The History of Elopements
”Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone, I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One. I give ye my Spirit, 'til our Life shall be Done”
The History of Elopements
14th Century - The earliest use of the word ‘elope’ was in the 14th century, the word itself derives from ‘aloper’, which means to leap. In the 14th century, to ‘elope’ actually meant leaving your husband or wife and to run away with your lover! Overtime, however, the meaning of ‘eloping’ has changed.
17th Century - In the 17th century, it shifted, and rather than running away with your lover, it meant to run away with someone who you were not allowed to marry due to coming from different social classes. So young lovers would abandon their homes, to run away and marry their love against all social norms.
18th Century - Come the 1700s, England introduced a law that meant anyone under the age of 21 needed their parents consent to marry. Scotland, however, implemented no such rule. It was here, in the 1700s, where the iconic Gretna Green got its reputation for hosting elopements (and does so, rather famously, until this day). Why was this the case? Well of course, Gretna Green is the very first village you will find after crossing the English border, and back in the 1700s, if you had a trade, you were able to legally marry. Luckily, for the fleeting English couples, Gretna Green was home to a huge blacksmiths workshop! So they would pop over the border, marry over the blacksmiths anvil, and head back home! To this day, Gretna Green still uses the blacksmiths anvil that you marry over, sealing the nuptials with a strike to the anvil.
21st Century - Today, I believe the term ‘to elope’ envokes nothing but freedom, creativity, romance, intimacy, excitement, mystery, and love. Today, to elope means a small, intimate wedding, with just you and your partner, marrying anywhere, at any time, with one main focus in mind - and that is, that you are marrying your best friend. A great appeal of eloping today also means incredible photograph opportunities - atop a mountain, by a lake, in a castle, at sunset, in rain or shine. In Scotland (and now Northern Ireland, not England yet though, sadly), Humanist Celebrants can legally marry couples ANYWHERE, and so all legal documentation will be completed on the day (check out my blog on celebrants to find out more about this progressive society in the wedding industry).
