There’s a trend developing in weddings, something that I’ve noticed in the past few years that has evolved over the past 20 years since I was appointed a marriage celebrant, and that is … weddings are becoming smaller, more intimate and unique. In fact, in 2019 I officiated at more elopement weddings in Queenstown than weddings with guests! More and more couples are choosing to elope to Queenstown than ever before which isn’t surprising when you evaluate the many reasons behind their decision.
Over the past few years, I’ve asked couples what their driving force was to choose to elope to Queenstown and so the following information is as a result of some of the response they have shared with me, and they are in order:
1) A “Just Us” Experience
2) Authenticity
3) Intimacy & Intention
4) Less Family Drama
5) Valuing Experiences Over Stuff
6) Less Stress & Anxiety
7) Too Much Planning
8) Not the Center of Attention
9) Life Is Meant to be An Adventure
10) Amazing Photos
Let’s look at the top 2 reasons:
A “just us experience”. Overwhelmingly, this was couples first reason to elope as they want to experience a totally intimate wedding experience just for the two of them. A day that was truer to who they were and what they wanted—a “just us” experience.
An elopement creates a magical, intimate way for couples to make their wildest, most romantic dreams about their wedding day come true without asking them to sacrifice a single, intimate moment between the two of them.
By eloping, these couples said they were free to melt into each other, focus on each other, and celebrate their love in an uninhibited way that made the most sense for them.
No regrets, no stress, no pressure, no distractions—just two people committing their lives to each other.
Authenticity by this they meant for both the actual ceremony and for their true authentic selves. For these couples a big wedding didn’t feel authentically them.
For so many couples, a big, traditional wedding isn’t an honest, true reflection of who they are or what they want, and that’s OK.
Just like it’s OK to want to have a big, traditional wedding, too.
The point is, everyone is different, and everyone deserves to be authentically themselves on their wedding day and to have a day that feels right to them.
When you elope, you start from scratch. Eloping means your wedding can represent who you actually are as a couple—you can go on a hike with your dog, take a mini-road trip, stop and soak in the views, or end the day by turning on your favourite song and dancing under the stars.
Because, at the end of it all, your wedding day is about the two of you— about the love you have for each other and the life you’re going to build together.
“We didn’t want to lose the magic”.
Your wedding day should be the truest reflection of who you both are.
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