AisleDash

It used to be that elopements were questionable affairs. The couple would sneak away to marry, and upon their return would have to break the news to friends and family who would be varying degrees of horrified. Elopement weddings were bare-bones events held in uniformly drab offices in various city halls.

That was then, this is now. Though elopements continue to be small affairs -- just the couple, with maybe two friends as witnesses -- they are no longer shameful. These days, couples plan their elopements as they would a (very small) wedding. (A note on terminology: an elopement is a secret. If everyone knows the two of you are off to Antigua to marry, you are not eloping, you are having an "intimate destination wedding".)

With this shift in social attitude comes a shift in commercial attitude. Now that people are celebrating their elopements, businesses of all sorts are offering "elopement packages". Not just wedding planners and officiants, but hotels, tourist attractions, popular destinations, bed and breakfasts, parks, florists and photographers all offer elopement packages. If you're thinking of an elopement, start with a Google search. You'll be pleasantly surprised by just how much support there is!