What Does ‘Elope’ Mean? | Elopement Meaning + Definition

When you hear the word ‘elope’, what comes to mind?

Maybe it’s something secretive or impulsive—two people running off to Vegas at the last minute, exchanging vows in a roadside chapel, hidden from the world. But that’s not the case anymore.

The definition of elopement has long been misunderstood, but it has evolved far beyond the dusty, old stereotypes. The true elopement meaning has changed dramatically through the years. It’s no longer about secrecy; it’s about freedom. Freedom to create an experience that aligns with your relationship, your values, and your vision for what your wedding day can be. And this shift has opened up endless possibilities. 

But what does that really look like? And how does eloping compare to a traditional wedding? Let me walk you through it and break down some of the most common elopement myths. 

Elopement Meaning

For a long time, eloping was synonymous with confidentiality and spontaneity—slipping away at the last minute to exchange vows in secrecy, often to avoid societal pressures or family expectations. It was seen as a rebellious act, something done in haste rather than with intention. But that definition doesn’t align with modern elopements. The meaning of elope has transformed through the years, moving away from impulse and toward an intentional and meaningful wedding experience.

Today, eloping represents the opportunity to design a wedding day that reflects who you are as a couple, without the heavy weight of tradition dictating your choices. There are no boundaries to what your elopement can be. Whether it’s an adventurous day in the mountains, a peaceful morning at a secluded cabin, or a quiet moment shared with your closest loved ones, the experience is entirely yours to create. Rather than being a last-minute decision, modern elopements are deeply personal and thoughtfully planned, ensuring every moment is tailored to you and your partner.

At its core, eloping is about prioritizing your connection and experience over external expectations. It’s a bold and intentional choice—one that allows you to celebrate your love in a way that feels free. There are no rules, no constraints, and no pressure to align with societal norms. Whether it’s just the two of you or a small gathering of loved ones, your elopement is an opportunity to craft a day that is fully and unapologetically yours.

Elopement vs. Wedding: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to wedding planning, you’ll find that traditional weddings and elopements take vastly different approaches. A traditional wedding often follows a structured timeline that revolves around the guest experience—ensuring everyone is entertained and well-fed. From the welcome speech to the first dance, most wedding days follow a familiar pattern: ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, cake-cutting, and dancing. The focus extends beyond just the couple, prioritizing the needs and expectations of family and friends.

Elopements, on the other hand, shift the focus of your wedding day to you and your partner. Instead of coordinating a large-scale event, you get to design a day that reflects your relationship, free from outside pressure. There’s no strict timeline and no ‘typical’ itinerary—just the space to create an experience that feels right for the two of you. Maybe that looks like hiking to a secluded overlook at sunrise or renting a cozy cabin for a weekend-long celebration—whatever speaks to you as a couple—without the stress of a traditional wedding schedule.

Another major distinction is the guest list. Traditional weddings often include dozens (if not hundreds) of loved ones, while elopements are intentionally small—typically ranging from 0 to 20 guests. This shift in scale naturally creates a more intimate experience, where every moment is about your connection rather than managing the expectations that often come with a large gathering.

When you think of a traditional wedding, you probably picture a full vendor team—planners, a media team, florists, caterers, and DJs. But when you hear “elopement,” it’s easy to assume it means saying “I do” with no extra frills or details. If that’s your impression, I have great news. Modern elopements can include any and all wedding vendors you see fit—everything from an experienced photographer and a rockstar florist to a private chef and a baker to create your dream cake.

You can even incorporate unique experiences like a helicopter ride, hot air balloon adventure, or sunset picnic with champagne and cupcakes. The difference is that elopements allow you to torch the wedding rulebook and create a day that’s meaningful to you, rather than following a predetermined wedding structure.

And if you’re wondering which vendors to hire (if any) for your elopement, I’ve got you covered. Check out my other blog for more insights:

At the heart of it, the biggest difference between a wedding and an elopement is where your focus lies. Traditional weddings emphasize the guest experience, ensuring a seamless event for family and friends, while elopements strip away outside pressure and center your relationship. If you want a day that’s truly about you and your partner—without the stress, cookie-cutter itinerary, and rigid timeline—an elopement is likely a good fit for you. It centers you as a couple, letting you step away from the pressures of a large wedding and, instead, focus on the core elements that unite you and your person.

Reasons to Elope

For many couples, the decision to elope comes with a sense of relief. In a national survey of over 1,000 engaged U.S. couples, 62% expressed openness to considering a scaled-back, elopement-style wedding. There are countless reasons why couples choose this path, and each reason is deeply personal. Whether it’s a desire for a more intimate experience or a need to simplify a stressful process, what matters most is following your heart and honoring your priorities as a couple.

Some couples even go so far as to cancel their traditional wedding and plan a more intimate elopement instead. If you’re contemplating a similar shift and aren’t sure where to start, know that you’re not alone. I’ve created a guide to help you navigate how to seamlessly cancel your wedding and transition to a meaningful elopement. You can check it out below!

Here are some of the most common reasons couples choose to blaze their own trail and elope:

An Authentic Experience

Eloping gives you the opportunity to plan the wedding day of your dreams—whatever that may look like. Whether it’s an epic weekend adventure or a cozy, intimate celebration, the choice is entirely yours. If you’ve always envisioned a horseback ride through the mountains followed by a private chef preparing steak and lobster over an open fire, why not make that dream a reality on your wedding day? When you choose to elope, the possibilities are endless. You can blend adventure, simplicity, romance, and luxury into a celebration that’s uniquely yours.

Alternatively, if you and your partner crave quiet time together in a scenic, secluded space, that’s an excellent option too. The beauty of your elopement is that you can tailor the entire day to your vision and desires. No worrying about whether everyone will like it—this day is about celebrating your love, your way. Just an unforgettable experience with you at the center.

To help you start picturing your Colorado elopement experience, here are some resources to guide you in choosing the perfect location for your special day:

Elopements are Meaningful + Intentional

Eloping offers the unique opportunity to celebrate with a deeply meaningful and intentional wedding day. When it’s just the two of you or an intimate group, you can express your love straight from your heart, without distractions or pressure.

Eloping can be a great choice if you feel nervous about reading your vows in front of a large crowd. This intimate setting allows you to express your most cherished promises and hopes for the future without the need to hold back. Whether you want to tear up, sing a song, or share inside jokes, you don’t have to worry about judgment. You can be fully present in the moment, allowing your emotions to flow freely.

Colorado is a self-solemnizing state, meaning you don’t need an officiant or witnesses to make your marriage legally official. This makes it even easier to have a private, intentional ceremony focused entirely on the two of you. To learn more about self-solemnization in Colorado, check out my guide below.

The beauty of eloping is that you can focus entirely on each other, not others’ expectations. It’s an incredibly intentional choice that keeps the spotlight where it belongs—on your love and your shared journey. You can spend your entire day by your partner’s side, without the distractions that oftentimes come with larger weddings.

The Comfort Elopements Bring

One of the biggest reasons couples choose to elope is the comfort and ease it brings. There’s no pressure to put on a show or follow traditions that don’t feel right for you. Big toasts, first dances in front of a crowd, or being the center of attention at dinner—these moments can feel overwhelming when they’re expected. But when you elope, they’re completely optional. If skipping them makes you feel more at ease, you can confidently say no.

Without the stress of managing everyone else’s experience, you can focus entirely on your own. If you and your partner are having a great time, that’s all that matters.

Want to get married in a black dress, a red dress, a neon suit, or your hiking gear? Go for it. There’s no worrying about what anyone else thinks. You get to celebrate in a way that feels true to you—without expectations, pressure, or the need to perform.

Elopements Can Be Budget-Friendly

Cost is often a major factor when it comes to choosing to elope. Without the hefty price tag of a traditional venue, planner, or feeding a large guest list, you can redirect your budget toward once-in-a-lifetime wedding day experiences. While cost-savings isn’t necessarily a central goal of eloping, it is a frequent benefit.

When you elope, you have total freedom to customize your plans to align with your wedding day priorities and financial goals. It’s all about spending your money where it matters most to you as a couple without feeling locked into a one-size-fits-all approach.

For more guidance on how to set and track your elopement budget, I have a blog that breaks it down step by step.

While there are countless reasons why couples may choose to elope, my other blog goes more in depth into some of the most common motivations behind this shift in wedding culture.

Elopement Myths

The meaning of elopement has evolved over time, leading to a lot of wild misconceptions about what an elopement truly is. With all these myths circulating, it’s no wonder that some couples have a skewed perception of what their elopement can look like. Let me break down a few of these myths and share the truth about eloping.

Elopements Are Secretive – False

Your elopement doesn’t have to be a secret! One of the biggest myths about elopements is that they’re always hidden from loved ones, but that choice is entirely up to you. You can decide to invite guests, tell your family and friends beforehand, or share after the fact. It’s all about how you want to approach your celebration.

If you do decide to share your plans ahead of time, you can include your loved ones in meaningful ways—whether that’s through writing heartfelt letters, having them join you for part or all of your day, or hosting a post-elopement reception to celebrate afterward.

I know how challenging it can be to share your intimate wedding plans with family who might have different expectations. If you’re unsure about how to approach these conversations, I’ve created a guide to help you navigate the process with ease. 

Elopements Are Just Cheap Wedding Days – False

A common misconception about elopements is that they’re simply cheaper, stripped-down weddings. While it’s true that elopements can be more budget-friendly due to the smaller guest list, this isn’t the main reason couples choose to elope. Eloping isn’t about spending less—it’s about investing differently.

When you elope, you have the freedom to prioritize what truly matters to you—whether that’s splurging on your dream attire, choosing a breathtaking location, or planning an unforgettable wedding day adventure. Instead of cutting corners, you can focus on what will make your day meaningful and unforgettable. 

Elopements Are Last Minute and Poorly Planned – False

This myth couldn’t be further from the truth. While eloping may have once been considered a last minute decision, most couples now plan their elopement days just as carefully (if not more so) than traditional weddings. In fact, most of my couples reach out to me 8-18 months ahead of their elopement day to start planning. We work closely the entire time, ensuring that every detail is in place for their dream celebration.

Elopement planning might look different for each couple, but that’s what makes it special! I’ve put together a month-by-month breakdown to guide you through the process and make sure your elopement is stress-free from start to finish.

You Can’t Include Your Loved Ones in Your Elopement – False

This myth is entirely false. Your elopement can be whatever you want it to be. While some couples opt for a quiet ceremony with just the two of them, others choose to include their loved ones in various ways—whether that’s having them present for parts of the day or having them join for their full day, ceremony included.

There are plenty of ways to include the important people in your life throughout your elopement journey. Maybe they help you with some of your planning or write you a letter to read on your elopement day. They can be present on your elopement day or join you for a relaxed post-elopement party. The possibilities are endless. Ultimately, it’s your story, told on your terms.

Let’s Embrace the New Elopement Meaning

At its core, your elopement is about doing what feels right for you and your partner. It’s not about adhering to a set of traditions—it’s about stripping away the fluff and focusing on what really matters: your relationship and your wedding experience. Whether that’s an intimate ceremony with just the two of you or a small gathering with your nearest and dearest, eloping gives you the chance to embrace something completely yours, without outside pressure and societal expectations.

If the idea of a traditional wedding doesn’t quite resonate with you, eloping is a way to rewrite the rules. You can choose a setting that speaks to you, whether that’s a mountaintop, a secluded sand dune, or somewhere else entirely. You can choose to include any vendors you want and to structure your wedding day however you want. You get to decide what’s important…and what’s not. Every decision you make is about you, no compromises needed.

Still not sure if eloping is the right move? I’m here to guide and support you through every step of your journey. Together, we can plan an elopement that reflects your love story, from an epic adventure to something serene and personal. Let’s make it happen, your way.