Weddings: Five Great Reasons to Elope

After going through my three sisters weddings, and seeing all the heartache, pain, confusion, arguing, just for one day of bliss, I decided to elope when I got married. I have heard so many wedding disaster stories over the years I wonder why anyone would ever want to go through that. Let's take a look at five great reasons to elope and say bye bye to that big lavish wedding!

Mom and Dad-

What would a wedding be like without good old Mom and Dad deciding who, what where and when. Come on, you know it's really like that. The first thing out of their mouth is "Anything you want honey, it's yours". Yeah, right! It ends up turning in to the vision Mom and Dad has had since the day you were born. It is very difficult to find parents that will actually keep their nose out of your wedding. Although I do understand they are usually paying for all or some of it, it eventually becomes a gift with some very tight strings. The most famous scenario is them inviting all the relatives you love to hate. This happened at one of my sisters weddings. Yes, by the time Mom and Dad get finished with your so-called wedding, you won't even recognize it. Although what you will recognize is all the relatives you wish weren't there. This is one of the best reasons to elope. At least if you elope it will be who, what, where and when YOU want it, NOT them!

Saving Money-

Weddings nowadays are so expensive it's almost sacrilegious to have one at all. I mean really when a wedding gets to the point of costing as much as a down payment on a home, or the full purchase price of a car, then something is really wrong. I guess if your Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt it's okay, after all they can afford to buy a country, not to mention how many kids they could purchase. Honestly, I adore both of them. Anyway, the good part about eloping is you can put part of the money you save on an expensive wedding into a really nice honeymoon. Let's face it if you marry the right person, you will remember the honeymoon long after the wedding. Even after a nice honeymoon to some exotic destination you will still have plenty of money left over for a down payment on a home. Why rent and throw the money away when you can bask in the light of equity! Well, there's your second good reason for eloping, saving a big hunk of money!

Easier and Quicker-

Do you have any idea how long it takes for most people to plan a wedding and actually pull it off? Too long, as far as I'm concerned. Sometimes wedding planning can go on for years. Yes, I said years. One could actually end up dead before the wedding actually happens. Of course that's an interesting thought with the relatives you really don't want at your wedding. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize eloping would be a lot easier. In fact most of the planning can be done over the phone in one afternoon. I don't mean to make this sound cold, but aren't we always complaining were so busy, and don't have enough time? Yes, I would say, eloping looks real good when it takes a minuscule fraction of the time that planning a wedding takes. You know what I would use that extra time for? The Honeymoon!

Mental Health-

Have you ever really looked at a Bride and Groom on their wedding day? It's really hard to distinguish them from a couple before a firing squad, or someone having withdrawl from drugs. Sure, once they get to the reception and have had a few drinks (or more), they look like their having the time of their life. Doesn't it make you wonder why most brides and grooms at the reception are stinking drunk? It's because of all the stress they went through getting to their wedding day. One of the very best reasons for eloping as far as I'm concerned is saving your sanity!

Does it really matter?-

If a couple is truly, honestly, and deeply in love,does it really matter whether they have a big luxurious wedding? Of course not! Considering all that is involved in pulling off a wedding, doesn't it make sense to slow down, concentrate on loving each other and getting married in a way that says "I Love You", without all the expense and hassle. It's not how big and luxurious your wedding is, but the heartfelt love you have for one another that really counts. This is the best reason of all for keeping it simple.

In the end each couple must decide what's most important to them. However, if your focusing on a big wedding, instead of starting a wonderful, new life with the person of your dreams. maybe you should start wondering about what's really important, and if that person your marrying is really the right person for you!