Top 5 Reasons to Elope
If you need some convincing to ditch the traditional wedding plans and elope instead, or you’re not sure if eloping is for you…keep reading for 5 reasons to elope!!
But first, let’s start with a definition of what eloping actually means. When you hear the word “elope”, you probably immediately think of running off to Vegas to get married in secret. Elopements have a reputation of being shameful, secretive marriages for people with disapproving families. Well rest assured, that’s not what it means anymore.
AN ELOPEMENT IS AN INTIMATE AND UNIQUELY CRAFTED WEDDING EXPERIENCE THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC TO WHO YOU ARE AND IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON YOUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.
So why should you elope? I asked my couples why they decided to elope, and compiled a list of the top 5 reasons. So if you’re thinking about eloping, keep reading!! By the end of this post you’ll probably want to throw all the big, traditional wedding plans out the window.
1. Eloping Brings the Focus Back to You
A lot of couples decide to elope after they’ve already started planning a traditional wedding, so I asked some of my couples what made them change their mind. They said that throughout the process of planning a traditional wedding, all the little details quickly become more about everyone else than them. They felt like they had to give up certain things that they really wanted to accommodate all their guests.
Throughout the process of planning a wedding, the focus is on your guest list, and all your attention goes to making sure that they have a good time. Eloping takes away the “production” of a traditional wedding. It allows you to focus on what you actually want for your wedding day, free of the pressures and opinions of others. You get to spend the entire day with your partner (and maybe some close family & friends), rather than spending most of the day apart, surrounded by a million other people.
2. You won’t be the center of attention.
A traditional wedding is a lot like giving a speech on a stage in front of a hundred people. If the thought of saying your vows with all those eyes on you makes you feel sick, you’re not alone. A lot of the stress and anxiety that couples feel on their wedding day is caused by how much they dread being the center of attention.
If you spend most of your time avoiding big parties and crowds, and would rather have a small gathering with some close friends, why should your wedding be any different? Instead of spending your day making small talk with hundreds of people, you could spend your day having more deep & meaningful conversations with close friends and family.
Having a small wedding or elopement allows you to be yourself. You won’t feel like you have to act a certain way, or be someone you’re not, because you can choose to only invite those who make you feel comfortable enough to be your true selves.
3. A Unique & Authentic Wedding Day
You know those certain things that EVERYONE seems to be doing on their wedding day? All those traditions you feel like you have to follow even if they make you cringe? What if you were able to ditch all those things and start from scratch? Well, you can. There is no rulebook to follow when you elope. Eloping gives you the freedom to plan a day that is 100% unique to you.
You can spend the day doing something you love, get married anywhere in the world, choose who you invite and what you want do on your wedding day, choose where you want to spend money and where you don’t… etc.
Want to hike a mountain on your wedding day? Maybe say your vows early in the morning as the sun rises behind you? Or if you’re really adventurous, go zip lining, kayaking, book a helicopter or hot air balloon ride? A sunset picnic? End your day roasting marshmallows and sharing stories around a campfire? You can do any of these things and so much more.
Eloping allows you to craft a unique wedding day and include the things you love to do together. The possibilities are endless.
4. You can choose where to spend your money & invest more in the things that are most important to you.
A common misconception about eloping is that people only do it because they can’t afford a big wedding. It’s less about not being able to “afford” it, and more about choosing not to waste money. Couples elope because they get to CHOOSE what to spend money on, and what not to spend money on.
If you hate the idea of dropping thousands of dollars on a big venue, ceremony displays, table scapes, etc… and would rather spend that money on an experience for you and your partner, then eloping is for you. Taking away all those extra costs of a traditional wedding means you don’t have to sacrifice spending more on the things you really care about. Instead you could travel somewhere epic, hire your dream photographer, buy your dream dress, etc.
5. Beautiful Photos
Traditional wedding timelines usually only allow 15-30 minutes for portraits, making it so hard to capture authentic moments. When I used to photograph bigger weddings, I felt rushed to cram in as many poses as I could before the couple had to move onto the next part of their day. Your portraits shouldn’t feel like just another thing to “check off” on your wedding day timeline. These are photos you’re going to have forever, hang on your walls, print in albums, and see every day on the lock screen of your phone. You deserve so much more than 3 poses you saw on Pinterest, you deserve photos that capture your true selves. The way you look at each other, the way you hold hands, the way you laugh when your partner makes a joke, the smiles on your faces as you spend a day doing something you love…all those little things that make your relationship unique deserve to be captured.
When you elope…
Instead of cramming portraits into a 15 minute window, with stiff poses and fabricated moments, your photos will be relaxed and truly represent your relationship. You’ll receive photos that capture real moments of love and adventure, so that even years down the road when you’re looking through your gallery for the 100th time, every emotion and memory will come flooding back.
Are you convinced yet? If you were saying HECK YES throughout all these reasons to elope, I’d absolutely love to help you bring your dream elopement to life. I’m Erin, and I’m an adventure elopement photographer based in North Carolina!! Click here to read more about planning your elopement!!
