Eloping

Of course, things have changed since your parents' days, and eloping has evolved from a quick visit to the Justice of the Peace to an elopement ceremony in all sorts of places: on a roller coaster, in a hot-air balloon, underwater. Many couples are even opting to invite family and a few close friends.

Eloping can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. But, is it right for you?

1. Eloping can be cheaper. Sure, there are big destination weddings you can plan that are expensive, and some elopement venues which are pricey, but you can most often elope for a fraction of the cost of what a big wedding would cost.

2. It's easier to plan. Again, it's as simple or elaborate as you want. There are many wedding officates in many locations who will come to your hotel room or cabin and marry you.

3. The honeymoon begins after you say "I do." No need to plan a honeymoon after you've already planned a wedding. If you have a destination wedding in Hawaii, your honeymoon can be in Hawaii with no extra planning.

4. Eloping is perfect for couples with families in different locations. If your family lives in Washington, and his family lives in Ohio, you may be pressured from either family to have your wedding closer to them, so all their friends and relatives can attend. Eloping helps you from making a decision which will make one side of the family hurt or angry.

5. Although hard to believe, some people just don't want to be the center of attention. And at a wedding, the bride and groom are definitely the center of attention. Eloping allows it to be more low-key.

1. There are none. Just kidding. One big drawback is that some family members and friends might be hurt they're not invited. That, of course, is something you'll have to deal with, and hopefully in time any lingering resentment will be smoothed over.

2. If you're eloping with just the two of you, you may miss the grand wedding, and sharing it with your close friends and family. One thing you might consider is a reception party when you return from your elopement and honeymoon, allowing people to help you celebrate.

1. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is almost as famous for weddings as it is for gambling. In fact there are wedding chapels on almost every corner and in almost every major casino on the strip and beyond. There are themed weddings, Elvis weddings, elegant weddings, simple weddings, alien weddings, and all kinds of weddings in between. There are even Star Trek weddings. For more, go to Las Vegas Eloping

2. Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario, Canada

It's not the tallest waterfall in the world, but it's certainly the most famous - for its beauty, its power, and its weddings and elopements. Of course I'm talking about Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River on the border between the New York and Ontario. Some say the Canadian side is the place you should go to elope, as it has more tourist options.

3. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

How does a wedding in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains sound to you? You might want to consider getting married in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, dubbed the "wedding capital of the South." Wedding ceremonies in Gatlinburg can range from formal affairs to a "hillbilly wedding." Besides the beauty of the area, the prices can be quite reasonable. A "hillbilly wedding" can cost just $75 to be married in your own rental cabin. For more, go to Gatlinburg Wedding

4. Poconos - Pennsylvania

The Poconos happens to be one of the wedding and honeymoon capitals of the United States, and caters to couples who are eloping. And, no resort in the Poconos does romance better than Caesars Pocono Resorts. When it's time for the honeymoon, check out the Roman Tower suite at Pocono Palace, which is designed with a Grand roman theme. Of course, what's grand to some is gaudy to others, but the Roman Tower suite comes with floor-to-ceiling columns, vaulted ceilings, and a 7-foot tall Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath built for two. That's right, a 7-foot tall champagne glass which is really a whirlpool bath.

There are so many wonderful locations for eloping, how to fit them all in one page? Well, you can't. So, I'll give you a few unique locations and update this page every month with new locations for you to choose from, so do be sure to bookmark this page. (Oh, and you can always find some interesting locations at Elopement Packages

1. Sky Dive Wedding - Various Locations

Taking the wedding plunge can be even more exciting as you take a plunge from an airplane. Do you have to be a professional sky diver to have a sky dive wedding? No, just be a little adventurous (some would say, crazy). A couple places you might consider for your sky diving wedding are: Atlanta Skydiving Center in Atlanta, which has held numerous sky diving weddings. Call them at 770-684-3483 or go to their website at ascskydiving.com.

Another company which performs skydiving weddings is Vegas Extreme Skydiving located at the Jean Airport in Jean, just south of Vegas off Interstate 15. You can have a preacher marry you in the airplane on the climb up, say "I Do," then take the plunge. You can have a video of the event so you can actually prove to everyone back home you did it.

2. Haunted Wedding - Various Locations

If you want your wedding in one of America's famous hauntings, you might consider the Queen Mary in Long Beach, or, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, which served as the inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shining." For the ultimate in haunted weddings, you might consider Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night. Salem is just north of Boston, and the site of the infamous Witch Trials in the early 1690s. Today Salem is a tourist attraction, with such "scary" sites as the Salem Wax Museum of Witches & Seafarers, the Witch Dungeon Museum, and the House of Seven Gables, inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The House of the Seven Gables," and the site of many a wedding.

3. A Lighthouse Wedding - Various Locations

Marrying the light of your life? Then what better place than a lighthouse? Many people are drawn to lighthouses because for some reason, lighthouses are romantic. Perhaps it's because they harken back to a more romantic era, or perhaps it's the beauty of the sea around them. A few of the lighthouses you might consider are the Heceta Head Lighthouse in Oregon; Admiralty Head Lighthouse on Whidbey Island, Washington; and Point Arena Lighthouse in Northern California, south of Mendocino.

4. Mount Desert Island - Maine

What's so special about Mount Desert Island in Maine? The beaches, the vistas, and Acadia National Park are just a few of why you should consider Mount Desert Island. Another reason is the number of "Best of" lists which Mount Desert Island finds itself on year after year. For example, Mount Desert Island is on the list of Top North American Islands by readers of Conde' Naste Traveler in 2006, and is ranked #2 in the Top 5 Islands in Continental U.S. and Canada by Travel + Leisure. Bar Harbor is the most popular town on the island, with Frenchman Bay being a sought-after spot for many weddings.

5. Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad - Durango, Colorado

For a unique Colorado wedding, consider chartering one of the traincars of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which is a 90-mile roundtrip train ride from Durango to Silverton, an old mining town. The traincars or caboose can accommodate 2 to 24 guests, perfect for an elopement ceremony or small destination wedding.

Durango has been honored by Ski Magazine as one of America's Top 10 Ski Towns, but don't think winter's the only time you can enjoy Durango and the surrounding area. Durango is perfect for a wedding or elopement any time of the year with a ton of activities like horseback riding, hiking, skiing, sledding, dog sledding, sleigh rides, and even exploring Native American ruins at nearby Mesa Verde National Park.

This week's special eloping location is:

Kemah Gardens
1019 Lewis Drive
Kemah, TX
281-334-0501
Website: kemahgardens.com
Email: events@kemahgardens.com

Kemah Gardens is a luxury guesthouse in Kemah, Texas, which is located between Houston and Galveston, just 2 miles from Kemah's famous boardwalk.

They offer a wedding package for just the two of you on their beautiful property, which includes a lake in the backyard. You have your choice of sites on the property to say your "I do's," including on the veranda, in front of the fireplace, next to the windmill, under the pergola, at sunrise or sunset, or maybe later, under the stars. The hard part will be in choosing your ceremony spot!

For your honeymoon, you'll want to stay in one of their 4 guest bedrooms, each with a Jacuzzi tub, king-size bed with pillowtop mattress, and beautiful views of the grounds, lake and sunset.

When planning a wedding, even a small one, it's essential to stay with your budget. And, right now you'll find many different wedding essentials On Sale at The Knot Wedding Shop