What does "Elope" mean? The Ultimate Guide on Deciding if Eloping is For You

Elopement PlanningElopementWedding planning

5 Mar

Written By Aryan

Let me start by asking you what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about eloping? Is it more like the traditional image of two couples running away together forbidden to marry? Or is it a more modern take where two couples throw caution to the wind, go on a wild adventure and celebrate their love - exactly the way they want to?

Eloping in today’s world has taken on a new meaning and focuses heavily on a big celebration between you and your partner, and a smaller number of guests if you so wish.

In this guide we’ll explain exactly what eloping is, the difference between traditional weddings, intimate weddings and elopements, elopement photography and how you get all your loved ones in on the celebrations.

What Does Elope Mean?

The Oxford English dictionary defines eloping as; to run away with somebody in order to marry them secretly. But times have changed and elopements have evolved and more and more couples are choosing to elope.

So what is eloping in today's world? Eloping is all about you and your partner prioritising the two of you, your love and an intentional experience to create TIMELESS MEMORIES - because at the end of the day, it’s about YOU TWO!

Eloping takes away a lot of the wedding planning pressure and cost that usually comes with having a big wedding such as planning a guest-list, catering for everyone, suppliers, accommodation, budgets, favours and more.

Whilst some people LOVE the idea of a huge party to celebrate the next chapter in their lives an elopement is more pared back and focuses on the more intimate details like the location, having personal vows, picking a nice dress and spending quality time with your partner. P.S. who said you can’t have a bigger party later on? ;)

What is the difference between traditional weddings and elopements?

Whilst there are some similarities between weddings and elopements like planning and preparation and the overall celebration of love, there are a number of differences between traditional weddings and elopements. Here are the differences between a traditional wedding and an elopement:

Guests:

Traditional weddings will usually have a guest list of around 50+ to 200+ guests. Weddings with more than 20 guests require more planning, structure and schedule as well as entertainment for guests. Elopements usually have 20 guests or none at all if it’s just you and your partner meaning you have free reign to do whatever you want! Get married on top of a cliff at sunset or sunrise or in the middle of a beautiful enchanting forest.

Planning:

A traditional wedding requires a lot of planning from guestlist and seating charts to organising each guest's dinner choices and entertainment for the duration of the day or weekend. Elopements are easier to plan as you only really need to decide on the special location that you and your partner want to say ‘I do” at and somewhere to stay for you and a potentially small party!

Location/Venue:

The beauty of an elopement is that you can get married practically anywhere in the world - Greece, Iceland, Norway, Scotland, The Isle of Skye, Wales - anywhere! It gives you free reign to pick a special and beautiful place that holds special meaning for you and your partner or you can adventure somewhere completely new you’ve always dreamed of visiting. Traditional weddings require you to select a specific venue, seats and decoration and maybe a venue for the reception as well.

Price:

One big difference between traditional weddings and elopements is the price. The average UK wedding can cost anywhere from £18,000 to £32,000 with the venu, food, drink, decorations and entertainment all totting up towards the toal. Add wedding photography and videography on top of that and it can be an incredibly expensive day.

Elopements cost a fraction of the price. Your average elopement costs around £1200 so you’re looking to celebrate but have a tight budget, why not consider an elopement.

Personalisation:

Whilst weddings do allow for some personalisation with elopements you are literally free to go wherever you want, whenever you want and have your ceremony in any way you’d wish. You can really focus on making the ceremony your own and you have the opportunity to get really personal.

What is the difference between intimate weddings and elopements?

The same differences as above apply to intimate weddings and elopements but the difference with an intimate wedding is the number of guests. Intimate weddings have more guests than an elopement but fewer than your traditional wedding. The main idea with an intimate wedding is to keep the ceremony limited to close friends and family and then have a larger guest list at the reception.

Is it a good idea to Elope?

Bigger weddings come with a lot of planning, preparation and cost and for some it can be really stressful. There might be other reasons you don’t want a big wedding, you might not want to be the centre of attention. If a spontaneous adventure in a far away, magical setting with you and your partner and some heartfelt vows sounds more up your street, then eloping is definitely for you. Eloping gives you a lot of freedom to get married however you want to with minimal planning and cost.

What will our family think if we tell them we're eloping?

If your family hasn't heard of elopements it might feel scary telling them that you don’t want a big wedding and it takes a lot of courage but your family should support you whatever you choose to do because getting married is ultimately about your happiness and everyone deserves to spend their wedding day having everything go exactly how they dream. When you do have the conversation with your family, here are some tips if you’re having a completely private elopement:

Tell them in person or if distance is an issue then tell them over facetime! Explain why you’d rather have an elopement than a traditional wedding, them seeing your excitement and passion should shine through.
Share as many details as you can about your elopement, it will make them feel like they’re involved and show you value their opinions.
Have a party to celebrate…

If we Elope, does it mean we can't have a party?

Absolutely not! Having a party after (or before) eloping gives you the best of both worlds - having quality time with your partner on your wedding day and making it all about you two, then celebrating with your family and friends when suits you after! Having a party is a great way to celebrate and share photos and memories of your special day. Send out some invites that tell everyone you’ll be tying the knot and then partying with everyone on your return to celebrate! The bonus here is that, again, you can plan the exact party you’d like, wherever you’d like.

Photos that will determine whether eloping is for you

I'm sold! Where do I begin?

If you’ve decided that an elopement is the perfect way for you and your partner to say “I do” you’ll want to start drawing up a rough plan for your elopement. Where will you go, are there any documents you need to sort out beforehand, where will you stay - we can help guide you with our guide on planning elopements in the UK and Europe right here!

Once you’ve planned your elopement and the details surrounding the celebration, make sure you’ve booked your photographer an amazing day so you can look back on it in years to come and share with your loved ones.