Elopement

We decided that we were going to elope before we were even engaged.  The very idea of a traditional wedding gave (and still gives) both of us major anxiety.  The idea of being the center of attention for a whole day - photographs, speeches, walking down the aisle...it just isn't us and we made the decision that our wedding day would be completely "us" and that we'd do whatever it is that we're most comfortable with.

Months before our engagement we had begun to plan a "last hurrah" before "growing up".  On our very first date in 2010, sitting in a nervous-drunken stupor in a dark corner of Auntie Annies in Belfast, we were talking about my up-coming trip to the USA, New Zealand and Australia.  I remember asking Michael where in the world he would love to go if he had the chance and he answered, without skipping a beat, New York City.  Ever since then, I've always inwardly made it my mission to go back there and take him with me.  

So, we planned a trip for Christmas 2015 where we would spend the holidays exploring the city and experiencing a "Home Alone" Christmas in New York.  In addition to this, we thought we could fly out to Las Vegas and spend New Years there and really go all out.  So the plan was/is to spend all of 2015 working our butts off to save as much as we can in order to make the most of our trip.  This being the plan, I had figured there was absolutely no way we were going to get engaged before the trip, so it was an even bigger surprise when we did!

I think it was Christmas Night (24 hours post-engagement) when we decided we would get married in New York while we're out there and treat Las Vegas as our honeymoon. The more research that we've put into it, the more perfect a decision it has been for us.  We're so, so excited to be getting married on Christmas Eve, exactly one year from our engagement, in the most magical city in the world.  

We have decided to cut all the traditional wedding stuff - no bridal party, no big ceremony, no big dresses and photography - and wake up Christmas Eve, travel to City Hall in Lower Manhattan and have the smallest, most intimate 30-second ceremony possible!  Just the two of us (and some random witnesses we'll grab from the foyer, probably). I always feared growing up that I would get sucked into the craziness of a massive wedding.  I never wanted that, and neither does Michael.  Weddings often distract from the real meaning of and reason for a couple committing to marriage.  We're committed to keeping a clear head; always being aware of the huge decision we're making and the true and real meaning of our vows.  Our whole wedding will be centered around just the two of us.

Once the ceremony is over and we're officially husband and wife (eeep!) we plan to go for cocktails at The Plaza and take a walk around Central Park for some photos before a lovely dinner somewhere special.  We'd love there to be a bit of snow too!

We are umming and aahing over whether to spend our wedding night/Christmas Eve in a nice hotel or whether we should rent our own apartment for the week.  We actually have a Hilton apartment suite in Central Manhattan provisionally booked - it would be nice to be able to cook our own Christmas dinner there!  Flights aren't available until February so we're itching to get them booked so that we can really start to plan.

Thankfully, our family have been really supportive of our plans to get married away.  Of course, if it was possible, we'd love them all to come with us but it just wouldn't be.  This is why we have booked and confirmed a post-wedding reception party for when we return!