About the Author
Father of Two Daughters Who Eloped · Founder, Elopement Packages Blog
"I've walked two daughters down the aisle — except neither of them had an aisle. One eloped because a pandemic took everything away. The other eloped because she chose to. Both were the most beautiful weddings I've ever attended."
— Larry Leo, Founder
I didn't set out to become an elopement expert. I set out to be a good father — and that turned out to require learning everything I could about a wedding format I'd never expected to encounter, twice, with two very different daughters and two very different stories.
Daughter #1 — The COVID Elopement
My oldest daughter had spent over a year planning her wedding. The venue was booked, the DJ was hired, the caterer was confirmed, the dress was fitted. Then COVID-19 hit, and in the space of a few weeks, every single vendor cancelled. The venue closed. The DJ had no events to play. The caterer shut down. Everything she had built — gone.
She and her fiancé made the decision quickly: they weren't going to wait. They eloped. A small ceremony, just the two of them and a photographer, at a location that meant something to them. No guests, no reception, no seating chart. Just the two of them, their vows, and a day that was entirely their own.
As her father, I won't pretend the first phone call was easy. I had imagined walking her down an aisle. But when I saw the photographs — the way she looked at him, the way he looked at her, the complete absence of the stress and performance that comes with a large wedding — I understood something I hadn't before: the ceremony was never about the guests. It was always about them.
Daughter #2 — The Intentional Elopement
My younger daughter watched her sister's elopement and made a different calculation. Her father and her stepfather had both offered to contribute to her wedding — a generous gift that she took seriously. She looked at what a traditional wedding would cost, looked at what an elopement would cost, and made a decision that was entirely her own: she would elope, keep the money, and use it to build the life she and her husband actually wanted.
There was no pandemic forcing her hand. No venue closure, no cancelled vendors. She simply decided that a beautiful, intimate ceremony was worth more to her than a large event — and that the financial gift her family had offered was better spent on a home, on travel, on the future.
As her father, I respected that decision completely. It was mature, thoughtful, and — when I saw her on her wedding day — clearly right for her.
After two daughters eloped, I realized something: there was almost no good information available for families navigating this. Every elopement resource was written for the couple. Nothing was written for the parent trying to understand, support, and celebrate a wedding that looked nothing like what they'd imagined.
So I built this site. Not as a wedding industry professional, but as a father who has lived through this twice — from the initial surprise, through the planning process, to standing at the ceremony and feeling nothing but pride. Every guide on this site is written with that perspective: honest, practical, and grounded in real experience rather than industry marketing.
The Family Perspective
Most elopement content is written for couples. I write for everyone in the picture — including the parents, stepparents, and family members who need to understand and support the decision.
Real Research, Not Industry Spin
I'm not a wedding vendor. I have no financial interest in recommending one package over another. Every comparison on this site is based on research and real couple feedback.
Both Sides of the Story
I've seen elopements born from necessity (COVID) and from choice (financial wisdom). Both are valid. Both can be beautiful. I write about both without judgment.
Honest About Costs
My daughter saved her wedding gift money by eloping. I understand the financial reality of weddings better than most. Every cost guide on this site is built to help families make informed decisions.
Every guide on this site starts with a question I actually needed answered — either during my daughters' elopements or in the years since, as I've helped other families navigate the same experience. I research each topic thoroughly, cross-reference costs and requirements against official sources (county clerk websites, national park permit systems, vendor pricing pages), and write from the perspective of someone who has been in the reader's position.
I update guides regularly — elopement costs, permit requirements, and package offerings change frequently, and outdated information can cause real problems for couples in the planning process. Every article carries a "last reviewed" date, and I revisit high-traffic guides at least twice a year.
This site contains affiliate links. When you book through a link on this site, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the site free and independent. My recommendations are never influenced by affiliate relationships — I only recommend packages and vendors I would genuinely suggest to my own daughters.
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Founder, Elopement Packages Blog
Why Trust This Site
Lived Experience
Two daughters eloped — one by necessity, one by choice.
No Industry Bias
Not a wedding vendor. No financial interest in any package recommendation.
Regularly Updated
All guides reviewed and updated at least twice per year.
Transparent Affiliates
Affiliate links disclosed clearly. Recommendations are independent.
Family Perspective
Written for couples and their families — not just the couple.
Have a Question?
Whether you're a couple planning to elope or a parent trying to understand the process — I'm happy to help.
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