On Thursday, August 7, 2008, singer Jewel eloped with her boyfriend of 10 years, Ty Murray. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in the Bahamas. According to People magazine, she wore a traditional white wedding gown and he donned his favorite blue-jeans-and-cowboy-hat ensemble.
With the weakening economy, meddling mother-in-laws, and misbehaving bridesmaids, who needs a big (read: expensive) wedding? No bridesmaid gifts, no epic search for perfect wedding favors, no dress fittings. No muss, no fuss. And there's nothing more romantic than vows whispered in secret on a secluded island.
Destination weddings and off-the-radar elopements aren't only for famous folks. If you'd rather stay out of the spotlight and buck tradition, elope and spare yourself the cost and headache of a traditional celebration. With these tips you can still have the wedding of your dreams, celebrate in style, and be comfortable, like Jewel and her denim-clad cowboy.
Can I Get a Witness?
Whether you get married on a hot air-balloon, underwater, or on a remote island in the Pacific, be sure to check the marriage license requirements before you get on the plane. In the U.S., you'll probably need a marriage license and one or two witnesses. Most states require a waiting period between when the license is issued to when the ceremony is performed, but sometimes the waiting period can be waived. Even if you elope to Vegas, read the marriage license regulations thoroughly.
Capture the Moment
Even if your ceremony lasts 10 minutes and it's just you and the groom, you will regret not having a wedding album to show-off to your friends. Do not designate your best friend as your photographer simply because she took a couple classes in college or had a summer fling with Mr. Snapshot. Hire a professional or risk dark photographs taken from unflattering angles. Many resorts offer reasonably priced photography packages, but if you book online, make sure the photographer is legitimate. Research, research, research. Let those that didn't make it to the ceremony get a glimpse of you and the groom with this flip-flop photo frame.
Escape from the Peanut Gallery
Let's be honest: the real reason you're secretly getting married is so you can have the wedding you want without input from the peanut gallery. Grandma wants you to wear white dress, but ivory looks best with your skin tone. Your sister sneered at your selection of bridesmaid gifts and your mom vehemently suggested (read: forced) you to invite your five estranged cousins to the reception. At the end, it isn't your wedding, it belongs to everyone else.
If you elope and even if you don't, make the day all about you and your husband. Use Jewel's recent elopement as your inspiration. Most people might giggle if your betrothed showed up in jeans, but Ty Murray was his bull-riding self that day. And obviously Jewel loves the cowboy hat!
Now that you've decided to elope, shop Weddingstand for honeymoon and travel accessories, bridesmaid gifts, beach wedding favors, and more.
