While destination weddings continue to be a popular choice among brides and grooms, so too are elopements, which allows the day to just be about the two of them.
The benefits of today’s modern elopement are plentiful. Since couples don’t have to worry about their guests’ travel plans, they are free to explore lavish and luxurious destinations for their nuptials. Hawaii, St. Lucia, and Turks and Caicos are all hot spots for seaside getaways, while romantic locales like Santorini and Tuscany also make the list.
Many of these places offer all-inclusive resorts, which continue to be a top choice for all destination celebrations, especially elopements. Couples love the simplicity of paying one flat rate and not having to worry about pulling out their wallet for the rest of the trip. For elopements in particular, to-be-weds tend to choose adults-only resorts for a peaceful and relaxing experience.
Whether it’s the sparkling ocean or a scenic countryside, destination elopements often boast stunning backdrops, which limits the need for elaborate décor. Couples are happy to stick to simple floral arrangements and favors, while letting the unique locale take center stage. With that said, one splurge continues to be professional photography. Whether it’s a local professional or a photographer they bring from home, newlyweds are finding it prudent to commemorate their trip of a lifetime with photos of the best quality.
However, just because some choose to say ‘I do’ on their own doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t want their family and friends involved. Many opt to host a casual get-together upon their arrival home to share stories and photos from their celebration. This takes much less planning than a full wedding does and since they don’t have to worry about first dances or cake cuttings, the time is truly spent enjoying the day with their guests.
While courthouse proceedings are still an option for those planning to elope, there’s no arguing the magic and romance that comes with a destination celebration – especially for a couple of adventure seekers. Brides and grooms don’t need to spend a fortune and plan for years to tie the knot – it’s as simple as taking a week away and saying ‘I do.’
Rebecca Hochreiter is the Vice President of Marketing & Customer Engagement at DestinationWeddings.com, the world's leading destination wedding and romantic travel planning company. DestinationWeddings.com has worked with nearly 25,000 couples and half a million guests to plan dream destination weddings. DestinationWeddings.com is one of the award-winning brands in the Celebration Travel Group collection.
