Eloping is the New Trend in 2020

The last few years have seen an explosion in popularity for elopement, but it’s shaping up to be a true mainstream trend as enter 2020, and no wonder.

Couples are looking for romantic and affordable alternatives to the traditional wedding. Elopements aren’t just about bucking trends and being rebellious, as its reputation in the past implied.

Elopements today are more about giving control back to the couple and letting go of some of the old traditions that have made weddings become headaches over the past few decades, such as crazy amounts of event planning, budgeting, and trying to make sure everyone that you’re inviting has a great experience.

In all of this wedding mayhem, no one ever stops to think about the bride and groom to be. Yet, it’s been shown that big wedding ceremonies cause serious stress, and this is more common than you think.

Why is Eloping Becoming Such a Huge Nationwide Trend?

Part of the reason would be shifting demographics. As younger people begin to marry, wedding traditions are beginning to mirror the wants and needs of the current generation.

Nationwide, people are looking for more efficient ways of doing things, and are leaving unnecessary traditions behind in favor of being economical and entertained.

There’s also a practicality behind why elopement is becoming so popular. It can’t be argued that traditional weddings come with a big price tag. Elopements certainly reduce costs by eliminating a lot of the superfluous aspects of the ceremony. Simply the reduced amount of guests can save a couple thousands of dollars.

While the nationwide average costs for weddings continue to hover around the $30,000 mark, elopements are considerably cheaper at around $5000 or less, depending on the type of ceremony and the location.

This is a game changer, especially for millennials, who are already feeling the pressure of a rough job market, crushing student debt, and rising healthcare costs.

While you can’t boil down a wedding experience to its price tag alone, it’s a fact that newlyweds cite financial difficulties as the biggest hardship of getting married, and that financial difficulties are one of the leading causes of divorce.

These facts alone make the prospect of elopement quite appealing.

Instead of dumping tens of thousands of dollars into tuxedos and doilies, a newly married couple could instead invest that money, or spend it on some much needed furniture or down payment on a house.

This kind of pragmatic romance is fueling the elopement trend. Why spend a bucket load of money when you can have more romance, more fun, and more memories, for a fraction of the cost?

The Perks of Elopement

So what really are the benefits of eloping? What are couples ditching the traditional wedding for if it’s not just about money?

I would say money is only a tiny part of the equation, actually!

Elopements can be just as amazing as traditional wedding ceremonies, if not more so. You have more freedom to do what you want, where you want, without the pressures and expectations that usually come with all things “wedding.”

Here are just some of the benefits of eloping:

• More dress options. Less formal means more colors, styles, and options for you (and any bridesmaids you want tagging along!)
• Romantic venues abound. Say “I do” in a botanical garden or cozy urban nook of your choosing. Five-star hotel balconies, historic cathedrals, the middle of the woods or a white-sand beach. Because you’re not shuffling 100 people around the globe, and your costs are already low, you have the freedom to get married wherever your heart desires.
• Speaking of which, there’s much less fuss over catering to friends and family. Elopements are about simplicity and romance. Rather than worrying about if so and so is being picked up from the airport on time or if Aunt Mildred will like the main course selection, you can spend more time and emotional energy on what matters: your significant other.
• Wide variety of entertainment and fun. Typically, a wedding consists of a ceremony and after party at a hotel or similar venue. Elopements however turn this idea upside-down. You can choose to get married in a park and then have your reception at a beautiful downtown restaurant. Maybe you want to spend the night with your partner and you decide you won’t have the reception until the next day. No problem! You can easily incorporate famous bars, city tours, hiking expeditions, local parades, art galleries, picnic lunches, and more into your wedding plans. All at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding hall in many cases.
• Wedding and honeymoon in one. Rather than getting married and then having to cool down on a long flight, why not get married while you’re on the honeymoon! That’s basically the gist of a modern day elopement. You choose the destination, and once you arrive, you can spend your time living it up the second you touch down. You could choose to get married at the tail end of your elopement or kick off everything with the ceremony. The choice is yours, and that’s the point!

It’s clear that there are numerous benefits to getting eloped, so the fact that it’s becoming a nationwide trend is not surprising at all.

How to Decide if Elopement is Right For You

Still on the fence? Talk it over with your significant other and ask yourselves serious questions about how much you want to spend on the ceremony, how much responsibilities you want, and how many guests you are intending to invite.

Maybe elopement is what you’ve always wanted deep down, but are afraid of the pressure from your family and friends when you make the decision. Don’t let that weigh on you, it’s your ceremony and it’s your life. And they will be more understanding than you think if they really support and love you.

At the end of the day, you have to look at what you want out of a marriage ceremony. More and more people are finding that getting eloped simply feels right to them and meets their expectations.