I happily admit my husband of more than two decades and I eloped. We headed to one of my favorite cities in the US--Savannah, GA--and got married. A quick ceremony, a romantic walk on the beach, and we're still in love.

We eloped because neither of us felt like a big wedding was necessary. I didn't want my parents to go into debt so I could get married, and it just wasn't our style. People elope for lots of reasons. Some people are uncomfortable doing things in front of a crowd. Others would rather spend the wedding money on a quick Vegas wedding and a weekend of gambling. Whatever the reason, eloping is still a viable option for marriage-bound couples. Apparently, it happens more than we think. A bakery in Sedona, AZ makes elopement wedding cakes like the one in the photo on the right!

Is eloping right for you? iVillage has a "Should You Elope? quiz on their Web site. Perhaps the two biggest drawbacks to elopement are the potential hurt feelings of family and friends, and later in life you may miss the photo memories of an actual wedding and reception. If you do decide to elope, don't just take off. Make sure you've taken care of a few essentials. According to eHow, you'll need the following:

Marriage license
Plane tickets
Witnesses
Chapel or venue
Hotel
Minister, Judge or Justice of the Peace

Remember what's important--weddings are nice, but it's your marriage that needs serious and thorough planning before you say "I do." A spectacular million-dollar wedding with the limos, the Vera Wang gown and the extraordinary wedding favors becomes a bitter memory when the couple divorces two years later. Enough said. See you on the beach--or at the craps table!