elope to Gretna Green

To travel somewhere else in order to take advantage of that place's liberal marriage laws. (Gretna Green, a Scottish town on the border between Scotland and England, became a popular wedding destination after the 1754 Marriage Act required parental consent for couples under the age of 21 to get married in England and Wales.) Primarily heard in UK. Did Aunt Barbara and Uncle Al really elope to Gretna Green when they were 18? If your parents don't approve of us getting married, then we should just elope to Gretna Green. Yes, I do want to marry you, but we can't elope to Gretna Green! For starters, my parents will disown me!