The lowdown on elopements vs. weddings

Its no surprise that more and more people are moving away from traditional weddings and towards elopements, but why is that? Among other reasons, cost plays a large role in deciding. The Knot claims the average cost of a traditional wedding in the United States is $33,900. That is a STAGGERING number considering the average salary for someone age 25-35 is less than $50,000. Can you imagine spending roughly 66% of your YEARLY income on one day? That is compared to the average elopement cost of $5,000-$15,000, depending on how fancy you want to get. Okay, last number I am going to throw at you for now, thats 44% more money in your pocket to go on an epic honeymoon, or start your lives toether. Let's breakdown what it actually means to elope and then you can decide if its right for you!

Elopements:


  • More personal- with just the two of you, or even a couple dozen, you get to choose the people in your lives that you want to share your day with.
  • The vows- it is really hard to stand up in front of a hundred people and keep things personal. When you elope, there doesn't have to be any microphones, no live streams, no officiant who has to read your name to get it right. You can be yourselves and tell each other what is truly on your heart. Let the tears flow or whisper those inside jokes no-one else would understand, Its okay, it will stay between us.
  • Locations- While the number of traditional venues out there is not a small one by any means, when you choose to elope, the world is your venue. You are not locked down to a venue based on the number of guests it can entertain. You get to chase a view from a mountain top at sunrise, or a beach at sunset. You could choose somewhere truly meaningful to the both of you or somewhere you have wanted to cross off the bucket list for years. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Weddings:


  • Family Oriented- If you have a big family or lots of little ones, this may be a good option to make everyone feel included. Family is a huge part of who we are and you may chose to let them know how much they mean to you both.
  • Guests- If your goal is to orient your wedding around your guests and really make them feel included in your once in a lifetime occasion, then a traditional wedding may be the way to go.
  • Location- If you have elderly or disabled guests that you want to include in your day, a traditional wedding venue would typically be more accessible to them.
  • Staying close to home- When you have a large guest list, it makes sense to stay closer to home to make it easier for them to attend and still be able to sleep in their own beds.


It all comes down to you...

When you think back on your wedding 10, 20, 50 years from now, what do you want to remember most? The way your husband looked when he saw you for the first time in your dress, the hike up the mountain in the dark so you could watch the sun come up together for the first time as a married couple. Or will it be the people you had surrounding you when you said your vows, or the friends and family who traveled a long way to stand by your side on this momentous occasion? There are no wrong answers here and not everyone willl have the same opinion, but what I will say, is that no matter what you choose, this day will happen once in your life and its oh so important to be there and be present. Be there mentally and soak up every second. 50 years from now, it won't matter that the caterer was late, or that the flower girl spilled fruit punch on her dress, but it will matter that you have memories you can cherish.