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Elopement is a controversial topic when it comes to weddings, and it’s not a word on everyone’s lips. In fact, it was always considered rude or in bad taste to elope.
But you will find that nowadays, it is becoming more and more common for couples to do this. And, it is accepted by many as the new age of weddings – since everything is becoming more and more pricey.
In this post, we are giving you 7 good reasons why elopement might be an option for you as a couple.
7 Good Reasons why you should rather Elope
We get that there are loved ones that you really want present at your wedding. Your family and close friends – even though you should know that more often than not, not everyone will actually be able to attend your wedding.
So, what if all the wedding planning hype is all becoming a bit too much to handle? That in itself should be a good reason for elopement.
Let’s dive right in to the other reasons…
Reason 1 | To avoid family drama
This is the most common reason why couples decide to elope. Family drama is one of the most draining events of one’s life, because you don’t want conflict with your loved ones, right?
And when the cat is out of the bag that you’re getting married, everyone wants a big slice of your wedding.
It is all very emotional, because you have to carefully plan your wedding by avoiding stepping on anyone’s toes, and by trying to keep everyone happy.
You will also notice how everyone offers to “help”, and “if you need anything…”, until they actually have to help with something…
Hmmm… Why is that?
Reason 2 | To cut wedding costs
We need to break the truth to you, if you don’t already know this: Weddings are expensive.
Each guest added to your list means an extra plate of food, an extra chair, under plate, favor, decor item, etc. And if you take your wedding expenses as a whole, you might get a shock what it costs per person after you’ve made the calculation.
A giant pitfall for most couples is not having a proper budget in place. You cannot expect to pay cheap for a wedding if you don’t have an idea how much you’ve spent already.
If you don’t know already, we have a very handy printable kit called the Wedding Budget Planner, which helps you to set up your budget from day one, track payment dates, and help locate unexpected costs at your wedding. With these printables, you will be able to set up an effective wedding budget from day one.
Need a printable wedding budget template? Have a look at our latest version here…
The next step on saving money on your wedding (especially if eloping is not an option), is to make a list of all the things you can possibly save money on. Think of every little aspect of your wedding, and how you can either get it for cheaper, or cut it from your wedding completely.
Reason 3 | The wedding is a big mess
Many couples elope because, after trying to salvage the arrangements of what seemed like a great wedding, they simply throw in the towel. It may be that all the wedding planning stuff started out ideally, but it all went pear shaped.
Nothing is planned properly, because they expected things from people who didn’t deliver.
This is a great challenge for most brides, because there is always that ever-present “expectation factor” when planning a wedding.
You’d think that your bridesmaids will know that they have to actually help you plan your wedding? Or that the groomsmen should help the groom with the pickup and transporting of everyone’s suits? Nah.
Simply shove a checklist into the hands of your maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids and groomsmen – so that they know what their responsibilities are. 🙂
The wedding can also be a mess if the invitations weren’t sent out in time or that nothing is available anymore, such as the venue or photographer.
Or, the couple simply waited too long to start planning.
If you can’t elope because of any of these reasons, then it is better to just postpone the wedding altogether.
Reason 4 | Not enough wedding guests
This is a more obscure reason to elope, as most people have more than enough guests they can invite to their wedding. But there are couples who have a magic guest list of 40 people or less, believe it or not…
The real issue comes in with the venue. You might have noticed that most venues require a minimum guest count, because it is just not profitable for them to go through all the arrangements for only a few wedding guests.
The great thing about not having enough guests is that you are flexible to plan your dream wedding anywhere you want to. There’s no need to worry about location and how you should choose a central area for everyone to travel to. Plus it’s much cheaper!
Fewer guests might be a good reason for you to consider having a destination wedding…
Also Read: How to keep your Wedding Guests Happy and Enjoy your Wedding
Reason 5 | Too many wedding guests
On the flip side, this is another reason for eloping, when it comes to your wedding guests. Having too many wedding guests can also become a major problem.
Also, it is difficult to cross people out from your list, because everyone has to be invited… or else. Especially if they are direct family, or your parents insist on inviting all their friends, too.
The problem comes in when you simply cannot afford it all. Like we mentioned earlier, each guest added means extras of everything. And then it all adds up to a point where you have to take out a loan from the bank. Ew.
Nevertheless, most venues don’t only have a minimum guest count, but a maximum guest count, too. If you find your ideal venue, be sure to ask what their limit is. This also makes your chances of finding the ideal venue smaller, and larger venues can also be more expensive than others.
Reason 6 | Everything is just too stressful
A lot of hard work and effort goes into the planning of a successful wedding. And this can quickly take its toll on you, especially if you don’t know what you’re in for. It is very stressful!
Between all the hassles of cake tastings, venue scoutings, decor planning, flower picking, Pinterest scrolling and finding good and reliable suppliers, you can quickly feel close to a nervous breakdown.
Maybe you should consider hiring a professional wedding planner, who can help you with all of your wedding details and help to make your wedding dreams come true.
Also Read: How to spot the wrong wedding planner + free wedding planner comparison sheets
Reason 7 | You rather want a great honeymoon
With the looming financial crisis we constantly find ourselves in, most people simply cannot afford the costs of a great wedding and a great honeymoon, too.
That’s why it makes more sense to cut down on wedding costs, and rather have a fantastic honeymoon where you can wash off all of the wedding stress and relax before returning back to your normal life.
Besides, if you elope to a destination where you can also have your honeymoon, that will be fantastic! You can easily cut on travel and accommodation costs this way.
Destination wedding vs. elopement
For a lot of couples, it is a better option to have a destination wedding, rather than eloping and not having all of their close family and friends present on their special day.
Whichever you choose is up to you, but let’s compare the options…
Costs involved
A destination wedding is more expensive than elopement. With a destination wedding, you have plane tickets, accommodation costs, food, venue fees and all the rest to think about.
It may even be more expensive than having a regular wedding, but if you have the funds for it, and only want a few people to be there on your wedding day, then why not?
Eloping is the cheapest wedding option. You don’t tell anyone, so there are no invitation costs or any of the other extras for each guest. You also don’t have hefty venue fees, or catering costs with a lavish wedding cake. You also don’t buy a designer wedding dress – especially if you’re not going to show it off.
Planning involved
With a destination wedding, you still have the stressful planning aspect of a wedding, but much less than a regular wedding. Sure, you still need to plan your traveling and accommodation, and your dress, and so on…
But luckily we live in a time where you can simply contact the hotel agency or a planning company of that country to sort everything out for you – with the magic of Skype, of course!
With elopement, you just go. You can plan your accommodation if you need to, or tickets and passports if you plan on leaving the country. That is your planning, for the most part.
Advantages of a destination wedding
- If you have a destination wedding, you still have most of your loved ones with you
- You can still live broadcast your wedding to everyone who couldn’t make it to your wedding
- Having your wedding at a beautiful destination is a dream come true
- You’re probably already at your honeymoon destination, so you cut on traveling and costs
- You get to see a different country
Disadvantages of a destination wedding
- It is expensive
- You have to communicate with suppliers on that side through Skype – and hope they have decent wi-fi and understand what you want
- Some countries have strict passport and Visa requirements, and everyone who wants to attend will have to sort that out
- You have to organize transport and accommodation in a country you don’t know
- Not everyone you want to have there will be able to go
Advantages of eloping
- You avoid petty family drama and conflict
- It is the on of the cheapest ways to get married
- You get to travel a bit
- You don’t have the massive stress of planning a wedding
- You might already be at your honeymoon destination, so that means less travel and costs
- You don’t have to worry about keeping everyone happy – just yourself and your groom!
Disadvantages of eloping
- You don’t have your close loved ones with you
- Though some brides who eloped may disagree – you miss out on all the wedding details, flowers, decor and thrill
- All those magic wedding moments, such as the first dance, groom’s speech, saying “I do” in front of your loved ones, will be missed
- You might feel regret afterwards and every once in a while, especially if you attend your friend’s wedding and realize how it amazing and magical it all really is
- There is a great possibility that you might face some family drama anyway, once you return from your elopement…
Now Read: 18 Essential Items that you should take on your Honeymoon
