To Elope or Not?

Weddings seem to bring out the best in people, with all coming together to celebrate the happy couple and give them well wishes. Weddings are a social hub for many people to catch up with old friends or make new ones. Many people take years to plan their weddings to make sure everything is carried out to fulfill wildest dreams. When I picture a wedding, I picture a day filled with support staff to help everything run smoothly, gorgeous decor that takes time to set up and break down, and food and drink flowing outward towards the guests and wedding party. Such an involved affair is not everyone's cup of tea, however. Many prefer to forgo the largescale celebration and want something a little more tame.

Elopements are short and sweet. Couples have the opportunity to have a private and smaller ceremony that hits all of the mandatory notes. Friends and family are still welcome to attend but in smaller numbers. Elopements feel more intimate and allow for couples to feel more in charge of the events of the day. Florals and decorations can still be present in an elopement but on a smaller scale than most weddings. With an officiant, a witness or two, and the wedding bands in tow, an elopement ceremony can feel just as grand as a wedding.

Choosing to have either a full-blown wedding or a smaller elopement can be a tough decision to make. Some people even opt to have an elopement and then later, when the time is right, they may have a more traditional wedding ceremony later to celebrate with family and friends. There is no correct answer when choosing between a full wedding and eloping but there can be a correct time and place for either ceremony type based on the personal needs of a couple.