Eloping is gaining in popularity!
Why is this?
Now more than ever couples are eloping………often 6-12 months ahead. Its not the young, wild couples parodied in films and stories of the past but responsible, successful, intelligent young couples….our sons and daughters! A very large percentage of these couples have given the ceremonial act of marriage a lot of thought. They have considered a traditional ceremony but when they looked at the overall picture, their plans changed radically. They decided that the act of getting married is about the two of them. Sure they understand that it also joins two families and two communities of friends but the ceremonial act of getting married is about the two of them and their commitment to one another.
From a purely practical point of view, eloping normally saves on expenses. The hideously expensive ‘wedding production’ costs are avoided. Family expectations are also avoided especially the aunties reading or singing or a doting mother being married again albeit vicariously.
A change in societal attitudes has also contributed to the increase in eloping couples. Well over 60% of marriages are conducted by celebrants now and the days have long gone when the only place you could have an elopement marriage ceremony was at a Registry office. With more and more second marriages now, couples who had the ‘big wedding’ first time round, have lived together for many years, are now wanting to make their final commitment to one another and are opting for no fuss, simple, sincere and meaningful ceremonies with two witnesses and the celebrant.
Today, many people are time poor, and this combined with one or more of the other factors drives couples to choosing to elope. An arranged weekend away to get married seems infinitely more achievable to a young professional couple or a busy couple working in their own business. The organization is minimal, with much being able to be accomplished electronically. Locating a ceremony venue, supplying documentation to officiant or celebrant, collaborating with the celebrant or officiant on ceremony matters, and arranging transport and accommodation, The couple have traded the associated massively time consuming, organising trials and tribulations, the stress, the inflated prices charged for weddings for an exciting, romantic, unforgettable and very special life experience…..getting married, but doing it their way by eloping!
If expenses were not a primary factor in choosing to elope, an exotic location as a ceremony venue may be the choice. It could still work out to be more cost effective in the long run.
Gone are the ‘Gretna Green’ days, when you can decide on the spur of the moment to elope and just do it. In Australia couples have to give the legally required one month and one day’s notice like everyone else does to get married. Its a sort of ‘cooling off’ period. A good law in reality. In the USA eloping laws vary from state to state.
More often than not the eloping couple choose to have a simple ceremony with the most sincere wording conveying the authenticity of their thoughts, wishes and hopes for each other as they enter into the next phase of their lives. Such a ceremony captures the true essence of who they are and of what they are doing with no perceived distractions. No family expectations, peer pressure, inflated costs or reception speeches to think about etc
The eloping ceremony is not where their marriage starts and stops. Indeed, there is often a flurry of SMS’s, phone photos and phone calls after the ceremony and a celebratory gathering is almost always arranged after the couple return home. Their milestone event is celebrated and their romantic unforgettable experience is relived and shared with their families and close friends.
To learn more about the ceremonies for eloping couples………..
http://www.renewalofvows.net – renewal of vows ceremonies
http://www.thevowsbook.com – a compilation of wedding ceremonies
http://www.spiritualceremonies.info – spiritual ceremonies
http://www.weddingvows101.net – a compilation of 101 marriage vows & gay commitment vows
http://www.2ndmarriageceremonies.com – ceremonies for couples who have been married before
http://www.gaycommitmentceremony.net – commitment or wedding ceremonies for gay couples
http://www.ring-vows.com – ring vows to accompany the ring ceremony
Article navigation