Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow; Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Joile; Ryan Reynolds and Scartlett Johansson – what do they all have in common? Well, apart from the obvious, they are all rich and famous; all three couples eloped. That is right, they chose not to have a typically lavish and extravagant, celebrity wedding, and instead chose to go down the low-key, intimate route. Weddings tend to be large events, requiring lots of planning, keeping people happy and an overabundance of stress. So, if event planning and pleasing people, does not sound like your cup of tea – have you considered eloping?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ELOPE?
When we talk about eloping, it conjures up images of couples, who had neither the blessing or the approval of their families; running away in the middle of the night, to the middle of nowhere to marry in secret – traditionally, that is eloping. Nowadays, eloping is more associated with intimacy and romance, or getting drunk in Vegas and showing up at a certain white chapel.
WHY?
Well, the thought of a big wedding can be a bit daunting. For starters, there is a lot of planning and decision making involved: the venue (church, registry office or outside?). Will the reception be in the same place as the ceremony? The catering: sit-down dinner, buffet, a barbeque! Who to invite, who not to invite! The transportation. The dresses…the list goes on and on. It can be a stressful time trying to organise a wedding – not to mention the stress on your bank balance! By choosing to elope, couples can eliminate both the stress and the financial strain.
Not everyone likes the idea of being the centre of attention and the thought of it can be the stuff of nightmares. Therefore, a big wedding might not be the best idea for those of an introverted nature. In fact, couples who have eloped have reported that they enjoyed their wedding day more because it was just the two of them or deciding to have a smaller guest list – some couples preferred the intimate nature of eloping, in comparison to a spectacle in front of large group of people
As brilliant as this all sounds, there are downsides to eloping. Having a smaller ceremony, means a smaller guest list (or no guest list at all!); this may annoy or even hurt family members or friends, especially the ones that do not make the cut – so be prepared for a fallout. One of the main reasons couples can regret eloping, is that they did not share their day with their nearest and dearest So, if you and your spouse-to-be decide that elope, make sure that you are happy with your decision with no doubts.
Recently, the global pandemic of 2020, saw couples across world having to cancel or postpone their weddings due to restrictions for indoor gatherings. This meant that couples not only had to move dates; they had to alter the size of their guest list; and potentially change their entire wedding! This has meant that eloping has been the ideal solution for a Bride and Groom to say ‘I do’. Singer Lily Allen and actor David Harbour eloped in September 2020 in Las Vegas, showing us how to do eloping right: a ceremony conducted by Elvis himself; the only guests being Allen’s two daughters; followed by a dinner of burgers and chips at a popular fast-food chain – this celebrity couple have shown that you do not need the big wedding to have truly magical day.