How to Tell Your Family You’re Eloping

For most of us growing up, weddings were these big parties with so many people that you never knew. The bride and groom never seemed to actually be enjoying themselves. Or they were way too busy to even get a quick bite to eat. Nowadays, weddings are becoming less traditional and more about the intimate adventures between the couple and memories they have of just the two of them on their special day. 

As a result, more couples are deciding to elope rather than go for the more traditional wedding approach. Eloping has certainly changed a lot over the years as well. It’s less of a spontaneous run down to city hall type of eloping (unless that’s exactly how you want it) but more of a planning an adventure together just the two of you. Only without the grand party.

Only thing is, most family and friends don’t understand why people elope. For many, it’s still seen as selfish. We know it’s for many other reasons. We also know it can be hard to explain. So how do you tell your family you’re eloping? Here we have some ideas to help you!

Don’t keep it a secret 

First thing of how to tell your family your eloping is don’t keep it a secret. Yup, normally eloping means running away to get married in secret. But if you don’t need to keep it a secret , then tell your friends and family! It’s important to let them know you’re actually going to get married. You wouldn’t want your family to find out via Instagram or Facebook that they missed your wedding. Then they would really be heartbroken. Not only were they not invited but didn’t even know you were getting married. Plus after a while of keeping such a big secret, the guilt might get to you. We find it best to just let them know. You would be surprised how many people are actually totally fine with it. In fact, you can still send out announcement cards! Have an engagement shoot and use those pictures!

Be honest about why you’re doing it

The better approach to avoid heartbroken family and friends, is to let them know in advance. And let them know why you two decided to elope. Just make sure you’re being honest about it. Whether it’s because of cost, less stressful to plan everything out. Or  just because you want to and it gives you and your fiancé a chance to have a more meaningful and intimate. Then make sure you let them know!

Definitely be prepared for questions and some people reacting in a negative way. Some friends or family members might take it as you two still being selfish. But just remind them it’s not that you don’t want them there. It’s just this is how you want you’re wedding. Eloping speaks to you more than a traditional wedding ever did. When you’re honest about you’re own feelings, you’re family and friends should understand. 

Consider a small party 

There is always the option of having a party. Just maybe on a different day than your actual wedding. This way you can still celebrate with your loved ones. And they can see all the amazing pictures that was captured and they can still feel apart of it. We noticed a lot of eloping couples do something of the sort. Plus eloping doesn’t always mean just the bride and groom. You can still have a very intimate wedding. Meaning, you could have about 10 people at you’re wedding if that’s something you want to do! But again if that’s not what you want, make sure you keep to your plan!

Just remember that a wedding is about you and your loved one and you shouldn’t be pressured into having a huge wedding if you don’t want to.

Now we know this is all easier said than done. We don’t expect you to march in your families house and lay all out. How to tell your family you’re eloping is hard! But we hope we can help at least with getting the conversation started. We know there are many reasons why people elope. And in the end you do what is best for you and your love!