Have you ever thought about running away in the middle of the night, with only a small suitcase and your beautiful bride in tow? Not having an over-the-top wedding does sound like the perfect gift for the groom! TodayÍs culture has been drifting toward huge mega-weddings, with months and months (if not well over a year) of planning, hundreds of guests in attendance and thousands and thousands of dollars spent. ItÍs enough to make a guy guzzle an entire engraved flask! If you feel overwhelmed by the expectations of a modern big wedding, eloping is still a viable option. However, youÍll want to weigh the pros and cons of eloping as well as familiarize yourself with the destinations requirements for marriage before you hit the road to tie the knot.
Pros:
Save money: The average cost of a traditional wedding is upwards of $28,000 dollars and many weddings cost exponentially more. Really there is no limit to the amount of money you can spend on getting married. There are quite a few alternatives to consider that will save you big bucks that range from just getting married down at the Justice of the Peace for the just the cost of a marriage license and witness to flying off to a resort destination that can offer a wedding package for a fraction of the price youÍd spend at home on a big wedding. Plus, there are always the drive-thru chapels in Las Vegas.
Save Time and Headaches: Traditional weddings can take a year or more to plan; venues have to be secured, photographers booked, entertainment and caterers interviewed. Elopements donÍt need all of these ñextrasî and can be arranged in a matter of days. For busy couples that can't afford to put in the manpower for a big wedding, an elopement can save the day while saving their sanity.
Avoid Awkward Situations: Eloping works especially well for a second marriage because many awkward situations can be avoided. Problems like inviting ex-spouses, blending families who may not be supportive and other sensitive issues (like should we accept wedding gifts) can be sidestepped with a private elopement. Later, after the fact, a post-wedding reception can always be held if you change your mind about including family.
Cons:
Excluding Family: No matter how diplomatic you try to be, there will probably be backlash from family and friends who what to be involved in your Big Day. While these folks may not approve of an elopement, it is best to explain your reasons for doing so rather than just dashing off and leaving them in the dark.
Wedding Regret: While other friends may be looking fondly over their wedding albums on landmark anniversaries, youÍll not have the same sort of traditional memories filled with dozens of bridesmaids and groomsmen. You certainly donÍt need the formal wedding mementos to have a long and happy marriage, just communicate with each other before you elope to makes sure neither one of you is feeling pressured to ñrun awayî and ditch the big wedding experience.
Feeling Rushed: The flipside to spending multiple months planning a conventional ceremony, throwing together an elopement can make you feel rushed. What will you wear (guys, we suggest dressing up with engraved cufflinks), where will you find an officiant, how will you manage to slip away from work. Even with an elopement, there are still many details that can make you feel frenzied if youÍre trying to pull it off the union in a jiffy.
