5 Reasons People Elope

There’s a common belief that people elope because they want to marry in secret. There’s a common stereotype of young people marrying, despite their parents being completely against the marriage.

However, that’s definitely not the only reason people elope. There are many reasons and it could be one of the best ways you get married. It really will depend on your feelings, your family, and your budget.

So, here’s a look at five reasons people elope.

Their Parents Don’t Want Them to Marry

As I’ve said, this is certainly one of the most commonly considered reasons. I still remember an episode of Coronation Street when Leanne and Nick Tilsley married by eloping at Gretna Green. Their parents were dead-set against it, so they just did it anyway.

The view is that once their married, their parents can’t do anything about it. It’s not like they can force them to split up. Legally, they’re in a union.

I’m not saying it’s the right way to deal with these types of things, but it is a reason people elope.

They Want to Do It Privately

Some people want to get married without a huge affair. They’re not bothered about the big gowns or the flashy cars. All they’re bothered about is the person they’re saying “I do” to.

Rather than deal with inviting hundreds of people (and end up with some people upset that they didn’t get a wedding invite) they choose to elope. It’s quicker and easier, and they can have just a couple of people as witnesses.

This isn’t that they want to hide their marriage or prevent arguments. They just want to keep it low-key and basic.

They Don’t Have the Time

Not everyone has the luxury of waiting a couple of years for a wedding venue to be available. They want (or sometimes need) to get married right now. So the best option is eloping.

This can depend on your location. There are still legal steps to take and not everyone will be able to get married on the day they turn up to the church. However, eloping is certainly the quickest option for those who are short on time.

Short of time could be due to military deployments, work commitments, or terminal illnesses.

There Isn’t the Budget for Anything Else

Having a tight wedding budget can make a good wedding seem impossible. However, it is possible to have an amazing day through eloping. There’s no need to pay for a large wedding party and you can keep the costs of transport and food to a minimum.

Even the costs of the wedding venue can be kept to a minimum.

Of course, you can also do this through the registry office. There’s no need to have a lavish affair. For some, even just turning up at the registry office to sign the papers is viewed as eloping, though.

They Don’t Want to Deal With Difficult Family

Mother of the bride is demanding that her cousin Gloria that the couple has never met attends the wedding. Father of the groom expects his uncle that nobody knew about until a week ago gets an invite to the whole day affair. Sister of the bride is annoyed that her new boyfriend doesn’t get to be her plus one or that her partner’s children (who she only met the other day) isn’t getting to come.

And then there are the family members not happy about the venue. There are those who sneer at the bridal gown or don’t want to turn up to dress fittings.

Honestly, trying to organize a wedding is hard work. It’s the couple’s day, but everyone else makes it about them. It’s no wonder that some people just decide to screw it and elope, is it? Of course there’s the fall out afterwards, but it is a way to stick two fingers up at those who were demanding something you didn’t want!

There are plenty of reasons people elope. It’s not because they’re being childish or because they want to make life difficult for their parents. They want to get married to the person they love, without the stresses or expectations of everyone else.