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Expert guides to the world's best elopement packages. Real reviews, honest pricing, and planning tips from a father whose two daughters eloped — one because COVID took everything away, one because she chose to.
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About the Author
Written by a Father Who's Lived It — Twice
I'm Larry Leo, and I've watched two daughters elope — one because COVID-19 cancelled every vendor she'd booked, and one because she chose to keep the wedding money and build her future instead. Both were the most beautiful weddings I've ever attended.
I built this site because no resource existed for families navigating elopements. Every guide here is grounded in real experience — not industry marketing. No sponsored rankings. No fluff. Just honest guidance from a father who's been there.
"Best decision we ever made"
— Jordan & Kurtis, Colorado
Your Child Is Eloping.
Here's How to Be Their Greatest Gift.
I've been exactly where you are — twice. The phone call. The mix of emotions. The questions. Here's what I learned, and what I wish someone had told me.
My First Daughter
The COVID Elopement
She'd spent over a year planning her wedding. Then COVID cancelled the venue, the DJ, the caterer — everything. She and her fiancé didn't want to wait another year of uncertainty. They eloped with just a photographer.
My first reaction was grief — for the big celebration I'd imagined. My second reaction, watching the photos, was awe. It was the most intimate, genuine wedding I'd ever seen. The emotion was undiluted. Nothing was performative. It was just them.
My Second Daughter
The Intentional Elopement
Her stepfather and I had both offered to contribute to her wedding. She sat down, ran the numbers, and made a decision: she would elope, keep the money, and invest it in her future. No pandemic. No pressure. A clear-eyed, mature choice.
I respected it immediately — and I told her so. That conversation, where I said "I support you completely," became one of the most meaningful moments in our relationship. She still talks about it. Your support is the gift they'll remember longest.
5 Things I'd Tell Every Parent Right Now
Say "I Support You" First
Before you ask questions, before you express disappointment, say those three words. They will remember your first reaction for the rest of their lives. Make it one they're proud to tell their children about.
Separate Your Dream from Their Day
The wedding you imagined was always partly for you. That's okay — it's human. But their elopement is entirely for them. Recognizing that distinction is the most loving thing you can do.
Ask How You Can Be Part of It
Many couples who elope still want their parents involved — just differently. Ask if you can join a small celebration dinner, write them a letter to read at the ceremony, or plan a family gathering after. They may say yes.
Don't Make Them Justify the Choice
Asking "but why?" repeatedly puts them in the position of defending their own wedding. They don't owe you a justification. Trust that they've thought it through — because they have.
Plan Your Own Celebration
Host a dinner, a backyard party, a family brunch — something that lets you celebrate with the people you love. This isn't a consolation prize; it's a second celebration. Many families say it's more relaxed and joyful than a traditional reception.
Look at the Photos With Open Eyes
When the photos arrive, look at their faces. Not the venue, not the guest list, not what's missing. Look at them. That joy is real. That love is real. And you helped raise someone capable of that kind of love.
You're Not Losing a Wedding. You're Gaining a Story.
Both of my daughters' elopements became the stories our family tells most. Not the ones we planned — the ones that happened exactly as they were meant to.
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