Elopement

Once upon a time, elopement meant that a couple would dash off to be secretly married at the courthouse or in Las Vegas. Oh, how the times have changed! Today elopement means a small wedding celebration, frequently shared with a few friends and family. Instead of focusing on the details of a big party, the focus is on the couple and the intimacy of the occasion.

You can still elope at the courthouse or in Las Vegas. But you can also elope at your favorite hiking spot or restaurant, in a hotel suite, on the beach or at an amusement park. There are no rules, this is the ultimate DIY. Curate a wedding experience crafted to be exactly what you want it to be.

Reflecting back to 2020, there were a lot of wedding postponements due to venue closures and social distancing requirements. As a result, there were a lot of “micro” weddings. Not necessarily impromptu, but small and meaningful to the couple. Since that time, the concept has evolved and the term elopement is heard as much as micro wedding although they often refer to the same thing.

The elements for planning are very simple and straightforward. Like any good story, start with when, where and who. If you aren’t great at planning, there are wedding planners and coordinators who specialize in elopements. There are also venues, officiants, florists, photographers, caterers and musicians who welcome the opportunity to work with couples for a special, small scale celebration.

Elope because you want to be married, minus the big and expensive production. Elope because all that money you would spend for a wedding can be used for something that is more important to both of you such as buying your first home or taking a big trip or simply saving the money for your future together.

Getting married is the next chapter in your story. What that looks like is for you to decide.