Elopement
A marriage made in private, without the family or a large wedding, historically in secret and now often by choice.
Also: elope, Gretna Green
To elope was to run off secretly to marry, often against the wish of the families, and in Britain Gretna Green, on the Scottish border, became famous for marriages made quickly under Scots law from 1754. Today an elopement often means a small chosen wedding for two, with a witness or two, in a place that the couple like, which saves money and stress. Some countries require a stay or paperwork before a marriage, and a couple should check the rules where they plan to marry. In a few countries, a secret marriage of a minor is a legal problem, not a romance.