AisleDash

It's not about your family, either. So many newlyweds-to-be lose too many hours of sleep when their families try to hijack the wedding. If you're worried your family might be this way, you could compromise by letting them throw a reception or other sort of celebration some time after your elopement. If you don't think of it as your wedding day, but rather just a party at which you are the guest of honor, it will be much less stressful for you and easier to pass the planning torch to someone else, provided they want to do this.

Certainly you don't want to offend close friends and family with your decision to elope. While you may have piles of good reasons, they are still likely to feel a little sting at the news. They love you, and they probably want to watch you get married. Brush up on your elopement etiquette before the fact so you don't alienate anyone. If you handle their feelings with understanding, your loved ones will eventually come around and be nothing more than happy for you.