he word elopement evokes memories of old black and white movies. The groom-to-be hides in the bushes outside while the bride-to-be, suitcase in hand, shinnies out her bedroom window and down the ladder to join him. They slip away to the home of a Justice of the Peace to stand in his living room where total strangers witness their quick, impersonal ceremony.
My how things have changed in the 21st Century! Now, many brides and grooms elect to take the elopement route these days simple or grand. The scene is worlds away from the 1934 movie “The Secret Bride” where Barbara Stanwyck runs off with the square-jawed Warren Williams. Couple’s reasons for choosing to elope are as varied as their personalities and life circumstances. But whatever the reason the elopement ceremony has drastically changed.
Now, the couple may travel from New York, Kentucky or Canada. They find Savannah to be a most desirable location for a weekend (or weekday) get-away for their planned elopement and Georgia law doesn’t even require witnesses to sign the license!
Here, replacing the officiate’s living room or judge’s office is a medley of breathtaking scenic locations. They may choose to stand beneath majestic, moss-draped oaks in one of Savannah’s squares, they can wade into the water on Tybee Island’s beach at sunset to say their vows or choose the parlor of a quaint bed-and-breakfast inn.
They dress in anything from a formal tux and long white wedding gown and veil to khaki slacks, tropical print shirt and a sundress. They can have all the elements of a larger wedding including a fresh flower bouquet, cake and champagne and a private ride in a horse-drawn carriage. They can end the day with an exquisite dinner in a fine restaurant or an intimate candlelit meal served in their luxurious suite in one of the many historic inns in Savannah’s historic district.
They can fill their days touring this beautiful city, taking in museums and art galleries or they can choose to simply soak in the sun on the beach at Tybee Island. The choices are exciting and seemingly endless. They are happy to slip away mysteriously, then celebrate back home where they can tell family and friends the story of their day through pictures and the narrative of their wedding trip.
Wedding & Tourism Magazine asked couples why they chose to elope. Their responses are as many and as varied as the couples themselves. Keep in mind that most of Savannah’s visiting couples are busy career people from their mid to late 20’s to mid to late 30’s.
“We want to save money,” is the answer so often given since many are about to purchase, or have already purchased a home. They want to have a beautiful, meaningful ceremony, but prefer to save money for the house. The national average for a wedding ceremony is over $25,000. Many people would rather use the money in a more practical way, yet they do want to properly celebrate their nuptials.
“We have been talking about it forever and just decided to do it now,” one couple reported. Like others, they had been engaged for several years and kept saying “we should just get married”, but life was getting in the way - busy careers kept them hopping. They never seem to get time off together. They could barely find the time to plan a wedding much less take the time off for a wedding and honeymoon at the same time. Suddenly, they saw that two weeks down the road they both would have a long weekend free. They decided that now was...
Holly and Jeff, above, chose a grand-style elopement on Daufuskie Island, SC.
Arikka, left and below, wanted a simple ceremony in Savannah's Forsyth Park with a photo session with her and David in the garden at Forsyth Park Inn.
