Post Summary: Why should you elope? This blog dives deep into unveiling what the idea of "elopement" truly means in today's day and age while busting some super commons myths along the way.

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"Elope meaning" - what is it exactly?

You know how, once upon a time, everyone swore up and down that the world was flat? And it was once complete heresy to even say that the earth revolved around the sun. 

Galileo was tried and sentenced to spend the rest of his life under house arrest for believing the earth revolved around the sun.

We’ve come a long way. But we’ve still got some work to do. 

The old ideas about eloping being for shame-filled lovers or runaways need to be revisited. This blog is all about busting myths down and freeing you to do you.

Are you torn between tradition and freedom? Do you still have friends or family members who are pushing back on your desire to elope? It’s not always easy to forge your own path, but more and more people are seeing elopement as a freeing and empowering way to make the greatest commitment you can ever make.

You are not alone. And you deserve to have your dreams come true.

Read on for more affirmations that your love demands to be on your terms. 

Myth #1: Elopements are selfish

One of the first things people might think about elopements is that excluding people and making a day that’s just about the two of you is selfish. This is an inherent misunderstanding of marriage and love. If you really care about someone and their decision to get married, shouldn’t you want them to have the wedding that will make them happiest? Isn’t feeling like you are entitled to someone else’s wedding day a little selfish?

And, really, aren’t all weddings a little selfish? I mean, it’s literally a day entirely about you and the love you share. It is not selfish to have a celebration of two people making the biggest commitment of their lives and it's not selfish to want to make this commitment in your own way, on your own terms. And it’s especially not selfish to want to make your ceremony as special and private and intentional as you deserve. 

The key word here is intention. An elopement isn’t about excluding people or trying to avoid paying for everyone’s dinner, it’s about leaping into love with purpose and meaning. In the end, your love is just that: your love. The two of you made it work. You saw each other through thick and thin, the ups and downs, the inside jokes and the promises. It’s anything but  selfish to want to affirm that love with complete and unwavering intention.  

Hey, I get it, it’s not always the easiest choice. So, if you’re worried about hurting someone’s feelings, here are a few things you can do.

• Talk with your family and loved ones first, explaining why you’re choosing eloping, before posting on social media or making announcements. No one likes to find out stuff like this from Facebook. 
• Make a wedding website. Showcase the awesome things you’ll be doing and make your case for why you’re choosing to elope. Link to your photo gallery and make people still feel involved. 
• Have a big old party or gathering after your elopement. One of the best parts of a wedding is getting everyone together, so why not have the best of both worlds?

Myth #2: Elopements are less special than traditional weddings

Pshhh! Is saying “I do” with the sky as witness from the heights of a mountaintop not special? Is a ceremony on an oceanside cliff, the waves crashing below in chorus to your love, not suuuper special?

It all boils down to what you define as special. If it’s special to have a 200 person wedding and get swept away in the chaos and commotion, then go for it. If it’s more special to be in nature, heart to heart and exclusively focused on the love of your life, then, by all means, do it!

This myth is associated with another myth, that couples who elope don’t value their day as much as traditional wedding-goers. This is absolutely not true. Every couple I’ve ever worked with or met who has eloped treasures their elopement experience like a precious, one-of-a-kind gemstone. They value eloping like the priceless experience that it is. And they hold onto the memories for the rest of their lives.

Nothing in the world is more meaningful and special than having the courage to do your wedding day the way you want it — with no regrets and no sacrifices. Every intentional touch is a pure reflection of who you are as a partnership. Every word spoken and action made is a purposeful affirmation of the love you share. What could possibly make your day more special than choosing every single detail as a representation of your love. 

Myth #3: Elopements are rushed and unplanned...people only elope because of budget reasons

In a previous blog, I detailed how elopements save money. Yes, cost can be a concern for all of us, but eloping is absolutely not about being cheap or just trying to cut corners. The average wedding costs $33,900. That’s a new car; the down payment on a house. That’s an epic round the world trip staying at 5-star hotels and dining at Michelin rated restaurants. 

For elopers, it’s about the experience over the stuff. It’s about choosing to invest their money and time in ways that matter more. It’s about choosing your person over everything else. And it’s about creating the most unforgettable, monumental, most “you” experience.

Truthfully you can do an elopement on a budget and put your money elsewhere. Or you can splurge, have the best trip of your life, and still not spend anywhere near as much as a traditional wedding would cost. 

And as for being rushed and unplanned, that’s a most definitive “HECK NAH!” I spend months planning elopements for my couples. The sky's the limit for elopement planning (literally if you choose to go for a helicopter ride). You could plan a horseback ride on the beach, a camel ride through the desert, an elephant ride in the jungle — and that’s the animal riding section of your elopement! Do it all. Backpack the Camino de Santiago, tour through SE Asia, set foot on every continent, run with the bulls of Pamplona. 

Dream it, plan it, do it. There’s nothing holding you back.

Myth #4: Elopements are shameful and have to be a secret

Back in the day elopements were known as the “escape route” wedding. They were for couples who had no other option because their families or society frowned on their matrimony. This was also around the time that women weren’t allowed to vote and segregation was legal. So, that might help put things into perspective. Heck, even Merriam-Webster is changing the definition of “elope.”

Nowadays, elopements are defined by two people with a resolute intention, choosing not to compromise their love for the sake of tradition. 

Eloping means choosing love over stress, drama and familial or societal pressures and expectations. 

Eloping means boldly declaring your commitment to each other in the way that means the most to you. 

Gone are the days of shame and desperation. Eloping is here to stay and it’s becoming known as one of the most beautiful authentic ways to celebrate a lifelong commitment. 

Myth #5: Elopements don’t need as much photography time as traditional weddings

This myth, focused on the photography of your elopement, is tied in to all the other myths that devalue eloping and still think of elopement as a getaway to Vegas or the county courthouse. 

All couples deserve to have their full story told. Every love deserves to be documented. These are the heirlooms for our children, the legacy we leave behind for all to witness. This holds even more true for elopers who value their story so much that they are choosing to focus exclusively on each other. 

With traditional weddings it’s standard to have 8, 10, even 12 hours of coverage, starting from hair and makeup, all the way to the wee hours of night when the dance party is still going strong. Even though elopements and traditional weddings are night and day, the way you get married still matters. Your love still matters. The way you say “I do” definitely still matters.

For those who operate under the false notion that elopements are “cheaper” or “less important” or “less than” big weddings in any way, I have the photographs to prove otherwise. And I have the experience with so many couples who chose their own path and took a novel approach to their wedding. 

Elopements are every bit as momentous, significant, and even sacred, as traditional weddings and they deserve to be documented. ‘Nuff said. 

Myth #6: Elopements are strictly just for two

Elopements can be just for two. They can also be for you, your best friends and family. They can include dogs, cats, pet guinea pigs, all the characters at DisneyLand, you name it. The more the merrier. The less the merrier. Either way, it’s your day.

The number of guests doesn’t define your elopement. You define your elopement.

What I want you to understand and take to heart is that there are no rules for an elopement. Just as there are no rules for your love. You are the creators of your love and so you get to create how your love is celebrated and witnessed. You and you alone.

I’ll say it again. You! You made this relationship and you are the two who are committing to this love. It’s your way or no way. It’s your way in every way!

Numbers don’t matter. Distance doesn’t matter. No one else’s opinions matter. 

You matter. No matter what. 

Well, I hope this helps. I may not be able to counsel every member of your family and get them to feel the way you do about eloping, but if I inspired you enough to make the elopement leap, then I am satisfied. 

If I could I would preach from a soapbox on the street, air commercials during the Super Bowl, hire a blimp to spread the message: elopements are not sasquatches! Of course, it might need a follow-up blimp to explain, but you get what I’m saying!

No matter what you choose, I hope that you choose it for you and for your love.

If you have any questions, concerns, baggage that needs to be unloaded, etc., don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here for you. 

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