What is Elopement and Why Should You Consider It?

What is Elopement and Why Should You Consider It?

Let’s face it: A big wedding isn’t for everyone.

Whatever your perfectly justified reason — whether you’re reluctant to be the center of attention or have to postpone your wedding indefinitely —figuring out how to elope can quickly make the process feel more like a scary unknown event than a sexy escape.

This article will walk you through what elopement packages entail and why you should consider them.

Let’s get started!

What is Elopement

To elope means to get married without telling anyone, especially the parents and families. 

While the technical elopement definition is “running away,” it has a slightly more nuanced meaning in wedding parlance. 

To elope may also suggest that you forgo a formal wedding and elope for the ceremony instead. 

In modern times, eloping does not necessarily mean running away. 

Some couples who choose to elope will inform their families before their ceremony (though not always invite them to attend.)

Who Should Consider Elopement?

There are many reasons why couples may decide to elope. 

One of the more common reasons is because their parents or families don’t approve of the union. 

Typically, weddings are an occasion when the family comes together. If genuine approval is not received from parents on either side of the family, a couple may decide to not have a wedding at all and elope instead.

Another possible reason is that the couple might not have the money or rationally decide not to spend the money on a traditional wedding ceremony. 

Weddings can sometimes be stressful and expensive to plan. 

If a couple does not have the funds, they may choose to elope to reduce the stress and financial burden. 

Other couples may decide that they’d rather save the money for their future instead of spending it on a lavish wedding.

Furthermore, the bride may be pregnant, though this should never be assumed. Pregnancy is one of the leading causes of elopement in the US and across the world. The couples in question would have to elope to start living together before their newborn arrives. 

In some cases, the couple may decide that they don’t want to wait to plan a wedding ceremony and prefer to be married before the baby is born.

Types of Elopement

It seems like when a lot of people imagine eloping, they imagine running down to city hall, finding the judge, and getting married in five minutes or less after filling out a bit of paperwork. 

Indeed, that’s definitely one way to do it — but that’s not the only way (it’s also not even necessarily that easy, since many cities require waiting periods and scheduled appointments for courthouse weddings.

Here are other ways to go about it:

1. The Two of You + An Officiant Type of Elopement

If you and your partner want to honestly elope (just the two of you) but aren’t interested in the city hall/courthouse route, why not pick a fabulous location and go for it? 

Think of the ocean, standing on a cliff, or somewhere in the middle of a city that you love. 

You’ll need an officiant to seal the deal legally, but that’s just about it. A lot of wedding venues and vendors offer elopement packages. They organize it all for you!

2. The Do it Yourself Type of Elopement

Colorado and Pennsylvania are two states in the US where a couple can self-solemnize their marriage, and you can also do it in DC (but those marriages are recognized in all fifty states). 

Curious about how it works? Here’s a mini-guide to self-solemnizing your marriage:

● Pick up your paperwork, but don’t sign it. If you go to Denver’s City Hall and fill out your marriage license, surprise: you’re married! 

To self-solemnize it, you take your paperwork to your chosen spot, say your vows (if you have any), and sign. 

● Don’t have an officiant. One of the more prickly self-solemnizing rules is that no one can actually wed the two of you. You can have witnesses, but not an officiant.

● If you do want an official officiant involved, consider a self-uniting marriage instead. It’s more or less the same thing, but with more people attached.

3. You Invite Your Family ToThe Almost-Elopement 

This is what you call when you pick a location and date ahead of time and invite your family and friends to see you get married. 

This can happen at city hall or a courthouse, out in your granddad’s field, or wherever else you want it to. A Tiny wedding in front of the Eiffel Tower? Go for it! In an Amusement Park? You’ve got it.

Elopement During Covid-19

During Covid-19, while many things have been canceled, postponed, or forgotten, love still wins in pandemic and hard times. 

As you think about picking the spot for your elopement, it’s essential to dig into the local guidelines — no matter if you’re marrying in a backyard or a public park.

When pinpointing your elopement location, consider your party size. 

If you intend to have a smaller wedding with fewer than 20 guests, you may need a bigger open space (like a park) to keep everyone safe and distanced. 

If you are going the traditional elopement route and making it an affair for two, you can stick to a smaller spot outdoors. 

Then, of course, there’s testing, which is absolutely essential for a truly safe wedding for everyone involved, whether you want to keep your masks on the entire time or not.

Additionally, hiring an elopement photographer and videographer to capture beautiful and lifelong memories of your special day is a no-brainer. 

When you’re deciding which professional to capture these moments, get specific on what you want so you can set expectations. 

Since he or she won’t be shooting the typical schedule of events — getting ready, family portraits, reception, and so on — you should ask about what their elopement packages include. How many photos? How many hours? What’s the turnaround like for editing? 

And don’t hesitate to explain your hopes and dreams for these photos. 

If there’s a beach photo you have in mind or a “first look” experience you still want to have, let the photographer know. Better yet, provide examples of shots you like so they can better understand your vision.

And yes, the photographer should always wear a mask as well.

You can hire an elopement photographer or elopement videographer, with the option of a half or full-day, and go to different locations for various shoot styles. 

A trendy choice is to have them follow you all day and have a short film made. 

If you are looking for a Savannah elopement photographer, we have got you covered. Vitor Lindo Photo + Video, make your elopement more relaxed and focused in some pretty epic locations as we’ve been doing it for more than 9 years.

Feel free to reach out to get our elopement packages!

What is Elopement and Why Should You Consider It?

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Check out My List of The Best Savannah Wedding Vendors12 Wedding Traditions You Should Know AboutCurious Wedding Facts From Around the Globe, and many others!

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