What Does Eloping Really Mean? A Juicy History + Modern Guide
A titillating history of eloping… and what it means to elope in 2025.
Greetings and salutations from the other side of the wedding coin — the side where you take back control of your wedding.
As a wedding and elopement professional of more than 15 years, I’ve noticed that the concept of eloping is so often WILDLY all over the place. If you’ve ever told someone you’re thinking about eloping and received a confused or skeptical look, you know what I mean. 😂 Some people still picture a last-minute dash to Vegas, while others assume an elopement is just a tiny wedding with fewer guests. And then there are those who think it’s some sort of rebellious act against the institution of marriage itself.
However, elopements in 2025 are something entirely different. The word elopement is being redefined every single day. You, me, the thousands of couples who eloped before us — we are all part of that movement! It’s a very exciting time.
So, the next time someone side-eyes your elopement plans? Just send them this article so they can get the real scoop on what eloping is — past, present, and future.
Eloping: A Brief (and Dramatic) History
Once upon a time, eloping was synonymous with scandal. It was the stuff of whispered rumors and runaway romances. You know… sneaking out a window at midnight, fleeing across county lines, and marrying in secret because the world (or your parents) didn’t approve.
In fact, the word elope originally meant “to run away,” and by the 17th century, it was used to describe a woman leaving her husband to be with her lover. Over time, the meaning softened into what we now recognize: couples marrying in secret, often without family approval.
The Roots of Elopement Run Deeper Than Just Rebellion
In medieval Europe, marriage laws were all over the place. In many regions, a simple exchange of vows between two consenting adults was enough to make a marriage legally binding — no priest, church, or witnesses required. This led to the rise of “clandestine marriages,” many of which could be seen as early forms of elopement. Unsurprisingly, the Church and state were less than thrilled.
By the 18th century, England tried to crack down on secret unions with the Marriage Act of 1753, which imposed strict rules and required parental consent for anyone under 21.
The OG Elopement Hotspot (Thank You… Scottish Blacksmiths?)
So what did our young lovers do? Well, they started running off to Scotland where marriage laws were far more lenient. Enter: Gretna Green, a tiny village just over the border that became famous for quickie weddings performed by local blacksmiths. Here, a couple could legally wed without parental approval at just 16, and all that was required was a declaration before two witnesses. They called them anvil weddings, which honestly still sounds badass.
Elopement in the 19th and 20th Centuries: A Cultural Shift
Throughout the 19th century, eloping was often associated with scandal, secrecy, and social defiance. In Victorian England and the United States, elopements were whispered about, dramatized in novels, and occasionally splashed across newspapers (much like the modern day tabloid).
But by the 20th century, the narrative began to shift, especially in the United States. As marriage laws became more liberal and transportation improved, couples increasingly chose to elope not out of desperation, but convenience and personal preference.
For instance, Las Vegas became a global elopement hub in the 1930s thanks to Nevada’s minimal residency requirements. With neon-lit chapels, Elvis impersonators, and the promise of a drama-free “I do” at any hour of the day, it was still impulsive… still rebellious… but with a wink and a rhinestone jumpsuit. Celebrities and non-celebrities alike flocked to the desert for quick, no-stress weddings.
Yes, Elvis did elope! 👆
Eloping Enters Its Main Character Era
In the early 2000s, eloping continued evolving. Destination elopements became a thing. Couples weren’t necessarily running from something but running to something — like the beaches of Bali or the cliffs of Iceland. The idea of choosing a breathtaking location over a big, stressful wedding started to gain traction.
And then came 2020.
Ah yes, the Great Wedding Reset. The pandemic turned the wedding industry upside down and forced people to reconsider what really mattered. Suddenly, elopements were accepted as a practical, intentional choice. And once the world reopened, we didn’t look back.
The Modern Elopement: Redefining the Wedding Experience
Today, eloping has been fully reimagined. What was once seen as impulsive or even shameful is now recognized as intentional, empowering, and deeply personal.
Modern elopements often involve meticulous planning, thoughtful details, and stunning destinations from metropolitan cities to national parks or remote islands. Couples who elope today are no longer running away from their families or obligations. Rather, they’re choosing a wedding experience that prioritizes intimacy, authenticity, and emotional connection over tradition and expectation.
In many ways, eloping has come full circle: from unsanctioned love to a bold expression of commitment on your own terms.
Modern Elopement Ideas: What Does Eloping in 2025 Look Like?
Eloping in 2025 is about freedom, clarity, and alignment. It’s also about fun, flexibility, and adventure.
And the best part? You get to choose your own flavor.
Modern elopements are not one-size-fits-all. They’re wildly creative and completely customizable. Here are just a few of the ways couples are saying “I do” right now:
1. City Elopements
NYC and Paris take the cake, although you cannot legally get married in Paris unless you live there… So, sorry France… WE WIN!
2. Destination Elopements
Destination elopements are still going strong in 2025. They turn your wedding into a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, often with just a photographer and an officiant in tow. Colorado, Hawaii, Utah, Yosemite, Italy, and Greece have all become elopement hotspots.
But if you’re craving something more off the beaten path, our Mexico City elopement packages are calling your name.
3. Micro-Weddings (But Make It an Elopement)
Some couples want to elope but also want a little bit of a crowd. Enter the micro-wedding/elopement hybrid: an intimate affair with maybe 10-20 people max. Just your absolute favorite humans, a simple ceremony, and a dinner that doesn’t involve a seating chart.
4. “Fuck It, Let’s Just Do This”’ Elopements
You have been engaged long enough, and it’s just TIME! Or maybe you already have the big wedding planned, but you want to have something just for the two of you. This is a special kinda elopement that we at Eloping Is Fun LOVE pulling off!
5. Elevated Elopements
For the couple who wants it all: a once in a lifetime experience, a day of luxury and pampering, the style, the drama, the excess (where it matters, like shoes and hotel suites)… with none of the restraints of a traditional wedding. These elopements are refined and detailed but still keep the whole wedding experience personal and stress-free. (If you’ve already booked with us, ask about our luxury add-ons!)
TLDR; Your Wedding, Your Rules
So, what does it mean to elope in 2025?
It means freedom.
It means choosing your own adventure.
It means getting married for the right reasons. YOUR reasons.
It’s not about running away. It’s about stepping into something that feels true to you and your partner.
So whether you’re saying “I do” in front of a city skyline, on a mountaintop, in your backyard, or barefoot in the sand… it’s your day, your way.
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