Is Eloping Right for You? 6 Powerful Reasons to Skip the Traditional Wedding

Why eloping might be the best decision you’ll ever make (besides choosing each other)

When it comes to saying “I do,” couples today are redefining what a wedding day can look like. For many, eloping has become the perfect way to create a deeply personal, stress-free, and unforgettable celebration of love. Whether it’s exchanging vows on a windswept cliff, in a quiet forest, or on the edge of a tropical beach, elopements allow you to focus entirely on what matters most: your connection and your experience together.

If you’re wondering, “Is eloping right for us?” here are six powerful reasons why skipping the traditional wedding might be the best decision you ever make.

Total Freedom to Design a Wedding That Fits You

One of the biggest reasons couples choose to elope is the freedom to create a wedding day that actually reflects who they are, not what’s expected of them. When you elope, you’re no longer bound by traditions, timelines, or outside opinions that don’t serve you. Instead, every choice becomes intentional.

You get to decide what matters most:

• Where you get married

• How you spend your time

• What you wear

• Who (if anyone) is there

• And how your day feels

Nothing is done out of obligation. Everything is chosen with purpose. Rather than trying to please everyone else, you’re free to design a wedding day that honors your relationship, your values, and your vision. Whether that means exchanging vows at sunrise on a mountain ridge, sharing a quiet meal together after your ceremony, or turning your elopement into a multi-day adventure, your day becomes a reflection of you, not a template.

That’s the power of an intentional elopement: it’s not just smaller. It’s more meaningful.

Your Dream Location, Your Way

Many individuals see elopement as a chance to visit places and engage in activities they've always dreamed of experiencing. If there's a destination they've previously visited and loved, it can be a meaningful place to return to for their wedding day. Instead of spending on a large wedding, consider investing in an unforgettable experience for you and your fiancé(e). This day will be a significant part of your shared story, and selecting a destination that excites you will ensure it's a story you'll cherish forever.

My favorite exercise with people is to close your eyes, envision the most beautiful setting imaginable, think about how you want to feel that day, and let that inspire your choice of wedding location. Choose a place that excites you. If you love food, culture, and architecture, your trip might include a historic city. If you seek peace and quiet, a secluded beach or mountain overlook will perfectly fit your vision. The key is to find an elopement guide or planner who can translate your vision and present you with destination options. Sometimes, you may not even know where your dream location exists!

Turn Your Wedding Day Into an Experience

Now that you're planning an elopement, the day is yours to fill with adventure and joy! Imagine crafting a day full of activities you've always dreamed of experiencing together or ones you already cherish. How about an exhilarating helicopter ride to a glacier, the thrill of rock climbing, or the wonder of a whale watching tour? Or perhaps you'd prefer the simple pleasures of sharing a cozy picnic or gazing at the stars hand in hand. The possibilities are endless, and your wedding day can be as unique and exciting as your love story!

More Time To Be Present With Each Other

One of the most underrated parts of an elopement is how much time it gives you - real, unhurried, meaningful time together on your wedding day.

At a traditional wedding, the day often feels like a blur. You’re rushing from one thing to the next, greeting dozens (or hundreds) of people, sticking to a tight timeline, and constantly being pulled in different directions. Many couples barely remember their ceremony because it goes by so fast.

Eloping slows everything down.

Instead of performing your day for others, you get to actually experience it. You can wake up together, have coffee in your pajamas, hike to your ceremony spot, read your vows without an audience, and spend hours exploring, laughing, and being present with each other. There’s no pressure to entertain anyone. No rigid schedule. No constant interruptions. Your wedding becomes a day you live, not just one you get through.

And when you look back on it, what you’ll remember most isn’t the decor or the seating chart — it’s the way it felt to have time and space to simply be together as you started your marriage.

Less Pressure, More Presence

Countless couples planning big weddings meet with me before their big day and express their wish to have simply eloped. Many decisions lead to immense, yet completely avoidable stress. Financial decisions, wedding party drama, who can sit by who, who's going to cause a scene with an open bar, the wedding day timeline, parents intervening and insisting on their way. So rather than being excited for a beautiful and fun day filled with love, you're having nightmares about things coming together correctly and how other people feel about your wedding.

And it may sound like I don't enjoy photographing big weddings - believe me, I very much do. But having seen brides throwing up from stress on their wedding day and relationships ruined because of wedding drama, I sympathize a lot with couples who want to avoid that altogether and plan a wedding day where they can focus on nothing but the person they're marrying.

Photos That Tell the Real Story of Your Love

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how stunning your wedding gallery will be! This isn't just due to your choice of a location with a breathtaking, distinctive backdrop that you'll dream of revisiting together, but also because your photos will capture the genuine happiness of your wedding day. They will narrate the story of your unique journey together, encompassing every messy, romantic, emotional, and joyful moment you experience. With an adventure as significant as yours, you'll want an exceptional photo experience to accompany it.

Frequently Asked Questions about Eloping

Can we include any guests?

Of course! Although the old interpretation of eloping meant that it was just the two of you, I think it's been redefined. I would say 75% of the elopements I photograph have guests, usually under 15 people. Family, friends, and pets are always welcome if that's what you want and if they'll add to your joy that day. If you think it'll cause any sort of drama or stress for you, we can find other ways to include important people in your day that won't negatively affect your experience.

What are the legal requirements?

The legal requirements vary from state to state in the US, so it's always best to figure out where you're going to be going first, and then look up the requirements on the websites of the local county courthouse. If you hire an officiant, they can also help guide you through that process. If you're getting married internationally, I usually recommend getting legally married back home to cut back on the paperwork and any extra steps other countries may require.

Can we have a self-uniting ceremony?

Many US states do allow a self-uniting ceremony! If that's something you're interested in, check out this blog post about self-uniting ceremonies, which includes a list of states that allow it and also tells you how to build the perfect ceremony.

How do we get started with planning an elopement?

It's hard to know where to begin because the possibilities are endless! Your best first step towards a successful elopement planning experience is hiring an experienced adventure wedding photographer who also doubles as a planning guide (like me!). I help my couples by sharing location recommendations based on the couples wants and needs, help with obtaining permits, provide recommendations for other businesses you may want to hire, and create a timeline for the day. But fear not - if you're still in the very beginning stages of figuring this out, here's a great blog post that will help you get started!

How much does it cost to elope?

With the endless possibilities that are available for couples planning an elopement, it's quite difficult to put a price tag or price range down. It all depends on what you want for your wedding day. Some couples spend as low as $1000 by having a simple vow exchange in a part nearby, but others spend $20k traveling to an exciting destination and investing in all of the things that will make them most happy, like experienced wedding vendors, their dream dress, a romantic dinner, etc. I've created this blog post to help break it down for you and give you a better idea of what costs you can expect to plan for.

Let's Begin Planning Your Best Day Ever!

I'm Carly, a destination wedding and elopement photographer & planning guide who's documented weddings from Hawaii to Scotland. My top priority on elopement days is to help you create an experience, not just deliver great photos. I want to tell your wedding story, share the emotions you felt that day and the fun you shared together, and provide you with memories that you'll love forever. And in addition to photography, I'll also provide:

✓  Location Scouting & Research

✓  Vendor Recommendations

✓  Customized Timeline Building

✓  Activity Recommendations

✓  Assistance with Permits

✓  An exclusive elopement planning guide

If you're ready to take the first step towards your best day ever, fill out the contact form on my site! We'll talk about all of the possibilities, ease your mind of any hesitations you may still have about eloping, and get planning!