Elopement packages are becoming a popular new search as revenge travel continues to rule the skies. New research looking at worldwide elopement trends and Google search data from the past year shows just where couples are searching as they narrow down their dream destinations to elope.
The research, conducted by Chapel of the Flowers, a wedding chapel in Las Vegas, zeroed in on the 10 most popular destinations to elope and various elopement packages that are piquing interest.
Eloping has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many couples choosing to elope for a more intimate and private wedding experience. Google searches for ‘elopement’ are currently the highest on record and have significantly increased worldwide since 2004, increasing 203% since the beginning of the Internet. The phrase ‘elopement packages’ has also risen substantially in the United States, increasing 186% since 2004.
According to Google Trends, the United States is the country most interested in elopement worldwide, followed by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, respectively.
Savvy-saving millennials are now opting to elope over hosting large traditional weddings as a means to save towards other life expenses. According to Pinterest trends, 66% of searches for ‘elopement ideas’ over the last 12 months are from people aged 25-34, 88% of which are female.
“Between navigating pandemic restrictions and the hassle of planning an elaborate celebration, more couples have been choosing to elope over recent years in order to save themselves time, stress and money,” says Chapel of the Flowers CEO Donne Kerestic. “This study offers a fascinating insight into which locations are the most desirable for couples to elope worldwide, with Las Vegas unsurprisingly taking the crown.”
Eloping: Las Vegas Style
It may come as no surprise that Las Vegas takes the crown as the most popular destination to elope to worldwide. Las Vegas receives a whopping 11,800 searches every month worldwide for terms search as ‘Vegas elopement’ and ‘elope in Las Vegas’, etc., while #Vegaselopement has 24,000 hashtags on Instagram.
Vegas has been hailed as the world’s elopement capital for many years now, known for its easy and budget-friendly options for elopement packages, as well as its Elvis impersonators and little white chapels. Eloping in Vegas has also been the backdrop for many celebrity weddings over the years, including iconic names such as Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu and more recent additions such as Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas and Lily Allen and David Harbour. Last year Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot in Sin City at an all-night wedding chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard (and then they did it again … at Affleck’s Georgia mansion).
Elopement Packages in Demand in Europe
Italy places as the second most popular destination in the world to elope to. From the romantic canals of Venice and the historic streets of Rome to the scenic Amalfi Coast and the rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy offers a diverse range of breathtaking locations for couples. So, it’s no surprise that #Italywedding has almost 494,000 hashtags on Instagram. Italy is a popular wedding destination for many couples, such as celebrities Emily Blunt and John Krasinski and the now-divorced Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
Ranking in third place is Scotland. Many couples are drawn to Scotland for its breathtaking landscapes and historic castles, with destinations such as the Isle of Skye, Loch Lomond and Edinburgh being popular with couples looking to elope. The term ‘wedding venues Scotland’ receives 3,500 average searches per month for those looking for romance in the highlands and elopement packages à la Outlander, while #Scotlandwedding has 384,000 hashtags on Instagram.
Spain ranks as the fourth most popular destination to elope worldwide. Known for its stunning historic architecture in cities such as Barcelona, Seville, and Madrid, as well as its beautiful beaches along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, Spain offers couples a variety of choices and elopement packages to tie the knot.
The top 10 rounds out with Nashville in sixth place, New Orleans in seventh, followed by Iceland, Greece and New York City in eighth, ninth, and tenth, respectively.
Interestingly, four destinations out of the top 10 are located in the United States, illustrating that America is a prime choice for couples looking to elope.
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