WHY SHOULD YOU ELOPE?
First of all, what is an elopement? People are continuing to push the limit of what a wedding looks like and challenging traditions and what we think of when we even imagine a wedding, most people would define an elopement as a wedding with less than 20 people. Many times it can be just the couple, an officiant, and a witness depending on the requirements of the location you choose. So, why elope?
Flexibility: If you have 20 people or less you have a lot more options when it comes to scheduling, timelines, and how you structure your day. It requires less planning and you can do anything you want, the sky is truly the limit. You could take a hot air balloon ride, eat pizza and drink beer on a mountain top, have brunch and sip an espresso overlooking the water overlooking the sweeping landscapes of the Amalfi Coast.
Cost: This one is easy, it is a lot cheaper to pay for food and drink for 2-20 people than it is for 200 people. Venues are cheap and if you choose nature a lot of times the ceremony can be even free or just require a small fee for a permit. That means more money that you can spend on you and your partner and on exactly what you want to.
Presence: There are so many weddings I have photographed where I look at the couple and have genuine empathy, they look exhausted and drained from a day of people-pleasing, managing a tight timeline, and dealing with the drama that tends to show up the more people you invite. If you elope the day is fully about you and you have complete control over what it looks like in a way that is stress and guilt-free. You actually have a chance to spend quality time with the people who are most important to you.
So, ditch the seating charts and whatever anyone told you a wedding is supposed to look like and write your own rules for your wedding day. This is your day and it can look however you want it to, and don’t let anyone tell you differently!
