Why Couples Running Away Together
Elopement normally happens to troublesome teen couples. It
includes not only the traditional form of eloping, where you
head down to the local justice of the peace, but now, many
couples are tying their knots in many exciting,
out-of-the-ordinary ways.
Most couples will have a day dream and start with exciting plans
of a romantic, enjoyable traditional wedding. They dream up wild
ideas for creating a memorable event to start their lives
together. And then... reality hits. Family members dabble their
fingers in the minute details. For example, Aunt Jan offers to
sing her favorite love song, in operatic voice, while you want a
cellist and pianist. In addition to your family intrusions, you
can see your bank account and maybe your parent's as well,
beginning to plummet from all the essentials that make a wedding
successful. Estimates put the average American wedding in the
$20,000 to $25,000 range. And since 30% of couples end up paying
for their own wedding, this can often mean the difference
between having a memorable one day event and having a down
payment on a home. Plus, coordinating everything... from
photographer, to location, to dates, to relatives, becomes an
increasingly painful experience.
Other factors have also played an important role in couples who
elope. The average age of marrying couples has slowly risen
since the 1950's. This has led to couples who are more
independent and not as worried about pleasing parents and
friends when they tie the knot. Also, due to high divorce rates,
many second marriages lead couples to opt for smaller, more
practical ceremonies. It also seems, in general, that social
pressures have lessened in regards to non-traditional weddings.
Some couples find they have lived together for several years,
and finally decide they just want to legally consummate their
relationship. In fact, a large portion of elopers, some
independent statistics show up to 75%, actually plan their
weddings months in advance. This is much different from the
common perception of an instant, spontaneous wedding... which is
often how we see elopers portrayed on TV and in the media. If
you have hit that point, where you are tired of all the
stressful planning, all the schedule juggling, and all the money
draining from your account, then maybe it's time to stop. Relax!
And think about the other wedding option... eloping.
It seems that eloping is not a romantic idea at all. It is a
wedding strategy that can lessen your stress and give you a lot
of fun memories to share others.