How to Choose Where to Elope

Now that you’ve decided to elope, the idea of location research might seem a little daunting. But for me, it is one of the most exciting parts of elopement planning. After experiencing a wide range of adventure photography and outdoor exploring, I can tell you that there are so many incredible locations that will make your elopement landscape stunning.

The beauty of elopements is that you can get married nearly anywhere! Your options are flexible, which allows you to create a unique experience in a special place. This post will help guide you with tips to keep in mind while you choose an elopement location, and how to narrow down your options. If you are interested in a directory-style list of My Favorite Destination Elopement Locations, click here. 

I believe that your wedding day should represent who you are as a couple and your relationship. You want an authentic, intentional experience to kick off your marriage with whole-hearted joy. The best way to approach this is to plan for a place and activities that are true to you and your partner. Picking your location should be a romantic and inspiring part of wedding planning. So let’s look at where to begin.

New versus Nostalgic

There are two ways to look at your elopement location selection: you can choose a location that is nostalgic to your relationship, or one that is new and adventurous. Nostalgic locations will evoke a twinge of history and warmth within your own memories. Maybe it’s a place you cherished as a child or through familial history. Maybe it’s where you met your partner, or the place of your proposal. Think of the most sentimental places to you, and then consider what your wedding might look like here.

A novel location (something new to you) can also create nostalgia over time. For example, you may decide to adventure to a brand new place for your vows, and then revisit on future anniversary trips. Sharing a new experience for your wedding day might take a little planning, but it also brings another aspect of excitement to your elopement. The options for a novel location covers a vast range. How do you narrow it down? Following are various considerations to begin narrowing down the perfect elopement location for you.

Scenery + Color

Scenery is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of “landscape.” When you picture looking out at an incredible view in your wedding attire, what are you looking towards?

You may be looking at a museum, tiny church, or another interior location. More commonly elopements will occur outside. Snow capped-mountains, enchanting forests, sandy deserts, canyon views, rocky coastline, or tropical destinations all might come to mind. Do any of these speak to you?

Let’s talk about color. Do you gravitate towards cool tones, like blues and grays, or do you prefer warm colors like tans and browns? If you are a fan of the cooler colors, snowy mountains, black sand, or forests might be more up your alley. On the other hand, warmer tones are better suited for red rock, sandy beaches and desert views.

Seasons + Time of Year

Weather and climate will also have a significant impact on your experience. If you hate the cold, you probably want to lean away from a midwest winter wedding, or fall rain in the Pacific Northwest. If you love snowy landscapes, and want to be surrounded by a winter wonderland while you commit your life to your love, then consider planning a few minutes intermittently to warm up in the car or enjoy a hot chocolate.

Some locations have special draws each time of year, especially based on activities you may consider. If you would prefer photos surrounded by wildflowers as tall as you, peak wildflower season in Colorado lasts from the end of June to the beginning of August. Fall foliage in the White Mountains or Acadia National Park typically will be at its prime in the last week of September or first week of October.

Shoulder season, or the time on either edge of peak tourist seasons, are an excellent time to plan if you want to avoid crowds (especially for adventure elopements). This can also result in cheaper accommodations, but may be dicey in terms of weather. Peak season typically surrounds the best weather in tourism locations.

Perks of Shoulder Season:
– More Privacy
– Cheaper Travel
– More Vendor Availability

Cons of Shoulder Season:
– Potential road closures to popular hiking locations
– Potential bad weather (snow, rain, or ice)

Travel + Budget

One of the first things you should do when you start planning your elopement is discuss the budget with your partner. When you have a starting point for budget, it will allow you to begin dreaming up all of your options for your day.

From flights, to rentals, to Jeep or helicopter tours, to transportation distance, your travel might take up a significant amount of your adventure wedding budget. If a destination elopement is your dream wedding day, exploring the details of getting there may affect your plans.

Privacy + Seclusion

While some consider this to be a minor detail, it may be important to keep privacy in mind as you choose your elopement location. Elopements are an intimate event, and exchanging your vows surrounded by tourists or other hikers may not be the experience you desire.

Popular trails in the summer may have a lot of passersby that create an audience. Researching the most popular times and planning around them may be a way to avoid this, such as planning for a sunrise ceremony or stargazing when most visitors leave the area. Another option is to plan for a more remote location by accessing through a private jeep tour or helicopter for seclusion. If you love a landscape you’ve been to before, but don’t want the crowds of a national or state park, research the surrounding area (around a 50 mile radius) for locations with similar views that are more off-the-beaten-path.

Elopement Activities

If you already have activities planned for your elopement, these can sway your location choices and help to narrow down your options.

Though I mentioned hiking previously, there are so many other adventurous activities that can be included in your elopement day. Driving 4-wheelers around the sand dunes might be an awesome adrenaline rush to celebrate your day. Or if a quiet campfire is more your style, make sure that you choose a location and time of year with a lower risk for wildfires. Choosing to do a charcuterie picnic by the water means you will be looking for an oceanside setting. Thinking of a helicopter tour? A destination such as Hawaii or Alaska might provide you with more options than their counterparts in the midwest.

When it comes to activities, timeline planning is essential to fully understand how your day will look. Many elopement photographers (myself included) will include timeline planning as part of the photography package to guide you in the process. My biggest tip: plan a little extra time around each activity in order to make sure your timeline is realistic.

Accessibility Restrictions + Guest Count

Consider the reality of the adventures you are dreaming of. Is it easily accessible if you have family joining? Do permits limit your guest count? There are often plenty of viewpoints with incredible views that are easily accessible for guests who have a harder time moving around on hiking trails. Are you bringing your fur baby? A lot of National Parks don’t allow dogs, so you might decide to narrow your scope to state and local parks.

If you dream of a sunrise elopement deep in the mountains, you may have to backpack in and camp overnight. Will you need a guide, or a special 4WD vehicle to arrive at the location? When it comes to planning out the logistics, the more guests in attendance the more logistical planning you will acquire.

Permits

National and State Parks are government run and funded. There are often Special Use Permit requirements to get married in these locations, and the restrictions can differ depending on the location. Some limit the number of guests involved, and will cost between a range of $60-200 depending on the park. (But if we are running comparisons here, that is significantly less than any wedding venue you may find.)

Bringing It Together

In the end, your marriage is the primary focus of the day. Your location can make for an extraordinary experience, but it is only the beginning of your life together. You have forever to continue exploring the world. So for now, think about what would be the most fun for you and your partner, and start to plan your day accordingly. Some people decide to pack their day full, and others prefer to take their time and soak up every slow moment. The most important thing is to determine what is important to the two of you and then work backwards to start planning where we can make it happen.

In order to help take a little bit of the overwhelm off of your shoulders, custom location suggestions and individual trail research is included in each of my elopement packages. You can check out this post to see an overview of some of My Favorite Destination Elopement Locations, or reach out today to start dreaming up your day.