Elopeing is catching on in the younger crowd who don't want to spend insane amounts of money on weddings anymore. A lot of people don't even get married before really starting their lives together which my grandmother is having a very hard time coming to terms with. It just doesn't make sense to throw a huge expensive into the situation when you are likely buying a house, wanting to start a family and paying off school loans. Elopeing and throwing a simple party is the perfect compromise really.
My fiancee and I are 47, and met 7 years ago. We have all the things we want - a house, cars, toasters, remodeled kitchen, etc - and we aren't going to have kids. So this wedding is kinda our last big "celebration of us". It's definitely not going to be like other weddings, but it will be true to us, our style, and our needs.