Article Summary

An elopement wedding is a modern, intentional, and deeply personal alternative to traditional weddings that focuses on the couple’s connection, freedom, and unique vision rather than on expectations, obligations, and large guest lists. In the article, Patrícia Nunes — a Lisbon-based elopement photographer — explains what elopement really means today, how it differs from historical definitions of eloping, and why so many couples are choosing this intimate wedding option.

The piece starts by clarifying that although the original dictionary meaning of “elopement” referred to secretly running away to marry, contemporary elopements are about crafting a meaningful, stress-free wedding experience built around the couple’s desires. Elopement weddings are described as freedom-centered, honest, and fun, allowing couples to celebrate their commitment in a way that feels true to them — whether that’s just the two of them, a few close loved ones, or an adventurous location like a mountaintop or special city spot.

The core message is simple: “Your day, your rules.” The article outlines that elopement doesn’t exclude guests but emphasizes intentionality, meaning couples decide what matters most to them instead of conforming to external expectations. Readers will find insights on how elopements remove traditional wedding stress, encourage authenticity, and allow couples to focus on genuine connection and meaningful moments they’ll cherish forever.

For the past few years — and especially since the pandemic — the term “elopement” have been growing considerably in search. However, it’s completely normal that there are still questions regarding this not-so-new way of getting married but rest assure, your Lisbon elopement photographer is here to help you understand a bit more of this new intimate and intentional way of saying “I Do!”.

By the dictionary definition, to elope means that the couple decides to run away and get married in secret. That’s actually why I say this is not a “new” thing as elopements have been around for decades already (I bet you have at least one ancestor who have eloped).

However, I believe that as the times change the meaning of eloping also changes. If in the 50’s (or even previously) people would elope because their love was forbidden and not accepted by their families, nowadays there are a lot of different reasons to choose to elope instead of having a big traditional wedding.

Eloping will, therefore, have a different meaning for each individual. For me, an elopement and couples photographer, eloping means freedom, deep connection, being unapologetically yourself together, intentional, meaningful, fun and stress-free. It means having pretty much the perfect date - which is something every couple should experience as the first day of their new chapter as a married couple, right?

In comparison, traditional weddings tend to be more about other people and not about the couple per se. There’s always constrictions with family members who want things to be a specific way - their way -, pressure to invite people that might not make sense to the couple but it will look bad if they don’t invite, comparisons with the cousin’s wedding which was bigger and fancier… you get the point.

Eloping takes away a lot of the outside influence as it allows the couple to simply be together, to celebrate their love, in an intimate and totally tailor made ceremony where the only people that actually matter are themselves.

Eloping means that your special day is really yours. It means leaving everyone else’s expectations and conditions behind, focusing solely on your own desires and needs, preventing looking back to your day years from now and regretting having done stuff you might not actually enjoyed but felt that you had to, based on the needs of someone else.

Does this mean that you can’t have guests? Absolutely not! What eloping really means is this:

Your day, your rules.

Want to be just the two of you? Perfect.
What to invite only your parents? Cool.
Want to travel somewhere remote and say your vows on top of a mountain? Sign me in!
Want to stay in your city and do the ceremony with just a couple of guests in a special place for you two? That’s totally fine!

Your day, your rules. That’s what eloping really means.

Hope this was helpful! See you on the next article.

Love,

Patrícia, your Lisbon elopement photographer

Lisbon elopement photographer

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