The beautiful part of getting eloped is the freedom you have to customize the ceremony in any way you want. One of the biggest draws of getting eloped is that feeling of not being tied to tradition and expectation.

Your ceremony is truly yours.

This means that many couples who elope tend to draw traditions and parts of all kinds of wedding and unity ceremonies in order to create what to them is the perfect or ideal marriage ceremony.

If you’re not familiar with the term, a unity ceremony is a non-traditional extension of a wedding, that typically symbolizes the coming together not just of a couple, but of their families and communities as well.

Some common unity ceremony traditions include burning a unity candle, or some kind of handfasting, where the couple has their hands symbolically tied together.
So what does planting a tree have to do with getting married?

These days, with so much talk of climate change and the rapidly escalating perils of an increasingly unstable environment, people everywhere are encouraging us to perform conservation activities, including plantings trees.

No matter what your reason is, planting a tree is indeed an important act. There are no drawbacks and numerous benefits from our neighborhoods having more green in them.
But what does planting a tree mean for a couple tying the knot?

Well, trees and wood have a long history of being used in weddings and marriage ceremonies.

Trees specifically are beautiful, long lasting, and symbolize growth and strength.

A couple can watch the tree grow as their marriage grows. What starts as a sapling will end up as a healthy, stable, and tall adult tree in 30 years.

Planting a tree together is a healthy, visceral activity, something that says “I’m in this for the long haul.”

Anyone can exchange an object, but when you symbolize your marriage with a “new life,” one that you know will grow with you as your marriage gets older, this holds powerful and potent symbolism.

Not only that, it’s a ceremony that is designed to bring whole families together. Over time the tree will come to be a recognizable symbol of your marriage. Your family members will remember the tree, they will be able to visit it, read under its shade, perhaps even enjoy fruit from it.

It’s a palpable, physical expression of your union.

This is why tree planting unity ceremonies are on the rise. They can be powerful, beautiful representations of a couple’s love and the coming together of two families.
So what better than to incorporate such a ceremony into your elopement?

Just because elopements tend to be more simplistic and light on the rituals, doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate something special and significant like a short unity ceremony into it.

Even if you are planning a more intimate ceremony with only a few friends and family, you can still plant a tree together during your elopement that symbolizes your union as well as your families coming together.

But here’s a quandary: it’s common for couples to hold their elopements in faraway cities or resorts. First of all, it’s unlikely that you would want to plant a tree in some park 1000 miles away from where you live, and one wonders what the requirements for something like that would be anyway.

You’re not going to be getting eloped in Hawaii and planting a coconut tree in the backyard of your hotel.

So when exactly do you plant a tree during your elopement if you want to hold a unity ceremony?

You have two main options: before or after the actual elopement.

For instance, you could plan your actual elopement and get married the way you want, and then after you get back home, plant the tree during an after party or after-ceremony with your family and friends involved.

You could also decide to plant the tree before you even go anywhere. Almost as if the unity ceremony symbolizes a journey that you are about to embark on. This also could serve to appease the family and friends who feel left out that you are flying to the other side of the country to get married and they won’t be invited.

Ultimately, your unity ceremony should feel like a natural extension of your elopement. If you are getting eloped to “get away from it all” and not involve too many family members or deal with too many obligations, you always can opt for a simple, pressure-free unity ceremony.

Your intentions are what counts in this instance. Maybe a full-fledged unity ceremony is not something you think fits your elopement, but you still want to do something that celebrates the unity of you and your significant other more than just the exchanging of vows and rings, or you want to celebrate your families coming together.

In this way, you could even hold a tree planting without any witnesses, or perhaps record it with the help of a close friend. It can be as intimate as you want it to be. After all, it’s your elopement.

Before leaving for your destination of choice, you could set aside a day to plant a tree in your backyard together. It could be an afternoon project just the two of you share.

The results would last a lifetime and the tree would grow to symbolize how your marriage grows and blooms into a mighty and beautiful thing indeed.

I can’t think of a more romantic ritual to kick off a marriage, can you?

Click HERE to learn the 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and BONUS checklist!

Isn’t an elopement already an affordable alternative to a traditional wedding? That may be true, but what if you want to get eloped on a strict budget?
 
We’ve put together the ultimate clear cut guide to eloping with a preset small budget, so you don’t have to crunch the numbers (that much!).
 
While many want an elopement or wedding ceremony to be this big, flashy event that spares no expense, that’s just not a realistic goal for a lot of people.
 
Many couples these days would prefer to invest that large sum of money into a down payment on a house, or at least their first nice apartment. Or perhaps for going back to school and expanding their career.
 
Either way, there’s a lot of ways to spend several thousands of dollars, and more practical couples are reluctant to blow it all on one day, even if it’s for their marriage.
 
After all, it’s not about the money. If you know what you’re doing and how to budget, you can have an unforgettable ceremony for only around $1000.
 
Sound too good to be true?
 
It depends on where you want to go and what you want to include, but we’ll help you trim down your expenses and focus only on the core elements of what makes an elopement magical. You can honestly make $1000 or so go a long way if you know what you’re looking for.

The first and perhaps the most essential element of this is that you don’t want to wing it and piece everything together yourself.
 
There are many great elopement specialists out there who have already cut deals with the best photographers, florists, and hotels in town, and have put together super affordable packages that roll everything into one. Better yet, they even take care of all the arrangements, essentially taking all of the boring guesswork out of actually planning a ceremony.
 
While it is true many elopement packages with all the bells and whistles can cost in excess of $5000, if you look around, you can find them for a fraction of that price tag and often around the $1000 mark.
 
It also depends on how big a ceremony you want from the outset. It’s unlikely that you will be able to have a truly “budget” elopement if you are planning to cater to 30 people, unless they don’t mind cheese and crackers.
 
The catering is part of what inflates average wedding costs. If you’re looking for a more simplistic, romantic, and cost-effective ceremony, only invite a small group of your closest friends and family. Some of the most magical elopements are the ones where you can just about count everyone involved on two hands.
 
This makes catering and “people managing” a whole lot easier and cheaper, and is one of the biggest reasons couples love elopements. Zero hassle when you don’t have to worry about relatives you haven’t seen in a decade and catering to 100 different people’s food tastes and expectations.

Looking for a dirt cheap getaway to gorgeous Colorado? This elopement package only costs $900 for an officiant and expert advice on getting your wedding license, where to hold your ceremony, and more, as well as an hour of professional wedding photography.
 
Sometimes the best elopements are the ones that are all about the romance and the simplicity of a union in a whimsical, beautiful location. If you’re looking for something simple, you should investigate this package or ones like it. If you look around, you can find similar packages in many other popular elopement locations around the country!
 
Don’t forget to work travel expenses into your budget. If you’re going for a simple, budget-friendly ceremony, you might want to think about looking for airfare deals or even taking a road trip to your destination! Don’t be afraid to make an adventure out of it, rather than blowing money on luxuries.

If you want to go all out but still want to keep a strict budget in mind, there’s packages for that as well!
 
There are great elopement packages put together by professionals all around the country that go to great lengths to meet the various needs of couples looking for budget-friendly ceremonies.
 
Here are some of our recommended New Orleans elopement packages. If you’re not aware, New Orleans is an elopement Mecca, sporting some of the finest hotels, restaurants, parks, and weather in the country, making it an ideal spot for couples wanting to tie the knot in style!
 
These packages start at $1495 and include everything from seasonal bouquets, personal wedding cakes, champagne, and even balcony ceremonies and luxury hotel suites.
 
All for less than the price of a traditional wedding’s catering bill!
 

Still looking for awesome elopement deals? We’ve got a list of our favorite budget-friendly elopement options right here.
 
When it comes to deciding which elopement package is right for you, just narrow down what you think you need, and what you can afford on top of the package, such as hotel expenses if they are not covered.
 
The best part of package deals is that typically, the overall price of everything offered is lower than if you went out and found these services individually. And even that is a service in and of itself, since you’re not always going to find the best officiant or florist if you aren’t from the area or have no knowledge of event planning.
 
In terms of working on a budget, elopement packages are typically the way to go, but we do have some advice in case you want to strike off on your own!

We don’t personally recommend going without an elopement package because elopement professionals have been planning and putting together weddings and elopements for years, often for decades, and are extremely knowledgeable about which local services are best and the most affordable.
 
However, if you insist on going it alone, here is some general advice to get you started!
 

• First find a reputable officiant. There’s no ceremony without them!
• Factor in your hotel and travel expenses early, so you don’t go over-budget.
• Don’t waste good money on expensive tuxes and dresses.
• Dress for the location and don’t be afraid to lean casual.
• Pay attention to online reviews for the services you are looking for.
• Call and make personal visits if possible. You don’t want any surprises.
• Don’t forget the photographer. Often a great photographer is the bulk of any good elopement package for a reason, you want to capture those memories right!

 
The rest should be a piece of cake. You can definitely put together an unforgettable elopement on a small budget, it just takes a bit of planning and ingenuity.

Click HERE to learn the 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and BONUS checklist!

Think about it, what could be more romantic than getting eloped on a beautiful beach?

Even if this is your dream come true, putting it all into action is another story. You might be wondering, how do you even begin to put something like that together?

You’re not alone. Thousands of couples every year opt to get married on the beach, whether through an elopement or more traditional means, and there is some planning that has to go into it if you want to get everything right!

Not all beaches are the same! The first step in planning any successful beach elopement is deciding where you want to have it.

There’s the obvious choices of tropical hotspots like the Florida Keys and Hawaii.

However you may want to go for the simple charms and rugged shorelines of Maine or Washington. You may also be interested in the sightseeing and quaintness of New Jersey’s white sand beaches or surfing at California.

Maybe there’s a beach that has sentimental value for you as a couple.
Regardless of your choice, this is a major part of making sure your elopement is just the way you want it.

We personally recommend beach elopements in Florida simply because of the gorgeous shorelines and attractions available all within a short distance of each other. 

With any exotic wedding or elopement comes additional challenges.

You might want to hold off on wearing that long trailing gown or anything too elaborate if you have your heart set on an amazing beach elopement.

Shorelines tend to be naturally breezy, and even under nice weather conditions can be downright windy. Add trudging through the sand, and you have the perfect recipe for an elopement blooper reel!

Take the time to pick out a simpler dress that fits the occasion and your style, which isn’t too billowy, long, or delicate. Boho style gowns and tropical style party dresses work remarkably well for beach elopements.

Don’t feel pressured into sticking with the traditional white wedding dress. Part of the benefit of having a beach elopement in the first place is comfort and the ability to do what you want to do, without tradition weighing you down.

In other words, yes you can get married in that simple flowery tropical dress you love!

You could have your ceremony at a nearby chapel and then migrate over to the beach of your choice, but why bother? Hold the whole thing at the beach!

One of the benefits of a beach elopement is the freedom to make it as whimsical as you want. Do away with tradition and let your imagination call some of the shots.

If you’re looking for a bit of cover from the sun and a kind of centerpiece to the ceremony, you could always hold everything on a gazebo at the beach. What could be more perfect than getting married under the shade of a white gazebo only feet from the rolling waves of your favorite shoreline?

Unless you’re a stickler for crystal clear blue skies for your ceremony backdrop, we recommend evening hours as the best time to get married on the beach for multiple reasons.

One, it’s simply a more romantic mood and atmosphere. You’re already imagining what it would be like to get married on the beach with the setting sun in the background, aren’t you?

There’s obviously other perks as well, such as better lighting for photography, cooler temperatures, less risk of sunburn or dealing with a harsh bright sun in general, and the ability to immediately follow your ceremony up with a nighttime party on the beach!

Speaking of which, if you’re going out of your way to get married on the beach of your choosing, why not take advantage of it?

Depending on what city or location you choose to get married, there are certainly no shortage of activities you could do after you tie the knot, but if you invited several guests, you might want to think about having a classic party on the beach.

If you take the time to plan your ceremony with a party event in mind, you could have catered food, raffles, and other activities right on the beach, without having to disrupt the magic and go to another location.

Alternatively, if you haven’t invited many guests and wanted your elopement to be more personal, a romantic dinner for two on the beach following your ceremony might be the perfect end to an unforgettable day.

The key to having the ultimate beach elopement is not letting yourself get confined to typical wedding traditions and don’t be afraid to take some risks and have fun. After all, it’s your special day!

Just remember to plan everything ahead of time. Even the most whimsical weddings need a bit of foresight to go off without a hitch!

There’s a lot that goes into an elopement to make it so magical, but the photographer might be at the top of the list.

The photographer is arguably the lynchpin of the entire ceremony, who is often tasked with capturing every moment and helping to make the vision of the couple come to life.

It’s important that you have someone reliable behind the camera, almost like a conductor, ensuring that your special moments are preserved forever.

So you’ve made up your mind, you know where you’re going, when you’ll go, the color and cut of your dress, and even what kind of cake to have.

But you haven’t picked a photographer yet?

No worries, we’ve put together this guide to help you know what you’re looking for and what to expect at every step of the way.

First things first, if you’re in the market for an elopement photographer, you have to be prepared to do a bit of research.

Elopement photographers live and die by their online reputations. This isn’t an industry where you can mess up too many times and get away with it. So you know right off the bat that the crème rises to the top, and good reviews and praise are a great indication that you’re dealing with someone who knows how to capture the magic.

Once you narrow down your search, begin to compare packages and prices. This is not an area where you want to skimp, however. In the photography world, cheap usually equals bad.

Photography is an art, and it’s a lot harder than just snapping pictures. Just the editing process can take hours of labor, to say nothing of having the skill and intuition to know when to capture the perfect moments and bring out the best in the bride and groom.

Elopements are typically cheaper than weddings and elopement photographers understand this, so don’t expect to be paying wedding prices for a simple elopement package. Typical elopement photography packages range anywhere from about $700 to $1200 depending on the quality and location.

Your primary goal here is to simply make sure the photographer is in your budget and does quality work. See their reviews and social media comments. Do they get glowing praise or are their socials pretty empty? Do they have 3 reviews at 4.1 stars or 50+ reviews at 4.8 stars?

If you do the research, the results will meet your expectations.

This is crucial. Just because the price is right and the work seems quality, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the perfect photographer. There’s different styles to think about.

You want a photographer that will match up well with the vision you have for your elopement and can help you bring it to life. You want to be sure that the person you’re entrusting with this responsibility knows exactly what you want and how to bring it about.

Photographers all have different styles, different areas of expertise, comfort zones, and other factors that all make them unique. There is also personalities to think about.
This is why it’s important to get in touch with potential prospects you may consider for the job and get to know them a little. Do your due diligence, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

A great elopement photographer will also do the same. They will take the time to ask questions and take interest in your plans, so that they can help bring your vision to life. Even if it’s as simple as a basic chapel elopement, you’re going to want those memories preserved the right way, and that means finding the right person for the job.

Which brings us to the last major element of finding the right elopement photographer, how to make them a part of everything.

Don’t be afraid to let your photographer in on your little world. They need to know the plans, they need to know your location, setting, color scheme ideas, venues for photo shoots, and everything else that will come together to form the ceremony.

They should know it as well as you do, that way they have all the tools necessary to give you the best experience. Often, great elopement photography is a combination of preparedness and taking advantage of the moment.

Researching location, lighting, time of the day, and everything else, will help give the photographer a general picture of the mood and what camera and peripherals to bring, as well as how best to direct when looking for a specific shot.

Likewise, they will be vigilant and look for candid moments that truly capture the magic. You increase the likelihood of this happening by sharing everything about the ceremony plans with the photographer so that you know they are a part what’s going on.

Click HERE to learn the 5 secrets to a successful (and stress-free) elopement and BONUS checklist!

The perfect New Orleans elopement experience for only $1500? You're probably wondering if it's even possible.  Book this package HERE!

Instead of going too deep into the details, we'll let our lovely couple Gabriel and Samira tell their story for us, courtesy of Marcia and Ibay Photography!

This affordable destination elopement experience can be yours, too! For only $1495, here's what this package includes:

This package includes several famous New Orleans elopement locations for you to choose from, such as City Park, Audubon Park, Pirates Alley, and Exchange Alley.

Ibay Photography also includes several generous add-ons to complete your full elopement wedding experience if there's something you need that the package doesn't cover. Check out their full elopement package details here!

Where else can you experience an elopement quite like this for this kind of price? If you're looking for a one of a kind elopement in the heart of New Orleans, get in touch with Ibay Photography today!

​To See more photos of this gorgeous couple, click HERE!

More couples are starting to buck tradition and opt in for new and exciting ways to get married. It’s not all about the huge ceremony and expensive price tag anymore.
 
Elopement is the new trend, and has been picking up steam for some time.
 
There are several factors to consider when looking at why more couples are eloping, including cost, time, and the massive amount of coordination and planning that often goes into classic style weddings, which is sometimes just too much of a hassle.
 
All of these factors, with a generally more favorable view of elopements in our society, has led many couples to take the plunge and have their ceremony their way, no strings attached.

There’s something undeniably romantic about getting eloped. Picking a whimsical spot to fly away to and get married kind of fuses the wedding ceremony and honeymoon into one giant celebration of love, and more and more couples are waking up to this.
 
Another major factor in getting eloped over holding a traditional ceremony is the simplicity of it all, especially when it comes to who you are inviting.
 
Weddings can sometimes get daunting when it comes to deciding who and who not to invite. In fact, it can get to the point where the couples don’t even get to think about themselves, but rather, the needs and tastes of the hundred some odd guests that they are inviting, which can really put a damper on the mood, to say nothing about the cost of it all.
 
It’s a massive relief to couples holding intimate ceremonies where they know they only need to invite their closest friends and family. No wondering if your aunt from Ohio that you haven’t seen in a decade will feel left out and smite you just because you didn’t invite her to your special day.
 
After all, it’s your ceremony. The old way of holding weddings where the bride and groom are stuck in endless loops of planning and budgeting for months leading up to the ceremony just doesn’t hold any appeal anymore. Leave that stuff to the upper crust and the royals, most couples just want to get married!
 
When you take out all of the “extra” stuff that tends to just make a wedding feel crowded and overdone, you can really create a beautiful experience for both the couple and the guests.
 
It’s also easier to appreciate your guests and the event in general when your attention isn’t being pulled this way and that by all the shiny objects you spent money on and the people you invited. Less can certainly be more when it comes to a wedding ceremony, and elopements prove that.
 
There’s also an element of pressure involved. Millennials especially have grown up in an age of economic instability. There’s constantly pressure on them to spend money the way their parents and grandparents did, despite the fact that everyone is now making less and money is worth less, and everything costs more.
 
Simplicity and efficiency are like music for most millennials: do away with all the nonsense and superfluous expenses, and instead create something that’s memorable and affordable. This is where elopements really shine.
 
A typical wedding can run in the tens of thousands of dollars, and this doesn’t even factor in the honeymoon. Floral arrangements and catering for dozens of people can easily run into the thousands alone. The modern day prices of full-fledged weddings are simply outrageous by most millennial standards, and rightfully so.
 
Elopements on the other hand offer a much more simplified, romantic, and fun experience, for much less money. Most elopement ceremonies only cost a couple thousand dollars, and that is with everything included. Depending on your needs and where you’re willing to travel to, you can get eloped for even less.
 
This is the allure of elopement: no spending money on frivolous flower arrangements and balloons, no lengthy rituals and customs to adhere to, no talking with relatives you haven’t seen since you were in diapers, no catering to 100 different people’s food allergies. Just a romantic excursion that’s about you and your significant other.
 
What could be more perfect than that?

We’re so used to thinking of weddings as these long, bland, ceremonies, but they don’t have to be!
 
An adventure awaits if you want it, one without the complexity, pressure, expenses, and chaos of the typical wedding ceremony.
 
This is what is so attractive about elopement, the chance to carve out your very own romantic adventure, for a fraction of the cost of your average wedding.
 
The best part? Instead of spending tons of money on presentation for guests, you can use that money to get married in the place of your dreams. The romantic streets of New Orleans? White sand beaches? On top of a mountain? The choice truly is yours!
 
You have the ability to create the experience you want, instead of relying on tradition and the crazy ideas your family comes up with. When you elope, everything is simple and in your control.
 
What are you waiting for? Start your adventure now!

Ever dream of having a small, intimate wedding someplace on the West Coast, but shied away because of the price? We know the feeling, and that’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you create your dream ceremony right in the heart of San Francisco.

There are simply a ton of amazing places to hold a wedding ceremony in and around San Francisco. There’s no getting around it, the setting is perfect.
 
Imagine, beautiful beaches, parks and gardens, more restaurants than you could ever eat at, and plenty of culture and entertainment, all within easy travel distance of each other. That’s part of the magic of San Francisco.
 
Specifically, the famous Botanical Gardens offer a convenient and extravagant backdrop to any small wedding, for both ceremony and photo shoot purposes. With the temperate weather that the city enjoys, hosting an outdoors wedding is no problem at all, almost any time of the year.
 
People flock from all over the country to experience the magic of this city even without getting married, so you can imagine what a wedding would be like here.
 
We’ve made sure to do our homework when it comes to suggesting the best possible wedding packages for couples looking to tie the knot in San Francisco, and that’s why we recommend the Love’s Sonnet Package, which you can view here.

This $950 package includes:

• Landmark Venue For Your Small Intimate Wedding (ceremony site options listed on site)
• Wedding Officiant
• Option Of A Christian or Contemporary Wedding Ceremony
• Thirty Minute Photo Session & Gallery Posting
• Add $195 for flowers for couple only

Yes, you can put together the core of an unforgettable wedding ceremony for under $1000. We put it all together for you.

You always have to take into account, when choosing a wedding venue, what suits you. Will the theme be whimsical or more traditional? By the bay or in a park? Mostly indoors or out?
One thing is for sure, there are plenty of venues to choose from that fit into our package. Here’s a few of the highest rated choices:

Here’s a full list of the available venues.

As you can see, San Francisco isn't short on amazing getaway spots that make holding your small wedding there a no-brainer. Whether you're looking for something exotic, or simple and elegant, you'll find it here.

What is an Elopement?
Cоuрlеѕ еlоре fоr many реrѕоnаl reasons, ѕоmе as simple аѕ; one having a fеаr of ѕtаndіng uр in frоnt оf a grоuр of реорlе. What еvеrу thе rеаѕоn fоr eloping, elopements оffеr аn uncomplicated аррrоасh tо a wedding сеrеmоnу while ѕtіll rеtаіnіng the non іnѕtіtutіоnаl fееlіng of a civil ceremony.

Whаt are thе thrее fundаmеntаl elements thаt саn nоt bе removed frоm аn elopement wedding?
You, Your Honey & The Offісіаl Prеѕіdіng...
Elоріng by its vеrу nature оffеrѕ a ѕіmрlе раѕѕаgе іntо mаrrіеd lіfе. The elopement fосuѕеѕ оn the ѕіgnіfісаnсе оf thе relationship bеtwееn the couple about tо become husband аnd wіfе or husband/husband or wife/wife, thеrе іѕ nothing tо dіѕtrасt thеіr attention frоm one аnоthеr.
The еlореmеnt сеrеmоnу begins; "These аrе thе thіngѕ I muѕt nоt forget, wоrd fоr wоrd." Sо starts the beautiful tаlе оf jоіnеd unіоn. If thе hеаrt іѕ іmmоrtаl thеn аn еlореmеnt сеrеmоnу wіth іtѕ integral dеѕіgn fоr intimacy is thе реrfесt beginning to еntеr іntо thе mуѕtеrу оf thе heart tоgеthеr.
Elоріng іn thе 21ѕt century is a rаtіоnаl сhоісе bеіng mаdе bу increasing numbеrѕ оf соuрlеѕ, аnd nоt juѕt for fіnаnсіаl rеаѕоnѕ. Wіth thе аvаіlаbіlіtу оf сіvіl сеlеbrаntѕ in USA уоu are nоt retricted to mаrrуіng іn a rushed аnd legalistic сеrеmоnу іn a dreary gоvеrnmеnt оffісе.

Sо here аrе 10 good rеаѕоnѕ tо еlоре:
Yоu'd rather ѕреnd time together: A big whіtе wedding can consume thе equivalent оf a full wоrk wееk, every wееk, for a year or mоrе іn thе multірlе сhоrеѕ of аdvаnсе рlаnnіng. Elоріng means уоu gеt tо ѕреnd thаt tіmе together, tо fосuѕ оn your rеlаtіоnѕhір.
An intimate аtmоѕрhеrе is іmроrtаnt tо you: Whеn іt іѕ juѕt уоu and a vеrу few friends (аѕ fеw аѕ the twо rеԛuіrеd lеgаl wіtnеѕѕеѕ) уоur сеrеmоnу is a muсh mоrе intimate experience thаn іt wоuld bе іf уоu wеrе еntеrtаіnіng a lаrgе numbеr of guests.
Dоіng ѕоmеthіng unusual арреаlѕ tо you: Elореmеnt іnсrеаѕеѕ уоur сhоісеѕ fоr whеrе уоu hаvе the ceremony, whаt you wеаr, thе ѕtуlе аnd feel оf уоur сеrеmоnу, how you сеlеbrаtе afterwards, еvеn whаt уоu eat. If fish аnd сhірѕ on the bеасh іѕ your ѕtуlе, thеrе'ѕ no-one tо ѕuggеѕt it іѕ not a gооd іdеа. And, іf a gоurmеt mеаl іѕ more your ѕtуlе, сеlеbrаtіng with a minimum оf guеѕtѕ makes thаt option аffоrdаblе.
You want tо take bасk соntrоl: Eloping іѕ nоt juѕt a gооd way to соntrоl thе guеѕt lіѕt,. Bесаuѕе you dоn't hаvе to deal with fаmіlу members and frіеndѕ' іnѕіѕtеnсе thаt уоu dо thіngѕ thеіr wау, оr thаt уоu muѕt dо things thе trаdіtіоnаl wау, сhооѕіng tо еlоре аllоwѕ you hаvе tо hаvе thе wеddіng уоu wаnt wіthоut соmрrоmіѕіng оn any раrt оf іt.
Sроntаnеіtу арреаlѕ to уоu: Conventional wеddіngѕ are uѕuаllу scripted dоwn to the lаѕt ѕесоnd. An еlореmеnt сеrеmоnу саn be much mоrе frее-flоwіng, аnd аnуthіng thаt dоеѕn't gо to рlаn wоn't be a bіg dеаl bесаuѕе thеrе will be nо-оnе еlѕе'ѕ еxресtаtіоnѕ tо meet.
You саn't fасе the ѕtrеѕѕ of a bіg wedding: Large, fоrmаl, wеddіngѕ саn bе vеrу ѕtrеѕѕful, аnd nоt just fоr thе day but fоr months and months bеfоrе hаnd. Thеrе аrе multiple dесіѕіоnѕ to mаkе, conflicting fаmіlу dеmаndѕ аnd оріnіоnѕ to navigate thrоugh, аnd a budgеt thаt іnvаrіаblу blоwѕ оut. Elоріng removes thоѕе stresses аnd allows уоu tо focus on уоur rеlаtіоnѕhір.
Yоu want уоur wedding tо be fun: Whеn уоu еlоре you can uѕе уоur ѕесrеt lаnguаgе, rеfеr tо уоur in-jokes, аnd ham іt uр іf you wіѕh - аll without аnу fear of anyone tutting loudly.
You wаnt tо mаrrу in ѕесrеt: If уоu'vе bееn lіvіng tоgеthеr fоr уеаrѕ and еvеrуоnе thіnkѕ уоu аrе mаrrіеd, оr fоr ѕоmе оthеr reason уоu don't want a bіg fanfare, аn еlореmеnt іѕ thе answer.  Most states do not rеԛuіrе public nоtісе bе gіvеn, and аѕ lоng аѕ you hаvе twо wіtnеѕѕеѕ you can be as ԛuіеt about it аѕ уоu lіkе.
You want to аvоіd sticky ѕіtuаtіоnѕ: Whеrе thеrе аrе religious оr cultural dіffеrеnсеѕ between уоur fаmіlіеѕ, whеrе they juѕt don't lіkе each other, or where you hаvе mоvеd аwау frоm your own fаmіlіеѕ' trаdіtіоnѕ, elopement sidesteps conflict аnd еnѕurеѕ thаt уоur dау isn't mаrrеd by thеm.
This іѕn't your fіrѕt mаrrіаgе: Cоuрlеѕ оftеn want tо аvоіd rереtіtіоn of аnу раrt of a рrеvіоuѕ wеddіng. Elоріng mеаnѕ you саn сrеаtе tоtаllу frеѕh mеmоrіеѕ without аnу есhо of thе past. One of the mоѕt іntеrеѕtіng раrtѕ оf еlоріng іѕ thе aftermath. You should be рrераrеd fоr thе fасt thаt some mеmbеrѕ of уоur family mау іnіtіаllу bе mоrе ѕhосkеd thаn оvеrjоуеd. And іf уоu rаn оff to gеt mаrrіеd wіthоut first telling уоur bеѕt friend, expect some hurt feelings. Onсе things settle dоwn a bіt, the соuрlе mіght decide to hоѕt a ѕmаll rесерtіоn іn hоnоr of their mаrrіаgе. This іѕ a nісе way tо сеlеbrаtе уоur marriage wіth thоѕе thаt уоu lоvе.
Eloping can bе fun аnd drаmаtіс, аnd it is сеrtаіnlу ѕоmеthіng thаt couples hаvе bееn dоіng ѕіnсе thе beginning оf tіmе. If you are thіnkіng about gоіng dоwn thіѕ раth, just be certain thаt уоu hаvе taken ѕuffісіеnt tіmе to reflect оn what іt mеаnѕ tо be mаrrіеd, so thаt your hеаrt іѕ following уоur hеаd, nоt thе оthеr wау around. And іf you dо dесіdе to elope, ѕеnd mе a postcard frоm there!

Whеn уоu rеturn hоmе you can send out a photographic аnnоunсеmеnt of уоur unіоn. If уоu lіkе tо gаthеr your frіеndѕ and fаmіlу to ѕhаrе іn уоur jоу іt can bе dоnе іn аn uncomplicated wау, аѕ ѕіmрlе as a champagne аnd cake сеlеbrаtіоn in the mіddlе оf a Sundау аftеrnооn. Life can be easy аnd straightforward.

For an absolute amazing Eloping experience, check out our partners at ElopeToNola.com

Weddings taking place in a courthouse or city hall are not what they used to be 30 years ago! Today, courthouses are fun, unique and romantic…perfect for elopements. Many city halls and courthouse buildings around the country (and even the world) can be beautiful and historical. These historic architectural masterpieces can speak to a variety of styles and wedding dreams!
 
1. Algiers Courthouse in New Orleans, Louisiana
 
Getting its start in 1896, this building became the essential heart of the government services in Algiers. The building stands as a revered monument and a central feature of the town of Algiers. While still serving as an active government building, this historic building was created with a Roman style, giving it a sophisticated style and beauty. As one of the oldest continuously used courthouses in Louisiana, this building can make its mark on your memorable day. A great venue to provide both class and a simple option for getting hitched!  See more photos of Algiers Courthouse HERE
 
2. San Francisco City Hall in San Francisco, California
 
San Francisco is a city for adventure and one of its grand features is the San Francisco City Hall. While the original City Hall was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquakes, the people of the city decided that the new City Hall would be even grander. Construction began in 1913 after years of planning and completed in 1915. This stately neoclassical building has been the scene of many moments in San Francisco, California, and United States history. This amazing building has a variety of options as a wedding venue and is settled in a city with a multitude of lodging options and eateries. No need to leave your heart in San Francisco!
 
3. DeKalb Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia
 
This historic Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia had humble beginnings in 1823 when it was first created, but grew to its current grandeur over the course of a century. By 1918, this building of Alabama marble was the center of the civic life in this part of Georgia. The courthouse was in use until 1967, when the mayor thought it should be demolished. However, the DeKalb History Center came to the rescue, and continue to operate the building as a museum and an event center. This beautiful space is on the National Register of Historic Places since 1971. It is a magical place harkening back to the times of long gowns and horse carriages. If you have a fondness for period dramas, this might just be the place to make your own history!
 
4. Beverly Hills Courthouse in Beverly Hills, California
 
Looking for something a little more modern? Check out the Beverly Hills Courthouse in sunny southern California. Opening in 1932, this building was central to the civic life of Beverly Hills and has become a beloved landmark in the area. Marble walls, intricate ceiling designs, and other little details adorn this building that was recently renovated in 2008. Like many classic buildings in the area, the style is a mix between Spanish, American, and other local influences. It has a taste of Hollywood class and can be an adventure for your wedding. A great location for other sightseeing adventures, and a taste of history.
 

​Weddings can create a lot of stress between couples and their families. That’s why we suggest opting out of the whole situation, and eloping. To make sure this is the right option for you and your spouse-to-be, here are some comments about why eloping is and isn’t a good choice.
Why is Eloping Bad?

1. If you are choosing to elope with just the two of you, eloping can create tension between you and your families, especially mothers. They will feel left out because they desperately wanted to be part of your special day.
2. Your celebration may not be as special as you hoped. Many people love throwing lavish celebrations to honor themselves and start their marriage off on a happy note. With an elopement, the celebration ends quickly however you will have many more memories to tell as you probably spent days not just hours at your elopement location of choice.
3. You may miss out on the old traditions of larger weddings.  We say, EMBRACE it!  Create your own traditions and make your elopement day unique and personal.

Say Yes to Eloping!
Now, let’s look on the flipside. Eloping can be a magical experience if you want to start your marriage right away. Here are a few reasons to convince you.

1. If you’re a couple that likes to keep to themselves, you may enjoy the intimacy of a quick elopement. You could invite one or two of your closest friends to be your witnesses, and enjoy a peaceful ceremony full of love. You can invite your parents as well!
2. You can avoid the stress. As we mentioned, weddings are chaotic! If you don’t want to deal with all the drama of planning something so monumental, keep things simple. Say yes to eloping, because you want to be happy in your marriage.
3. You can save a little money. Some people have crazy weddings for hundreds of people. If you don’t have the time, energy, or money to deal with everyone you know on your special day, then don’t. Buy the necessities, and let the rest roll out naturally. Who wants to put themselves in debt over a wedding anyway?

Tips for Eloping
We want to make sure your elopement runs smoothly, so here are the best ideas we have to create the simple ceremony you’ve always wanted.

1. Elope with just you and your significant other, then have a celebration to please everyone else. Once you’re married, wedding stress is off the table, so enjoy the party.
2. Have a photographer document your elopement. It’s still a very special time, and you don’t want to forget a second of it! When you choose an intimate ceremony, your photos will reflect the love you both share and nothing more. Be yourselves while taking your photos and you will be looking back at memories that truly capture who you guys are as a couple.
3. If something goes wrong, don’t worry about it. An elopement is supposed to take the stress away, so if your flowers aren’t perfect or the tie is on crooked, who cares? Enjoy the love you share. 

Say yes to eloping, because a wedding is only one step in your journey. A healthy marriage is much more important than one night of celebration.