Eloping used to be something people did quietly — a dash to a registry office, skipping the guest list entirely. Now it's something couples deliberately choose. As a UK photographer living full-time in Dalmatia, I've watched more UK and US couples trade the 100-plus guest list for a handful of people, a view over the Adriatic and a day that actually feels like theirs.

But is it right for you? Here's an honest look at the pros and cons of eloping in Croatia — not the highlight reel, the actual trade-offs.

2. Your budget goes further, on fewer things. The average UK or US wedding is now well past £20,000 or $30,000. Eloping isn't really about spending less — it's about spending differently. Instead of catering for a hundred people, that budget can go toward a villa in Hvar, a private boat to a cove near Dubrovnik, or simply more time — a second day, a slower morning, no rush to the reception.

3. Locations a big wedding could never use. Large weddings are limited by capacity, parking and logistics. A small group isn't. I shot a 20th-anniversary vow renewal for a family of seven this summer, timed for golden hour in the Hvar lavender fields — a location that simply wouldn't work for a hundred guests, but was completely right for seven. That's the real advantage of going small: the map opens up.

4. Less to plan, less to carry. Traditional wedding planning can feel like having a second job for a while. Cutting the guest list cuts a lot of that out — no floral centrepieces for twenty tables, no dress code negotiations, no dietary spreadsheet.

5. What about the photos if it's just us? If couples tell me they feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, to me it means they care. It's not something that needs to be fixed, and it's not something I'll try to pose away. I'll prompt, I'll chat, I'll capture the in-between, when you're not thinking about how you look, only how you feel.

1. The "family guilt" factor. This is the real hurdle, more than logistics. Parents and families often feel entitled to "your" wedding day, and choosing to elope can mean some hurt feelings or raised eyebrows.

My honest advice: tell, don't ask. Share your reasons with conviction rather than apology. Most people come round once they understand it's not a rejection of them — it's a choice about how you want the day to feel. If you're still uneasy about it, a hybrid approach works well: the legal ceremony at home with family, then a separate celebration in Croatia.

2. There's no roadmap. A traditional wedding has a predictable, slightly rigid, structure. An elopement doesn't — which is freeing, but can also feel daunting from a distance, especially planning from the UK or US. Where do you stand? What happens after the vows? This is genuinely where a specialist photographer earns their keep — not just documenting the day, but helping you shape a loose structure so you're not standing on a clifftop in Dalmatia wondering what's next.

3. You miss the shared energy of a big event. There's a specific feeling to a room full of people cheering for you, and elopements don't have it. If you're someone who lives for that big, loud reveal, a very small wedding might feel quiet by comparison — something worth considering honestly before you commit.

If you've weighed it up and Croatia's calling, here's how to handle telling family back home:

·       Be direct, not apologetic. "We've decided to have an intimate wedding in Croatia because we want the day to be about the two of us." No further justification needed.

·       Consider the hybrid option. A legal ceremony at home, then the real celebration in Croatia — a good middle ground if you want to keep the peace.

·       Let the photos do some of the talking. When family sees the images afterwards — the light, the place, the two of you actually part of it rather than performing for a room — they will understand.

Whether you're picturing Split as a base, a quieter stretch of Brač, or somewhere in the lavender fields of Hvar, the shift from a big wedding to an elopement isn't about doing less, it's about choosing presence over performance.