Customer Reviews

Let's Elope: The Definitive Guide to Eloping, Destination Weddings, and Other Creative Wedding Options

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book as soon as my fiance and I were engaged, excitted about the prospect of eloping. Reading it will get you excited about eloping, show you that it can be done, and give you some general ideas as to how to start the process, but when it comes down to it, the book does not offer that great of advice.

I highly recommend that you consider buying "Beyond Vegas" by Lisa Tabb and Sam Silverstine instead of "Let's Elope." We ended up buying both of them in the end, and actually using the information in BV to plan our wedding in Scotland. Unlike with Let's Elope, the authors actually got married in all of the destinations discussed in there books, and give all the pointers you need, not just what can be found on the official country registrar web sites.

Have fun with it. But don't buy two books when one will do.

Since my engagement over a year ago, I have been delicately evasive when asked the constant When's-the-date? question. I adore my fiancé and am ecstatic at the idea of our spending the rest of our lives with each other. Still, I've seen too many of my supposedly level-headed friends get in over their heads during the planning of a wedding: finances spiraling out of control, knock-down drag-out fights over minute details, overbearing mothers-of-the-bride...you name it.

Enter "Let's Elope : The Definitive Guide to Eloping, Destination Weddings, and Other Creative Wedding Options". I found it on a display at Barnes and Noble, hidden behind a ponderous book on wedding floral arrangements. At last! A book that confirms what I've suspected all along! Beahan and Shaw cover alternatives to a traditional wedding in a lighthearted, hilarious style. I loved the sections about throwing a "Surprise Wedding" and breaking the elopement news gently to loved ones. The how-to half of the book is chock-full of ideas on holding your wedding anywhere from Nantucket to Scotland to Fiji. My only disappointment is that their website (www.letselope.com) isn't ready yet. You can be sure that I'm buying additional copies and shipping these anonymously to my family and friends!

I bought this book hoping for some research on wedding locations. Instead, this book spends a bit of time in each chapter reminding you of the benefits of eloping and querying you to make certain you want to elope.

I know I don't want a wedding. I was just hoping for some well-researched advice on locations where I could get married and have my marriage legal in the US. Felt too much like a traditional wedding book to me.

This is the best of several books I've looked at about planning and executing a wedding far away. Most of the others are for people planning a big fru-fru wedding in an exotic locale. This one will be helpful to those people, but actually has useful advice for people who really want to elope or at least have a very small, simple wedding away from home.

The first half of the book is devoted to convincing you that elopement is okay. That's probably good for people who aren't convinced yet, but I didn't find it that useful. The truly useful part of the book is the last half where they list popular elopement locations and a lot of information about local rules and customs as well as contacts (phone and internet) for more information. My only complaint is that this part of the book isn't longer, but it is still the best resource that I've found. I hope future editions will expand their list of locations.

Far more couples than anyone might suspect, would, if they were honest with themselves, reaize that a planned elopement could / would have saved them endless headaches and a lot of money. Elopement is not just two wide-eyed teenagers, running away from home to get married. It can be a very respectable, honorable thing, if done in the right way. This book gives you a lot of advice on what is the right way and what is the wrong way.

Every family and couple is different of course, but the truth is, for most families and friends, all they really want is for the both of you to be happy. And if they thought a small wedding of 6 people, in a favorite destination of yours, on two weeks notice, was what would make you happy... they'd want you to do it.

Don't be afraid to offend or hurt feelings, because chances are good elopement would not offend or hurt anyone's feelings, if you plan and communicated your plan properly. It's not for everyone of course, but it's a thought raised in the minds of far more couples than will ever let on. Think about it, read the book, and decided if it's for you. There are 100 different ideas here that will spur 100 more and might just result in your dream wedding. Don't discount it because of the taboo associated with the word "elope"!

One thing I've been having a bit of trouble with is my fiance is a little less concerned about exploring all the options available to us regarding the upcoming wedding. Like, he bought the ring, now he's done. (Not entirely true, but some days it feels like that.)

However, this is the one book that he's read cover to cover. It spurred him to start conversations with me about what *he* wants in the wedding. If for no other reason than this book is helping us communicate, I give it 5 stars.

Also, Yosemite wouldn't have occurred to me as an option, but I've fallen in love with the idea. Now to figure out how to make it happen. :)

This is one great book.

It combines humor with useful, practical tips on where to go for that perfect wedding getaway....with or without meddling family and friends. Clearly, a lot of research has gone into this book.

It is extremely well organized and is a "must-have" for anyone planning a wedding getaway.

I like to think of it as a studied lens on where to go to find a perfect environ, best suited to the desires of you and your soon-to-be-more-than-significant-other, to combine romance, intrigue, privacy and adventure before embarking on the ultimate adventure, namely, matrimony.

Well worth the time and money to read.

Andy L.

I liked this book because it provided focus for searching the internet for information on destination weddings. The internet is boundless in the information that it can provide on this subject and it can be overwhelming. This book provided a skeleton of the essentials of what is available on the internet. The book provided scenarios which I liked and in my opinion, a good overview of what is available globally. I did some research on the internet before I bought this book. It was after buying it, I was able to narrow down where I wanted to get married. I also used one the the suggested locations and was more than pleased. Our wedding was better than I could have ever planned, and I credit this book for providing the reinforcement I needed in making my dreams of a "planned elopement" to come true.

It's about time that someone wrote a book on elopement and obviously Scott Shaw was the man to do it. Not only is it an informative "how-to" guide, it is also witty and an enjoyable read. A must-buy for anyone considering the best alternative to a traditional family wedding -- Full of great tips and suggestions

If your tired of all the arguing, decisions and expense that go into planning a wedding then Let's Elope is a must read. The author's provide you with pratical recommedations to make your day unforgetable. From exotic locations to the best bargains, Let's Elope has it all.