Elopement – Why Secret Weddings Are Trending

Ten to twenty years ago, this article would probably have been titled “Running Away,” but for some time now, getting married in secret has been called an “elopement”—because we’re on the internet now and things need names that sound cool, you know. But no matter what you call it, it remains one of the most romantic wedding options and is absolutely all the rage. We’ll tell you why.

Elopement – As Seen on TV

• Friends
• Gilmore Girls
• The Big Bang Theory
• The Office
• Game of Thrones

All of these TV series featured elopement weddings. The various on-screen couples also showcased different types of elopements: weddings with only the closest friends and family, secret weddings just for the two of them, spontaneous weddings, planned elopements, and so on.

All of these options are available to you, too. This highlights one of the most wonderful aspects of an elopement—everything goes exactly as you envision it. An elopement frees you from all expectations, obligations, and traditional customs. Everything stays small, intimate, and exceptionally personal.

Just the two of us?

There are no specific rules defining what counts as an elopement and what doesn’t. The term refers to any wedding ceremony that the couple holds on their own or with, at most, a small group of people—usually without telling anyone else about it. This means that weddings which must take place without guests due to COVID-19 restrictions also fall into this category. So if you’re thinking about an elopement, the first question you should ask yourselves is: “Do we want anyone there?”

In most cases, at least the best man and maid of honor are present at the wedding ceremony, but you can still get married in a civil ceremony without them. If you want to take it a step further, you can even skip the officiant and simply perform your very own wedding ritual. While this won’t get you a marriage certificate, it will give you unforgettable memories.

Unlimited Freedom

However, the creative freedom of elopement weddings doesn’t end with the guest list. You aren’t tied to anyone else’s schedules or locations—neither your guests’ nor your vendors’. Get married whenever, wherever, and however you want: Fly to Iceland and tie the knot on Black Beach. Hike up Haleakalā on Maui. Find a small, moss-covered church ruin in Ireland. Rent a cabin in Canada’s breathtaking forests or a houseboat on the Elbe. Or maybe you’d like to say “I do” in the Alps as the sun slowly sets behind a mountain lake. In principle, there are no limits to your imagination.

Planned Elopement

Probably because movies and TV shows have portrayed it that way, many people think the romance of eloping lies in its spontaneity. But that’s only partly true. In some ways, a planned elopement can actually be much more romantic—especially because you can then tailor everything exactly to your wishes.

The same goes for the wedding staff. Just because you don’t have any guests doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want any music. If a wedding cake is important to you, then please treat yourselves to one. Perhaps a romantic dinner for two should be part of your secret wedding, and maybe you’d also like to wear beautiful wedding attire at a ceremony under the gloomy skies of the Isle of Skye.

However, all this freedom can also come with a certain amount of effort—which is actually exactly what you wanted to avoid. In that case, we recommend hiring a wedding planner. With their expertise, they can be a huge help with the many small decisions and with the organization.

In any case, even though there won’t be a large group of guests, you should definitely think about wedding photography. Elopement weddings, in particular, offer stunning photo opportunities that will not only serve as a lasting reminder of this wonderful day for you, but will also make your loved ones feel as though they were there with you.