What Exactly is an Elopement?

Have you ever wondered what an elopement is? Maybe you’ve heard of them before.

They’re those things where a couple sneaks off to get married in secret without anyone knowing right? WRONG!

They are now some of the most fun, creative, and thoughtful wedding experiences a couple can have!

So what exactly is an elopement then? That’s what we’re here to find out today, let’s dig into it!

What an Elopement Isn’t

In the past an elopement meant that a couple would run off in secret, usually as a last minute thing or at least with very little planning, in order to get married. This usually was done in cases where there was no chance of parental approval, or if the marriage would have been frowned upon for other reasons, hence the secrecy.

We’ve come a LONGGG way since then though, and while an elopement definitely still can be a marriage where a couple runs off in secret, that is far less often the case!

I also want to make a point that, in the past the consensus on this style of elopement was that it was done only by selfish couples. This couldn’t be more far from the truth. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making your wedding day what YOU want it to be! It is YOUR wedding day after all! 

What is an Elopement?

So what do elopements look like nowadays then? An elopement is a small and intimate wedding day where the couple is the main focus of the day.

According to this Simply Eloped article, an elopement can include up to 20 guests, though usually they are much smaller and can even just be an intimate day between the couple alone!

In the past elopements usually had very little planning go into them, now that is much less the case. There’s still on average less planning involved than with a larger wedding, but not always. That’s really the beauty of these celebrations though. Their small scale and intimate feel allows for the couple to create a wedding day that looks like WHATEVER they want! Let me show you what I mean.

What Can Elopements Look Like?

Large gatherings aren’t for everyone. Not everyone likes to be the center of attention, especially in front of a huge crowd of people. If that’s the case, why spend $30,000+ on a party that you don’t even want to have in the first place? That’s where the beauty of elopements comes into play! You can make your elopement day as simple or as intricate as you want.

Want to get married at a courthouse, then take family and newlywed portraits in a nearby park, and end the day with a private dinner? That’s exactly what Katie and Anand did! Their day is just one example of the possibilities of eloping, and believe me when I say the possibilities are endless!

What’s Needed for an Elopement?

There is far less planning that is required for an elopement, though this will depend some on what your day entails. The main things you’ll need for an elopement include:

• Taking Care of the Legalities (Marriage License, Officiant, and Witnesses)
• A Photographer
• A Space for Your Ceremony
• Any Vendors that you Want

Believe it or not that’s all you need for an elopement, though I’m sure you can see from this list just how much room there is for creativity!

Want to have an elopement out at a cool Airbnb? Go for it! I wrote a whole article on planning an Airbnb elopement and how fun they can be!

Have a love of flowers and want to go all out on your bouquet? Hire a florist to create the perfect floral arrangements for your elopement!

Want to have an after party with some of your closest friends and family? Reserve a space in your favorite bar or restaurant to get together!

How to Make Your Springfield Elopement Fun

Now that we’ve covered what an elopement is and is not, I wanted to go over some ideas for my Illinois couples that are interested in the idea of an elopement for their wedding day!

If you’re looking to keep things on the simpler side in terms of legalities and focus on celebrating after you’re legally married, I recommend having your elopement at the Sangamon County Courthouse.

Here are three different couples of mine who got married at the courthouse:

• Jazmyn + Jake
  • first look at portraits at the Illinois Capitol Building, then ceremony.
• Serena + Cody
  • courthouse ceremony, portraits at the Illinois Capitol Building, then celebrated with drinks & cake at The Wakery.
• Danielle + Ben
  • first look at the Illinois State Capitol Building, courthouse ceremony, and had a reception with their friends and family at Arlington’s!

As you can see from their days no two are alike. This just shows how unique elopements can be.

For more info on planning your elopement at the Sangamon County Courthouse check out my article on the topic!

What else is there in Springfield for your elopement though? For starters, some pretty awesome vendors aside from yours truly! Some incredible florists include:

• Peach Moon Florals
• True Colors Floral 
• Locust Creek Flower Farm 

For a fancy night out with just you and your boo check out:

• Luminary  
• VELE
• Curate

And for a night out celebrating with your closest friends and family I recommend:

• Finley’s Tap House
• Obed and Isaac’s
• Boone’s Salon
• Mariah’s Steakhouse & Pasta

Now that we know exactly what an elopement is, and why they’re so freaking awesome, you may be thinking of making your own wedding day an elopement!

If that’s the case and you’re in need of a photographer to capture your day be sure to send me an inquiry!