What is and how to perform an Elopement Wedding?

Have you ever thought about getting married in a dream setting, intimately and spending much less than a traditional wedding? Know that this is the proposal of the Elopement Weddingor “marriage for two”, which for some years has been winning over different types of couples from all over the world – we already tell you why.

The term, in English, does not have a literal translation, but refers to the idea of ​​“running away and never returning to your point of origin”. Thus, it describes marriages that took place suddenly, or even in secret. How do you explain Val Lima, ceremonialist and event producer at HV7 Cerimonial, the Elopement Wedding has its origins back in the 18th century, and at first it was an expression used to classify marriages disapproved by traditional families, which caused the bride and groom to flee their place of origin, with the purpose of of marriage. The years went by and the idea gained new meanings and, nowadays, it is used as a popular way of defining exclusive ceremonies for the couple, without the presence of other guests.

Read More: 14 Brazilian beaches more beautiful than the Caribbean to get married

To better understand the concept or even decide for the ceremony, Val Lima🇧🇷 Fernanda Sarkissconsultant and wedding specialist at SENSES Cancun and betta limawedding advisor at Betta Lima Eventos, tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about Elopement Wedding.

Who was it made for?

The Elopement Wedding is like a mix between the mini wedding (party for few guests) and the so-called destination wedding (when the couple decides to celebrate the union in another city or country). In this way, it is indicated for those who wish to exchange rings in paradisiacal places, in a romantic and very intimate way – with the possibility of already taking advantage of the scenery to enjoy their honeymoon. The modality is also a great idea for couples who are already married and want to renew their vows in a creative and memorable way.

Betta Lima explains that, as most marriages performed abroad are not valid (legally) in Brazil, it is necessary for the couple to also perform the civil marriage, or at least live in a common-law marriage. When opting for Elopement, it is worth remembering that, along with the bride and groom, it is recommended the presence of a person to celebrate the wedding and read the vows. Finally, if possible, the ideal thing is for a photography professional or that photographer friend to accompany you on the trip, to capture your best moments.

What are the most requested destinations?

For Fernanda, Cancún, Mexico, is a good choice for having beautiful natural landscapes and excelling in infrastructure. Still on the international route, interesting places like the Maldives Islands (in Asia), Fiji Islands (Oceania), Thailand (Asia), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and the region of Tuscany, in Italy.

In Brazil, beach spots usually make couples’ hearts beat faster. Think of places like Ponta dos Ganchos, in Florianópolis, the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (PE) and Trancoso, in Bahia.

Why is it worth it?

In addition to the romanticism factors, a unique experience in a sought-after location and a guaranteed honeymoon, the main advantage of Elopement Wedding is cost savings. Because it doesn’t need much infrastructure to be carried out, nor does it have other guests in the planning (that is, in addition to everything, you won’t need to pay for food and drinks), it allows the couple to enjoy the destination as they prefer, including sightseeing.

“Getting married in Brazil, having a party for more than 200 guests, for example, is very expensive. We have seen that many young couples want to escape the traditional church wedding, so this is a very attractive option to have a wedding full of stories to tell, beautiful photos and also very romantic”, Betta opines.

After all, how much does an Elopement Wedding cost?

The answer to this question is relative, as it involves the same expenses that the couple would have with a vacation trip, for example. Then, you should think about tickets, time you will spend in that city, accommodation, food, wedding dress (if applicable)… Val believes that, with R$ 30,000, on average, it is possible to have an Elopement Wedding that meets the needs of the lovebirds. Betta explains that, with the help of a wedding consultant, who deals directly with the suppliers, these values ​​can drop a lot. For a wedding in Cancún, for example, Fernanda assumes that there are Elopement-style ceremony packages starting at $449 (around R$1640).

Planning

An Elopement Wedding should be organized three to five months in advance of the travel date – this way, the couple will have enough time to define accommodation and tickets, among other things. If the desire is for the ceremony to take place on a very specific date, time and place, the ideal is for the wedding to be planned for a whole year – always checking the availability of the establishments and making the necessary reservations. For more sudden ceremonies, with the help of specialized companies it is possible to organize everything in a very short time (about 15 days). Oh! First of all, checking passports is essential.

Val recommends that the choice of wedding date be made very carefully, thinking about possible unforeseen events, such as changes in temperature and interference in the couple’s privacy: “The weather forecast in countries with a tropical climate is not an easy task, since the seasons are unstable. However, as it is an outdoor event, one should avoid times when there is naturally a higher rainfall. Research well what the climate is like in the city where the ceremony will be held. The privacy of the Elopement Wedding is the great differential, so it is recommended to avoid peak seasons, such as December, January, February and July”, he suggests.

Fernanda also advises hiring an agency specialized in events of this type, as a way to facilitate the whole wedding planning, in addition to guaranteeing safety and practicality for the couple.

Now all you have to do is pack your bags!