Eloping isn't for everyone...but then again, you're not "everyone"!
( A Light-hearted look at tradition.)
The Elopement Test
Did you find "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
to be really funny, but there would be no way that you would EVER endure an
hour (or so) of wedding ceremony with all those people staring
at you?
Are you shocked over the the high costs
associated with having a traditional wedding?
Do you want to avoid all that planning stress, the endless amount of "harmless suggestions" from future in-laws, the fighting with your partner over the guest list, food options, napkin patterns, gift registries, invitation and program stationary, wedding vendor choices, disagreements over bridal party membership, dress colors and costs...and the list goes on and on and ON! (sigh) And of course your future husband is trying to help...and making things worse! (Typical guy...you just gotta love him! Nobody else will...)
Do you know someone for whom the
planning for their special event stopped being "special", and
became instead the subject of a commercial for Rolaids or Red-Out eye wash?
Do your fear that the two of you are
just going to end up like those figures on that expensive wedding cake, with
painted smiles?
Or worse, becoming prime candidates for anger counseling before you even get to the alter?
Stop!
Did you know that 50% of traditional big wedding veterans wish they'd privately taken their vows? Or that not a single eloper wished that they'd had a big, traditional wedding? (from "Was Your Wedding Normal" in the July 2004 Redbook magazine.) More and more couples are voting with their feet, opting out of the stress and expense that walks down the isle with you on your wedding day! If you are feeling this way, feel no shame: you are in good company. Elopements are romantic, personal, and leave you financially intact.
So what does this page mean for you?
I would like to offer encouragement for this choice, should you feel inclined to elope! I'm in the wedding business, and I see all kinds of situations develop over wedding issues. I've even had one couple that called me the day after their wedding to ask me not to file the license! The vibes got so bad over the wedding planning that they ending up hating each other, but didn't know how to tell me or the 275 guests that they were in trouble! (Feel free to ask me how that one turned out!)
The point here is that it's often politically unacceptable for you to do anything besides what is considered "normal". After all, the people pressurizing you just want to be part of the (free) fun! And human nature being what it is; a little pressure, manipulation and coercion later, and you are completely miserable. You just want to scream!
Remember, those that matter don't mind, and those that mind don't matter! (Dr. Seuss)
You can skip all the stress, tension, and family discord by escaping to a very romantic resort or B&B on the quiet seacoast, especially in the off-season...just the 2 (4 or 6) of you! It's intimate, it's romantic, and it's not going to put you in debt for 4000 years!
You really can have a small and intimate wedding getaway. Just take a deep breath and make that decision! Escape without guilt... we can always find some witnesses for your marriage license right on the beach!
Even though you
are considering the "backdoor method" to getting married, you can still announce your
wedding to the
world in creative ways!
You can send an "after
the event"
announcement card to everyone. You can send them
photos of your wonderful ceremony on the beach...(if we are your photographer,
we can e-mail digital
pictures to
the folks who weren't there). You can promise to have a big celebration party bash at some later, future point
in time.
( Maybe much later....)
So spend some time looking over the links on this website...I put them there to help you plan your wedding. Or feel free to contact me for ideas.
(I'm not just a member of the Incurable Romantics Club.. I'm it's President!)
The Old Geezer Wedding Minister.......
