Runaway Brides (and Grooms)
Brides and grooms are
running away to get married. Many couples are choosing to go on a vacation or holiday
together to get married, avoiding the expenses and the dramas of a big wedding
reception. In the past, eloping was a second best option, only chosen by brides
and grooms who needed to get married quickly. Now,
beach wedding destinations are the popular choice for couples who want to
elope.
Save Money
The biggest
advantage of eloping is saving on the reception costs. A couple who elopes may
have a lovely dinner at an expensive restaurant to celebrate their nuptials,
but will save money on paying for catering for many family members and friends.
As most weddings cost between $30 and $120 per person, this is a tremendous
saving.
While many
eloping brides still purchase a new dress, it is often less expensive than a
traditional bridal gown, and is likely to be a dress she will wear again to
other parties and events. While many couples still hire a professional
photographer to capture the joy of the day, they’ll avoid other costs like
hiring cars, expensive floral arrangements, and a formal wedding cake. Some
couples will choose to elope and enjoy a simple wedding ceremony and then have
money for a house deposit.
Save Family Dramas
With divorce
rates high, some couples choose to elope to avoid some family dramas or
tensions. If you elope, you avoid wondering how your mother, step-mother,
father, and step-father and all the in-laws will get along together. You won’t
worry about Uncle Lewis getting drunk and making a horrible scene and you won’t
worry that Aunty Linda will make a move on the best man.
Even the best
families can find weddings tense, especially if the bride and groom come from
different backgrounds. Cross-cultural weddings can be particularly stressful as
the couple tries to include customs from two different cultures into the
ceremony and the reception.
Increase the Romance
Some couples
think that eloping is a more romantic way to exchange their wedding vows. This
means that the ceremony is private and the couple can focus on each other,
instead of finding distractions in the crowd and the trappings of the
traditional wedding ceremony. Some couples will invite a close friend or two or
just their parents to attend the wedding ceremony as witnesses, while others
will simply enjoy the day alone together. Either way, a small ceremony without
many people around allows the bride and groom to focus on the romance of the
ceremony.
Enjoy a Honeymoon
Some couples
have financial constraints and have to choose between a wedding and a nice
vacation. The savings
on the lavish reception will allow the couple to combine the wedding with a fun honeymoon vacation to remember for a lifetime.
Elopements
are gaining in popularity as many couples choose to save money by avoiding the
traditional wedding ceremony and expensive reception. By combining the
honeymoon with the actual wedding, couples can enjoy a private, romantic
beach wedding ceremony in a relaxed atmosphere.
While many beach weddings are reserved months or years in advance, there's just something fairy-tale like and exciting about an elopement. We always welcome last minute beach weddings and elopements!
Call Beach Dream Weddings of Alabama to discuss
exciting and romantic beach wedding ideas!
