Elopement stories

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Anyone eloped and would care to share their experiences? DP and I are trying to decide between a small ish wedding and just eloping the two of us, plus our baby daughter. We've found a lovely looking elopement venue in Scotland and in many ways this really appeals, but I worry I might regret not having family there. My mum was v diplomatic and said she'd be happy whatever we do but I still can't decide. We'd probably have a meal with family and friends after but it would be very low key as neither of us wants a big party/dancing.

I guess my question is, if you eloped were you happy with your decision?

Yes we were happy with our decision.
I wasn't bothered about getting married I definitely didn't want a large wedding.
We went on (holiday) to Cyprus with dd and my niece.
Got Married and came back home 2 weeks later
We were home about a week before my sister asked why I was wearing a wedding ring 🤣🤣🤣

I’m all for couples having the wedding they want but I would be hurt if I was excluded from such an important event in any of my childrens lives. I do think there’s a real power in making promises to each other in the presence of loved ones even if it’s just a few people.

Yes we did. Also in Scotland but I live here.

We had a big wedding planned but it got out of control. My family are massive and treat weddings and funerals as family reunions, his family are all divorced bar one auntie and all hate each other.

My family blew the guest list by insisting we invited great great aunties cousins by marriage etc and his family did the whole “I’m not sitting beside her, I’m not coming if he’s coming” thing and everyone had an opinion on dresses and flowers and menus and venues and we just realised this wasn’t for us and we were doing it to please them so we eloped.

No dresses no flowers no catering no expensive venue and no nippy guests. 17 years later and I still don’t regret it. A marriage is about two people. The rest is just faff. Do what suits you both

We did! And have never regretted our decision. It was amazing. We married in Edinburgh City Chambers. We got an Airbnb in the city centre, had the photographer and her dad as our witnesses. After the wedding and photos we went and got changed, the weather was great so we went for a walk, few drinks, lovely meal and then back to the apartment. Its was all about us and it was perfect

We did it. It was perfect but we're an older couple and it's a second marriage for both of us. We found it totally joyous. We could concentrate on each other. No stress about guests being happy or menu choices, allergies to contend with and all those other details with a big "do". We have no regrets.

We actually did have a big party afterwards at the weekend. Hired the hall at the local social club, put on a buffet and a local Ceilidh band then a dj and invited everyone.

Kids were welcome so anyone who didn’t want to leave their kids wasn’t excluded, anyone who wanted to bring relatives of 18th century ancestors could 🙄everyone could wear what they wanted, eat what they wanted, come and go as they wanted without expense and most importantly they could choose who they spoke to and didn’t, who they sat beside and didn’t and none of it became my problem.

It's not your wedding, you don't get to dictate. It's also your opinion, don't expect others to feel the same.

My niece recently eloped. First anyone knew was when she shared the photos (beautiful forrest and country house in Scotland - we live in Scotland). They had been together 10 years, had a 5 year old child and was THEIR decision. It looked beautiful and they were so happy. I heard my brother and SIL were not happy- so what, it's not their life, and I think their expression of unhappiness was very unfair. DN doesn't give two hoots thankfully- we're definitely cut from the same cloth.

When DP and I get round to it we'll rock up to the registry office in our jeans for a civil partnership (both married before and only want this to protect legalities). Different strokes for difficult folks.

Ha, difficult folks was classic Freudian slip! Different folks 😅

We eloped. No regrets.

All of our siblings had traditional weddings.

Twenty years later we are the only ones still married.

Thanks for sharing all these stories, really lovely to hear such happy experiences.
@Thistooshallpsss I respect that point of view but I also think different things suit different families. My mum's mum took over her wedding day and I know she wishes she'd been free to do what she likes and my dad is pretty anti social anyway so I suspect they would support us. Other relatives might have something to say but that's less important, plus we would definitely look to have a meal with them to celebrate, it just wouldn't be an actual wedding with all the bells and whistles!

I could have written this myself.

we had the big white wedding all booked and planned. It was getting very stressful with all the family politics. Fast forward to about a month ago, all suppliers cancelled and wedding called off. Spoke to my parents about it who kept saying just run away and get married.
little do they know that is exactly what we are doing. We have kept our original date in December and are travelling up to Gretna Green (never been before) just us and out little boy. We’ll call everyone when it’s done. Suit hired, dress from next no fuss. We’ll spend 2 nights there and then we are going to Edinburgh for the Christmas markets and some ice skating.
I honestly, cannot wait!