Thinking of Eloping? Here's What You Should Know

Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now there are 1001 things you need to consider and decide on for your wedding - who’s invited (and who isn’t), how much you want to spend (vs how much you can afford to spend), dates, venues, the colours for almost everything…etc

Feeling overwhelmed? Well, you’re not alone. There’s a solid reason as to why elopements are on the rise, especially amongst millennials. Big, grandiose weddings are no longer the go-to dream for every bride-many millennials are opting for an alternative by choosing smaller, sometimes surprise ceremonies over expensive, do's. 

Elopements have come a long way from a romantic escape that couples do when their union was met with disapproval from their parents. And while generally, they are cheaper and less stressful to plan, you still need to put in a little thought.  That’s why we at Hitchbird have put together a little guide on how to elope.

THE THREE WAYS TO ELOPE

Elopements don’t just take place at a Vegas chapel or at your closest city hall anymore. Today, 

1. ‘The Classic’ elopement 
This is what most people have in mind when they think of an elopement. You and your spouse making your marriage legally binding at a city hall. You’ll still need to think about the paperwork required and protocols - will you be exchanging wedding rings? Should the groom be in a suit and the bride be in a wedding dress? 

2. ‘The Romantic’ elopement

Want something more adventurous? Pick an exotic location and just go for it. Think to exchange vows on a beautiful, isolated island resort. You’ll need to find an officiant to seal the deal. A lot of wedding venues offer elopement packages now, in fact, Hitchbird deals include free flights and a honeymoon for destination weddings.

3. ‘The Faux’ elopement

This one is more of an intimate wedding, rather than a true elopement. Your goal is to basically make it difficult for anyone other than your closest friends and family to attend your wedding, so you pick a far-flung location and date ahead of time and keep the guest list to a bare minimum (usually 30 folks or less).
If anyone (re: busybodies that you left out of the guest list) bemoans why they were left out, you can quickly quote ‘space constraints’, the ‘inconvenient distance’, or the fact that you ‘did not want to be inconsiderate by imposing flight costs’ on them.

You can check out wedding venue of your choice here.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN ELOPING

Granted, there’s much less to consider for your elopement vs a full-blown wedding - but you also don’t want to be caught unprepared or regret your choices later. We think you should at least consider these factors:

1. The destination

Do you want to elope to a sleek city destination like Paris, or swap vows on a Thai island? Remember that doesn’t always have to be a destination wedding - perhaps an intimate local wedding might fit your budget better. Either way, it’s a good idea to invest in a local planner who can provide you advice on the legalities, and have the insider know-how to suggest you picturesque locations and vendors.

Looking for a wedding planner your dream wedding? Click here to check out wedding planner.

2. The costs

You want to spare yourself from spending USD30,000 on a wedding, but elopements will still cost you some amount especially if you have your heart set eloping in a tropical island resort like The Peacock Garden in Bohol, Philippines. It’ll cost you USD3,500 for 50 guests if you want a ‘faux’ elopement, but the package includes flowers, food and beverage, couples’ spa and even the use of their vintage Bentley.

For more information about wedding venues in Bohol, click here.

3. Photography

We absolutely recommend hiring a local photographer. The last thing you want is to regret later down the road that you don’t have photos of the day you got married. Having pictures to show your friends and family will make them feel part of your day, even if they weren’t there.

Need someone to capture your magical wedding moments? For more information about wedding photographer and videographer, click here.

4. The reveal plan

When it comes to parents, siblings, and close friends, it’s important that they hear the news from you, in person - not from Instagram! You could also throw a party when you get back, or send out announcement cards. Have a bit of a script ready to go when you both let friends and family in on your big surprise.