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|  Pet participation in wedding events is exploding in popularity. The American Kennel Club found that at least 18 percent of dog owners surveyed either have included, or will include, a dog in a wedding ceremony. Muttrimony, that is to say pet weddings, has also been gaining momentum over the last fifteen years! 
Make your day about the two of you, not about the third party guest lists, not about the most convenient location, and not about a something-for-everyone buffet. It may sound romantic to proclaim your love in front of hundreds of people but how meaningful is it when these people are made up of your mother in law's friends, your partner's boss, your cousin's date, or the wedding planner?
Your wedding can be personalized, original, un-formulaic. Or at the very least, not catered to everyone else besides yourselves. Imagine your own backyard or dream destination as the setting; neither of those are too likely with a full set of RSVPs. Speaking of guests, imagine just the two of you committing your lives to each other in the sanctity of each other's company or in front of the few people who mean the most to you. An elopement doesn't have to be totally exclusive; it's just that you actually own the guest list.
There are as many ways to personalize your wedding day as there are ways to get married. Ponder getting married on the top of a ski slope, skydiving, in front of a loch in Scotland, on the beach, or at a surprise party in your own home.
So stop the thought of hiring the meat carver when you're both vegetarians. Getting married is surely one of the best days in your life. Make it the day you want and not the day that your mother in law, parents, bridesmaids, buffet zombie guests, and last but not least, the wedding industry insist upon.
 Reasons To Elope: Wedding Cost
So you don't want to spend that much, can't spend that much, or don't want to pay for 200 guests to get drunk…
When the issue of funding the big day turns thoughts to elopement, it's usually the vision of forking out for a bland buffet and supporting the liquor habits of the guests to blame. Really it's the expense of the entire wedding, in 2005 the average wedding cost $26,327 (according to CNNmoney.com), which makes couples take a step back to look at what the happiest day of their lives will cost them.
With an elopement you can both save money and indulge yourself. For example you could put that money on a down payment for a house and you could have the honeymoon of your jet set dreams.
Reasons To Elope: Ease
Planning a wedding is widely acknowledged to be stress inducing, hassle bound and time consuming. From the infinite decisions to the endless planning, a wedding can take a lot out of a couple. The reasons a wedding can be such a hassle are numerous but here's a taste: setting a date and time-summer, fall, winter, spring, ceremony and reception location - outside or inside, the guest list - be prepared there are several people who will be contributing to this list, choosing the invitations, wedding dress/suit, alterations, shoes, jewelry, hair, makeup, wedding planner, photographer, portraits, officiant/minister, artist, flowers, centerpieces, meal-buffet or formal, bar-what to serve & cut-off limits or not, band/dj, cake décor and flavor, to video or not, cocktail hour music, choosing bridesmaids/groomsmen, vows - traditional or custom, ceremony poem/song/reading selections, ceremony rehearsal, ceremony music, selecting your wedding registry, honeymoon, flights, car rental, hotel, speeches, flower girls and ring bearers, bridesmaids dresses, attendants gifts, guest favors, guest transportation…we could go on, but we think we've made our point.
Reasons To Elope: Family
Where to start…perhaps you are familiar with these types of family issues:
- Non-traditional - several divorces in either or both of your families can leave you with a lot of possibly sticky situations.
- Sometimes your family opposes your marriage or pieces of the wedding like the location, date, or having a bar.
- Family sponsoring the wedding with strings attached.
- Family not contributing but just as vocal and opinionated.
- You or family members are living abroad and may not be able to travel.
- Large size family and extended family can mean a very large guest list.
- Black sheep / embarrassing relative and you don't want them to ruin your day.
Need help telling your family and friends? - click here!
Reasons To Elope: Religion / Culture
You may face opposition from your family and friends on your choice of life partner for religious, cultural, and ethnic reasons. Or perhaps you don't have strong religious convictions but your parents do and expect a religious ceremony or vice versa.
Reasons To Elope: Want to marry quickly
- Totally in love and don't want to wait another second. It can take 6 months to a year to plan a wedding
- Availability - Saturdays book up for wedding services a long time in advance
- Military relocation
- Job relocation - you want to get married before you move away from family and friends
- One of you has an immigration visa issue
- Family/friends already have special occasions (graduations, weddings) booked for same time frame
- You're having a shotgun wedding
Reasons To Elope: Marrying Again
So you know the ropes, it's not your first rodeo, been there done that, you've had the cake and overpaid the photographer. Don't need the family and friends; don't need the hassle; you're older and wiser. Many people entering second, third, etc. marriages decide to elope because they have already had the big wedding and now are interested in a simple ceremony with the person they love.
Reasons To Elope: Want a small wedding
Many people simply want a small wedding. What do you do if your minimum guest list is over 100 people but you always wanted a very small intimate affair? Many people decide to run off and get married on their own and then have a celebration party or dinner either before they leave or after they return. See our celebration ideas in the planning and advice section for more wedding ideas.
click here to read about celebration ideas
Reasons To Elope: Dislike attention
Let's face it…not all brides and grooms want to be the center of attention…and that's exactly where they would be in a guest filled wedding. The reception line, the wedding table, the ceremony, and the constant glances throughout the ceremony from the guests…you get none of that when it's just the two of you.
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