The ostentatious table displays, the toe-curling speeches, the perplexing obsession with fascinators… Weddings, though intended as a celebration of love, can sometimes feel more like a performative art piece – and an increasingly expensive one. It’s no surprise, then, that a growing number of couples are choosing to opt out of mega ceremonies in favour of a low-fuss elopement. “Couples today are more intentional about their wedding experience. They crave luxury, intimacy and authenticity, and celebrations that reflect their personalities rather than societal expectations,” says London-based micro wedding and elopement planner Akilah Atiba-Davies, who has observed a shift towards smaller and more bespoke ceremonies.
Once defined by scandal, the modern-day elopement has been reinvented as a low-key – but no less romantic – choice. Many are essentially destination weddings, as couples opt for a private ceremony in lavish settings without the secrecy, says luxury wedding planner Jessie Westwood of Studio Sorores. “They want it to be meaningful as an experience.”
“There’s a lot of competitiveness around weddings, and it’s nice to just check out and do it completely on your own terms,” says film producer Olivia Cohen-Dyer, who ditched her big wedding plans to elope to L...
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