5 Reasons to Elope
A lot of couples have a hard time deciding between the traditional large Wedding with extended family & friends or a tiny, intimate elopement with just the people you hold closest to their heart, or even just them and their partner. I have such a love of both Wedding styles, and there are many pros and cons to both depending on you as a couple and what suits your style the best. Today I am going to focus on the latter, so here are 5 reasons why I think you should Elope (especially to Skye/the Highlands!).
SAVE MONEY AND TIME
One of the biggest differences between a classic Wedding and an elopement is the money! Weddings can easily grow arms and legs, especially in terms of guest lists, and without being careful can become a very big expense. Choosing an elopement generally forces you to decide who you really want present as you get married, which can make it all the more special for everybody involved as well as saving you money on multiple factors – from the invitations right down to the accommodation and meals on the day itself.
Time is also a big factor – you may already have a busy lifestyle or possibly just feel totally overwhelmed at the thought of all of the hours you’ll need to spend decision making, contacting people and organising for the months leading up to your Wedding. Elopements take a lot of this stress away from you as they are generally quicker (and easier) to plan than big Weddings and can be totally catered to you as a couple!
KEEP IT INTIMATE
This leads onto my second point – keeping it intimate. Eloping makes your Wedding day ALL about you and your partner – the focus is completely on what you both love and you are able to make it as fun, romantic and personal as you like! It may sound strange but it can be easy for a Wedding to become less about the couple & their love story, and more about the whole experience – especially with a big guest list! This will be exactly the kind of event that suits some couples, but for those who crave a more lowkey or intimate occasion an elopement is definitely the way forward.
When I say an elopement can cater completely to you, I mean it! The opportunities for locations, food and even what you wear become more relaxed and you can have a lot of fun with every aspect. It also becomes easier to make your vows and the ceremony itself feel more personal and intimate as you won’t have a big audience watching. A lot of couples can find it quite intimidating to write & say their own words, but with an elopement there is usually a much more laid back, romantic feel to the day as you are really just focused on each other and the love you share.
SCRAP OTHER’S OPINIONS
Choosing to elope somewhere away from home completely takes away the opportunity for other people to have an opinion on your Wedding day. Weddings are well known for coming along with their fair share of outside voices and/or family drama – which is completely normal but understandably not how some couples want to begin their married lives together!
If you want to avoid the potential drama you could quite simply just not tell people you are going away to be married, or just tell the select few who you know won’t add stress to your day. I love that you really can make your Wedding so low key, with minimal fuss, yet still have the most incredible day and create those special memories with just your partner.
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE
The main reason I love the idea of an elopement is because of the chance it gives you to explore and make memories somewhere completely new, or to return to a place that already has meaning for you as a couple. Options for your Wedding location become so much greater when it is just the two of you - or a select few - that you need to plan for. In the Highlands, and Skye especially, there are so many incredible spots that would make such beautiful backdrops for your ceremony!
Some of the most popular locations for elopements on Skye (and rightly so!) are:
- The Quirang
- The Fairy Glen
- The Old Man of Storr
- Loch Coruisk/Elgol
INCREDIBLE PICTURES
This follows on from the point above – exploring and discovering new places is bound to come along with some amazing photograph opportunities! Skye especially is well known for its stunning landscapes and hidden gems, so it’s no surprise that all of the elopement pictures I have seen have been nothing short of breath-taking. These will be nothing like your traditional Wedding photographs – they will be wild, free and will focus on you and your partner having fun and uncovering the beauty of your chosen location.
Many photographers specialise in Elopement photography, and I would really recommend you choose someone who not only knows the location and takes the right style of pictures for you, but who you really resonate with and who makes you feel inspired and comfortable in front of the camera. This will make all the difference to your final photographs!
Daisy x
