SHOULD WE ELOPE TO IRELAND?
There are many reasons to elope which I will cover in another blog- reasons to Elope
You need to ask yourself what is important to you.
Do you want a big wedding?
Would you prefer to spend the money on having an amazing trip?
Do you hate being the center of attention?
Perhaps you just don’t want any family drama or stress?
Big weddings are not for everyone. You are not alone in thinking “should we elope?”
We eloped for our wedding and it was the best experience of my life. I have zero regrets.
The answer to this question is do what YOU want to do. If no other factors were involved would you elope to Ireland? If yes is the answer, then yes you should Elope.
GREAT, YOU HAVE DECIDED TO ELOPE TO IRELAND, NOW HOW TO GET EVERYONE ELSE ON BOARD!
If you have decided to elope to Ireland, just the two of you, or you have chosen to invite a small number of friends & family then its important to have a plan on how to communicate your choices in a sensitive way. It’s your day to enjoy on your terms, but you want to create a positive vibe and be as inclusive as possible.
Here are some pointers on how to make the news go over as smoothly as possible:
TALK ABOUT ELOPING IN IRELAND AS A DREAM ADVENTURE ASAP
Drop hints before getting engaged or announcing your elopement. This plants the idea early on. Also, it allows you to debate with family and friends how wonderful and freeing it is to elope! Have your reasons for wanting to elope to Ireland clear in your mind as this can help you convince others what an amazing adventure eloping in Ireland is. Get back-up as well from someone supportive to echo your thoughts.
TELL THEM IN PERSON WHEN POSSIBLE
Telling them face to face is considerate of their feelings and shows that it’s not a decision to exclude them. You can also show them how excited you are in person.
TELL THEM WHY
Some friends and family members might react to your plans as they don’t understand what eloping actually is. Be very clear what your reasons for eloping are.
Some typical reasons:
We love to travel and want to have a meaningful wedding somewhere we both love.
We want to have just the two of us sharing our vows.
We want an intimate ceremony and not to feel like we are putting on a show.
We want to spend the day with each other.
We chose a place that is not accessible to large groups to have our ceremony, but it’s really important to us.
We get very stressed at the thought of planning a large wedding.
We are ready to commit and want to do this soon, instead of waiting and planning.
We really don’t want to spend our savings on a big traditional wedding.
INVOLVE THEM IN THE PREPERATIONS
INVOLVE THEM IN THE PREPERATIONSAsk them to help you choose your clothes. What jewelry to wear. What way to style the ceremony. Tell them all the details of the day and the trip. Ask for their opinions on poetry and readings. Maybe they can help you with your vows for your destination wedding Ireland. You can throw an engagement party. Invite them to watch you sign your marriage license before you leave and pop some champagne.
INCLUDE THEM IN YOUR CEREMONY
Have your friends and family write letters of love for your elopement and read them out at your ceremony.
Involve your guests at the ceremony and ask them to read a story or poem that is meaningful to you.
Live stream and/or record your Celtic wedding ceremony! We recommend working with our videographer Ireland to get a professional and amazing product that you can watch together with your family and friends after.
Send selfies, photos and little videos updating your loved ones throughout the day. You can Facetime, Skype, or Zoom too at any stage!
Include family heirlooms and/or little gifts they may have given you in the ceremony.
Have your friends record and send you a toast on the day wishing you love & luck as you start your journey in life together.
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND FILM WITH THEM
Have a party and show your Ireland elopement film and photos to all your friends and family. They will see you had a wonderful and exciting experience, and it allows them to share in your happiness. You can also bring them something back from your trip. You could print photos and give them to your friends and families as gifts.
REMEMBER THIS IS YOUR DAY
REMEMBER THIS IS YOUR DAYIt’s good to empathize with friends and family who may feel a little disappointed, but don’t forget that your wedding day is a celebration of your love with your partner (it’s not about anybody else) and you deserve to have a day that’s right for you.
If you decide that a destination wedding in Ireland is right for you then we would love to guide you to that amazing authentic and intimate experience. Elope to Ireland!
If you want to learn more about eloping in Ireland you can click here. You can contact me directly with any questions on [email protected] or fill out our contact form here.
