When it comes to getting married, there are so many expectations from other people. If you’ve even thought about going the non-traditional route of having a small wedding or elopement, you’ve probably run into the need to justify your reasons for eloping.

I’ve put together a list of reasons for eloping that you can consider your handy guide to give those friends and family members who question your decision. BUT, I want to preface that you don’t actually have to justify this decision to anyone! You deserve to celebrate the start of your marriage without needing to explain yourself.

So here we go, 10 reasons for eloping (to tell your loved ones to kindly mind their own business 🙂 )

1. Eloping saves you money

Any wedding planner will tell you that the way to lower your wedding costs is to cut down your guest list. In general, not needing to book a large venue saves a lot of money on wedding expenses.

2. Your money can be focused more on the things you want.

We all have those things we’ve been dreaming about for our wedding day. Some things matter a lot, such as details like a nice dinner, a great photographer, or a pretty dress. Deciding to elope allows you to re-prioritize your budget so that you can have more money for those things! Many of our couples end up investing almost the same if not a little more as “normal” wedding couples in their wedding attire. Check out my blog post on Elopement Bridal Dress Ideas for some inspo!

3. Elopements are less stressful

Kind of like the budget factor, your stress levels *tend* to go down when you have less people involved in the planning and the day of your wedding. By cutting out the third cousins or plus ones that you might not want at your wedding, you can focus on spending time with just the people you love most. It makes the entire day more comfortable and more meaningful!

You also don’t have to worry about the stress in the lead-up to your wedding day, like seating charts, RSVPs, or finalizing details with a bunch of vendors. Instead, you can focus on other celebrations like a bridal shower, bachelorette party, or getting ahead on planning your honeymoon.

4. You can make it totally unique

With an elopement, you have the space in your schedule to make the day completely yours, not just what your wedding timeline has to be to keep your guests entertained. You can incorporate details and traditions that really matter to you, like exchanging your vows in private, running on the beach with your dog, or playing board games at your cozy cabin.

5. You get an intimate experience with your partner

You don’t have to be focused on guests all day and can really connect with your partner. Whether it’s hiking through the forest, enjoying an intimate dinner, or getting extra time for sunset photos, those extra moments will matter so much in the long-run!

6. You get to eliminate wedding prep and wedding day drama

If you’re eloping in the great outdoors of the PNW, there’s a pretty solid chance it could rain on your wedding day. But, that’s kind of the biggest drama you’ll experience! There’s something so freeing about not having to worry about people getting along, who’s going to show up, or other details like that.

7. Spend the whole day in nature, where you want to be!

We all know that being in nature provides so much value for our physical and mental health. Getting to walk through nature with your partner is such a peaceful, intimate start to your lives together. Plus, we’ll customize your day to make sure that you’re doing the amount of adventuring that you want to do.

8. Extend your elopement to a mini moon or honeymoon

This is a perk of eloping, especially in the PNW! Many of my couples fly in from other areas and extend their trip to be a longer Oregon coast trip, or stay in the mountains or central Oregon. I highly encourage making the most of this time and living it up!

9. Your photos will be amazing and unique!

There’s nothing quite like a mountaintop view or beach sunset in your wedding photos. These photos can be so hard to get when you’re getting married at a traditional venue. When you book an elopement with us, we go through a process of figuring out what’s most important to you and going over location options. I’ll help you figure out what location is logistically and visually best for your day!

10. More opportunity for unique vows

You also get the opportunity for longer or more unique vows that you might not want to share in front of a huge group of guests. And, it can be a little easier to forego ceremony traditions that you might feel pressured to do by family members if you were to have a big wedding.

Is eloping selfish?

This is unfortunately something couples can hear often from their friends and family members who disagree with their reasons for eloping. At the end of the day, it’s YOUR day, and it should be all about doing what makes you and your partner happy.

Ready to book your elopement?

If you’re ready to make the next move and get started with planning your elopement, reach out and we’ll chat about your vision for your day!