Eloping - Let the Honeymoon Begin!
It's called by many names. Destination wedding, weddingmoon, elopement wedding. But I prefer to call it simply "eloping." You know, that old-fashioned notion of slipping away, just the two of you, and getting married. No hassle with planning a wedding. No reception you have to pay for. A quick and easy "I do" and you're off on your honeymoon.
Not so fast...
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?
Eloping can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be. But, is it right for you?
Eloping - The Pros
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.
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.
Eloping - The Cons
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.
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.
Here's my favorite link:
Wedding Planning Help
Let Destination Wedding Experts Compete for Your Business!
Even the smallest wedding can appear a little daunting to plan. Did you know there's a service out now which allows destination wedding experts to compete for your business to give you the best deals?
These experts can help you organize all the travel and arrangement details. this service is free - all you have to do is provide your dates, locations and desires, and you'll have several wedding and travel experts competing for your business, which means you will get your wedding travel and arrangements done for you - at the absolute best value.
The service is through Tripology, and I've included the direct link below:
Find Destination Wedding Travel Experts to Plan your Trip, Click Here and Get Matched With the Best!
These experts can help you organize all the travel and arrangement details. this service is free - all you have to do is provide your dates, locations and desires, and you'll have several wedding and travel experts competing for your business, which means you will get your wedding travel and arrangements done for you - at the absolute best value.
The service is through Tripology, and I've included the direct link below:
Find Destination Wedding Travel Experts to Plan your Trip, Click Here and Get Matched With the Best!
Eloping Locations - the Usual Suspects
Some of the more popular eloping destinations include:
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. For more, go to Niagara Falls Elopement Packages
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.
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. For more, go to Niagara Falls Elopement Packages
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.
Unique Eloping Locations
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 and Destination Weddings Blog )
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.
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.
Elopement Package of the Week
Texas Bed & Breakfast
This week's special eloping location is:
Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast
650 Morelock Lane
Brownwood, TX
Phone: 1-325-646-4128
Toll-free: 1-800-850-2003
email: relaxing@star-of-texas.com
Do you want a fabulous place to get married with the fabulous cost attached? Save your money and the hassle and elope at the Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast in the Texas Hill Country just 4 miles outside Brownwood, Texas.
Their special "Elopement for 2" package is only $189, plus the cost of your room, which ranges between $129 and $169 per night. When you figure your average wedding costs about $20,000, not to mention the stress level that goes with it, then you're getting a real bargain!
The "Elopement for 2" package includes:
>> Vow ceremony by Chaplain in the location of your choice on the property
>> Hand tied mix flower bouquet for the Bride
>> Photos burned to a CD for you to use as you like
>> Cake and Punch for 2
This package is for the couple only. If you have guests you want to attend, you should check out their other wedding packages.
Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast
650 Morelock Lane
Brownwood, TX
Phone: 1-325-646-4128
Toll-free: 1-800-850-2003
email: relaxing@star-of-texas.com
Do you want a fabulous place to get married with the fabulous cost attached? Save your money and the hassle and elope at the Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast in the Texas Hill Country just 4 miles outside Brownwood, Texas.
Their special "Elopement for 2" package is only $189, plus the cost of your room, which ranges between $129 and $169 per night. When you figure your average wedding costs about $20,000, not to mention the stress level that goes with it, then you're getting a real bargain!
The "Elopement for 2" package includes:
>> Vow ceremony by Chaplain in the location of your choice on the property
>> Hand tied mix flower bouquet for the Bride
>> Photos burned to a CD for you to use as you like
>> Cake and Punch for 2
This package is for the couple only. If you have guests you want to attend, you should check out their other wedding packages.
Wedding Essentials on Sale
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
And a few more sites you might like:
- California Weddings
- A blog about eloping or having a wedding in California, where dreams turn to gold.
- Summer Weddings
- Where are the hot spots for summer weddings? There's more to summer "I Do's" than Hawaii. Check it out.
- Elopement-Packages.com - Elopement Packages
- There are so many wonderful elopement packages out there, where do you begin picking one for your wedding? We review some of the best elopement packages in some of the most popular wedding spots, as well as a few overlooked romantic venues.
- Steps to Planning a Wedding
- Planning a wedding? Relax! It doesn't have to be stressful if you stick to your plan. Find out all the steps there are to planning a wedding, whether it's planning the rehearsal dinner, choosing a wedding dress or picking out the wedding music.
- Something Old, Something New
- Interesting wedding blog, nice photography of dresses.
- Garden Wedding Venues
- There's something magical about garden weddings! Visit our page on garden wedding venues and discover wedding gardens perfect for your "I Do's."
- Wedding Cake Toppers
- Remember those old boring, stiff-looking wedding cake toppers of your parent's days? We don't have those! But, if you're looking for something to express your own individuality, you're in the right place.
- Wedding Flip Flops
- What shoes do you wear for a beach wedding? Why, flip-flops of course. Here's a place to check out the latest in bridal flip-flops.
- Weddings and wedding planning for grooms. To-do lists to bachelor party tips, honeymoon and budgets to excuses to toasts.
- Weddings and wedding planning for grooms. Guide to the good, bad and ugly of being a groom. Everything from to-do's to bachelor party to honeymoon and budgets to excuses to toasts. Brides will like it too.
- Always a Blogsmaid
- Xochitl and Mayra, of NY's Always a Bridesmaid Wedding Consultants take bride's FAQ's about weddings and post their professional advice.
- Chincoteague Island .Net
- Your source of information on tourist attractions and local businesses of Chincoteague Island Virginia.
- Gay Weddings
- Gay weddings are now legal in the state of California. Find out where to get your license and what fabulous venues to pick for your wedding ceremony.
- Cummerbunds for the Groom
- Yeah, you can go with the same old cummerbund. Or, you can search for something fun. Rhinestone, novelty, designer. Take your pick!
- Golf Wedding Favors
- If you're having a golf-themed wedding, then you need golf wedding favors. Choose from a selection of fabulous golf-themed favors which are sure to delight your wedding guests.
Remember...
Your wedding is your wedding. Make it what you want.
Leave a Note
WG-Tiaras wrote...
Great lens, I've rated it highly. If you haven't done already feel free to add it to the wedding planning group. Also feel free to check out my wedding related lenses by visiting my profile page.
Posted January 02, 2009
Lensmaster
NoFear wrote
in reply to carley if you spend your time fitting your wedding around other people, trust me sweetie, you'll do it for the rest of your life. your marriage will be overthrown, then your children, and before you no it you will have pleased everyone else all your life and not yourself! you only live once babes, so don't live for others. live for yourself. if your parents love you as much as you think they do, they will understand. if they continue making YOUR wedding day about THEM.... well, there is your answer. good luck hunni! :)
Posted November 29, 2008
modernjane wrote...
I've had three weddings (all to the same guy and all within a few months of each other). None of them were a big productions. The Vegas wedding was the most fun and we still had a lot of friends and family who came along. Just because you are running off and getting married doesn't mean that you can't invite others along for the ride.
click here if you want to read a bit about my three weddings
Posted September 28, 2008
Gigglesoup wrote...
Hey, Emily
How about hiring an officiant to marry you at one of Santa Barbara's beaches? You can get a very affordable wedding package by using "Santa Barbara Weddings by Beverly," an ordained, non-denominational, interfaith minister. Her website is weddingsbybeverly.com.
There's the El Presidio de Santa Barbara Chapel for rent, but it'll cost about $1,000 for 6 hours.
Posted September 23, 2008
Lensmaster
Emily wrote
Ughh.. I am so sick of weddings! I am a stylist for weddings, and it being September already, I have been watching bride-zillas for 5 months in a row now. Me and my fiancee have been engaged for a year and a half, and keep putting off our wedding because of family issues (we have a major age difference and my family isn't thrilled), and money issues (this is the second round for both of us, and we're over it). I came up witht e idea of elopement, we are still talking it over, but more than anything, it just sounds like a relief. I live in California.. Santa Barbara to be exact. Does anyone know of a great wedding chapel here, or should we just go to the courthouse? Thanks for any/all input!!
Posted September 23, 2008
