TFYP 07 | Don’t Be Afraid to Elope
An elopement, depending on what circle you run in and who you’ve talked to, can have a negative connotation following it around. Even just typing the word into Google get’s you an instance Wikipedia definition at the top using words like “sudden” and “secretive.” But this doesn’t always have to be the case.
In fact, it’s not the case in current trends.
As our cultures expand their mindsets and break free from stifling traditions of the past, things that were once looked down upon are finding their way into a more positive spotlight. Today, elopements can be a beautiful (not to mention budget friendly!) alternative to a traditional wedding. If you follow wedding vendors on social media, or have ever checked a wedding and/or events blog in the past year, chances are you may have seen the breath-taking images: two people, maybe accompanied by an officiant, standing on top of a mountain or in a vast landscape – and nothing or nobody else (ahem; except for that photographer who captured the images, of course). It’s intimate. It’s serene. It’s an elopement.
The reason for this trend is commonly for one of two reasons:
- The couple getting married has chosen to value this day as a private, intimate moment between the two of them. They want to breathe it in without the hustle and bustle of traditional wedding day to-do’s, and instead want the focus to be on one another and their vows alone.
- As already mentioned, it can be incredibly budget friendly. When cutting out costs of a venue, décor, chair rentals, linen rentals, wedding guest favors, meals for all in attendance, dessert, alcohol, etc, etc, etc… you will find that all you’re left with is the responsibility of finding something to wear, someone to marry you, and a photographer or videographer to capture those moments forever.
For the couple that wants the day to be intimate from start to finish, they will depart from the ceremony to go spend an evening together with good food and drinks, or perhaps fly away to begin their honeymoon.
For the couple who still has cherished friends and family they wish to invite into celebration after an intimate ceremony, there are still budget friendly and intimate ideas to do so. A backyard, twinkle light, soft music gathering can prove to be much more intimate than a formal venue. Have a mom or whiz-in-the-kitchen best friend throw together some delightful dishes to pass around, or perhaps the groom wants to throw some steaks on the grill while loosening the tie and sipping on whiskey. With a smaller group, you could even go out to your favorite restaurant in celebration. Even more so, inviting those few (10 or less people) into the ceremony can still be much more intimate than a large shindig, will still cut costs on all the traditional wedding needs, and yet extends the moment out to those you love the most. There are multiple options to invite those you hold close into your day while still keeping the air intimate and personal to you.
Elopements are lovely alternatives that anyone wary about planning a wedding should consider. Have any questions on the subject? Feel free to comment below or shoot us an email! =)
Happy Monday friends,
The Vafa’s