Where To Elope
best elopement locations
Where To Elope
One of the most exciting things about planning an elopement is that you can tie the knot virtually anywhere! Since you’re not dealing with venues’ minimum guest counts, you can choose a place that really reflects who the two of you are and how you want your marriage to begin. But because “where should we elope?” is such an open ended question, with potential answers all over the world, it can be hard to get out of analysis paralysis and start narrowing it down!
This guide will help you pick an elopement location and decide on the perfect spot to say your vows.
Step One: Decide on Your Priorities
The Elopement Date
Your choices for elopement locations will depend a lot on seasons, as some places are inaccessible in the winter, some places are too hot in the summer, and there are some limitations to when you can realistically get outdoors when you’re out in nature. So before you start asking “where should we elope?” talk about whether the date is a priority!
Some couples have a specific day in mind – whether it’s an anniversary or other significant date, a fun calendar day (like 2/2/2022), or just a date that they’ve already decided on for their wedding. Other couples have a timeframe – they might want to elope in the winter to see some snow, or during a time of year when they’ll have less trouble getting time off from work, or they just want to tie the knot sooner rather than later.
Decide if the date or season is a priority for you, because this will affect your options for picking an elopement location! If you’re flexible with your date, it’s easier to find a location you love and then figure out the best time to elope at that spot. But if the date is important to you, that will help narrow down your location options!
Scenery or Location
For many couples, this is the hardest and most important decision – the landscape and the scenery of where you elope! If you don’t have a date in mind, you’ll have more freedom to pick your elopement location. Think about what you want to see as you’re saying your vows – do you picture yourself in the mountains, on the beach, in the desert, by a river…?
Talk to your partner about what you envision on your elopement day, and make a list of things that you’re looking for in an elopement location.
There’s one question that I find extra helpful as a way to start narrowing down your options; do you want to elope somewhere you’ve been, maybe somewhere that means a lot to your relationship or just a place that you’ve enjoyed together? Or does it excite you to think of exploring a new location to begin this new chapter in your lives?
Distance From Home
Another thing that’s usually part of deciding where you should elope is how far from home you’re willing to go! Some couples want to stay in their state, some want to be driving distance away, some are willing to hop on a domestic flight, and others are down to fly to the other side of the globe! Decide how far you’ll look to find the perfect spot – some considerations for this one can be personal preference, time off work, whether you want to bring your pets, and whether you’re inviting guests.
Dog Friendliness
If you want to bring your pet along for your elopement, finding a dog friendly location will be a priority! Decide ahead of time if you want to bring your furry best friend, so that you look for places that will allow dogs. In general, it’s best to avoid national parks if you’re looking for a dog friendly location!
Accessibility Needs
Another consideration in deciding where to elope is to think about whether you or any guests have accessibility needs. There are gorgeous ADA accessible trails all over, especially in national parks, so keeping this in mind ahead of time will help you find the perfect spot!
Privacy
One thing that couples often prioritize on their elopement day is privacy. It can be overwhelming to say your vows if it feels like you have an audience or if there are a ton of people around, and getting a secluded spot out in nature always feels pretty amazing! Decide how important this is to you, as it can help you rule out some of the really popular elopement locations.
Difficulty
The last thing to consider before you start coming up with answers to “where should we elope?” is how hard you want to work on the big day. Some couples want a challenging hike, others want a chill day, and others want something in between. This is totally up to you, but it’s important to talk about ahead of time as it will help filter your search when you pick an elopement location. Consider your outdoor experience and what you want to do when you get married.
Step Two: Envision Your Dream Elopement Location
After you’ve made a list of priorities, it’s time to pick an elopement location! I recommend choosing a general area first before you narrow down specific trails or overlooks, as this can make things less overwhelming and help narrow down your final options. This can be as broad as choosing a region (like the Pacific Northwest) or a state, or as narrow as deciding on a park that has the kind of scenery you’re after. Think about places that have the landscape you’re looking for and that check the boxes for your “must haves” on your elopement day.
Make a list – start with places that you already know of off the top of your head, then try searching Instagram and Pinterest for elopement photos that you like, scanning Google Maps for parks, and even Googling things like “mountain views in California” to get some ideas!
Close your eyes, and think about what you’re experiencing on your dream elopement day. Do you feel the warm sun on your face?
When you take a deep breath, do you smell rain on the leaves? Do you feel the earth squish beneath your feet?
Do you hear the sound of ocean waves lapping against the dramatic rock formations of a jagged coastline?
Want to jump right to my favorite spots?
Step Three: Narrow Down Your Top Elopement Location Choices
Once you have a general elopement location picked out, it’s time to get specific! While social media can be great for finding cool places, I recommend avoiding it when you’re looking for the exact spot where you want to say your vows. Those places you see are going to be popular, and likely crowded – so try to find spots that are more off the beaten path!
All Trails is a great resource, and you can filter hikes by length, difficulty, dog friendliness, and even the types of scenery! You can also explore virtually on Google Maps or Google Earth, or go adventure in person if you’re nearby.
Step Four: Connect With an Elopement Photographer
The best piece of advice I can give you for picking a location is to connect with an elopement photographer as soon as you start dreaming about where to elope!
Finding hidden gems and secluded spots can be easier said than done, but an elopement photographer can handle that for you! I talk to each couple to figure out what they’re looking for – you give me your priorities, your dreams, your open ended ideas, and I come back with a list of location recommendations that’s personalized to you and your day.
Hi, I’m Marla!
ELOPEMENT EXPERT, LIFELONG PHOTOGRAPHER
I’m here to help you enjoy your dream elopement day– and at the risk of sounding braggy, I’m really good at my job. Trust me, we’re gonna have fun! You’ll get my help picking out the perfect elopement location; I’ll send you personalized recommendations on the best park, trail, lake, Airbnb, or viewpoint for your elopement.
Best Elopement Locations in Washington
Best Elopement Locations in the US
Where To Elope
best elopement locations
Where To Elope
One of the most exciting things about planning an elopement is that you can tie the knot virtually anywhere! Since you’re not dealing with venues’ minimum guest counts, you can choose a place that really reflects who the two of you are and how you want your marriage to begin. But because “where should we elope?” is such an open ended question, with potential answers all over the world, it can be hard to get out of analysis paralysis and start narrowing it down!
This guide will help you pick an elopement location and decide on the perfect spot to say your vows.
Step One: Decide on Your Priorities
The Elopement Date
Your choices for elopement locations will depend a lot on seasons, as some places are inaccessible in the winter, some places are too hot in the summer, and there are some limitations to when you can realistically get outdoors when you’re out in nature. So before you start asking “where should we elope?” talk about whether the date is a priority!
Some couples have a specific day in mind – whether it’s an anniversary or other significant date, a fun calendar day (like 2/2/2022), or just a date that they’ve already decided on for their wedding. Other couples have a timeframe – they might want to elope in the winter to see some snow, or during a time of year when they’ll have less trouble getting time off from work, or they just want to tie the knot sooner rather than later.
Decide if the date or season is a priority for you, because this will affect your options for picking an elopement location! If you’re flexible with your date, it’s easier to find a location you love and then figure out the best time to elope at that spot. But if the date is important to you, that will help narrow down your location options!
Scenery or Location
For many couples, this is the hardest and most important decision – the landscape and the scenery of where you elope! If you don’t have a date in mind, you’ll have more freedom to pick your elopement location. Think about what you want to see as you’re saying your vows – do you picture yourself in the mountains, on the beach, in the desert, by a river…?
Talk to your partner about what you envision on your elopement day, and make a list of things that you’re looking for in an elopement location.
There’s one question that I find extra helpful as a way to start narrowing down your options; do you want to elope somewhere you’ve been, maybe somewhere that means a lot to your relationship or just a place that you’ve enjoyed together? Or does it excite you to think of exploring a new location to begin this new chapter in your lives?
Distance From Home
Another thing that’s usually part of deciding where you should elope is how far from home you’re willing to go! Some couples want to stay in their state, some want to be driving distance away, some are willing to hop on a domestic flight, and others are down to fly to the other side of the globe! Decide how far you’ll look to find the perfect spot – some considerations for this one can be personal preference, time off work, whether you want to bring your pets, and whether you’re inviting guests.
Dog Friendliness
If you want to bring your pet along for your elopement, finding a dog friendly location will be a priority! Decide ahead of time if you want to bring your furry best friend, so that you look for places that will allow dogs. In general, it’s best to avoid national parks if you’re looking for a dog friendly location!
Accessibility Needs
Another consideration in deciding where to elope is to think about whether you or any guests have accessibility needs. There are gorgeous ADA accessible trails all over, especially in national parks, so keeping this in mind ahead of time will help you find the perfect spot!
Privacy
One thing that couples often prioritize on their elopement day is privacy. It can be overwhelming to say your vows if it feels like you have an audience or if there are a ton of people around, and getting a secluded spot out in nature always feels pretty amazing! Decide how important this is to you, as it can help you rule out some of the really popular elopement locations.
Difficulty
The last thing to consider before you start coming up with answers to “where should we elope?” is how hard you want to work on the big day. Some couples want a challenging hike, others want a chill day, and others want something in between. This is totally up to you, but it’s important to talk about ahead of time as it will help filter your search when you pick an elopement location. Consider your outdoor experience and what you want to do when you get married.
Step Two: Envision Your Dream Elopement Location
After you’ve made a list of priorities, it’s time to pick an elopement location! I recommend choosing a general area first before you narrow down specific trails or overlooks, as this can make things less overwhelming and help narrow down your final options. This can be as broad as choosing a region (like the Pacific Northwest) or a state, or as narrow as deciding on a park that has the kind of scenery you’re after. Think about places that have the landscape you’re looking for and that check the boxes for your “must haves” on your elopement day.
Make a list – start with places that you already know of off the top of your head, then try searching Instagram and Pinterest for elopement photos that you like, scanning Google Maps for parks, and even Googling things like “mountain views in California” to get some ideas!
Close your eyes, and think about what you’re experiencing on your dream elopement day. Do you feel the warm sun on your face?
When you take a deep breath, do you smell rain on the leaves? Do you feel the earth squish beneath your feet?
Do you hear the sound of ocean waves lapping against the dramatic rock formations of a jagged coastline?
Want to jump right to my favorite spots?
Step Three: Narrow Down Your Top Elopement Location Choices
Once you have a general elopement location picked out, it’s time to get specific! While social media can be great for finding cool places, I recommend avoiding it when you’re looking for the exact spot where you want to say your vows. Those places you see are going to be popular, and likely crowded – so try to find spots that are more off the beaten path!
All Trails is a great resource, and you can filter hikes by length, difficulty, dog friendliness, and even the types of scenery! You can also explore virtually on Google Maps or Google Earth, or go adventure in person if you’re nearby.
Step Four: Connect With an Elopement Photographer
The best piece of advice I can give you for picking a location is to connect with an elopement photographer as soon as you start dreaming about where to elope!
Finding hidden gems and secluded spots can be easier said than done, but an elopement photographer can handle that for you! I talk to each couple to figure out what they’re looking for – you give me your priorities, your dreams, your open ended ideas, and I come back with a list of location recommendations that’s personalized to you and your day.
Hi, I’m Marla!
ELOPEMENT EXPERT, LIFELONG PHOTOGRAPHER
I’m here to help you enjoy your dream elopement day– and at the risk of sounding braggy, I’m really good at my job. Trust me, we’re gonna have fun! You’ll get my help picking out the perfect elopement location; I’ll send you personalized recommendations on the best park, trail, lake, Airbnb, or viewpoint for your elopement.
Best Elopement Locations in Washington
Best Elopement Locations in the US
WHERE ADVENTURE MEETS ROMANCE
Based in Seattle, available in Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, and beyond.