Elopement weddings are gaining popularity every day, and for the right reasons.

You don't have to deal with the stress or financial commitment, but that doesn't imply the preparation is simple. Finding the ideal location and trying to make it unforgettable are complex tasks. Unlike large weddings, there isn't a pattern for how an elopement day should go.

Courtly has streamlined the procedure and provides some inspiration so you may design a wedding day that's all about you!

What is an Elopement Wedding?

Elopement is typically used to describe a marriage that is arranged suddenly and covertly. Typically, it involves a hasty departure away from one's home with the intended spouse with the goal of being married without parental consent. Elopement is in contrast to abduction, in which neither the bride nor the groom has given their consent (for example, bride kidnapping).

Nowadays, "elopement" can refer to any small, low-cost wedding, even if it is carried out with parental consent.

Is Eloping a Good Idea?

"Elopements are a terrific opportunity to stay out of the convention," claims Mavinhouse Events.

Eloping is ideal for couples who want to spend their money on more significant items or value experience above a lavish wedding.

Most eloping couples yearn for a day that really captures their union. They are cool couples that cherish an authentic experience they will never forget. They are aware that these memories aren't the result of what they did or didn't have on their wedding day. It is about the time spent together and their ability to express their love for one another.

Is Eloping Popular Among Couples?

With over £10 billion in annual revenue in the UK alone, the wedding business is bigger and more overwhelming than ever. It is hardly surprising that more and more couples are thinking about eloping as wedding gowns get more expensive, hen and stag weekends get more luxurious, and social media pressure to have the perfect wedding grows. 

With the advent of vacation elopements, many young couples want to get as far away from the pomp, pressure, and customs of weddings as they can.

Things to Consider Before Eloping:

Sometimes it is more challenging to decide precisely what you want to accomplish when there are many options and choices. Here are the things to consider before eloping:

  • Think with your heart, not your head, about where and how you want your elopement marriage.
  • Decide the number of guests to invite to your elopement.
  • Discuss if you need an elopement planner or other vendors with related services.
  • Research the legality of your elopement and the required paperwork.
  • Set aside your budget.

What are Some Benefits of an Elopement Wedding?

Elopement weddings are now popularly acclaimed owing to the less hassle and strings attached than big, fat traditional weddings. Here are some benefits of elopement:

  1. Elopement weddings are less stressful.
  2. They are distinctive and individual.
  3. Elopements cost less.
  4. Elopement weddings are private, intimate, and unforgettable.
  5. Ditch the wedding day drama with an elopement.
  6. For your elopement, exploring a new destination allows you to go someplace fascinating.
  7. Elopements are more environmentally friendly.

How to Plan your Elopement Wedding

We discovered that elopement planning is not a straightforward, sequential procedure. It takes place in phases. There are several routes to the peak, just as there are for most mountains. Courtly found the following ideas worthwhile if you are planning for your elopement wedding.

  1. Set up a vision board.
  2. Pick a location and date.
  3. Finalize the photography and other services like styling, officiation, florists etc.
  4. Make travel, lodging, and other activity reservations.
  5. Purchase your dresses and other accessories.
  6. Arrange for the paperwork and other legalities.
  7. Make the announcement!

How Much Does it Cost to Have an Elopement Wedding?

While elopements are less costly when compared to traditional weddings, they still include the ceremony and officiation costs, your attire, and any activities you wish to incorporate. Costs for elopements range from $500 to $15,000 depending on the kind of elopement experience the couple wants.

Unique Ideas for your Elopement Wedding

The best thing about elopements is that they come without rules. Be yourself and implement as many unique ideas as you want in your elopement wedding. Courtly picks a few unique ideas:

  • Paddling or riding a boat
  • Stargazing or sightseeing
  • Having a private meal catered for you and your close friends or family
  • Dog sledding or snowmobiling
  • Biking and/or fishing
  • Taking a hot air balloon ride
  • Picnicking or setting a campfire

What Does an Elopement Wedding Look Like?

On the day of your elopement, you and your optional guests will meet your officiant at the location of your choice or online in the case of an online marriage. Your officiant will start the private, brief ceremony as soon as you're ready. You'll be able to say your own vows and hear the words your officiant has chosen for you to say in front of your spouse. 

Following the ceremony, you and your officiant will sign your marriage license, after which you get married! Congratulations!

What Are Some of the Best Places and Destinations to Have an Elopement Wedding?

If organizing your wedding makes you anxious, we know the most incredible locations for elopements.

Start the motor of your automobile and get your shoes ready. Check out the picturesque, exotic, and exclusive locations for a lovely, stress-free destination elopement below:

1.       Mendocino

Mendocino is a coastal community with a settlement perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific. It is well-known for its breathtaking ocean vistas and Victorian mansions in the New England style.

2.       Ærø, Denmark

Ærø is one of the most gorgeous places to elope. Its soft, rolling farmlands, stunning sea vistas, and peaceful ancient villages offer picture-perfect backgrounds for nuptials.

3.       Tulum, Mexico

You will have abundant photo opportunities with the well-known Tulum Mayan ruins, gorgeous turquoise cenotes, and unspoiled beaches.

4.       Masai Mara, Kenya

Richard Branson's Mahali Mzuri is the ideal location for intimate weddings. At the same time, his opulent South African safari property, Ulusaba, is excellent for huge weddings.

5.       Andes, Peru

You can choose the traditional Arac Masin or Andean wedding rites in one of the revered Inca locations, such as the well-known Machu Picchu ruins.

6.       Seychelles

This oasis on the Indian Ocean is a romantic paradise. To get married in Seychelles, you must check into a hotel a few days before the ceremony and bring your birth certificates with you.

7.       Maui

The dazzling cerulean waters, extraordinarily smooth golden beaches, swaying palm trees, and stunning sunsets at Makena Cove Beach make Maui one of the most beautiful locations on Earth.

8.       Fiji

The South Pacific's wedding capital is Fiji, according to lore. Although getting to Fiji requires a costly trip, the all-inclusive elopement packages offered by resorts on its 300 or so islands can help you recoup some of your costs.

9.       Harbor Islands, Bahamas

On Harbor Island, you may exchange rings while gazing over the crystal clear, dazzling blue sea as your feet sink into the pink sands.

10.   Sierra Nevada, USA

Elopements in Las Vegas at the last minute are famous, and for the right reasons. To obtain a marriage license, all you need to do is ask respectfully. That's all it takes.

How to Obtain a Marriage License after an Elopement

Couples may use Courtly, an online marriage platform, to complete the entire process online from any location. A valid US marriage certificate may be obtained painlessly, without any paperwork, and in most cases, in less than 48 hours.

Our concierge will assist you in getting your license by utilizing our safe ID verification method. To ensure everything is prepared for your big day, we'll review everything for ambiguities and coordinate with the authorities.

Skip the bureaucracy and headaches. Get married with Courtly and we'll coordinate with the authorities for you. Courtly ensures your online wedding is a smooth and enjoyable process!

What Documents Do You Need to Register for Your Wedding? 

You simply need to submit a marriage license application. Other details like your home address, parents' names, and places of birth must be provided, but you are not required to submit proof of either.

You will need to present some kind of identification, such as your passport or driver's license, to obtain the marriage license. For this service, you don't have to be a citizen of the US. Anyone around the globe can order a marriage certificate from Courtly online.

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An elopement is a brief ceremony that typically lasts only a few minutes. The couple is the center of attention, and magic is being created around them. There is usually no wedding party present or a procession down the aisle. It's just you and your significant other. Courtly keeps the process short, sweet, and swift.

Let us handle the paperwork.

Getting married is complicated. Courtly simplifies the process and provides everything necessary to get married online, including providing a licensed officiant who can perform a remote ceremony.

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