7 Major Differences Eloping vs. Traditional Weddings

Are you stuck in the middle between whether you should elope or have a traditional wedding? It is a constant question in the minds of couples thinking about eloping, but whom feel obligated to have a large “normal” wedding. Here are the 7 major differences between eloping vs. traditional weddings to make your decision easier!

First off, let’s start with why you may choose to elope?

A big wedding may not be for you if you want less stress, family pressure, or having to deal with the tedious process of putting together a huge wedding between working with the venue and numerous vendors. The worst part is it often feels as though a huge wedding is for everyone besides yourself.

Elopement vs. Traditional Weddings: What is an elopement?

The real question is what is the major difference between eloping vs. traditional weddings, as many people are not exactly sure what it means to elope nowadays.

An elopement is a small, intimate gathering, or an adventurous day spent between just the two of you, in which you create a full day spent the way you want, honoring your love in an authentic way. The choice to elope opens up endless possibilities when compared to a traditional wedding.

Eloping allows you full range to create a day to remember, one focused on you as the couple rather than the guest experience. Throw the norm out the window and choose to get married on your own terms. Isn’t that what marriage is all about anyways?

Choosing to elope opens the possibility to craft your dream day, one in which you get to spend the day celebrating the love you have for one another while doing exactly what you have dreamed of.

Additionally, there is nothing better than remembering your wedding day as an authentic version of the love you have for one another. Plus, you will get awesome wedding photos and video far different than the typical slow motion montage, like one of a traditional wedding film!

What does it mean to “ELOPE”?

The definition of elopement is to have an intentionally intimate, authentic wedding experience where the focus of the day is spent on the two of you rather than everybody else.

For more information on choosing to elope, check out 5 Myths About Elopements or 19 Reasons to Choose to Elope Over a Traditional Wedding.

7 Major Differences Between Eloping vs. Traditional Weddings

Eloping gives you the chance to …

1. Create a full day rather than just a few hours of excitement.

An elopement is all about choosing the perfect day for you and your partner. Thus, your day is full of excitement from the time you wake up, until you go to bed.

Unlike a traditional wedding, elopements are filled with only moments you are looking forward to. A traditional wedding is full experiences that may not be so glamorous, like walking around to all your distance relatives or the stress of following along a timeline.

While elopements do follow a timeline, you are more than welcome to adjust as you go. If you decide you do not want to do something on the day, you can just move forward. The day is yours, thus you can choose exactly how to spend it.

2. Celebrate your love for one another in your exact style that reflects who you are as a couple.

One of the most important parts of your wedding day is to represent who you two are as a couple. In fact, the traditional wedding may be the best choice for some, many it is not.

Think about it this way. Your big day is about you and the celebration of the two of you joining your separate lives into one. So, why would you spend the day of celebration doing something that does not display why the two of you fell in love?

Whether you both love hiking, or spending your days relaxing on the beach, shouldn’t your special day include those activities that you love to do?

A big traditional wedding may represent some, but for others this is an outdated idea that costs way too much money and leaves you feeling incomplete.

3. Create an epic adventure with just the two of you (or a small group of family and friends).

Many think you have to decline celebrating with family and friends when you choose to elope. However, this could not be farther from the truth. If you want your family there, it can easily be done.

The one difference that is true is this: traditional weddings allow for more people to be a part of your wedding day. In fact, it would be impossible to have 150 people attend your elopement. But you can easily include a small group of your closest friends and family to be a part of your elopement.

4. Choose each other over a room full of people.

The best part of any wedding day is to experience it with your partner. Honestly, a traditional wedding does not give you the amount of intimate moments that one can experience if you choose to elope.

Elopements offer you countless time to just enjoy spending time, just the two of you. While you can include your family and friends in specific parts of your day. Thus, you are able to get the best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, a traditional wedding often feels like it is more about your guests, than actually spending time with the one whom you are marrying.

If creating time for intimate moments is important to you, than eloping may be a better option than choosing to have a traditional wedding.

5. Create an intimate experience, rather than a day full of running around saying hi to all your distant family members.

Weddings are filled with running around saying “thank you for coming” to all your distant relatives and friends you haven’t seen in forever. It can be overwhelming and the worst way to spend your special day.

While you may not get to share your day with as many people, you can choose to pick those who have been a huge part of your life. Or you can choose just to spend it with your partner. The choice is yours.

However, choosing to elope creates a more memorable experience between the two of you on your wedding day.

6. Experience over materialistic items.

Ask yourself, do you value experience or materialistic items? An elopement is great for experience, whereas a traditional wedding is more about picking out fancy table decoratives. Many who choose a traditional wedding are only concerned with expensive decoratives, venues, and meals. Think about everything you could do with that money when you use it to create an adventure for just the two of you.

It is all up to you to choose what you value.

However, depending on your answer would determine which option is the best for you on your wedding day.

7. Shred the stress and spend the entire day enjoying it.

Both elopements and traditional weddings are stressful. Let’s be real either one consists of planning and schedules.

Elopements consist of creating a schedule throughout the day, but adjustments can easily be made throughout the day if you want them too. You are typically on your own schedule when you choose to elope. Of course, if you end up renting a boat at certain hours, or have a ceremony planned then you will have less flexibility.

Whereas a traditional wedding is a strict schedule, where you will follow the facility’s plan. There is less room for creating changes on your big day.

The key difference with elopements is that you pick exactly how your day is scheduled. Thus, you have much more freedom to pick and choose, when compared to a traditional wedding. In the end, when you have more freedom you are able to enjoy much more of the day, rather than stress about everything going as planned following a rigid schedule.

The Major Differences Between Eloping vs. Traditional Weddings: Should You Choose to Elope?

The major differences between eloping vs. traditional weddings is dependent on what you are looking for from your wedding. Choosing to elope will be more meaningful, worry free, fun, authentic, and much more adventurous than a traditional wedding.

Elopement vs. Traditional Weddings: Meet Your Elopement Duo

The major differences between eloping vs traditional weddings will determine which one is the right fit for you. Remember, it is your choice on how you decide to tie the knot.

That’s why choosing an elopement photographer and videographer is so important when planning your epic elopement. Elopements can be stressful, but picking a fantastic duo will help you easily plan your elopement and get you back to living your life.

Traditional weddings can take so much time to plan and coordinate. Nevermind all the stress when things don’t go as planned. So, let us take care of everything. We will get you started in the right direction for one of the biggest days of your life.

We believe the best experiences in life are the ones in which you go against the grain. Don’t be afraid to step off the beaten path and say yes to something different!

Ready for the day of your dreams, without all the stress? Great! We are ready to experience that day with you. Let’s plan the day you two deserve together!

We’re Brit and Dyl, and we are ready to be your adventure guides!