In South Asian culture, weddings are often synonymous with week-long festivities, sprawling guest lists and larger-than-life celebrations. But growing number of desi couples are choosing a different path: elopement. Not because they dislike or defy tradition, but because they want to experience marriage on their own terms. For some, this could mean exchanging vows in front of their parents and a handful of close friends. For some, it could mean just the two of them. Neither a grand wedding nor an intimate ceremony is inherently better. The modern wedding landscape is evolving, and couples today are embracing the idea that the only “right” way to get married is one that feels authentic to them.
Conventionally, elopement referred to the act of “running away” to secretly get married. But today, it translates as an intimate wedding with little to no guests. While elopements have long been associated with Western wedding culture, South Asian couples are increasingly inching towards them too. I reach out to two brides about why choosing to elope instead of hosting a big fat Indian wedding turned out to be the biggest wedding decision.
Celebrities Who Chose An Highly Intimate Wedding
A number of Bollywood celebrities, too, chose to get married in an intimate celebration. Yami Gautam and filmmaker Aditya Dhar tied the knot with less than 20 guests at Yami’s Mandi farmhouse, keeping the decor eco-conscious and the ceremony, deeply personal. Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth married in an extremely private ceremony at the 400-year-old Sri Ranganayakaswamy Temple in Wanaparthy, Telangana without traditional media fanfare. More recently in December 2025, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and filmmaker Raj Nidimoru‘s got married in a highly private, spiritual affair, attended by only immediate family members and a few long-time personal friends.
Choosing Presence Over Performance
One of the biggest reasons couples are gravitating toward elopements is surprisingly simple: they want to actually experience their own wedding. Weddings can often leave couples exhausted from endless logistics and hosting duties. Bride Vasanthi Subramanian married long-time beau Aman Kapoor by ditching fancy ballrooms in favour of an intimate ceremony in the backyard of their Airbnb in San Diego. With just 20 of their dearest ones and golden hour light, it was a celebration filled with authenticity and captured by Sneha Naravade of Seven Mantra Films. “The biggest advantage for us was simply being fully present throughout the wedding. Nothing felt rushed, overwhelming or performative. We actually had the time to enjoy every moment together and with the people who were there.” Smaller weddings create room for real conversations, relaxed rituals and emotional connection.
Experiences Over Extravagance
For many couples, eloping is also about creating a wedding experience that reflects who they are. Sri Chintala and Mathieu Demarne chose to exchange private vows in the picturesque mountains of Seattle before celebrating with loved ones later. Their ceremony was shaped not by convention, but by their shared love for travel, adventure and the outdoors. “While we were excited to celebrate with our loved ones, the core of our relationship and what brings us together is our shared love of the outdoors and adventure. Prior to the official festivities we wanted to share a private moment and relish the next step of our relationship in a way that was unique and personal to us,” Sri share. The Swiss-Indian couple exchanged vows during a scenic hike in Washington state, reflecting the multicultural life they had built together between India, Switzerland and Seattle. “We promised each other to laugh. To dance and see the world. That we would be each other’s anchor,” they say.
Intimate Doesn’t Mean Less Meaningful
One of the most persistent myths surrounding elopements is that smaller weddings somehow feel less emotional or memorable than grand celebrations. Vasanthi admits she once believed that too. “Before eloping, I think my biggest misconception was that an intimate wedding might not feel as exciting, emotional, or memorable as a large traditional celebration,” she says. “But honestly, it turned out to be the complete opposite for us.” Without the distractions of a massive event, many couples find themselves more emotionally connected to the ceremony. Every ritual feels more intentional and every interaction carries more weight. The intimacy does not diminish the emotion, instead intensifies it.
Honouring Tradition On Your Own Terms
Contrary to popular belief, choosing to elope does not mean abandoning culture or tradition. In fact, many couples are using intimate weddings as an opportunity to engage with rituals more thoughtfully and intentionally. “We included every Hindu tradition that’s important and also added certain rituals in a way that reflected our own values and beliefs. Instead of Kanyadaan, we chose to perform Punya Karma, while also personalising our seven vows to reflect equality and partnership. Even the way our Panditji conducted the ceremony felt very intentional—rooted in culture and tradition, but also centred around equality, partnership and mutual respect,” says Vasanthi. That flexibility is one of the biggest appeals of intimate weddings.
Family Can Still Be Deeply Involved
Another misconception is that eloping excludes family. In reality, many couples say smaller weddings actually strengthen the sense of togetherness. “Since it was intimate, I got to spend quality time with every single guest instead of just briefly greeting people and moving on,” says Vasanthi. “The entire celebration felt so warm and personal because everyone there truly knew us and cared for us.” She also emphasises how supportive both families were throughout the process. “Both our families gave us the space to decide what felt right for us instead of placing expectations on us,” she says. “Our parents were involved and supportive throughout the process. And since we intentionally kept things smaller and handled a lot ourselves, they were also able to genuinely enjoy the wedding instead of feeling stressed or overwhelmed.” For many modern couples, eloping is about creating a celebration where loved ones can be emotionally present instead of consumed by the pressures of hosting a massive event.
The Financial Freedom To Start A New Life Together
There is also the unavoidable reality of cost, from venue to decor. Traditional South Asian weddings are often among the most expensive celebrations a family will host, with budgets escalating across multiple events. As younger couples become increasingly financially independent, many are beginning to question whether extravagant spending aligns with their long-term priorities. Elopements offer a prudent alternative. The money saved often goes toward experiences, travel, investments, a future home or simply beginning married life without financial strain. Increasingly, couples are asking not “how grand can we make this?” but “how meaningful can we make this?”
