A Match Made in Heaven - Why Eloping May Be the Way to Go

So you've finally found the one, the missing piece, your perfect match, and you're getting married. There may not be a more exciting, or stressful, time in your life. But where do you start? Planning a wedding is an enormous, and increasingly expensive, undertaking. There are, of course, the wedding rings. And the dress. The tuxedo. The church rental. The reception location. The caterers. Invitations. Gifts for the bridal party. The rehearsal dinner. Transportation. Oh, and we can't forget the honeymoon. Before you know it, even a small wedding (with fewer than 50 guests) can cost more than $10,000. But it doesn't have to be that way.

A great alternative to a traditional wedding, especially for the non-traditional couple (those entering a second marriage, for example) is to elope. I'm not talking about the old Las Vegas drive by wedding - eloping can be a romantic, thoughtful, classic alternative to a traditional wedding.

There are two primary options for those who decide to elope. The first involves traveling, while the second keeps you close to home. If you have the budget for a honeymoon, I'd recommend you consider the former, and if you're on a shoestring budget, the latter might be a better option.

For those open to traveling, there are dozens of sites that now offer destination weddings. Walt Disney World has an entire subsection of its website devoted to destination weddings (http://www.disneyweddings.go.com/site/gate/index.jsp). The Sandals Resort company also offers amazing wedding packages for people who are looking for a more traditional romantic experience (http://www.sandals.com/general/wedding.cfm). Most of these locations offer all-inclusive packages, including professional photography and videography, so you can share the experience with family and friends upon your return. With a destination wedding, you whisk away on a romantic getaway, and return home happily married. You can save tens of thousands of dollars, and have the adventure of a lifetime in the process.

If you're on a tighter budget, consider picking a special location closer to home. Think about your favorite local spots, call a Justice of the Peace, and take advantage of a "free" wedding. All you'll need to pay for is the JP, and your outfits. You can ask a close friend to serve as the photographer, or, for a few hundred dollars, you can hire a professional to document the ceremony. As an added benefit, you can return to your wedding location for a romantic evening year after year on your anniversary.

Whichever route you choose, plan a celebration with family and friends upon your return. In advance of your wedding, prepare party invitations to mail shortly after the deed is done. Consider hosting the party at your house, if you have enough room. Otherwise, try a local park if the weather is nice enough. A picnic party, complete with bubbles and a portable collection of games (volleyball, bocci, etc.) and an iPod with speakers can make for a tremendously good (and cheap) time. Remember, while a traditional wedding might seem romantic now, midway through planning it, or paying for it, you're likely to wish you had opted for a simpler, more intimate experience.