Eloping means to get married in a secretive manner - be it at city hall with a single witness or in Las Vegas at a 24-hour chapel with an Elvis impersonator. Believe it or not, there is etiquette on how to elope, and how to handle all the important people in your life who may feel spurned by being excluded. In addition, there are also some important issues you need to ask yourself before you run off and get hitched.

Will Your Immediate Family And Friends Be Hurt?
And if you think they will be hurt, how much do you care? The answer to this last question is the most important because, after all is said and done, it is your life and your marriage. That said, you may wish to avoid conflict by calling your parents before you make the big leap, just to let them in on the secret, like Britney Spears probably did. (ed. - What ever happened to her?) Or you may opt to leave them in the dark if you think that it would cause more harm than good. Some couples choose a modified, modern-day version of elopement: the destination wedding. The destination wedding allows you to invite your parents, siblings and closest friends without having to bear the financial burden of hosting a huge, extravagant wedding.

Can We Send Wedding Announcements?
Eloping, by definition, is a secret, unplanned, getaway wedding without anyone's consent. So, if you plan to tell everyone you just want to have a private ceremony, you're actually just having a non-traditional, destination wedding. Announcements are recommended, and gifts are acceptable.

You’ve Kept It A Secret – Now What?
If you’ve kept your elopement a secret, you may find it difficult (if not scary) to announce your marriage to your friends and family. There are several ways in which you can go about doing this.

Some couples send a formal announcement, while others throw themselves a casual "reception" or big party after they've returned from the elopement. You can also send an "At Home" card, which simply announces that the two of you are married and, as the name suggests, that you're home. If you choose to send an “At Home” card, don’t forget to include your new names and address, as well as a personal note explaining why you eloped.

article continues...
[Page 1 of 2]