Want To Get Married? 10 Reasons You Should Elope

A decade ago, I eloped.

And yes, it’s safe to say that I am still happily married 10 years on.

Do I regret not having the big fat wedding? Absolutely not. Do I count it as the best day of my life? Well, it’s not lost it’s spot in the Top Three, that’s for sure. Would I recommend eloping? 100%.

The relief I felt once we decided that’s how we were going to do it was quite surprising. I’m a total social butterfly. I think everybody expected I’d have a massive knees up. I keep in touch with so many friends, cherish all the memories made and am forever excited for the memories in the making. Plus, I love weddings…Other people’s weddings. I spend much of my life in leggings and sweat-shirts, so any excuse to dress up and see my husband in a smart suit is such a treat. But for some rea-son, ever since I can remember, fantasising about my own wedding always gave me pangs of anxiety. Yes, the idea of having all my favourite people in one room should sound like the best thing ever, but it sent my heart racing. I hate small talk. I love getting straight into a proper conversation. I imagined myself flitting around all day, not really engaging with anybody and having to make polite chit-chat about how pretty my dress looked.

Speaking of dresses, even that sent me into a spin. I’m not very good at deciding in advance what I want to wear (you don’t want to be around me when I’m packing for a weekend away…) and prefer to go with how I feel on the day. The thought of searching for the “perfect” dress filled me with dread and all my insecurities would come bubbling to the surface. I’ve watched many friends obsess over their wedding-weight and spend the following years shaming themselves about how they would never fit into their dress again, “unless I starve myself.”

I am also aware of how incredibly sensitive I am. I’ve been to weddings and heard guests rudely whispering about how the food wasn’t particularly nice or the venue was too difficult to find. I just know I would have spent so much time worrying about whether everybody was having a good time.

But I did have one personal wedding dream…

I wanted to be so sure that whoever I married, I wouldn’t need a wedding. I could marry him any-where. Just us. Not caring if the band was cool or the canapés were tasty. Our mode of transport wouldn’t matter. We wouldn’t be praying for it not to rain. It would be me and him, saying our vows and starting the rest of our lives together. So, I don’t think it was a wedding dream. It was a marriage dream; to fall in love and create something long-lasting and meaningful. Eloping made me feel like this was the start of that dream, it made us a team, away from all the noise.

After a lot of light-hearted chats about getting married and starting a family, one day we just decided to do it. Instead of getting engaged and dragging it out, we booked a flight to Vegas. We picked a chapel with a simple package that included a cute bouquet and photos. The photographer was our wit-ness. I picked out my favourite vintage dress, shoes and bag, and booked a hair appointment at the Bellagio, where we also stayed. The sky was a perfect blue and the day was jam-packed with smiles. Our taxi driver took our photo beneath the famous Las Vegas sign. We ate amazing burgers and went to see Elton John at Caesar’s Palace. You could say that Elton played at our wedding…

Maybe you’re not convinced. Eloping isn’t for everyone. And I encourage people to keep having weddings if that’s what they desire because like I said, I love them. I’ll be the first guest on the dance floor and would never moan about the food!

But if you’re on the fence and want to know more, here are 10 reasons why eloping might be exactly what makes your heart sing.

1. Intimacy - A deep, intimate moment is created. Saying vows before lots of people doesn’t come naturally to many. When you elope, you eliminate all the pressure to perform. It’s all about who you both are.

   
   

2. Rebellion - Your chance to step away from outdated traditions. Is it time to reject the wedding industry and all that it tries to force on couples? Maybe you’ll feel empowered.

   
   

3. Authenticity - It’s what you both want, where you both want it and how you both want to do it. Be true to yourself and your partner. Don’t be a clone from another Bridal magazine or celebrity cover story.

   
   

4. Value - What do you value more? Experience or stuff? The average wedding in the United States in 2023 (according to Brides) costs AED 120,000. Instead of paying for over 150 guests, you could spend that money on an epic honeymoon.

   
   

5. Less faff - Perhaps the thought of planning ahead for months - even years - is stressful for you both. Arranging dates, dress-fittings, trying to please the calendars of family members, catering for dietary requirements…it’s a lot. Do you want to take that on? Or keep it simple?

6. Adventure - Let’s face it, what is more exciting than running off to get hitched? Nothing! It’s a bond you will never break, no matter how things turn out…This is your chance to star in your own movie.

   
   

7. The planet will thank you - When you elope, there is no excessive food, flowers or decorations. Plus you’re reducing a lot of carbon footprints by inviting only the happy couple to travel to the destination.

   
   

8. Peace and quiet - Nobody is going to tell you what to do, which old aunt to invite or what salmon to serve. The wedding is about the two of you, only. Which is what your marriage will be.

   
   

9. No waiting around - You’ve decided to tie the knot. What are you waiting for? Worried you’re gonna change your mind? If not, just do it!

   
   

10. It’s one heck of a story - I’ve yet to meet anybody who doesn’t love my eloping anecdotes and it’s often followed by, “Wish we’d done that!”