Three Things To Do Before You Elope

Maybe you've reached your limit with all the wedding planning or perhaps you're in a situation where you need to get married fast. Getting hitched in Las Vegas is a good way to legally and quickly commit yourself to the person you love with relatively little fuss. But before you pack your white dress or tux and book your plane tickets, here are three things you need to do before you elope.

Tell Close Friends and Family Members

Unless the people in your life are very laid back or already know about your plans to get wed fast in Vegas, telling your friends and family members about your elopement after the fact will likely be very difficult. Not everyone will support your decision, especially if you've already begun planning a traditional wedding, and you can expect a wide range of reactions, from outright anger to a mix of happiness and hurt to quiet disappointment.

To minimize the emotional fallout, at least tell the people closest to you, such as your parents and your best friends. Since negative reactions will oftentimes stem from being left out of your special day, find a way to include those closest to you in your plans. For instance, you could have an after-wedding reception when you return home or an intimate dinner at a nice restaurant with the people you care about.

Whatever you do, do not send out a social media announcement about your marriage until you've spoken to your loved ones in private and in person. Posting a status update on a social media site may only worsen the shock your close friends and family members may feel at your decision to elope and can even damage your relationships with these people long term.

Draw Up the Prenuptial Agreement

Although you may sincerely believe you will stay together forever, the odds are not in your favor. About 45 to 50 percent of all first-time marriages end in divorce, and a whopping 60 to 67 percent of second marriages end with the couple separating. A quickie marriage in Vegas is just as legal and valid as getting married in a church or before a judge, so you need to take precautions when it comes to protecting your assets.

Prenuptial agreements are basically contracts between soon-to-be married persons that detail how property will be settled in the event of the divorce. However, prenups can also be used to address how issues will be settled in the marriage. For instance, you can put a clause in a prenuptial agreement stating both of you will contribute money to a joint checking account to pay debts.

Regardless of the terms of the prenuptial agreement, there are certain rules that govern whether a court will consider the contract valid, and one of those rules is the timing of the signing of the agreement. One party may successfully argue he or she signed the agreement under duress if the prenup was signed to close to the wedding. For instance, a judge invalidated one couple's prenuptial agreement partly because it was signed 6 days before the wedding. Therefore, have the prenuptial agreement drawn up and signed at least a month before the elopement to avoid issues with validity when it comes time to divorce.

Research Any After-Marriage Paperwork Required

US citizens getting married in Vegas typically only need a marriage certificate to show they are legally hitched. However, citizens of other countries may need additional paperwork to validate their marriages when they return home. For instance, some countries require couples who get married abroad in Vegas to submit copies of their marriage certificates and Apostilles from the State of Nevada. Be certain to research the validation requirements for your country to ensure your marriage will be legally recognized when you return home.

For more tips of preparing to elope or assistance with choosing wedding package, contact a wedding chapel in Vegas, like A Little White Wedding Chapel.