Even though WHO you get married to and HOW you get married is your business and your business only ... From my experience, friends and family, and yes strangers too, will want to share their advice ... wether you ask for it or not.

 

But here is some reassurance: only listen to that little voice in your head that is saying “THIS IS OUR DAY ....” And if that means including your BFF’s or your parents or both or neither, it’s completely OK. Eloping doesn’t have to mean escaping your family and friends -but it could, if it is what you want -:)

 

So what does ELOPING mean? It just means not doing the traditional 150+ guests at a venue with a strict stressful timeline and all the others bells and whistles. It means an INTIMATE beautiful Experience, a STRESS-FREE DAY, a FLEXIBLE TIMELINE that can be adjusted to whatever you want it to be, it means an ADVENTURE.

 

And trust me, eloping is the only way to do that, but so many people fall into the trap of family pressure and end up having a wedding even though it’s not what they wanted in the first place. Don’t let that be you. Only take into consideration what you and your partner want ... If its a big party, go for it! A lot of my good friends are talented wedding photographers and I am happy to give you a recommendation if you need one.

 

But if it’s an intimate stress-free wedding day you are looking for ... Don’t give up on YOUR DREAM ... ELOPE and don’t worry about anything else. Keep the focus on the two of you.

 

As for when to tell your friends and family -tell them WHEN YOU ARE READY. It can be before the fact, it can be right after the fact, there is really no rule.

 

I’ve had couples FaceTime their parents right after saying I DO and their parents were ecstatic for them ... I’ve had couples use their elopement photos to announce it after the fact. Personally, I did a mix of both ... My closest friends knew the day of and I even updated them the morning of, sending them a selfie of me in my robe with twist foam hair rollers. Other people didn’t know until a year later when I officially changed my Facebook status ... So basically it’s all up to you and how you feel.