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Breaking from Tradition…Eloping - with the blessings of your loved ones!
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It’s a celebration of your love, commitment, and lifelong friendship together. It’s all about the two of you, and the relationship you share. A marriage celebration is influenced by so many aspects of your lives, whether it may be religious, cultural, or family influences. In the mayhem of organising your day, it can be very easy to forget the true and deepest meaning of getting married…each other.
That’s why we decided to “elope”, because we wanted to celebrate our special day together. We weren’t concerned about everyone else’s opinions on what we “should or could” do with our day. So with the blessings of both our families, we began to organise a day that would truly reflect our relationship, and that we could both feel completely comfortable and natural experiencing.
We had known each other for many years, and both have the same opinion that a marriage is such a personal and private thing, neither of us thought that we could truly express our feelings through wedding vows in front of family and friends.
It’s such a personal thing, and on the day was the most beautiful and intimate moment between us…although we had three witness’s and our celebrant, it felt like there was no-one else in the room!
We have a lot of friends who are organising weddings and getting married at the moment, and we love celebrating with them, sharing that special day.
But it was just not for us. The funny thing is, all of the weddings we’re attending (one every weekend for this month!) the brides-and-grooms-to-be have all said the same thing: “Wish we’d done it your way!”
Put simply; the stress of organising the day, trying to please so many different people, and not to mention the cost, all put an unnecessary strain on your relationship. I’m not suggesting that every couple should elope, but to really consider what it is you want as a couple out of that special day.
For us, it was to formalise our commitment in sharing a few specially selected words, an impromptu dance and a relaxing and refreshing few days together. The money that would have otherwise been spent on a lavish reception was spent on our honeymoon...in France! Sounds selfish doesn’t it?! But really, it’s all about the two of you!
We both come from big and loving families, who were completely overjoyed for us to be getting married the way we did. I know that on the day everyone was thinking of us and probably a little sad not be there with us, but knowing that this was our day, and we were celebrating our love the way we wanted to.
Big weddings aren’t for everyone, but it seems that couples have them anyway because they are eager to keep the peace within their families and circles of friends.
I would like to think that all couples are getting married the way they do for the right reasons, but I am sure that there are many of you out there wishing that you’d done it differently.
Whatever way you choose to celebrate your commitment, I hope you will remember the real reasons why the celebration is taking place and I hope as a couple, you will enjoy the day, savour every moment and always keep your memories of the day close to your hearts.
Author:
Name and contact details supplied
Venue:
Summerlees Ballroom Southern Highlands NSW
Photographer:
Amanda McWhinnie
