Why Elope & How to Easily Elope | Yosemite, Grand Canyon, & Epic Elopement Guide
Why Should We Elope?
If you're in on the trends right now, you probably already know that eloping is a big thing!
Why?
Eloping gives you the chance to spend your wedding day with the one that matters most - your partner.
So many people get caught up in the wedding setup, decor, florals, everything that is involved in wedding days. It gets stressful sometimes, especially if you feel like you need to invite everyone and your guest list hits 100+.
When I got married back in 2016 I went through the same process. It was really difficult to make my guest list. I wanted to invite everyone, but I wanted to keep it small. It started with just close family, and then it turned into extended family, and then it turned into my extended family's family...
I get it. I've been there too.
In the end, we eloped and I am so glad that we did. Having that day just between the two of us was something that I really would never change.
How to Still Include Everyone (If you'd like)
Now this isn't to say that you have to disclude everyone. Many elopements actually bring about 10 people with them, giving you the chance to bring siblings, parents, grandparents, your cheerleaders with you.
And guess what? You can have the best of both worlds. We planned to elope between the two of us and then turn around and throw a huge party with all of our closest family and friends.
A lot of couples are choosing to take advantage of the best of both worlds. Elope and then throw a big party later on! In the big party, you don't necessarily have to get married again - you can just say vows or you can not do anything related to a marriage ceremony at all. That already alleviates the need for an officiant and band for the ceremony music.
The huge bonus here - You don't need to feed them!! You don't have to spend thousands upon thousands upon food. Instead, make it what it is - a really big party. Going simple by doing a potluck or pizza is a cheap and totally awesome way to celebrate. You can even just go out to eat and reserve a private room! That way, everyone buys their own food if you really want to eat.
TIP: If you want to avoid food altogether, avoid hitting the meal-times of the day so guests don't even expect food to be served.
Places to Elope & How-To
Eloping is super easy. Don't make it harder than it needs to be! Eloping in state parks is most popular (and most epic). It's super cheap and the Earth is beautiful, so why not?
To elope in parks, all you have to do is go to their website and grab a permit for the day's event. These are usually around $150. But hey, we help you!
Here are some great park choices that are extremely gorgeous:
-Yosemite
-Grand Canyon
-Antelope Canyon
-Horseshoe Bend
-Smokies
-Insert your favorite park here!
Keep us in mind when you elope in a gorgeous location! We're already there!
Have any specific questions about weddings or elopements? Leave a comment below, and I'll be glad to write a separate post on it!