Eloping may have come up in conversation with your partner which can lead to a bundle of questions right off the bat. If you are thinking about an elopement, you may want to consider the risk factors to decide if eloping is a good decision for you and your partner. Traditionally, eloping is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving a hurried flight away from one’s place of residence together with one’s beloved with the intention of getting married. Because of the “hurried” and “secretive” manner of the situation, some risks are sure to be involved.
Traditional Wedding vs An Elopement
A big risk to having an elopement is deciding that you are actually going to elope with your partner.
How do you picture yourself as a bride at your wedding?
As the center of attention?
You’re walking down the aisle, all eyes on you, you stand with your best friend in front of everybody you know. Does that sound amazing or terrible? If you don’t care to be the center of attention, you may want to elope, just bringing your parents and closest friends, or even just the two of you. And let’s not forget, a traditional wedding can cost a pretty penny when all of the expenses are calculated. You may prefer to invest in different priorities. If you are paying for your own wedding, and want to save your money for something else special, eloping could be the way to go.
There are many things to consider when thinking about a traditional wedding versus an elopement. You may get easily overwhelmed, and not want to plan a large event. Maybe having a traditional ceremony is important. Maybe you’ve already had the big traditional wedding, and this time, you want to be more focused on each other. Making sure you have the right wedding for you and your partner is what is most important.
Excluding Friends and Family
Another risk to having an elopement is how your family or friends may feel not being able to be a part of your big day. Ultimately, the day is about you and your partner, but family and friends are traditionally included in this celebration. Leaving them out could leave them heartbroken. How would you feel if this were the case? You can’t invite everyone when you elope. Weddings are about bringing two families together, and eloping eliminates this aspect of your day completely. If you want the big, traditional ceremony and celebration, having an elopement may not be the right choice for you.
Planning Everything Alone
Because you won’t have as many loved ones around for an elopement, make sure you are up for the planning. Unless you’re doing the absolute bare minimum for your elopement, there will still be a few elements to plan for: travel, lodging, venue, and attire will have to be accounted for. You may want to hire a wedding planner to help you make sure everything is just right. There are a lot of things to remember, and it will all be on you and your partner. Having a professional wedding planner by your side can be a huge relief.
Conclusion
While wedding planning can be exciting, and at times truly blissful, there is no question that the process can be incredibly stressful. There are many risks that are to be considered when having an elopement. First of all, deciding to have an elopement is a risk in itself. It’s also a risk to have an elopement without your friends and family surrounding and supporting you. Planning an elopement can also be risky. It’s a lot to do, even if you are just trying to keep it simple. What’s most important though, is how you and your partner feel about the big day, and you want to start your journey together.