For many years, “To Elope” meant running away to Vegas or a local courthouse. Usually, it was done in secret and it was some spontaneous, spur of the moment type thing.

A surprise to friends and family when you came home. “SURPRISE!! We’re married!!”

That it was something you had to “runaway” and do. What if I told you that definition has changed?

Those days are long gone and I’m here to help you see the beauty in what it means to Elope!

Okay, are you ready to hear what the NEW definition of Eloping is?

(First off, welcome to the new age! Now, Drumroll Please!) An Elopement is an intimate wedding that focuses on the couple and what truly matters. A day centered around your true values and beliefs. To live in the moment and completely deprive you of any stress, anxiety, pressure, and/or obligations.

It’s about choosing the experience over tangible details and removing the beautiful chaos of traditional ways.

Vows can be exchanged without the fear of judgment in a place where you both feel so alive and the most connected.

An Elopement is an intimate wedding that focuses on the couple and what truly matters

Eloping done right can be just the two of you or it can include friends and family. Typically, you can save money by cutting the guest list. Cutting the guest list and taking your love outdoors allows you to focus on your love. After all, the wedding is about the marriage, not the other way around.

What would that mean to you? Intimate to me describes a gathering of about 20 people (MAX!) Any more, and you might introduce some stress. Which brings me to my next point…

To completely deprive you of any stress, anxiety, pressure and/or obligations.

Top 10 things that bring any bride and groom stress when wedding planning: Money. Guest List. Multiple Vendors. Health. Center of Attention. Wedding Party. Getting Ready. Managing Expectations. Thank-you notes.

One of the saddest things I hear is when a couple says: “I just cannot wait to get this over with” that stress has completely taken over. It’s no longer fun. Friends and family have pulled you from every direction.

They have set expectations as to what you should be doing and when. The day is no longer yours, it’s become something completely different just to make everyone else happy.

TRY THIS: Take out a piece of paper and I want you to write down what truly matters to you. Let’s say the top 3. Remove your family and friends from your thoughts.

Don’t think about what “should” be done. What’s on your list? What really matters? Is it the love you share? Is it all about just being married to the love of your life? Do you believe the wedding should be about the marriage and not the other way around?

It’s about choosing the experience over tangible details.

What if pleasing family members you haven’t seen or talked to in 4 years wasn’t something you wanted? Or inviting 2nd cousin’s partners to watch such an intimate moment just wasn’t your thing? Your personal wedding experience over tangible things like a table or ceremony decor, table, chairs, linens, centerpieces, seating charts, and all of that. What if you could scrap all the things that do not last and focus on what really matters.

The experience you have with your partner. How you envision your day. The adventures you want to go on. HOW you want to share your vows together. What places you want to go to and experience.

Maybe you want to try something new, like take a helicopter to a remote location and epic views! Maybe it’s more about experiencing different cultures together. You have the whole day to make it completely yours. Everything you want, completely molded to who you are together. What you believe in and what you love doing together.

Vows can be exchanged without the fear of judgement in a place where you both feel so alive and the most connected.

Your cousin brought his girlfriend, she’s pretty, but you’ve never met before. An Aunt you haven’t talked to in like 4 years is in attendance and you do not really get along. You’ve even tried calling her a few times over the years, but the calls went unanswered. Uncle Bob is completely judgemental. Everything you say and do, he has a comment for. You find yourself thinking about your vows, what you will say, and how.

The words you choose, dance around other people’s feelings. “Can I even swear? …but it’s who I am! What if Uncle Bob doesn’t like that?” Well…I’m here to say fuck all of that. I want you to be able to swear, to say what you want, and talk about whatever your heart desires without the fear of judgment from people you don’t even know.

I personally, want to be able to tell him one day that I have been dreaming about this day, that I have wished for him for a very long fucking time. That I’ve dreamed of this day while I choke on tears. I want to feel ALL of this without judgment in a nature-like environment that encourages me to feel so alive.

Elopements can include your closest friends and family

Yep! You can choose to have just the two of you or include (up to) 20 people. The point is to still have that “intimate” feeling we talked about to keep the focus on YOU.

When you invite more, the logistics of traveling and other stresses start to sneak in. If being the center of attention is just not for you, invite some of your closest friends and family to witness. This can also include children.

Elopements can happen ANYWHERE in the world

Always check for permits and Leave No Trace laws, but you can get married anywhere you want! Whether that be adventurous hikes, urban areas, cities, rooftops, dark alleys (haha) backyards, where they proposed, or with a gorgeous view of the city.

Catchfly Photography is a traditional wedding and adventurous elopement photographer based in Highland, MI. Julie Believes in the little details and in between moments. Nature completely inspires Julie and she incorporates nature into almost every photo she takes. Julie travels to photograph traditional weddings and intimate elopements in Michigan’s Upper + Lower Peninsula and Colorado.