Does the thought of planning a fancy dinner for hundreds of people, a year in advance, with the focus of everyone’s attention only on you scare you or excite you? If it’s the former and this sounds like your worst nightmare of a wedding, then why not elope?

Skip the excessive and unnecessary spending and choose a destination you and your partner have dreamed of visiting. Do some research on local wedding officiates and choose somewhere. Pack a bag and be gone.

If you want to be a little less dramatic, tell your family that your wedding is going to be extremely intimate: you, your partner, the officiate and a photographer. They can’t disown you for wanting to celebrate your special day the way you want to. It’s your day, not theirs.

If the idea of an intimate wedding excites you, here is some inspiration to hopefully get you to commit to your authentic happily ever after.

 

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You can and absolutely should say your vows in a fairy glen in the Scottish highlands. I cry every time they do. I’ve had time to blog for the first time in months and I’m getting ready to blog this one. There’s so many photos to go through and it’ll be a long one cause I loved this trip with these two.

A post shared by Socal Wedding Photo + Video (@the_arroyos) on Feb 17, 2020 at 11:58am PST

 

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He proposed at sunrise high above the desert (see my last post!) and to celebrate we went to the moon for some sunset engagement photos 🌚 Honestly absolutely beside myself…yesterday was so fun, creatively inspiring, and truly the perfect way to kick off our 2020 desert season. I love this wild place, and now I have two new buddies to enjoy it with! Come back soon @lalita_8221 @jam_brant 🥰

A post shared by Abbi + Callen Hearne (@thehearnes) on Feb 16, 2020 at 10:47am PST

 

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We’ve been going to Yosemite regularly for about 5 years now. And by the end of every season we’re pretty much ready to hit the road and get out of the valley scene (especially now that we work during most of our time there). After weeks of keeping Charlie on leash (and keeping ourselves in invisible leashes 😂), we all look forward to that moment we get over the pass and stop in some BLM or National Forest land to slip our collars and let loose. – But then…without fail, there comes a time when I start missing Yosemite like hell and dreaming of our next trip back! And while I’m certainly no where near ready to leave Moab yet, I’ve been dreaming of lazy days in the meadows and sunset after sunset at the top of my favorite cliff this summer season. I know we’ve made Moab our physical home, and I truly wouldn’t choose anywhere else in the world for it, but I’m pretty sure I’ll never stop day dreaming of Yosemite when I’m away. I’ve been saying this for years…but being torn between two places in this way is such a gift. Today I’m soaking up the sun in the Moab desert and dreaming of the breeze in Yosemite Valley. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

A post shared by Abbi + Callen Hearne (@thehearnes) on Feb 13, 2020 at 10:13am PST

 

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Are there any dog lovers in the followers? <3 I have done many wedding portraits with my couples dogs and this elopement became so close my heart since they had their dog with them all day. Did you know that in Colorado (America), your dog can sign as your wedding witness on your marriage license? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sent via @planoly #planoly #adventurouscouple #adventureelopement #adventurewedding #belovedstories #elopementinspiration #elopement helloelopement #adventurealways #mountaingirls #elopementphotographer #hike365 #helloelopement #elopementwedding #icelandelopement #icelandwedding #icelandweddingphotographer #icelandweddingplanner #wanderingweddings #destinationwedding #dogsofinstagram #dogslife

A post shared by Iceland Elopement photographer (@mcwhirterphotography) on Feb 19, 2020 at 3:34am PST

 

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A post shared by Fleur du Jour🌸Patrícia Lima🌸 (@fleur_du_jour_patricia) on Feb 19, 2020 at 1:41am PST

 

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A post shared by Valentina | The Stars Inside (@thestarsinside) on Feb 19, 2020 at 12:07am PST

 

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A post shared by What If We Elope? (@whatifweelope) on Dec 5, 2019 at 5:33pm PST

 

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There wasn’t a “walk down the ailse” moment for our wedding so we opted for some first look photographs. We drove to the cabin near the ceremony spot together in the morning but got ready in separate rooms. Laurence then waited for me in this field near the cabin. It’s so wonderful to have these photos of the first time we saw each other, but it was also special to have this time just the two of us before our ceremony. Thank you @assemblagephotography for capturing it. #weeloped #firstlook #winterelopement #norwayelopent #snowwedding

A post shared by Chloe Jenkins (@chloeridout) on Feb 17, 2020 at 11:01am PST

 

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Two years ago….. 💍#Anniversary #TheDrsRichardson #WeEloped #NYC #CentralPark 📸 @iamreginafleming

A post shared by Sharita Mathis Richardson, PhD (@sharita_richardson) on Feb 17, 2020 at 9:19am PST

 

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Let’s get creative with your engagement pictures. Boy meets girl…Major “Notebook” vibes with this one, and I love it! Thanks to Mason and Mary for trusting me!! @mary_bullock22 @mason_armstrongg . . . #engagementpictures #wereengaged #engagementphotos #engagementphotosession #alabamacouplesphotographer #alabamacouples #alabamaphotographer #alabamaweddingphotographer #outdoorphotography #outdoorphotoshoot #boatengagementsession #boatphotoshoot #notebookengagementsession #moodyengagement #moodyphotography #bohowedding #bohoweddingphotographer #bohoweddingvibes #bohophotography #destinationphotographer #destinationwedding #destinationweddingphotographer #elopementphotographer #elopementphotography #weeloped #elopementwedding #mountainelopement #beachelopement #woodsyelopement #outdoorelopement

A post shared by S. Weathington Photography LLC (@sweathingtonphotography) on Feb 16, 2020 at 5:13pm PST

 

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A post shared by Adventure Elopement 📷& Guides (@kellyeileenphoto) on Feb 16, 2020 at 9:33am PST

 

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A post shared by What If We Elope? (@whatifweelope) on Feb 14, 2020 at 9:48am PST

 

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A post shared by What If We Elope? (@whatifweelope) on Feb 13, 2020 at 5:15pm PST

 

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A post shared by What If We Elope? (@whatifweelope) on Feb 13, 2020 at 9:35am PST

 

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A post shared by Efjay Deleon (@efjaydeleon) on Feb 13, 2020 at 4:31am PST

 

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I’m really glad that they trust each other. Planning & Officiant @younghipandmarried Hair & makeup @glaminvan . . . . . . #elopementstodiefor #freespiritedbrides #stanleyparkwedding #weeloped #elopementphotographer #destinationphotographer #elopementinspiration #wedventure #adventurebrides #pnwweddingphotographer #sheexplores #allaboutadventures #loveoutwest #adventureelopement #rainywedding #intimateweddinginspo #findthelight #lightinspired #younghipandmarried #vancouverelopementphotographer #ericamillerphotography

A post shared by BC Wedding, Elopement+Portrait (@ericamillerphotography) on Feb 6, 2020 at 7:07pm PST

Feature image: Unsplash