Why I Want to Elope - byAbigaile

I’ve been getting some questions and opinions and decided to share why I want to elope. First, let’s address the elephant in the room. I know that traditionally eloping meant you run away without telling anyone. Times have changed. Besides, what am I supposed to tell people when they see my engagement ring and ask about wedding plans? I’m all about being honest. However, eloping in 2024 is very different from what it used to be. It’s no longer a last-minute idea to just run away and sign the marriage certificate (or whatever it is you sign). These days a lot more planning goes into it. You get to pick your dream location, luckily in Scotland, it is legal to get married outdoors. You can pick your photographer (they obviously get booked way in advance), and hair and makeup artist (that ended up being the biggest pain). But let’s get to the point.

My 5 Reasons to Elope in Scotland

1. I’m an Introvert

I’ll start by explaining my choice to elope in general. I am an introvert. That’s a well-known fact. I don’t like attention, I don’t like multiple people all looking at me at once. I hate dancing in front of people. I’m very opinionated and particular with things I like and don’t like. Especially when it comes to important occasions and celebrations, I usually plan everything myself. A bit of a control freak, one might say. But when it comes to regular weddings, that goes against everything I’ve just said. I would get a lot of attention, have to dance in front of people and feel very uncomfortable about it but hey, that’s what you’re supposed to do.

2. The Whole Focus is On the Two of Us

This is one of the most important reasons. I want to elope rather than have a wedding so that the focus is on what really matters – myself and my fiance vowing to love one another for better or for worse, until death do us part. I don’t want any distractions. You know what else? I don’t care about flowers, guest favours, 3-course meal for 100 people, some of which I may never see again. That’s not what marriage is about, so why would the ceremony that gets me there should be about that? Instead, I’ll focus on feeling comfortable in my own skin, being at ease and not stressing about things that really don’t matter, and being present for the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

3. Weddings Are Expensive

I’m saving money by eloping in Scotland, but even then, I was shocked by some quotes. We’ve had photographers come back asking for 3k, and hair and makeup artists asking for around 700. Add on top of that a venue that is in most cases at least 6k, flowers, dinner for a whole bunch of people, flowers (did you know that a bridal bouquet is also a few hundred pounds?), entertainment and so on. For reasons I mentioned in my first point, this would be such a painful, needless waste of money to me. If that’s something you enjoy – have fun! No judgement from me at all. It’s just not something I would personally enjoy.

4. Scotland As an Elopement Location

So, have you seen photos of elopements in Scotland? It is such a beautiful country, it would honestly be a wasted opportunity not to elope here. People travel from all over the world to do it here. Glencoe, Isle of Skye, Cairngorms – take your pick! And all of that is just a few hours drive for me. I thank God for placing me in such a beautiful country with fairytale-like backdrops.

5. Avoiding Drama

Let’s be honest. Not all of us have picture-perfect families and friend circles. Eloping is a great way to avoid conflict on the day. Or sometimes to avoid drama. Sure, my family isn’t thrilled that I’m choosing to not invite the majority of them. But this day, as I said before, is about me starting a life with someone. It isn’t about whom I invite or don’t invite. It’s about committing to this person, that he will be the most important person in my life.

Final Thoughts

I hope this answers some of the questions you may have. If you’re planning to elope in Scotland and have any questions – ask me! Especially when it comes to wedding dress shopping, hair and makeup artists and photographers. If you have any more questions about why I want to elope, feel free to ask in the comments.