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Couple Has “Wedding” But Actually Eloped 3 Years Earlier, Groom’s Parents Have A Meltdown
Bride and groom smiling and embracing during wedding ceremony with floral decorations and shocked wedding guests nearby

Couple Has “Wedding” But Actually Eloped 3 Years Earlier, Groom’s Parents Have A Meltdown

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Weddings are kind of a big deal, for the couple and the guests alike. Being there to witness two people commit their lives to each other, the chance to dress up all fancy, and the celebration of the magical moment at the reception all add up to a very special day indeed.

One wedding guest’s expectations were shattered, though, after the bride and groom surprised everyone by revealing that they’d eloped three years earlier – just as the officiant was about to pronounce them husband and wife.

More info: Reddit

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    Couple holding hands during wedding ceremony with guests shocked and confused after eloping three years earlier.

    Image credits: freepic.diller / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    They’d been quite slack with their wedding planning but apparently didn’t seem that concerned

    Wedding guests looking shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped three years before the wedding day.

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    Wedding guests looking shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped three years before the big day.

    Wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they secretly eloped years before the wedding day ceremony.

    Guests shocked and confused as couple reveals they eloped three years before the big wedding day celebration.

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    Wedding guests shock and confusion visible as they listen during couple's unexpected elopement reveal at formal event.

    Image credits: Kawê Rodrigues / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    Come the big day, just as they were about to be pronounced man and wife, they revealed to everyone they’d actually eloped three years earlier

    Text on a gray background reading about family not talking to someone and being uninvited from events after wedding guests shocked and confused by couple's elopement.

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    Text on white background expressing mixed feelings about couples eloping and dishonesty over time related to wedding guests shocked and confused.

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    Wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped three years before their big day celebration.

    Bride and groom happily embracing at an outdoor wedding ceremony, wedding guests shocked after couple reveals they eloped.

    Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The groom’s family was devastated and left shortly after the shock announcement, and the reception was a bit odd, to say the least

    Text on a white background clarifying that the couple did not elope for insurance, medical, COVID, or immigration reasons.

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    Wedding guests shocked and confused during reception after couple reveals they eloped years before the big day.

    Image credits: zombie_rumble

    The netizen who shared the story says the groom’s parents aren’t talking to him, but the rest of the family seems to think it’s no big deal

    According to OP, the couple kept things suspiciously chill during their wedding planning. They brushed off questions, claimed they “had it covered,” and gave off major low-key vibes. Their family assumed it’d be a casual, maybe slightly chaotic event. Nothing, however, could have prepared them for a plot twist three whole years in the making.

    At the ceremony, things felt normal – that is, until the “officiant” declared he wasn’t one at all. Instead, he announced that the couple had already eloped three years earlier. Cue stunned silence. The newlyweds beamed, proud of their surprise, while half the guests were left blinking in confusion. Then the groom’s family quietly bailed. 

    The next day, things got tense. The groom’s parents stopped speaking to him, and the couple got uninvited from upcoming family events. It wasn’t about the elopement itself; it was the years of deception by omission. Pics from the elopement were everywhere, and only a few guests had been told in advance, and they were sworn to secrecy, of course. 

    No, it wasn’t a cash grab. No pandemic, visa, or medical reason. Just… vibes, apparently. OP says most extended family members don’t care all that much, but both sets of parents felt blindsided and hurt by the couple’s dishonesty.

    Two wedding guests looking shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped years before the big day

    Image credits: Pavel Danilyuk/ Freepik (not the actual photo)

    From what OP tells the community in their post, the couple put more planning into their elopement than they did into their supposed big day, but the family fallout was more than they expected. So, are there rules when it comes to eloping? We went looking for answers.

    According to the Simply Eloped website, if you’ve decided to ditch the idea of a traditional wedding, it’s no mystery why: eloping is more affordable, eco-friendly, and generally a more relaxed and casual affair. Just because you’re not having a sit-down dinner for 200 doesn’t mean that there aren’t any rules to follow, though.

    Elopement do’s include telling your family and friends, sending a ‘save the date,’ sending a marriage announcement, hosting a post-ceremony celebration, and sending out thank-yous. The couple in OP’s story pretty much broke all of these, bar the 3-years-later “wedding.”

    In her article for One Fab Day, Celina writes that, although there can be some guilt associated with eloping, try not to feel too bad about your decision. Of course, some friends and family might be disappointed at the idea of not sharing your big day, but once they get over the shock, they’ll probably be nothing but thrilled for you.

    Who are we to judge the couple, though? Love doesn’t have to be justified, and the union is really only about the two people entering into it, however they choose to do so. The families will probably come around in time, even if the trust has been shaken.

    What do you think of the couple’s decision to keep their wedding guests in the dark? Should it really matter, or do the parents have a point? Let us know your opinion in the comments!

    In the comments, most readers said that, apart from the fact that the couple kept it secret for so long, it wasn’t really that shocking, even if some people felt duped

    Online discussion showing wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped three years before the big day

    Wedding guests reacting with shock and confusion after couple reveals they eloped years before their big day celebration

    Screenshot of an online discussion where wedding guests are shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped years ago.

    Wedding guests reacting with shock and confusion after couple reveals they eloped 3 years before ceremony.

    Comments discussing wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped three years before the big day.

    Screenshot of a forum conversation discussing wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped.

    Comments discussing wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped years before the big day.

    Online discussion showing wedding guests shocked and confused after couple revealed they eloped three years before the big day.

    Comment discussing friends who secretly married before the wedding and the surprise of revealing it publicly.

    Comment discussing a wedding officiant's perspective on guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped years earlier.

    Comment expressing confusion about wedding guests feeling shocked after couple revealed they eloped three years ago.

    Online discussion about wedding guests shocked and confused after couple reveals they eloped three years before the big day.

    Comment explaining why wedding guests were shocked and confused after couple revealed they eloped three years earlier.

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    Ivan Ayliffe

    Ivan Ayliffe

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    After twenty years in advertising, I've decided to try my hand at journalism. I'm lucky enough to be based in Cape Town, South Africa and use every opportunity I get to explore everything it has to offer, both indoors and out. When I'm not reading, writing, or listening to podcasts, I spend my time swimming in the ocean, running mountain trails, and skydiving. While I haven't travelled as much as I'd like, I did live in !ndia, which was an incredible experience. Oh, and I love live music. I hope you enjoy my stories!

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    Ivan Ayliffe

    Ivan Ayliffe

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    After twenty years in advertising, I've decided to try my hand at journalism. I'm lucky enough to be based in Cape Town, South Africa and use every opportunity I get to explore everything it has to offer, both indoors and out. When I'm not reading, writing, or listening to podcasts, I spend my time swimming in the ocean, running mountain trails, and skydiving. While I haven't travelled as much as I'd like, I did live in !ndia, which was an incredible experience. Oh, and I love live music. I hope you enjoy my stories!

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    Read less »

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Monika Pašukonytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

    What do you think ?
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why get bent out of shape about this? The wedding is a party, a celebration. Marriage is just paperwork. It's not like they pretended not to know eachother for three years, they were clearly partners. Hopefully the couple goes LC with all the people who are upset about being invited to a celebration.

    troufaki13
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Τhe only time I would feel angry would be if one side of the family knew and the other didn't. Other than that, it's just a party and one more reason to have fun!

    Gwyn
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You have to ask why someone would hide this from their family for THREE YEARS. You elope, then share the good news right away. There is some bigger deception behind why they deceived their families.

    Mike F
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My uneducated guess would be that they were tired of being micromanaged at every turn. We've read about enough of them here, bride's mom insists on something to honor the woman who used to care for her goldfish. Or, grooms parents insist on being included in the "first dance" just because. Those scenarios make perfect sense to me in this picture.

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    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why get bent out of shape about this? The wedding is a party, a celebration. Marriage is just paperwork. It's not like they pretended not to know eachother for three years, they were clearly partners. Hopefully the couple goes LC with all the people who are upset about being invited to a celebration.

    troufaki13
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Τhe only time I would feel angry would be if one side of the family knew and the other didn't. Other than that, it's just a party and one more reason to have fun!

    Gwyn
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You have to ask why someone would hide this from their family for THREE YEARS. You elope, then share the good news right away. There is some bigger deception behind why they deceived their families.

    Mike F
    Community Member
    5 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My uneducated guess would be that they were tired of being micromanaged at every turn. We've read about enough of them here, bride's mom insists on something to honor the woman who used to care for her goldfish. Or, grooms parents insist on being included in the "first dance" just because. Those scenarios make perfect sense to me in this picture.

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