Last minute elopement

Just be honest. Family and friends will not judge you and will appreciate it more if you tell them you got married privately rather than keeping it a secret which always backfires.

If you plan to celebrate with a small group afterwards, why not just have them witness the ceremony? You can still keep everything casual and low key but this way your family is still included.

View Quoted Comment Well, we had thought about that too. Our officiant has quoted $250 for up to 10 people. If that 10 people includes us, and our two children, then we have 6 people to invite. Our two witnesses, then 4 guests. There will definitely be people left out if we go that route.

View Quoted Comment Ultimately you should do what feels best. If I were I. That scenario I would opt to not have friends as witnesses and I would invite each of your parents (have two of them sign as witnesses) and invite the others to the celebration afterwards. Or you could find a different officiant- I’ve never heard of them having a limit on number of guests.

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ I basically did this! 🤗🤗🤗🤗
It was totally COVID driven...
We had invited our four best friends to be witnesses (one husband came and stood at a greater distance), and another friends husband is a photographer so they were along too. It was supposed to have been a 100 person event but June 2020 there was no chance of doing anything. We went to see our moms (who would be the most upset) and from a distance and said that we’re to excited to finally be married to wait for the pandemic to pass or for their to be more money- we’re going to go with our best friends and get married. “We know you’re excited for us and want to be included in that moment, so we’re going to be sure to have a celebration afterwards.”It took some repeating (MiL legit didn’t process the news for a week). We had to deal with a lot of ‘are you sure?’ and ‘couldn’t you just...?’ And we just were patient with them but stuck to our guns. What I think stuck with my mom was explaining that our wedding is the start of our marriage and life and it needs to be animated and excited and happy- and when our moms cry we will 100% cry. No matter why we’re crying, that’s not how we want to start our new chapter.
So we didn’t. And we had an improv ice cream party. It was fantastic.We met the parents and siblings at our house for a cookout.Moms watched a video later and got all the congrats at a small reception the next year with aunts, uncles, some friends, etc. 25 people. No regrets.

View Quoted Comment I love that! Thanks for sharing. I’m thinking we’ll go along the lines of just us, or just immediate family with a cookout after to celebrate. Still back and forth but I appreciate your experience and that it turned out perfectly for you!

Yes, people's feelings will be hurt because they want to witness and be a part of something special when in reality it is about YOU and YOUR FH. If they are hurt and feel some type of way they are making it about THEM. They are not thinking in terms of YOUR choice and YOUR happiness. Their feelings are very much valid though and totally understandable! There will be some guilt, but again at the end of the day do what you want to do and whatever makes you happy. If anything you can always tell your parents and not your friends. But again, up to you.

Nasya, did you decide what you are going to do? I am thinking of eloping.