Why You Should Consider Having a Secret Wedding (Like the Celebs Do)

There are perks that come along with being completely hush-hush about tying the knot, and not letting any extended friends or distant family members know where or when you're officially walking down the aisle. You can save tons of money, leave out tons of pre-wedding drama, and forget about having to hear a million people's opinions about a wedding they don't know is even about to take place. 



We see celebrities doing this all the time, from Miley and Liam saying, "I do" in December and sharing the news with the rest of the world days later via an Instagram picture, to Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin, who secretly got married in a courthouse last fall. 



"We've seen a rise in secret weddings over the last few years, with couples choosing to celebrate close to the holidays when both sides of the family are already in town," says Karen Merrifield, co-founder of Fern and Moon. "For a couple who wants a low-key, no fuss wedding, it's the perfect time to take advantage of out-of-town guests already coming to their holiday dinner to surprise everyone with a secret wedding!"



But Hollywood's A-listers aren't the only one hugging hello the secret wedding trend. Plenty of couples around the world are keeping things small, and under wraps, until the have pictures to share with the rest of us.



Read on to find out what these wedding planners say are the perks of having a secret wedding.

"In a lot of the weddings I have been involved with, time and time again, I see people/family members pushing their wedding ideas and agendas on the couple. Family means well, but they tend to pressure my couples into what kind of decor they should have or who they should go with for entertainment," says Lizzie Lumley, the owner and lead coordinator at Hakuna Matata Weddings & Events. "Having a secret wedding would relieve some of this pressure as all the couple's family members or friends wouldn't need to know." 

"The intimacy that a private ceremony creates is really beautiful and unique. Without other people around, the couple is able to focus solely on each other which creates a really different wedding experience," says  Janessa White, the co-founder of Simply Eloped. "This is especially true when it comes to written vows. The way that a couple writes their wedding vows knowing no one else will hear them but their partner brings a sense of commitment and intimacy that the environment of a traditional wedding doesn’t cater to. Big weddings also bring up a bunch of instances around doing things to please guests and that just isn’t a thing with elopement or private ceremony."

"There is an allure to having a wedding or event that no one knows about. It creates mystery, curiosity and a buzz that your guests will be excited about," says Lauren Grech, CEO and founder, and Teal Nicholson, creative director, of LLG.  "They will be more intrigued, more engaged, and feel even more honored to be part of your special day."

"Couples can forgo spending money on pre-wedding events from rehearsal dinners, bachelors/bachelorette parties, to save-the-dates," says Farah Saint-Jean, co-owner of Spectacular Affairs, LLC. "They can further save money on the reception because of their smaller guest list. It's a smart decision for couples wanting to start married life without a financial burden."

"Creating a guest list is one of the most difficult part of the wedding planning process for couples," says Saint-Jean. "Much of this difficulty comes from the pressure and guilt couples experience as they feel obliged to invite people to their wedding because those people are aware of the upcoming nuptials. A secret wedding eliminates this pressure and allows the couple to have their closest friends and family members present on their special day."

Credit: Miley Cyrus/Instagram