What Is an Elopement (Really)?

And How COVID + Maddie Mae Changed the Game

Gone are the days when eloping meant sneaking off to a courthouse in secret.

These days, eloping is about freedom — the freedom to do your wedding your way. It's about stripping back the pressure and the planning and focusing on what actually matters: just the two of you, in a place that sets your souls on fire.

And believe it or not, a global pandemic and a woman named Maddie Mae had a lot to do with that shift.

So… what is an elopement?

At its core, an elopement is a wedding day that’s intimate, intentional, and fully centered around your connection. It’s a day where you get to choose what matters, ignore what doesn’t, and create a celebration that feels like coming home.

Maybe that’s hiking into the mountains before sunrise.Maybe it’s exchanging vows beside a lake with no one but a few birds and your dog.Maybe it’s bringing your closest 6 humans along and having the best damn picnic of your lives.

Then COVID hit — and everything changed

When the world went into lockdown in 2020, traditional weddings came to a halt. Venues closed, guest lists vanished, and couples had to rethink everything. And what started as a temporary pivot became a permanent perspective shift: Why were we doing weddings this way in the first place?

Suddenly, eloping made sense. Not just because it was practical — but because it felt right.

Enter Maddie Mae: The Elopement Trailblazer

Maddie Mae wasn’t just taking pretty photos in pretty places. She was pioneering a new kind of wedding — one that celebrated the raw, real, unfiltered connection between two people. She showed us that your wedding didn’t have to follow a formula. That adventure and authenticity could be the tradition.

Her message resonated: You don’t need a big wedding to have a big love.

Why more couples are still choosing to elope

Even now, years later, the movement continues. Couples are more intentional. More connected to what really matters. And more open to doing things their own way.

Eloping gives you:

• Freedom from expectations and awkward family politics

• Time to actually be present with each other

• A wedding day that feels like you

• The chance to get married somewhere utterly breathtaking

This is your reminder: You get to choose

You don’t need a crowd. You don’t need a production.You just need each other.

And maybe a bit of wind in your hair, mountain mist in the air, and a photographer who’s just as excited

as you are to make magic out of the moment.

If you're keen to elope in New Zealand's epic landscapes, you can find out how to elope with me, Chaznel, here. I help couples like you plan elopements throughout New Zealand, from selecting locations to vendors I'll help you create a day that is unique yours!