5 Reasons NOT to Elope

Potential hurt feelings. When your family and friends who haven't been invited to your super secret wedding find out that you've tied the knot without telling anyone, some of them might feel hurt. And while we don't think that they'll disown you, there might be some tension for a while though. If you or your spouse-to-be are sensitive about hurting people's feelings, you probably shouldn't elope because it might make you feel guilty rather than happy.

Wedding gifts. One of the most popular pro-eloping arguments is that elopement is cheaper than a regular wedding. While it is true to some extent, most couples that elope don't get cool wedding gifts they would never buy themselves even if they had money. Are you ready to give up your wedding registry? If the answer is “no” or “not sure”, reconsider your decision to elope.

Wedding planning is good practice. Planning a wedding can be stressful and exhausting, but it teaches you many lessons you can apply to married life such as how to work together as a team, how to make decisions together, how to compromise, how to handle your budget, etc. They will come in handy when you buy your first house, decide to have a child, make important career decisions that affect you both.

Missed opportunities. A traditional wedding gives you an opportunity to reconnect with your friends and family who live far away, but would come to your wedding. If you elope, you'll have much fewer people who will be able to reminisce with you about the wedding. Some couples decide to elope because their families don't approve of their relationship. They think that it saves them a lot of trouble, but in reality it makes resentment grow and reduces the chance of reconciliation.

You don't get your dream wedding. Not all couples that elope don't like traditional weddings; some do it because they are too stressed out and overwhelmed with being the center of everyone's attention. At some point elopement might seem as an easy way to relieve pressure, but in a couple of years many couples regret this decision. There is nothing wrong with wanting a traditional wedding, a beautiful gown and a delicious cake. If you've been planning your wedding since you were five years old, don't let one moment of doubt ruin your perfect plans.