What is the definition of an elopement wedding?

Traditionally, an elopement meant running away to marry without telling family or friends. Today, the term has broadened. An elopement wedding is now commonly understood as a small, private ceremony that you plan for yourselves, often away from home. It might be just the two of you, or you might include a handful of close loved ones. The key is that it is not a big, formal wedding with a long guest list.

Elopements can happen anywhere. In Scotland, you can legally marry almost anywhere you agree with your registrar or celebrant, indoors or outdoors. In England and Wales, a civil ceremony must take place at a register office, an approved venue, or a religious building registered for marriages. Since 2022, approved venues can hold civil ceremonies outdoors within their grounds. If you want a religious ceremony, it must be in a registered building with an authorised person present. Humanist ceremonies are not legally binding on their own in England and Wales, so many couples add a short civil ceremony to make it legal. In Northern Ireland, humanist weddings can be legally binding.

An elopement is not necessarily a secret. Many couples tell family and friends afterwards, or they have a small ceremony and a party later. What matters is that you choose the scale and setting that feels right. You still need two witnesses for the legal part, and you must follow the notice rules for your country. Check with your local register office or GOV.UK for the current legal requirements.