What Does Elope Mean? Reasons Elopements are Gaining Popularity

Elopement weddings have become very popular in modern times. Many couples decide to elope to avoid the stress of planning a huge wedding, plus all the pressures that come along with having a large guest count with all those little details to pay attention to. Of course, a more traditional sense of wedding planning is what some couples dream about and can’t wait to jump into. But for those couples that want a pressure-free day as well as pressure-free planning, elopement weddings might be right for them. In recent years, it’s become a popular option as couples are veering away from the conventional style of big traditional weddings. They find themselves wanting a no fuss option to proclaim their love and have their wedding centre around just that — their intention of getting married — without all the bells and whistles and the stress of planning. For couples that want an intimate day full of their absolute closest friends and family (or maybe no one but themselves) and a day full of intention and meaning rather than fussy details and without the feeling of a performance or production elopement weddings are a perfect option. And if we do say so ourselves, some of our favourite weddings have been elopements (again not just in the 2020-2021 time period where some couples did not originally intend their weddings to be an elopement but chose to do so due to COVID). When a bride decides eloping is right for her, its written all over her face, the same way that every bride relishes in their perfect wedding day. Their happiness is radiant and so obvious to anyone looking at their stunning photos.

If you’re on the fence about eloping there are so many incredible reasons to opt for this style wedding over something more traditional. We find most often that people shy away from the idea when they have the wrong associations with the word and don’t know enough about elopement weddings and what they mean in the present day. What is an elopement wedding to our modern brides? Well, on a practice side, eloping means you’ll be able to save a ton on your budget because your guest count will either be very tiny or none at all. You’ll be able to forego a venue, food, flowers for an entire big space (or two if we think about your ceremony and reception), and all tons of additional vendors and aspects like a band, gifts and favours, all of your paper goods, rental items like chairs and tables, transportation for guests, lighting for your venue and all the tons of alcohol you would have gone through with a 150-person guest list.

With all that out of the way (and tons of money saved) you can splurge on what really matters to you and your fiancée. Maybe you both want to save for a house, have a killer honeymoon, or just allocate your extra funds to different parts of your wedding day; your wedding dress or outfit, accessories or your hair and makeup, your photography and where you’ll be traveling to your elopement, or a special activity for both you and your fiancée like a spa day before your wedding. On the note of traveling, the ease of turning your elopement into your honeymoon is an incredible thing to note; if you’re heading to some gorgeous country in Europe to tie the knot, for example, just think of how simple it would be to bounce around to another country right from where you are. Or stay in your chosen spot and do some exploring — you’re already there!

If you’re worried about what your friends and family might say, just know they’ll come to support you in the end. The idea might break a few hearts at first, but at the end of the day these are the closest people to you — your nearest and dearest — and everyone has a different reason for choosing to elope. Like we always say, it’s your wedding, so don’t worry about pleasing anyone but yourself and your fiancée. If it makes them feel better, you can always host a small dinner or get together with your close friends and family at a later date, or they can see you off before your wedding. You could even have an amazing girl’s night with all your closest friends before the big day. Just don’t lose sight of what led you to this decision in the first place. Remember — the goal is to avoid seating charts for 100+ people here, not to elope and have to plan a wedding at the same time.

Myth #1: The Couple’s Families do not Approve

So, why do certain people have a negative correlation with eloping? Well, as we touched on before the meaning of eloping has greatly changed. There are some old-time myths about elopement weddings that simply are not the case nowadays. The definition of elopement back in older times centred around the fact that one (or both) of the couple’s families did not approve of the marriage. Back when marriage was more commonly look at as a monetary exchange, it was customary for each family to approve of the other one and of the spouse chosen for their son or daughter. If one or both was against the marriage, but the couple still wished to be together, they would often elope. (Throwing it back to the whole “run away and never return” thing we mentioned above.) Eloping literally meant you were going so fiercely against your families wishes that you could never come back. While times have certainly changed, we do kind of love the adventurous spirit and the idea of throwing everything away to be with the person you love. Is there anything more romantic than that? We like to think our non-traditional brides carry with them a piece of this spirit into the modern day, though hopefully under less severe circumstances. In modern times, you can still tell your family and friends you plan to elope even if they’re not going to be attending the wedding. They can still support you and offer their congratulations, as they of course should!

Myth #3: The Couple Doesn’t Have Enough Guests for a Traditional Wedding

Another complete falsehood about elopement weddings is that the couple doesn’t have enough people to invite to a traditional wedding, so they have a small one instead. Well, this certainly couldn’t be less true. Some of the brides that opt for elopements do so specifically because their families are so incredibly big, and they’d rather have a 10-person wedding than a 500-person guest list. It has absolutely nothing to do with excluding people and everything to do with including those who you feel need to be at your wedding, which is sometimes just you and your fiancée. That being said, it’s definitely not a requirement for your elopement to just be the two of you, some people define elopements as a destination wedding with just a handful of people. There are no rules, it’s your day. So, whether it’s just the two of you or 20 guests, make your wedding what you want it to be.

So, what should you consider while you’re making the decision to choose an elopement style wedding? Keep in mind you’ll still want to think about how and when you’ll need to get your marriage license, especially if your elopement is taking place in another country or faraway place. Other than that, just make it you! Do you want to have some traditional elements? A ring exchange, a gown and tuxedo, a bouquet? Go for it! Want to elope now and then think about having a bigger party later on? We’re all for it. If you’re going to elope, also keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers, just your own version of tying the knot. The most important part of getting married is spending the rest of your life with your partner, that’s exactly what an elopement centres on — your love for one another, and without any pressures or anxieties.

Ready to elope with our KWH ELOPE collection? Book an appointment to see these stunning pieces.

Interested in other small wedding alternatives? Check out our blog on small wedding ideas here.