Today, more couples are opting for elopements than ever before.
The Elopement Experience
“A trend I see lately is that couples are moving away from traditional weddings and opting for intimate, curated elopements that double as immersive luxury travel experiences,” says Rochelle Cheever, founder of The Elopement Experience, a luxury elopement designer.
Costs Continue to Skyrocket
Elopements can include a small circle of family and friends.
The Elopement Experience
As the costs for a traditional wedding continue to skyrocket a rapid pace, more couples are opting for elopements than ever before. Several surveys found that over 60% of engaged couples would consider eloping. The results reveal that the average wedding cost is up to $33,204, but this can vary significantly depending on location, number of guests and the couple’s choices for vendors and other aspects of the event. Regardless, 26% of couples think they are spending too much.
Traditionally, an elopement was considered to be just for the bride and groom, meaning no guests are present. Elope meant to run away or flee, and historically it referred to secretly getting married without parental consent. However, today it can also refer to choosing to celebrate a marriage in a personal way that can also include a small, select group of close friends and family depending on the couple’s preference. Essentially, the key aspect is that the focus is on the couple. Today’s elopements are a very personal, intimate and romantic experience that couples can choose to spend just by themselves, or with a few family and friends.
In some cultures – Italian, Indian and Middle Eastern traditions, for example – weddings are seen as a coming together of two families, with deep historical significance. These weddings tend to be large because they are rooted in family and community. But that doesn’t mean couples who feel overwhelmed by the idea of a massive wedding don’t have options.
Luxury Elopements are Fully Curated
Luxury elopements are designed according to a couple’s preferences.
The Elopement Experience
A luxury elopement is more than just an intimate wedding. It’s a fully curated, high-end experience designed around the couple’s unique vision, preferences and personal style. Unlike standard elopements that rely on pre-set packages with limited options, a luxury elopement is completely personalized – there are no two alike. Luxury elopements also extend beyond just the wedding ceremony. Many couples incorporate multi-day experiences, fine dining, exclusive excursions and immersive cultural elements, turning their wedding into a journey rather than a single event.
Cheever says, “Large traditional weddings are undeniably stressful, no matter how carefully planned. Couples are dealing with guest list drama, strict timelines and endless logistics from seating arrangements to navigating family tensions. Instead of focusing on their love story, they often feel like event hosts entertaining hundreds of people. Many couples tell me that after their wedding, they barely had time together and, if they could do it again, they would elope.”
Rochelle Cheever, founder of The Elopement Experience.
The Elopement Experience
According to Cheever, intimate weddings or elopements offer the following advantages:
- Spend the day exactly how they want, in a dream destination
- Focus on meaningful experiences, rather than just hosting guests
- Avoid stressful family expectations and traditions that don’t resonate
- Combine their wedding and honeymoon into one seamless, memorable trip
She often tells couples that if the stress of a big wedding is too much, there are alternatives that still honor family expectations without sacrificing their own experience.
- Have an intimate wedding or elopement first, then throw a big party later. This way, the ceremony remains personal, and the family can still celebrate.
- Limit the ceremony to immediate family only. A small, meaningful event can still feel special without the pressures of a large wedding.
- Host a pre-wedding celebration instead of a massive reception. A family gathering before the couple’s elopement allows them to celebrate without the chaos of a 300-person wedding.
Venues are carefully selected to resonate with each couple.
The Elopement Experience
Elopements today are not the ‘runaway bride’ stereotype of the past. While there are still many cheaper or cookie-cutter elopement packages, luxury elopements are an entirely different category – fully customized, high-end and designed for couples who want an intentional, exclusive experience. She says, “We start by getting to know our couples through detailed questionnaires and Zoom calls, uncovering their style, personalities, and dream location. Whether it’s a historic villa in Tuscany, a secluded coastal retreat in California or an intimate cliffside ceremony in Greece, we carefully select a venue that resonates with each couple.”
Couples are Choosing a Luxury Experience
Rather than allocating tens of thousands of dollars on a ballroom, plated dinners for 150 guests and elaborate décor, couples are choosing a luxury experience for themselves. With an intimate wedding or elopement, they can:
- Stay in a 5-star venue or private villa with close family and friends.
- Enjoy a multi-day celebration instead of a single-day event.
- Have private chef-curated meals, top florals and couture details, all without the overwhelming cost of a large wedding.
Cheever adds, “We typically limit our weddings to a maximum of 25 guests, though 70% of our elopements are just the couple, while 30% are intimate weddings with 15 or fewer guests. At the end of the day, a wedding should be about the couple, not about putting on a large production for guests. More couples are realizing this and choosing intimate, experience-driven weddings over tradition.”
