Eloping

The current economic crisis has made eloping fashionable! So reports the Nov. 23 Sunday Styles section of the New York Times, quoting couples who “found themselves resenting the money and effort required” in hosting a wedding.  Sounds familiar? As I discuss in the “Venue” chapter of Green Wedding, there may be a happy medium between a quickie wedding and saying your vows before 200 of your closest friends: the cyber wedding, or streaming the ceremony live from its location to relatives and friends all over the world.

The advantages of the virtual approach: you save a ton in wedding expenses and there’s nothing greener than downsizing and consuming less.

The disadvantage: you may ruffle a few feathers. And don’t expect gifts!

Las Vegas wedding chapels have led the cyber wedding trend, factoring into their packages both free live broadcasts and the Elvis impersonator. But wedding videographers, dot.com companies and even some cities have jumped on the bandwagon. This is not for everyone, I know, but, if you’re intrigued, google “wedding webcasts.”