Elopements have come a long way from the spontaneous roots—it’s now a wonderful way for couples to craft a deeply personal and unforgettable wedding experience. With its rise in popularity, more and more couples are asking the age old question: “Should we elope?” I’m here to help you answer that with 6 reasons to elope.

In this blog, we’ll explore the top reasons why Christian couples are choosing to elope. From the freedom to select a stunning, out-of-the-box location to the joy of planning a ceremony that’s all about you, we’ll break down what makes eloping such an appealing choice. My aim is to help you see if this intimate and personalized approach to tying the knot might be just what you’re looking for. Chances are, if you’re reading this, the answer is yes!

As you dive into these reasons, think about whether they resonate with you and your partner. Imagine celebrating in a way that’s authentic to you both—if that sounds like your ideal day, eloping might just be the perfect choice for your love story.

1. Focus on Faith Over Tradition

Christian couples often feel a lot of pressure to ‘wed’ the way others want them to and fall into the ‘trad trap’ as I like to call it. This is the idea that we are meant to have a public ceremony and that anything other than a traditional wedding is some how taking away from your family and from the expectations God has for us. A wedding is the uniting of two souls with God at the center and as Christians we want our day to reflect that!

Choosing an intimate or even totally private elopement can truly allow you to step out of the ‘trad trap’ and create a wedding day that is centered around your faith!

Including faith centered elements to your wedding day can enrich your experience and is just one of the many reasons to elope. Think of having a intimate prayer sessions, scripture readings, or personalized vows centered around your faith. You can even include things like worship time by bringing a portable speaker and a custom playlist. The ways in which you can customize your Christ-centered elopement are truly endless.

2. Cost-Effectiveness and Stewardship

Choosing to elope can be a total game-changer for your wallet, and it’s a super savvy move for many couples! Let’s break it down: while the average traditional wedding in the U.S. can set you back around $30k to $40k (yikes!), an elopement usually costs around $10k-$16k. That’s a HUGE difference!

Think about all the fun things you could do with those extra funds. Instead of shelling out for a massive venue and a lengthy guest list, you could use your budget to make your elopement day truly unforgettable. Maybe you’ll splurge on an epic honeymoon in a dreamy destination, invest in a top-notch photographer to capture those magical moments, or even treat yourselves to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Or, heck, do them all!!!

Eloping gives you the freedom to spend your money on what really matters to you and gives you the opportunity to be a good steward of the funds you’ve been trusted with. It’s all about creating an experience that’s uniquely yours, without the stress of traditional wedding expenses. So, if you’re ready to save some cash and make your wedding day super special, this is another one of the great reasons to elope.

3. Freedom to Choose Unique Locations

When God is your focus and getting married in the beauty of all He has created for us is your heart, eloping is the answer! Traditional weddings can be super limiting when it comes to choosing your dream spot. You’re often tied to conventional venues, which means you might end up in a ballroom or a banquet hall that’s just doesn’t speak to your soul. Plus, with a big guest list, you’ve got to pick a place that’s convenient and can handle a crowd, which can really cramp your style and take away from your overall experience.

But guess what? When you elope, you’re totally free to choose a location that brings you to your knees before Him! Imagine saying your vows on a secluded mountaintop, by a hidden waterfall, or even in a cozy, off-the-beaten-path cabin. With no (or just a few) guests to worry about, you can go for that dreamy, out-of-the-way spot that’s totally your style. The freedom to pick a place that truly resonates with you and your partner makes your elopement that much more special and personalized. A place that makes you want to worship!

So, if the idea of escaping to a unique, stunning location sounds like your kind of wedding day, eloping is your golden ticket to making it happen!

4. Flexibility with Timing

Eloping gives you total flexibility when it comes to timing, letting you ditch the stress of coordinating everyone else’s schedules. You can plan around what’s most meaningful to you—whether that’s the perfect season, stunning scenery, or a special date that matters to your relationship. With no one else’s calendar to worry about, you can pick that dream location during peak beauty, like a golden fall forest or a wildflower-covered mountain. Plus, you have the freedom to get married on a date that feels personal, like an anniversary or a day that holds deep significance. This flexibility makes your elopement experience that much more intimate and fulfilling, because it’s all about you two, without the extra noise.

Reminder: some elopement locations will have accessibility limitations like limits on guest counts, and possible yearly closures. Not all locations will be open all year and being confined to someone else’s schedule might keep you from choosing the location you really want because it’s snow packed on the date you’ve chosen! The flexibility of an elopement will allow you to shift your date to a time that works with the environment and is one of the many reasons to elope.

5. Sense of Adventure and Trust in God’s Plan

If you’ve got a strong sense of adventure, eloping can feel like stepping right into a leap of faith, trusting God to guide you both as you begin your marriage. The beauty of an elopement is the spontaneity and excitement of leaving behind all the traditional expectations and stepping into something uniquely yours. Without the stress of rigid plans or timelines, you can lean into the journey, trusting that God has a perfect plan for your future together. Whether it’s hiking to a mountain peak, exchanging vows by the ocean, or just finding a quiet corner of the world, the experience reflects your faith in His guidance and in each other. It’s not just about the wedding day, but about starting your marriage with trust, adventure, and faith, wherever He leads you.

Your elopement could take you on an unforgettable journey to a meaningful or remote location, making it a true reflection of your trust in God’s providence. Whether you’re hiking to a mountaintop, exploring a hidden forest, or heading to an unknown destination, the experience becomes a beautiful symbol of your willingness to step into your marriage adventure with faith. Every moment feels intentional, filled with purpose, and centered around the belief that God is guiding you both, wherever you go.

As if these 5 reasons to elope haven’t been enough, let me give you one more!

6. Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

This is the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime experience right? Like, you’re never going to get married again, so the pressure to do it right the first time is high! Choosing to elope is choosing you, and your partner and God above all else.

As Christians we know this is it, we’re only doing this once, and doing it in a way that is authentic and God-centered is really the only option. I want you to do something for me…close your eyes. I know, it’s weird just trust me. Close your eyes and imagine yourself 20 years from now, 30 years from now. You are still madly in love, chasing each other and God together. Think about your wedding day. Do you remember the flower arrangements? The DJ? Probably not!

You know what you will remember though? The way you felt! The moments you shared together. The way you held each other. The little moments you took for yourself. Now, imagine that being your whole experience. Not just little stolen moments on a busy overpacked wedding day, but an entire day built around intimacy and seeking each other. Let that be your driving force, what do you want to remember when you look back telling your grandkids about how you and Pops got married.

The think about traditional weddings is they will always be busy, jam packed, and centered around the experience of others. You can’t really avid that with a trad wedding. It is not selfish to choose a wedding day that is all about YOU! Especially when you see marriage for what it really is, A Once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you should treat it like one too!!

What now?

Truth is there are so many more reasons to elope, and to name them all would take years, but these 6 really feel bigger. Somehow they stand out among the rest, especially as a Christian. If I could go back I would choose an intimate elopement just like what we’ve dreamed up here. A day for just me and my husband standing before God somewhere tucked away in the trees and the wild.

If this resonates with you and an elopement is weighing on you but you’re not sure where to go from here, look no further. I am here to guide you, answer your questions, and work it all out with you. Eloping doesn’t mean your suddenly alone in the world, rather I will be there to be all the things you need me to be! I work with couple JUST LIKE YOU! I help them create and live intimate meaningful experiences and get married in the way their heart has desired all along.

There’s really only one reason not to elope…because you choose not to.

It’s that simple, if reading this didn’t feel like you, and you want a trad wedding you are still valid and deserve the day YOU desire!

It might seem like a straightforward choice, but deciding between eloping or going all out with a big traditional ceremony is huge. Everyone will have something to say about it (yep, even me!). At the end of the day, the only voices that matter are yours and your partner’s. This day has to feel like you. Don’t get caught up in what’s trendy or cave to outside pressure. Make your decision because it’s what you both want, and own it. This is your moment—make it count by choosing what feels right for you.

See ya next time!

No matter witch of these reasons to elope resonates with you, eloping is such a beautiful way to focus on your faith, your relationship, and the adventure that lies ahead. At Oathbound Elopements, we’re here to walk alongside you every step of the way. This journey is all about your story, and I’ll be there to capture the meaningful details, guide you through the process, and make sure your elopement day feels true to who you are as a couple.

Let’s craft a day filled with purpose, intention, and adventure—one you’ll remember for the rest of your lives. Ready to take that leap? Oathbound Elopements has your back.

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