thinking about eloping

I posted a while back how I planned to get married in August im a junior in college so August was basically the only month good to have a wedding theres December too but of course people will be spending so much money on Christmas my main problem is my older brother is also getting married and wanted August everyone felt I should let him have that month so im thinking about just eloping but I don't want anything tacky I figured on a cruise would be nice but im mot sure if my family could afford it. Is it important to have family there should i think of another way to elope that's affordable?  I plan to save the actual wedding for after I graduate