Eloping

Does the idea of spending several thousands of dollars on a wedding give you cold feet? Does the thought of family members quarreling over who you want to marry make you just want to call the whole thing off? There are a number of reasons that lead people to want to elope, or marry privately without wedding guests or any formal wedding preparation except for legalities. You'll save hundreds of dollars on flowers,  a wedding gown  and tux,  thousands on food and drink, and more on gifts  and favors.  On the other hand, you'll have to explain why you ran off, got married, and didn't care to include anyone else. Yes, family members and close friends may be offended by your decision. Nonetheless, there are very valid reasons for eloping, and it doesn't always have to be seen as something inappropriate.

• You don't want to spend the money on an elaborate wedding.
• You've been living with your partner for years and years so a large wedding does not seem like something you really need or want.
• You've already been married once or more.
• Your parents won't accept the person that you want to marry.
• You might be pregnant and are afraid to have a large outright wedding because of the religious consequences.
• You need to get married fast, for whatever reason.

Keep in mind that there are two ways to elope. Sometimes eloping consisted only of going to the town hall to be legally wed, while you still plan to hold a reception for friends and family. This is essentially just a non-traditional wedding, like a destination wedding. The other approach, the true meaning of elopement, is to get hitched, keep it short and sweet, nix the formalities and not hold a reception at all. It is all kept secret and there are no invitations  or announcements sent. Likewise, gifts  and registries are not part of eloping.

Another thing to remember is that should you choose to elope, the romance that is often associated with the wedding process and wedding day are not something that you'll be able to look back on in twenty years. And, for some, this could be rather disappointing. Don't forget, especially for young couples, eloping often can cause family to become rather disgruntled and great thought should go into this decision. Imagine being a father dreaming of walking his daughter down the aisle and suddenly being deprived of that opportunity. It can hinder future family relationships.

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