Why Eloping Might Be the Best Decision You Make

I recently had the chance to film a wedding in Costa Rica, and it completely redefined what a wedding day can be.

There were no giant floral arrangements. No banquet halls. No stress over seating charts or timelines packed down to the minute.

Instead, it was just the couple, their closest family members, and a quiet, beautiful place that already had meaning in their relationship. A spot that felt like part of their story, not just a rental for the day.

It was small, simple, and incredibly intentional.

And it was one of the most meaningful weddings I’ve ever filmed.

There’s this idea floating around that eloping is somehow a "lesser" option—as if it means you're skipping out on something important. That if you elope, you're giving up the magic, or you're trying to run away from commitment, or that you're selfishly cutting people out.

But here’s what I’ve seen firsthand: eloping isn’t about what you're avoiding—it's about what you're choosing to prioritize.

This couple chose peace. They chose focus. They chose to begin their marriage not with noise and pressure, but with presence. And that allowed them to create something far more meaningful than any giant party could have offered.

They didn’t need extravagance. They had meaning.
They didn’t need an audience. They had each other.
They didn’t follow anyone else’s script. They wrote their own.

There’s no one right way to get married—but I’ll say this: the smaller the wedding, the more room there often is for the real stuff.

The quiet vows.
The long, uninterrupted hugs.
The deep breaths before saying “I do.”
The space to be fully yourselves.

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That’s the thing about elopements: they give you room to feel the day. Room to breathe. Room to actually experience the moment instead of just moving through it.

And from a videographer’s point of view? Elopements give us the freedom to tell your story in a way that’s deeply personal and uniquely cinematic. We can film in multiple locations. We can capture natural, unscripted moments without feeling rushed. We can build something that feels more like a short film than a highlight reel.

When there’s no rigid schedule, no DJ timeline, no pressure to entertain a room full of guests, what’s left is something incredibly honest.

So let me say this clearly: there is nothing small about eloping.

It’s not the backup plan.
It’s not a lesser version.
It’s not a selfish act.

It’s one of the most intentional things a couple can do.

And if you’re thinking about it—if you’re quietly wondering whether skipping the big wedding is the right move—I want you to know that you’re not alone. More and more couples are choosing to elope. Not out of fear, but out of freedom.

The freedom to get married in a place that feels like home.
The freedom to spend the day together instead of being pulled in a dozen directions.
The freedom to do something that reflects you, and not just tradition.

And as for me? I’ll follow you anywhere.

Whether you want to say your vows on a beach in Costa Rica, under a waterfall, on top of a mountain, or in a cozy backyard at sunset—I’m in. Because your story matters, wherever it takes place.

Your wedding is not a performance. It’s a beginning. So start it somewhere that feels honest. Start it somewhere that feels like you.

And if you do decide to elope? I promise you—you’re not missing out. You’re just making room for what matters most.

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