To Elope or To Not Elope

You could combine the ideas and do a small destination wedding with just your closest friends and family.

View Quoted Comment Ooo thank you! We keep talking about going to Tahoe but with our small budget we can only find places where chairs aren’t allowed

If you decide to elope and have a celebration later, don't keep it a secret, just call it a vow renewal or celebration of marriage. There were a lot of posts pre-COVID about people who kept it a secret and their guests were really upset about it.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! We might do that when he’s home to alleviate stress and still do a family thing

View Quoted Comment Do you think it would be weird to do it the same year?

View Quoted Comment

No, I don't think that would be weird. We went to a friend's reception the year that they eloped - it was nice to go and be able to celebrate their marriage.

View Quoted Comment Awesome, thank you! We are thinking of having the celebration with everyone in September and that still works well!!

I definitely was leaning towards eloping doing a quick get away in Miami renting a beautiful house with just a few friends, but then COVID And lock down happen and then it felt better to do something to bring families together, but in all honesty after all the expense .. I still wished we would have kept our original idea.

View Quoted Comment That’s kinda also why we’re leaning to either side. His family is a lot sometimes, so he’s stressed with the thought of having them there. I’ve heard a lot of people say they wish they had eloped

View Quoted Comment At the end of the day it’s whatever will keeps you smiling when you go back to see those pictures

View Quoted Comment Thank you!

Hi Mackenna my son is also in the military he is in the army he had gotten married in vegas. And they had gotten married in a chapel and he had about 30 to 35 guest. The chapel was very nice and it was a wedding. He wore his military dress uniform and she had a beautiful wedding dress. And she has MoH and bridesmaids her father walked her down the aisle. And after took pictures and then we to a restaurant for the reception. So you can have a wedding if you both choose to have one and have close family and friends to come celebrate with you ever you choose. Congratulations to you both

View Quoted Comment Thank you!!

View Quoted Comment Your more than welcome

Im in a similar situation! I see how happy my friends are when they gey married and have a small church wedding and are surrounded by family and close friends. But I wouldnt have a wedding with lots of people if you arent close to them. When my mom got married she invited relatives she didnt really know or like, and she says she regrets it 25 years later. You guys are buying a house and saving up for essentials. Most of the time you have to pay a guest fee (average like $50-200 per guest. So you guys should just do something private and intimate for now then maybe later down the road have a vow renweal or reception! Hope this helped!

You could elope with your parents as witnesses, and have a small dinner "reception" afterwards or something of that nature! Eloping doesn't have to mean *nobody* is there, but there is nothing wrong with a mirco/mini wedding! Actually, a ton of destination venues do super inexpensive micro/mini weddings. The resort we are getting married at (Finest, Cancun MX) does 20 people for $1,200.

View Quoted Comment It does, thank you!!

View Quoted Comment That’s so awesome, thank you! We would probably elope in Tahoe and then do a park wedding or something later down the road. I’m in CA and most of our guests we want there can’t travel unfortunately.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!! He and I are talking about doing a civil ceremony when he is next home and then our wedding with everyone in September of next year. Would it be weird to have the September wedding be our anniversary?