In the US, there are over 2 million marriages a year! While many enjoy celebrating with a large wedding and tons of loved ones, for others, it can be a huge pain.
Are you part of the latter group? Then you might be dreading all the planning, as well as all the pomp and circumstance that goes into a wedding.
A great way to still get married to the love of your life and make it special is to elope! You and your honey can tie the knot in an intimate setting.
Do you now want to plan an elopement? Then you’ll want to read on. We’ll show you how to elope in such a romantic way that your fiance will know they’ve definitely married the right person!
Handle the Paperwork First
We know paperwork and legal things aren’t that exciting, but you want your elopement to go smoothly, right? So you need to handle the paperwork first before you can think about planning your big day.
The thing is, states and even counties have different regulations on when you need to get your marriage license. So do your research ahead of time and get everything settled so you don’t have to worry about this when you get married. For instance, you’ll want to find out how many witnesses you need (if any) and ask some people ahead of time so it’s not sprung on them.
Create a Budget
While you’re not having a full-blown wedding, you’re probably still going to be splurging on the day you tie the knot. You deserve it, after all!
So before you go all out, sit down and discuss just how much you want to spend on your elopement. That way, you’ll have enough money left over to treat yourself to a nice honeymoon and put a down payment on your new home together.
Also, it’ll help you narrow down exactly what you want for your big day, as you’ll have a budget to work with. You’ll be able to see right away what’s feasible and what’s not.
Make the Elopement the Whole Day
Weddings are usually a whole day, so why not make your elopement last an entire day too? Most couples say they never get a moment to themselves on their wedding days and that it goes by in a flash, so it’s a great idea to have your elopement last more than a few hours.
By dedicating an entire day to your elopement, you can fill it with activities that you and your fiance want to truly do! You won’t have to worry about selecting activities that suit your guests. It’ll be all about you!
Pick a Special Place to Get Married
Of course, you should pick a special place to get married. It’ll be an intimate moment where you and your significant other join as one, and you want the location to be absolutely stunning.
You can go for a location that looks amazing, such as the beach or a national park. Or you can pick a place that holds significant value to you, such as where you first met, where you had your first date, where you first said “I love you” to one another, or where you (or they) proposed!
What’s excellent about this is you don’t necessarily have to pick somewhere that’s pricey. For example, if you pick the park where you had your first date at, the “venue” is free! Plus, this is one of the most romantic elopement ideas around.
Still Write Personalized Vows
Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you can’t plan what to say to each other when you tie the knot. In fact, to make it a memorable elopement wedding, make sure you write personalized vows!
If you feel shy verbalizing your feelings, then an elopement is perfect for personalized vows. You’ll only have to say yours to your fiance and a few select other people. It’ll make the moment feel so much more special!
Hire a Photographer
Photographers usually work large weddings, but they definitely do elopements too! You’ll want to capture every moment of your special day, and who better to do it than a professional?
This is an area where you’ll want to spend a bit more. Going for free pictures from your brother’s friend won’t cut it, especially when all you have to show for your nuptials are blurry and/or dark pictures.
Having clear pictures that capture all the perfect moments of your elopement will give you memories to remember forever! This is especially true if you do the traditional “first look” photos.
If you’re interested in elopement pictures, check this site out: https://weelopednashville.com/prices.
Plan a Romantic Meal
Sure, there aren’t hungry guests to feed. But you still have 2 stomachs involved!
Make sure you’re not hangry for your big day and plan a romantic meal or two. Or at least surprise your spouse-to-be with a meal at one of their favorite places, even if it’s just McDonald’s! The meal will be memorable and romantic because you remembered what they like to eat and you’ll get to enjoy a meal dressed in your very best.
Plan an Elopement You and Your Fiance Will Never Forget
If a big wedding doesn’t sound like fun to you and your fiance, then plan an elopement instead.
As you can see, there are so many ways to make it a special day, without stressing out about guests, venues, entertainment, etc. By eloping, you’ll get to focus on yourselves and the love you have for each other. What more can you ask for?
If we’ve convinced you of the benefits of eloping, then get started on planning your elopement by browsing the rest of our blog!
