Escape is a term used to refer to a marriage that takes place suddenly and secretly, usually involving a hasty escape. This type of wedding is often referred to as a shooting wedding, getting married, or an escape. It is most commonly found in countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Western Asia, but can also be found in other parts of the world. A shooting wedding is typically organized to avoid embarrassment due to premarital sexual relations that can result in an unwanted pregnancy.
The phrase is mainly an American colloquialism, named after a stereotypical scenario in which the father of the pregnant bride-to-be threatens the reluctant groom with a shotgun to ensure that he goes ahead with the wedding. Controversially, in modern times, escape sometimes applies to any small, inexpensive wedding, even when done with the parents' prior knowledge. Getaways aren't about taking shortcuts and getting bogged down by the obligations and stress of a larger wedding. However, this is not always the case and a shooting wedding can be whatever the future bride and groom want it to be.
The phrase shooting wedding generally refers to pregnancy leading to marriage and, historically, this can be attributed to a desire to avoid uncomfortable questions or judgments about premarital sex. The fact that a shooting wedding involves time pressure to get married before the baby arrives doesn't always mean that the couple will spend less time on their big day. In some cultures, a shooting wedding is more necessary than an election, since premarital sexual relations may be illegal or turn the couple into social outcasts. However, gunshot weddings help prevent the people involved, especially women, from becoming social outcasts.
Choosing to elope means choosing how and where to exchange your vows and the love you both share over things that may not matter as much to you, such as a big wedding with hundreds of guests. The reality is that choosing to elope isn't just about saving money, but about having an experience on the wedding day that focuses on the couple and what they want to do. Celebrating a shooting wedding shouldn't be a pressured decision, but it should be the choice of both parents of the child.
