To elope to Vegas

[ChelseeDagger]

DP and I have booked a holiday to Vegas for January next year and plan to get married whilst we're there.

For context we are 38 and 30 years of age, have been together for ten years and have five children. Its not as if we have upwards of 10-15K to throw at a wedding, we'd much rather spend that on the children rather than a big production of a wedding.

Anyway my mum says I'm being selfish. We don't plan to take the children with us and MIL is more than happy to look after them for us for the week that we will be in Vegas.
We will have a party in the summer for the children to attend and to celebrate with family and friends.

As we are eloping we are not expecting wedding gifts obviously.

Our best friends and some of DP's brothers want to join us and have a holiday in Vegas at the same time, at their own expense and attend the ceremony.

I was also maried when I was very young for a little over a year so tbf my mum has seen me have the big, white wedding once already so I don't feel as though I am depriving her of anything.

So come on, give it to me both barrels...

From the lack of response I am going to happily deduce that I am not BU.

If I were I know that would have had my arse handed to me by now

You are not being selfish and your mother needs to get over it.

Me and DH did it and it was fantastic. We got a video for family who wanted to see it and were clear we didn't expect any gifts.

Neither of us are church or attention type people and hated the idea of being centre of attention for something that to us was very personal.

I wish I’d eloped, but I wouldn’t have wanted to do it without my kids......though Vegas is no place for them.

I’d lean toward YANBU and if your mum wants you to have a U.K. wedding she should pay for it

I have some friends who did it your way and loved it

Go For it, Dh and I eloped to Las Vegas 22 years ago and it was perfect for us, we'd already been together for 10 years and neither of us wanted the big traditional wedding and being the centre of attention in a big white dress just isn't me. We got married at the Little Chapel of The West at 8 in the evening, had a stretch limo and a lovely meal in a top restaurant afterwards. I don't regret it at all.
We had such a fab time that we went back for our first anniversary to do all the things we didn't have time for the first time.

Do it! Get married in Dennys and the package includes a tower of pancakes instead of a wedding cake! Some of the chapels live stream the ceremony so your kids / family / friends could potentially watch depending on the time of the ceremony

www.dennys.com/vegasweddings/

Is your mother able / invited to come with you? If so then I think it is ok, but if she isn’t welcome whilst friends and DP’s brothers are, then I can understand her being upset.

Do it! We did it, it was amazing! ❤️

We did it and never looked back!

Your wedding, your choice. I (sometimes secretly) applaud those who have small weddings, wherever they take place.

Well that's a pretty much unanimous MN blessing, I'm touched!

Aprilx My mum can't really travel on a plane, she has health issues with her vascular system which may make this dangerous so she errs on the side of caution, especially long haul.

I'm pleased there are others who have done the same and loved it, it really is my dream wedding and something to look forward after the year we have just had.

I do think it's a bit mean that some friends and family will be there and your children won't, even if they're paying for themselves. How old are they?

None of my children are old enough to enjoy Vegas and I don't think its an appropriate place for them to visit in any case.

My children don't have an issue with not beimg there. As my seven year old DD said 'well none of my friends were at their parents' wedding'
Yes darling that's because they weren't illegitimate, unlike you

Ours was at the Las Vegas kiss mini monster golf chapel. Great day!

Also most places can stream or record it if you want family to see it. I always knew I wanted a Vegas wedding so I loved every moment!

We eloped in Vegas, well an abandoned mining town just outside. It was pretty cheap, we got some really nice photos and none of the stress of a wedding. It was nice being able to just relax and enjoy the day together.

Surely if it's planned it's not eloping, it's a destination wedding? I thought eloping was running away to get married without telling your family until after. Either way YANBU. But your parents are supposed to disapprove, it's part of the elopement experience. ;)

We got married abroad and invited no one, it was an excellent decision.

@NotFabulousDarling

Good point. Its my mother who accused me of eloping, I shall tell her not to be so dramatic in future

I didn't elope but sort of tentatively booked things beforehand and then we ended up married when we got there. Sadly we're divorced now but I would definitely recommend getting married in Vegas. Had after wedding drinks at the Stratosphere. Walking down the aisle with all eyes on me is my version of hell and then some. I do love Las Vegas.

@NotFabulousDarling. I sort of half eloped then. Didn't tell anyone we'd married until we got back home.