As weddings trend toward the personal and un-fussy (why not ditch the cake for a “cookie bar” or, hey, wear Crocs down the aisle if that’s your thing), elopements seem ever more common, not in the least because they can be a way to get married without going into debt. Look no further than the micro-wedding trend for proof that many couples are interested in hosting the wedding of their dreams without the exorbitant price tag that goes with it.
When my fiancé and I got engaged late last year, we jumped right on the highly personal, non-traditional wedding bandwagon, deciding on a Las Vegas elopement for the big day, replete with a kitschy ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator. The only catch? We’re spending just as much on our relaxed Las Vegas elopement as the average American couple does on their formal wedding. And we don’t regret it for a second. Here’s why, to us, it’s worth every penny.