There are good reasons why some engaged couples would like to avoid the wedding procession and get married without much wedding bells. If the idea of eloping sounds romantic and appealing to you, read on. How to elope depends on your particular situation. The old-fashioned meaning of the word elope was used to describe a married woman who ran away with her lover. Today it is used to describe a couple who sneaks away to wed rather than having a traditional wedding. There are many reasons engaged couples decide to elope. They may be getting married against the advice of their families. Or, they might just want to skip the expensive and stressful experience of throwing a wedding and reception to please friends and family.