Eloping

[Jesssr]

Good morning.
Due to COVID disrupting our wedding day we have decided to elope.
We really downplayed the idea as we were both pretty disappointed not to be getting the wedding we had planned.
Our 'wedding day' is now two weeks away and I feel a bit deflated that we're going to let it pass in relative silence.
It's a statutory service lasting 10 minutes, just the two of us and two random witnesses. We'll drop our DC at nursery that morning but my OH is thinking of going back to work in the afternoon.
Hes going to wear a suit and I'm wearing a simple white dress and I'll be 25 weeks pregnant.

Has anyone got any suggestions on how we can make it a bit more special without making a big deal of the day? We're keeping it a secret that we've even gotten legally married until we have a proper 'wedding'.

Where are you eloping to? Are you even allowed to travel at the moment?

Why the urgency? You sound really deflated about it. Why not leave it until you can have the wedding you want?

We eloped and the best part was choosing a great location.

When you say "two random witnesses" - have you prearranged two people? Hopefully yes and it was just a turn of phrase!

It sounds quite romantic in a way, just the two of you running off to get married. A secret just the two of you (OK and the registrar, witnesses) know.

I have been a witness at a pair of friends' statutory service and the registrars try their best to make an occasion of it even if it is in the actual office (and even if the couple clearly are just there for the paperwork :D).

Why not spend the afternoon together - nice lunch, wander round somewhere pleasant, take some photos just for the two of you.

Btw I hear New York is fine with people getting legally married there if they're already married to each other so there's that too...

You sound so sad and deflated. Call it off and re schedule for this time next year and have a proper wedding. No need to rush.

I’m getting the feeling this is very much second choice? Why don’t you wait and have the day you dreamed of. If you do elope I’d hope you spend the rest of the day visiting/going somewhere really special to you both. Something you will remember fondly.

quick wedding now - great party when covid is over !

DH and I eloped...it was an awesome day, wouldn't change a thing. I had hair/make-up done properly and had a photographer to capture the day...both ladies kindly agreed to be our witnesses too.

I felt sad reading your post as it is clear you feel disappointed, and rightly so. For me the point that sticks out is your OH going back to work afterwards. Is there a genuine, unavoidable need for that? Can he not spend the rest of the day with you? I know it is hard to plan going anywhere now because of the restrictions anywhere, and I am not about to suggest you spend the day dtd back in bed as you are heavily pregnant, but if you can, try to talk him out of going back to work and just spend the day together, go for a walk somewhere beautiful if the weather is kind, or make a special dinner and get all dressed up, anything, but just be together. You can talk about your real big day so you have something to look forward to.
Good luck, and check back in to let us know how it went