Elopement ceremonies are not what they once were. No longer does the stereotype of running away to Vegas, or going to the courthouse, have a hold on elopements. Many couples have turned eloping into a small intimate and incredibly personal event. Wedding venues across the US are now starting to provide elopement packages to try to appeal to couples being seen it as a way to save money to be used for something else, like a large party to celebrate afterward, a house, extravagant honeymoon, or just to be put into savings. So what are the benefits of eloping?

The Money Saver

As said before, elopements save couples and their families a lot of money, which is why it is such a tempting idea. Weddings over the years have become these large, over-the-top events with a large number of guests, fancy food and drinks, and entertainment all hosted at an immaculate venue. Depending on where in the US you are, the main components for a wedding ceremony and reception, which is normally a venue, planner, caterer, florist, cake, photographer, and entertainment, alone start at an average of $15,000 and can go well over a million. And that isn’t even including the dress, invitations, the suit, any travel expenses that may occur, favors, hair and makeup, and everything else a couple may desire to have on their big day. Elopements normally are a small number of guests, are just the ceremony (some elopement venues may throw in cake and champagne), and maybe a photographer. Of course, couples can make an elopement more extravagant by still splurging a little by getting a dress and suit, but many tend to make the ceremonies a little more casual and comfortable. However, elopements can get more expensive by adding traveling and combing the wedding and honeymoon. These are commonly referred to as destination weddings.

More Unique, Less Cookie Cutter 
 

There are only so many ways a traditional wedding can be done. Even with thousands of different wedding venues out there, most of them will end up planning and executing everything in a similar way. When a couple elopes, there are hardly any limits to where it can be held and how it can be done. Elopements can truly be one of a kind and hard to repeat. A few examples are couples getting married in national parks, inside the fast food restaurant they met at in college, or just anywhere that has an extreme amount of significance that would normally not be considered since it isn’t a venue.

Avoid the Drama

Another benefit to elopements is that they cut down the guest list to those people you really want to be there for the special moment. This also helps avoid any drama that could occur from having certain family members or friends in the same room. With an elopement, you don’t have to worry about trying to arrange the seats so that one aunt isn’t near that other aunt, or to make sure that one friend hardly has any way to talk to that cousin they seem to have a problem with.

Easier Way To Combine Traditions
 

Today, the world is more connected than it ever has been. Talking to and meeting new people is easier than ever, and with that comes more couples who come from different backgrounds and traditions. When planning a wedding, trying to combine the traditions can become extremely difficult. One side will almost always want their side represented more than the other (and it isn’t always the bride or groom wanting that). With elopements, there is less pressure and also more room for creativity, so combining traditions becomes easier.

Overall: Less Stress!

Weddings nowadays are just as much competition as they are a special moment. There is always that one guest or group of guests, that will sit at the reception that will have a conversation that starts with “My wedding was better because….” or “My wedding will have…..” It’s almost as if you have to prove yourself, and that takes away a lot of joy on a day that you’re supposed to remember for a long time. Elopements element almost all of that. Less planning means less that will go wrong, lower expectations so if something does go wrong it isn’t a major upset, and a limited amount of people to worry about.