If you and your partner just got engaged and you’re thinking about eloping rather than having a big, traditional wedding in your hometown, here are some tips for selecting the perfect spot to say “I do.”
Location
One of the main factors to consider is the location of the destination. You might want somewhere near home so that you don’t have to drive or fly far and can get eloped quickly, over a weekend or a week. If you’re fitting in a wedding and don’t have much time off work, choosing a destination that won’t involve a lot of travel is best.
Also, are you planning on asking a handful of guests from various locations worldwide to attend your nuptials? If so, you may want to choose a spot to elope to that is reasonably central to where guests need to travel from.
Weather
For most of us, the weather is a crucial element that’s top of mind when choosing where to elope. Much of the elopement appeal to many people is finding a warm, temperate, often beachside location where the sun is out often and there isn’t much rain to worry about.
You probably don’t want to say “I do” in the sweltering heat, though, either, or have lots of humidity to deal with and all the perspiration that comes with that. It’s best to avoid the rainy season or the peak summer times in certain destinations.
On the other hand, you might be interested in getting married somewhere you know the snow will be fluttering down, if you’ve always loved the idea of getting married against a pretty white backdrop, or you might want to have spring flowers or fall leaves as a backdrop. Regardless of your preferences, be sure to look into the likely weather when you plan to elope and choose a destination that suits you appropriately.
Vibe
Similarly, think about the vibe you want your wedding to have. For instance, are you looking for a relaxed location, such as a beachy spot or a backyard celebration, or are you keen for a more formal vibe to tie the knot in, such as a pretty little church or a swanky boutique hotel venue, among other things? If you decide how you want your wedding to feel, this will help guide you in finding the perfect location to say “I do.”
Accessibility
When researching wedding locations, accessibility may be another criterion. If either of the engaged people are less physically abled, or any of the guests, you may need to specifically search for wedding venues designed for wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Some people, including the elderly, may also need to generally avoid long flights of stairs or hard-to-reach spots, such as those involving climbing uneven tracks. You might also want to arrange transportation, such as golf carts or buses, if there’s a decent distance to travel on a property or between venues or spots with a steep slope.
Another element of accessibility can be checking whether there are any travel restrictions to enter or exit countries or regions, the need for vaccinations to go there safely, or permits to access particular public parks or other properties.
Features
Don’t forget to investigate features available at different wedding locations before you book them. For instance, if you’ve always dreamed of watching stunning fireworks with your loved one after you cut the wedding cake or finish your first dance, you’ll want to pick a venue that either has a fireworks package you can pay for, or that allows people to bring in their own safe mortar fireworks and other products to set up their own displays.
Other features you may want readily available at a venue are a band or DJ, a dance floor, suitable décor and table linen, fairy lights, a good sound system and microphone, epic views during the ceremony or reception, etc.
Other tips for choosing the right elopement destination are to find somewhere available at short notice, think about your favorite couple or childhood memories you want to tie into, and consider how large the spaces are and if they’ll fit the number of guests you plan on inviting. Also, think about whether you want a lot of privacy and seclusion for your wedding day.
If you factor in all of the above elements when deciding where to have your big day, you should find that it all works out much better for you and your partner and that you remember the occasion for all the right reasons for many decades to come.
