3 Sure-Fire Ways to Kill Romance of Valentine's Day Elopement

By Beth Dalbey

Pick up the rings. Check. Buy the airline tickets and book the honeymoon suite in a state without a marriage license waiting period. Check. Find a wedding chapel where the officiant isn’t dressed like Elvis (unless you like that kind of thing). Check. Lawyer up before you leap.

What?

Stephanie Fakih, a Michigan attorney, said that’s a step couples caught up in romance of a Valentine’s Day elopement too often skip.

“With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’ll be seeing a spike in eloping,” Fakih, founder and principal of Rights First Law, said in a news release. “I have seen people get into trouble when making this leap.”

In other words, set aside your amore for a moment, ponder some not-so-romantic realities. For example:

Tomorrow’s too late to think about a prenup.

“You aren’t thinking at all about divorce when you are on Cloud 9 and eloping; however, just consider that property and assets you will purchase or gain jointly will be subject to total division in a divorce.”

If you’re the groom in this dash toward wedded bliss, is your bride to be rushing to the altar for a reason other than living happily ever after with you?

“Have you checked if the woman is pregnant before getting eloped?” Fakih said. “This is definitely something to consider, because even if you don’t find out about the pregnancy until after you’re married, you are still legally responsible for her child and presumed to be the father.”

If it’s a true spur-of-the-moment decision – for example, that moment when he orders a split of champagne to drink with the decadent dessert with “marry me now” spelled out in the raspberry sauce and you’re so swept off your feet that you say “yes” – are you sure you can back out later?

Annulment isn’t always an option.

“Courts only grant annulments in limited circumstances,” Fakih said. “Being drunk is not one of them.”

Be ready for some hurt feelings if you do elope, the OffBeatBide.com blog advises.

Plenty of pictures will help. And though it takes away some of the Valentine’s Day spontaneity out of going away to get hitched, plan ahead, says a bridge who’s been there.

“We spent time putting together our outfits with our ivory and orange theme, semi-DIY-ing my veil, getting pampered at the spa together, DIY-ing flowers with little family treasures, etc.,” Jenny Meara, a blogger from Oakland, CA, wrote. “It probably took more time than I anticipated for a “simple” city hall wedding, but I’m so glad we could feel good about ourselves and get that wedding-y feeling on the day. It all added to the energy!”

-- No, it’s not romantic, but if you’re thinking of eloping on Valentine’s Day, you might want to consult with your attorney first. (Photo via Creative Commons)