It’s no secret that elopements are on the rise. According to one statistic, searches on Pinterest for elopement photography ideas went up 128%! Many couples today are choosing alternative ways to get married because of the intimacy and personalization elopements and intimate weddings provide. While traditional weddings are great and you should absolutely have one if that is what you want, elopements offer so much more freedom and personalization to one of the most important days of your life. I may be biased since I am an elopement photographer, but elopements are seriously so awesome and I’m passionate about telling couples’ stories through photography! Having eloped myself, I can say that it was truly the best decision we could have made for our wedding day.

But why are so many couples eloping and what makes elopements so special? I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 reasons you should choose an elopement wedding. So let’s dive in!

Reasons to Elope:

1. You want your elopement day to be filled with meaning

By far, one of the biggest reasons couples choose to elope is because they want to create a day filled with experiences and meaning. An elopement is a day that is filled with intentionality and a focus on each other, rather than on other people and what they expect your day to look like. Your elopement is a day for you and your partner to truly enjoy each other’s presence and create intimate, private moments doing the things you both love, so dream big! Think outside the box and come up with ideas that reflect who you are as a couple. Be intentional in your planning process and choose only what is meaningful and important to you, no matter how big or small. Those are the details that make your story unique and are the things that have gotten you to where you are together as a couple, so include them on your special day.
It’s not just about how your adventure elopement goes, but about how your day feels.

2. You want to cut down on cost

One of the advantages that come with choosing to elope is that elopements tend to cost much less than traditional weddings, simply because you do not have to spend money on a venue or on feeding a large group of people. When you choose to elope, you get to spend your money on the things that matter the most to you whether it is an activity or traveling to a destination you’ve always dreamed of going to together. Elopements can save you a lot of money, but even if you want to spend your entire budget on your elopement, the important thing is that you get to spend your money on what matters most to you.

3. You don’t want any stress!!

This reason to elope to a biggie!! Your wedding day should not be stressful! I repeat, your wedding day should not be stressful! The pressure of planning a wedding can introduce an extra amount of unneeded and unnecessary stress because of all the small details that make up a wedding day. If the idea of decision-making between all the choices that you have and unlimited lists and photos of inspiration sound stressful, then eloping might be just right for you. This is one of the biggest days of your life and you should be able to enjoy it fully and not worry about other people or details or anything other than you and your partner.

Choosing to elope can help others lower their expectations of what your day should look like as there are no traditions surrounding elopements. You are able to throw out all the traditional wedding norms and you lose the pressure to plan the “perfect wedding” or one-up your friend’s wedding with something more elaborate and are simply free to enjoy and soak in the day, stress-free.

Another reason elopements can lower stress is that you don’t have to be the center of attention. For some, this can be a huge stress reliever and a large deciding factor in choosing to elope. Even though your elopement day is all about you, you may not want the attention of hundreds of guests on you, so by choosing to elope you can still have a day that is focused on you without feeling the pressure to act or look a certain way.

Did you know that eloping can also mean including a few friends and family to be present? That’s the best part about elopements - plan as you wish and celebrate with those who support you and matter the most.

4. You aren’t required to invite or host guests

You may want to have a small group of family or friends attend your elopement, or you may want it to just be you and your partner. Either way is ok and while you can absolutely invite people to your elopement wedding, not all couples do. That is the beauty of elopements, there are no rules.

Whether or not you choose to invite guests, you are likely to have fewer people attend your elopement wedding and by not having a large number of guests, you do not have to worry about entertaining a large number of people. You can simply enjoy whomever’s presence you are with without the need to host and entertain.

5. You want a day filled with uniqueness and individuality

If you are looking for a wedding day that is tailored exactly to your vision and wants, then eloping is the way to go! Elopements are unique because there is no one way for them to look; they aren’t repetitive, they are one of a kind. There are no traditions or expectations to uphold because you get to decide how your day looks. This naturally brings a level of uniqueness to your day that only you and your partner can have. The ideas or things you plan for your day are not repetitive or cookie-cutter, they are simply the things that you enjoy. There are many ways to incorporate personalization into your elopement day such as the ceremony location you choose, the details you incorporate, and the traditions you choose to include, leave out or create new traditions between you and your partner! And, of course, your wedding photos will be completely unique and individual to you, not to mention bad-ass and beautiful! Whether you choose a unique place to elope or plan activities that are unique to you and your partner, your elopement day is guaranteed to be memorable because it is 100% your’s and it won’t look like anyone else’s.

6. You can incorporate anything with no limits

Do you have big dreams of going overseas for your wedding or traveling to a new city, but feel limited because you aren’t sure if what you envision is achievable or even possible? Well, the good news is that when you choose to elope the sky's the limit! You CAN go anywhere or do anything.

Elopements are for dreaming big and exploring possibilities! Your elopement day is one of the biggest days of your life so here is your encouragement to go on that adventure or take that trip you’ve always dreamed of! Heck, why not even make it a multi-day experience? Not only will you get to celebrate your marriage for more than one day, but you will also make some epic memories along the way.

Celebrating your relationship with a destination wedding will always be part of you are and how you decided to get married. Many couples choose this as an option to make sure that their celebration isn’t just about details and stuff they incorporate on their day, but an actual experience that you’ll cherish forever!

7. You want your elopement day to be a part of your vacation

Typically when people get married, they plan their wedding and then leave for their honeymoon, but when you choose an adventure or destination elopement, you are likely already traveling to get to your destination which means that your elopement is now turned into a vacation and it doesn’t get much better than that. Because elopements place an emphasis on experiences rather than material goods this makes them the perfect choice for travel lovers and adventure seekers. So whether you love to travel and want to experience a new culture together or adventure to a remote location in nature, planning a vacation around your elopement day is a fun way to kick off your marriage.

8. You will have the most kick-ass time ever

Your wedding day is guaranteed to be amazing because you are celebrating the love between you and your partner and it doesn’t get any better than that. No matter what you do on your big day, your elopement is sure to be one of the biggest and best days of your life, so don’t hold back. Go into the day giving it all the love and excitement it deserves.

This point actually stems from the whole no-stress point, but if we take it a step further - how does a day without an agenda or chasing a timeline feel? Pretty awesome right? This is another great thing about elopements. You don’t have to have a general structure as you would with a wedding day, and you can spend your time doing whatever the heck you wish!! Being relaxed and not having to chase time will also mean better photos in return because you’re enjoying your time together without the next big thing on the list consuming your thoughts. It’s all about existing in the moment and cherishing it the way it’s intended to be.

9. You want to make choices that will lessen the impact on the environment

I’m not here to hate on traditional weddings, but according to the Huffington Post the average wedding produces 400 - 600 lbs of trash, and with the number of annual U.S. weddings climbing upwards of 2 million per year that is a lot of waste produced from each wedding. Elopement weddings drastically decrease the amount of waste produced simply because there are not as many guests in attendance, but if you want to go even further to ensure that your elopement day is environmentally friendly follow some of the tips below:

Shop second-hand for your wedding outfits.
Shop estate jewelry for rings and accessories.
Use heirloom Jewelry or sustainably sourced diamonds.
Have a plan for leftover food and source sustainably when possible.
Purchase your flowers from a local grower.
Select a place that’s already incredible and let nature speak for itself (fewer decorations).
Sustainable meals and eco-friendly packaging.
Rent, don’t buy!

I also practice and believe in Leave No Trace and encourage all my couples to practice and follow the guidelines when out in nature. This includes planning and preparing ahead of time, staying on designated trails, disposing of waste properly, leaving what we find and taking with us what we brought, and respecting wildlife and other visitors. It is important to always leave areas better than we found them so that everyone can continue to enjoy these beautiful locations for years to come.

10. Your day is all about you

I saved the best for last in that the #1 reason to elope is that the day is all about you and your partner! If for no other reason you decide to elope, then let this be the one. It is not selfish to choose what you want over what others expect for your wedding day. Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life, so make it all about you and your partner and your love for each other.

Thank you for reading and I hope this post was helpful in answering all your questions about why to choose an elopement for your wedding. If you’re ready to learn more about what it’s like to elope with me as your photographer, check out Your Experience on my website, or feel free to contact me with all your questions! Most couples reach out before they even have a date or location in mind, and once we brainstorm some ideas, we will come up with a location that works best for what they like and what works best for them and their celebration.