If you’re an LDS couple contemplating eloping, you might feel a bit conflicted. On the one hand, you want a wedding day that reflects your love and your values without the pressures of a big event. On the other hand, you’re probably thinking about how eloping fits into the sacred commitments of temple marriage and sealing. LDS Elopements may be a viable option for you and your family.
The good news? Eloping as an LDS couple can be both meaningful and aligned with your faith. Recent changes in Church policy offer more flexibility, allowing you to honor both your family and your eternal commitments without sacrificing one for the other. Here’s why you might want to consider LDS Elopements and how they can still fit within the teachings of the Church.
Marriage in the LDS faith is a sacred, eternal covenant. The temple sealing binds you and your spouse “for time and all eternity,” with the promise of “glory and joy throughout eternity” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19–20). This is the most important part of your union—the covenant you make together in the temple, not necessarily the size or style of the wedding day.
Breaking The Stereotype Of “Eloping”
One of the biggest stereotypes around eloping is that it’s impulsive, selfish, or lacks the depth of a traditional wedding. But in reality, LDS Elopements can be deeply intentional and meaningful decisions. For some couples, a big wedding doesn’t feel like “them”—it can feel more like a family event rather than an expression of their love.
In the LDS community, weddings often become major family reunions, and the focus can shift from the couple to the logistics of accommodating everyone. LDS Elopements offer a way to shift the spotlight back to the couple while still preserving what’s sacred about marriage. Eloping also allows you to focus on what truly matters: your love and commitment to each other.
No More One-Year Waiting Period For A Sealing After Civil Wedding
One of the biggest concerns LDS couples used to have when eloping or having a civil ceremony was the requirement to wait a full year before being sealed in the temple. Thankfully, that policy has changed.
The Church now allows couples to “be sealed in the temple when they receive their temple recommends” after a civil marriage, without waiting a year. This shift offers more flexibility, allowing couples to celebrate their love with a civil ceremony—like an elopement—while still moving forward with their eternal sealing soon after.
To read more about the policy change click HERE
Balancing Family And Faith In Your Elopement Ceremony
As an LDS couple, you may feel pressure to have a more traditional wedding that includes all your family members. However, the Church recognizes that in some situations, a civil ceremony before the temple sealing may be the best option to prevent “parents or immediate family members from feeling excluded because they cannot attend the temple ceremony.”
With this in mind, LDS Elopements allow you to balance your faith with family considerations. You can plan a small, intimate civil ceremony for family and friends who aren’t able to attend your temple sealing. Then, when you and your spouse are ready, you can proceed with your temple sealing and still include your family in a celebration afterward.
Here are a few ways you can include loved ones while still keeping your day intimate:
- Host a post-elopement gathering: Plan a reception or dinner after your elopement to celebrate with family and friends. This can be as simple as a backyard barbecue or as elaborate as a formal dinner party.
- Ring exchange with family: While ring exchange isn’t part of the temple sealing ceremony, you can hold a special ring exchange with your family present, either before or after your temple sealing.
- Live-stream your civil ceremony: If you’re having a civil ceremony as part of your elopement, consider live-streaming it for family members who can’t be there in person.
- Involve family in wedding preparations: Ask family members to help with specific aspects of your elopement, such as choosing your attire, writing your vows, or selecting meaningful locations.
- Create a wedding video or photo album: Share your elopement experience with family by creating a special video or photo album. You could even arrange a viewing party to share these memories together.
- Incorporate family heirlooms: Include family heirlooms in your elopement, such as wearing your grandmother’s necklace or using your great-grandfather’s pocket watch. This can help your family feel connected to your special day.
- Arrange pre- or post-elopement family photos: Schedule a professional photo session with your family before you leave for your elopement or after you return, creating lasting memories of this special time.
LDS Elopements: A More Personal and Adventurous Experience
Eloping gives you the opportunity to create a wedding day that’s entirely about the two of you. Whether you want to exchange vows on a mountaintop, in a forest, or in a quiet park, LDS Elopements let you choose a location and setting that reflects your relationship and shared values.
For adventurous couples, eloping can also add an element of excitement to your wedding day. You can plan a trip, visit a meaningful place, or simply create a day that’s unique to you both. After all, your wedding is the start of a lifelong adventure together—why not begin it in a way that speaks to your shared love for exploration and experiences?
Keep the Temple Sealing Central
No matter what form your elopement takes, ensure that your temple sealing remains the focal point of your commitment to each other. Your civil wedding is an important moment, but it is the temple sealing that will bind you for eternity.
As with any marriage, the blessings promised through a temple sealing are conditional upon your faithfulness to the covenants made in the temple. An elopement allows you to celebrate your love in a personal way, but the ultimate joy and glory come from being faithful to your eternal covenants.
Final Thoughts
Eloping doesn’t mean you’re bypassing the sacredness of temple marriage or neglecting your faith. Instead, LDS Elopements offer a way to create a wedding day that is uniquely yours while still honoring the sacred covenants of the temple. The Church has recognized the need for flexibility and love during this important time in a couple’s life, and the recent changes make eloping and temple sealing more compatible than ever.
As the Church states, “We are grateful for your dedicated and inspired leadership in helping members understand, prepare for, and enjoy the blessings of eternal marriage.” Your marriage is a covenant for eternity, and how you choose to celebrate it should reflect your love, your values, and your eternal perspective.
So, if you’re considering an LDS Elopement, know that they can be a beautiful, meaningful, and perfectly aligned option for LDS couples. Your focus remains on the most important part: your love for each other and your commitment to eternity.
