It’s no secret that while weddings can be beautiful and the traditional way to celebrate a marriage, they can also be a strain mentally, financially, and emotionally. If the idea of a wedding scares you or stresses you out, consider these reasons to have an Elopement instead!

1. MONEY! It doesn’t grow on trees (unfortunately). It’s no secret that hosting and putting together a wedding can become extremely costly, even before you set the date!  According to Nerd Wallet, the average price of a wedding is $33, 931. That’s a HUGE chunk of change, and for many reasons you might find it more appealing to use that money elsewhere. Maybe furthering your education, taking a dream vacation (or honeymoon), or putting a down payment on your first home make more sense to you. Regardless of your reason, by choosing to elope you  get to decide what’s important to you, and how you want to prioritize the money you spend!
2. Stress Free. Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful tasks you encounter in your life. The anxiety of the process can place a negative impact on the relationships you love and cherish.  Elopements definitely require some planning, but instead of struggling with a seating chart, you get to sift through epic locations, plan amazing adventures, and make sure your day is entirely about you! The focus moves from worrying about making all of your friends and family happy and solely to what is important to you and your partner.
3. No gown needed. Maybe the most stressful part of the entire wedding planning process: saying “yes” to the dress. It can be a wonderful experience that dreams are made of. Or, for those indecisive folks (me!), it can be downright terrifying. Sure, you can wear a gown to your elopement if you really want or you can wear  a t-shirt and blue jeans, it’s your choice! The beauty of eloping is not being constrained to the tradition of a wedding, as long as you and your partner are comfortable in what you are wearing you can avoid the stress of picking out the “perfect’ dress and focus on the beautiful milestone you are crossing.
4. Intimate Setting. No matter how much you emphasize being in the moment at a wedding, it is nearly impossible for you and your partner to be completely focused on each other. There’s too many schedules to follow, too many people to talk to, and not enough one on one time. Eloping is intimate, private, and unforgettable. Imagine sharing vows with the person of your dreams and nobody to distract you from each other. You can have an amazing experience and have plenty of time to be present and enjoy the day with your partner.
5. A venue with character. Not to say that there aren’t plenty of beautiful and unique wedding venues, but a traditional wedding does restrict the venue you choose in several ways. There needs to be adequate seating space for the ceremony with tables large enough for food during the reception. And is it even legal to book a wedding venue without a dance floor? What if the venue booked is too big and hosting a smaller party makes it look empty? By choosing to elope, you can select a venue with more potential for variety and not have to worry about these restrictions. Why not tie the knot in a historic building or landmark, on top of a stunning mountain scape, or at the base of a courthouse? And to top it off, there is no dance floor needed, you and your partner can dance anywhere you’d like!

No matter what you wear or where it takes place, as long as you and your partner share some beautiful memories of getting married, an elopement can be a fantastic alternative to a traditional wedding. Either way, whatever choice you decide on, I would love the opportunity to take part and document your day! I’m the type of photographer to laugh with you, cry with you, jump for joy with you; I will fully immerse myself in the experience you deserve to have and provide you with stunning photos of your special day.

Check out these gorg courthouse elopement photos taken in Downtown Tampa ♡

If you vibe with these photos and the idea of any kind of elopement or wedding let’s work together! Below you can inquire or read more about me on my website ♡

If you’re interested in seeing more of my work, be sure to also check out my instagram!