I'm eloping!

Last night my boyfriend and I decided that we are going to try to elope by the end of the year!    We want to do something memorable and cheap with just the two of us - maybe a Vegas wedding, maybe somewhere else.  We're totally open.  Does anyone have any ideas for us?  If we do, do a Vegas wedding does anyone know how to search for super cheap travel packages?  We're in the mood to just call in sick to work one day and take off.

Any advice about how to deal with family? I'm sure my parents and siblings will understand but I think my grandparents will be upset (he is not close to his family so I doubt they will be upset).

Congrats! me and my fiance are eloping also ,vegas isnt really our style so we chose the cresent hotel in hot springs ppl been getting married there since the 1800's and the marriage packages are cheap,500 for the cheapest ..

so theres no real way around upsetting the gp's ,just make sure granny gets some pictures of you looking happy and im sure they will get over it,specially if you explain how you are broke..

good luck ,may bands of angels guide you through this path called life.

Oooh that sounds nice - Vegas really isn't our style either.  I just want to get out of Minnesota and do something very different.  He'd be happy just going to the court house but I want to make a bit of a big deal out of it :)

Original Post by alle0299:

Oooh that sounds nice - Vegas really isn't our style either.  I just want to get out of Minnesota and do something very different.  He'd be happy just going to the court house but I want to make a bit of a big deal out of it :)

Just out of curiosity, if you want to make, "a bit of a big deal" out of it, and you know that eloping will make some part of your family upset, why choose to elope?  Why not get married in a small wedding with a few special guests?

There's not necessarily anything wrong with the plan to elope, but based on what you're saying I couldn't help but wonder why you chose to elope instead of a more traditional path.

Lots of reasons...  First, and foremost, both of us hate being the center of attention.  I would dread every aspect of being a traditional bride.  Second, the cost, we're buying a house in the spring and don't want to spend a lot on a wedding.  Third, family drama, I have a big complicated family and there is always a lot of drama when all sides get together.  There would be no way I could invite a few special guests without someone getting upset they weren't invited.  I want to avoid that.  Also, my immediate family (parents, brother, sister), know I will choose this route and fully support me doing anything that would make me happy.  Finally, I'm a strange person who hates weddings - I don't like attending them, I don't like all the sappy things that happen.  I don't want to hear clinking glasses, dance to cheesy songs, make small talk with people I don't really know, accept gifts from all kinds of people, plan for it, choose bridesmaids and groomsmen, wear a wedding dress... I could go on and on.  Aside from making some extended family members happy, there is not a single attraction for us to having wedding. 

That's awesome. My beau and I were going to do the Sandals resort thing. They are offering awesome flight/resort package deals and if you stay so many days they will give you a free standard wedding...you just pay the government administrative fees. You get to stay there for about a week. But then again, I'm not sure when hurricaine season ends but probably by December.

Anyway, we ended up deciding on a local Michigan wedding but keep it kind of small. Also, it's in February so we're getting awesome prices and incentives. But then again, we still have to pay for the honeymoon.

I saw Vegas weddings as low as $49 when I was looking....I think people elope in Lake Tahoe too.

Do yourself a favor and go to the library...they do have books on eloping and bargain weddings. I've got a few checked out myself. Congrats and good luck!

I typed the search 'best places to elope cheap' Tons of sites popped up you can hit from your computer.

Congratulations!

Thanks for the tip trendstudent!  I did the same thing bagga, that's why I'm asking - the amount of information is overwhelming :)

Awww!  Congratulations!

I have no advice.  I did a big outdoor wedding with a country club reception.  That's what I got for allowing our parents to get involved.

Good luck!

Hey there,

I am a mom and I wouldn't care about how my kids got married.  i think using money on long term things is much better than blowing it all on one day.   Who you choose is much more important than the ceremony

First of all congrats and I wish you all the luck. I dont have any info regarding cheapest chapels that will do it but for flight info its good to go through priceline or orbitz those two give the cheapest deals, priceline you can also negotiate flight prices which is really good b.c you can get it like $50 cheaper. If you need rental car info dollar.com is giving city discounts on certain models right now, or you can just go through orbitz or priceline. (Im going to vegas this october so I have been working all  angles.)

what about going down to city hall and spending the money on a kick ass honeymoon?  just a thought...  depends on how badly u want it to be religious or not.  but then again, i'm from the common-law marriage / civil mariage capital or north america, so...

I got married in June, and it got so stressful that in the end we both wanted to elope.  The wedding worked out (small and a good party), but the wedding is for you, the party is really for everyone else, so do whatever you want.  Take lots of pics of you and your fiancee/husband being happy, have a dinner party or something when you can, so that your parents and grandparents can feel like they are part of the action.  They'll get over it.

My grandparents eloped and my mum said that I could do whatever I wanted (including eloping), so I totally could have gotten away with it.

they can do in room ceremonies as well (in vegas), if you wanted to spend at least one or two nights in a nice room. thats what we (or maybe i) would want to do. actually there are new fancy luxury suites at the the... the...venetian (i think) for $199. they are sweet!

Thanks for all the great tips and well wishes!

juleroo - My bf would like to do the city hall route, but I want to be able to look back and remember something really special.  I doubt we'll go on a great honeymoon simply because of us buying house. 

rnjt - I didn't know they did that.  That sounds way more our style - super intimate without any gawkers around :) I'll have to look for more info on that.

I am also planning to elope next year. I found this neat little place in Eureka Springs Arkansas ( which is only 4 hours drive from us) It is fairly inexpensive, $449 for the wedding/cottage package. This includes everything, including having a professional photographer take all of the pictures ( which I think is awesome) This may not be the spot for you, but maybe something similar, colorado or somewhere like that? I really like the idea of a romantic cottage where it's just the two of us, NOT 5 million people everywhere.... Check out this site, maybe get an idea....

Hidden Acres

I eloped in Vermont.  I think the marriage liscense was $35, and no blood tests like they require in MA where we lived at the time.

The justice of the peace that we found on line met us at the small bed and breakfast where we stayed for a few nights.  We were married out behind the inn, the only witnesses were the JP, our 10 month old daughter and a half dozen free-roaming chickens.

We sent out announcements that we had eloped that included a photo and an invitation to a "reception" about 6 weeks after.  It was just a big backyard cookout with a rented tent and lots of wildflowers.

Also, if you think you may go the romantic cottage/ cabin getaway route... Read the reviews! ( obviously for any place you are thinking about staying) I looked up Hidden Acres and found nothing but perfect reviews! People especially loved their pictures, the photographer there apparently does an amazing job.

Whatever you decide to do, hold a reception at a park or some other free place, so that you can include friends and family in the celebration.

My parents weren't present to my wedding and it broke their hearts...only because I think they would have stood up when the preacher said "If anyone objects..."  Did I say stood...they would have jumped to their feet... 

I did have a small outdoor reception in the following weeks and that worked well for everyone. 

BTW Good luck and congratulations.

maybe I'm wrong...

But what I got from the OP is she doesn't want anyone there at all. I don't think she wants any kind of party or reception....