experience that is truly about the couple, and about them spending quality time together, and away from the burdens of everyday life, and away from all the chaos of a traditional wedding. What if you delete that expensive, stressful traditional wedding in your hometown, and start your honeymoon with a delightfully simple, affordable yet elegant and memorable elopement? A destination elopement joined to a honeymoon can do just that! Find a place that has the type of relaxing or exciting honeymoon experience you want, then find an elopement option that you can pair with that destination. You might even use the location of your elopement as the jumping off point before your honeymoon. Let’s say you want the simplicity of an elopement and the excitement of a honeymoon in Europe. You could elope in Nashville and see a few of its sites, then catch a direct flight to an exciting honeymoon in Dublin, London or Iceland. You could elope in Gatlinburg and then enjoy a week in a cabin in the woods and explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You could elope in Sedona and then explore the deserts and national parks out west. You could elope in Charleston or Savannah and enjoy the sites, history, cuisine and beaches of the low country.
What are the next steps now that I’ve chosen to elope?
You need to make a few key decisions, and do some research! How much are you comfortable spending? How far do you want to travel? How much time can you set aside? Once you and your fiancé agree, then start looking online for options that meet your needs. Once you find a company that has an elopement package that you want, then research the marriage license process for that city. Then you’ll need to make your travel arrangements, if this is a destination elopement. Before you book your elopement package, ask questions. Be sure you understand what you are about to book before you book it. Be sure to read contracts and invoices. Pay attention to details, and don’t assume anything.
Whether you choose to elope with an intimate group of family and friends, or just the two of you, we can help you make it happen. Visit ElopementsInc.com and let us help you find the elopement of your dreams.
