Do we still have Americans eloping to marry their lovers?
By divineathena
@divineathena (1746)
United States
January 15, 2013 10:06am CST
I was reading Selena Q's biography on wikipedia. It said that her dad was against her relationship. So she had to elope and marry her boyfriend secretly. That came as a shock to me. That was in the 90's. I thought by that time the idea of eloping became totally dead in the States. The law says that those who are 18 or older can marry by themselves without the consent of the parents. Do you think this basically prevents one from eloping here in America? I am quite interested to know more about it. Do you have anyone in the family who did run away with his or her partner?
3 people like this
8 responses
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
15 Jan 13
I knew many in the usa, who elope to las vegas to get married. I wnat a big wedding. not in some back office...
1 person likes this
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I heard it is quite affordable to get married in Las Vegas. I really wonder how it all started. But yes, I do remember how it was portrayed in Tortilla Soup movie.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
15 Jan 13
As long as your over 18 you can get married what ever way you want to to get married. People here in the US still elope and get married it's not always in kept hidden a lot of times it's on a whim or it's just easier that way. There is also court weddings and then church weddings.
Me and my husband we got married throw the courts really didn't tell anyone but a few people.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I actually want my wedding to be like yours. I don't really understand why people keep a reception later for a huge number of people. Funny that when a divorce occurs none of them show up to give sympathy. Those same people start to talk about it behind the couple's back.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
19 Jan 13
It is funny that people do keep parties to celebrate divorce. But yes, if the spouse was too unbearable, that is the only way to enjoy the first days of freedom. I think reception for a few friends and relatives is totally fine. But there are some who would invite thousands of people and spend millions on such a parties. Not sure if it is worth the effort.@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
18 Jan 13
Very body is different. The reception is to celebrate you getting married. I had a reception after we had our court wedding. Now my oldest brother he had a court marriage, and they got divorced nothing stops a divorce and some people actually do have parties where people show up after a divorces. I was thrilled when my brother divorced his ex wife and then I was thrilled when he got remarried he found a keeper.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
16 Jan 13
Eloping to go get married, is something that still happens, even yet today. I have heard of people still doing it, and know people that go to Las Vegas for the weekend just to get married without anyone knowing they were going there to do this.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Why is it that they don't pick a local church or court? Las Vegas looks nice and has convenience. But isn't it too far away? 
I thought picking something locally would cost less!
I thought picking something locally would cost less!
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
15 Jan 13
Hi
Divineathena, my grandmother, and the grandmother of my husband eloped, but I think that for the sake of true love, eloping isn´t as dangerous as divorce. My parents didn´t elopeb, but got divorced 29 years after, and a week before I got married. What do you think about it?
Love is love, and the power of true love can´t be stopped and shouldn´t be stopped
.
Blessings Divineathena... dainy
Divineathena, my grandmother, and the grandmother of my husband eloped, but I think that for the sake of true love, eloping isn´t as dangerous as divorce. My parents didn´t elopeb, but got divorced 29 years after, and a week before I got married. What do you think about it?
Love is love, and the power of true love can´t be stopped and shouldn´t be stopped.
Blessings Divineathena... dainy@divineathena (1746)
• United States
17 Jan 13
I don't see anything wrong in eloping. But did they say goodbye to their families? I have heard of couples who eloped and never ever came back. You are right, it is better than divorce.
1 person likes this
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
16 Jan 13
In my country, when you turn 18 you are considered an adult and therefore are kinda allowed to elope and get married. I think it really is up to the person and the person they are marrying whether they would like to elope and get married. I would just ask for consent from my parents and make sure they are okay with it. I know some people just don't get along with their parents and just elope.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
19 Jan 13
Yes, that is what I was wondering too. Becoming 18 or crossing it makes us eligible to have a say on who we wish to marry. So I thought it is okay to just do it. Eloping probably would happen if the parents turn out to be intimidating. Otherwise, I don't think one needs to bother taking this step and here in USA, people have the protection from such threat anyways.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
15 Jan 13
I'm not from America... my country can be considered a bit conservative, but not too much. But this eloping and fathers and mothers not letting their daughters marry who they want is really rare here in the 21st century. I'm always shocked when I hear things like this.
I'm not sure the law has to do anything with preventing eloping. It's just how the whole society has changed. Kids, women etc. got more and more power after revolutionary movements, which resulted in the children getting more and more independent from the family, especially the father, becoming free. Most people even leave the parental house after 18 now, eventually. So it has to do more with providing the essential human rights to the children rather than whining about a person leaving their parents secretly.
@divineathena (1746)
• United States
19 Jan 13
You are right. I thought eloping back then happened because children did not have enough protection. In the eastern side of the world, honor killing is so common. It only happens because the law is not strong enough to punish the families doing such thing. It is certainly comprehensible that their children are simply forced to flee. I read some news according to which even the poor parents get killed by the other just because their kids crossed the class line to fall in love with each other. I suppose the story of star crossed lovers will never really die in this world.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Jan 13
oh wow! i think this is still common these days in the Philippines, but as you said not quite real for Americans because everyone is pretty much given their freedom when they turn 18. unlike here in the Philippines for so long as you live with your parents they get a hold of your life.. sometimes even married ones still have their parents nagging at them hehehe :D
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Jan 13
When my husband and I got married, we decided to have a big wedding despite the fact that we already had a nineteen month old daughter and there were many people in our family that had encouraged us to hurry up and get married before our daughter was born.
Now with my brother and sister-in-law, they did run off to Tennessee and got married before my brother ever introduced his daughter (who was seven months old when they got married) to our extended family.
For me, I've decided that if anything should ever happen to my husband, I won't have another big wedding and I would instead run off and get married.
