What Is an Elopement? Everything You Need to Know

An elopement is just another legal way to get married — something intentional and built around the two of you, without the bells and whistles of a traditional wedding.

That's it. No running away. No secrets. No courthouse by default. Just two people choosing to get married on their own terms, in a way that actually feels like them.

It's Private

An elopement is intentionally small. Whether it's just the two of you or a handful of your closest people, the focus stays entirely on you — not a guest list, not a seating chart, not a plus-one negotiation.

What matters here is the two of you and making the day about you. It is not being selfish, but it is prioritizing you and just keeping it intentionally small and making it an experience you will remember for your life.

What Is the Difference Between an Elopement and a Traditional Wedding?

A traditional wedding is largely designed around the guest experience — the venue that fits 150 people, the menu everyone will enjoy, the timeline that works for the reception. An elopement flips that entirely. Every decision is made because it means something to you. The location, the time of day, the vows, what you eat after — all of it yours.

Where Can I Elope?

Anywhere that calls to you.

Atop a mountain — Mount Rainier, the Dolomites, the Great Smoky Mountains. Alongside a beach in the Caribbean, Big Sur, or Hawaii. In the red rock canyon country of Moab or the vast open landscapes of Utah. Or even in an elegant courthouse like San Francisco City Hall or Chicago's City Hall — both architectural masterpieces in their own right.

While there are some restrictions on where a ceremony can legally happen (we'll cover that in a separate blog), the place is entirely what calls to you.

Are Elopements Legal or Just Symbolic?

Like a traditional wedding, an elopement can be completely legal. This is done by having an officiant perform the ceremony — even if it's just the two of you present. Depending on the state or country, witness requirements may also apply.

Some locations do require the legal paperwork to be completed at a courthouse or government office separately — in which case your elopement becomes the meaningful part: your vows, your location, your photos. Both are valid. Both are real.

Need Help Deciding?

Whether it's a traditional wedding or an elopement, it marks a new beginning to your life. If you have questions and need help deciding whether to elope or not, or need help planning one, send me a note and I'd be happy to help you.