the best places to elope in the United States
an elopement expert’s Guide to the Most Beautiful Elopement Locations in the USA
Where to elope in the united states
The U.S. is a vast, beautiful country with endless options for beautiful places to elope. But the problem with that? There are TOO many places to choose from! Narrowing down the best places to elope in the U.S. can seem like a daunting task but I’m here to simplify the process for you, give you some things to think about, and hopefully inspire you a little along the way!
Table of contents
- Best Places to Elope in the Mountains
- Best Desert Elopement Locations
- Best Places to Elope for Nature Lovers
- How to Choose the Best Elopement Location in the U.S.
- FAQ about the best Elopement Locations in the U.S.
- Do you need a permit to elope in the U.S.?
- Do you need an officiant and witnesses to elope in the U.S.?
- Can you elope in a National Park in the U.S.?
- When is the best time of year to elope in the U.S.?
Before we get started, here’s something you should know:
This list was curated by a real human being (that’s me!) … not Chatgpt
With SO MUCH AI-generated content out there, it’s hard to know what was written by a real person and what to trust. So, first, let me introduce myself!
I’m Jen Dz, I’ve been planning and photographing adventure elopements and microweddings throughout the U.S. for over a decade now. I’ve helped hundreds of happy couples find their perfect elopement location and guided them to a day that is all about them.
This list was compiled from 10 years of (hiking) boots on the ground elopement experience!
The best places to elope in the mountains
The perfect location for your mountain elopement
As a longtime mountain lover and resident for the almost 20 years, I believe the mountains are one of the most beautiful landscapes to elope in. There is just something about the dramatic scenery, the wildflowers, the waterfalls, the lakes … and those cozy mountain town vibes.
These are my favorite locations for a mountain elopement
crested butte, colorado
Closest Airports: Denver (4 hours)
The only thing I don’t love about Crested Butte is that I don’t live there. “CB” as it’s known to the locals is the most perfect little mountain town you’ve ever seen, surrounded by miles and miles of idyllic Colorado wilderness. CB is the self-proclaimed wildflower capital of Colorado and also boasts awesome hiking, world class mountain biking, waterfalls, and so much more. Here is an example of a Crested Butte, Colorado wildflower elopement (with dogs!)!
North cascades, washington
Closest Airports: Seattle (3 hours)
Having lived in Colorado for a really long time, I’m kind of a mountain snob. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that some of the most beautiful mountains in the US are NOT in Colorado (the shame! lol!). The North Cascades – which includes North Cascades National Park as well as Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Artist Point are just STUNNING. Hands down some of the most beautiful mountains in the U.S. and a perfect place for your elopement!
Telluride, Colorado
Closest Airports: Denver (6 hours), Grand Junction (2.5 hours), Durango (2.5 hours), Telluride (0 hours!)
Telluride and it’s surrounding mountains are, hands down, one of the most beautiful places in Colorado and probably the location I get requested the most. And there is a REALLY good reason for it. This area is drop dead gorgeous and has all the amenities you need for a laid-back, mountain lux elopement.
twin lakes, colorado
Closest Airport: Denver (2.5 hours)
Twin Lakes is one of my favorite spots in Colorado for couples who don’t want to travel too far from the airport. This area gives you access to SO much gorgeous mountain scenery – whether you want to hike or not. From waterfalls to caves to rivers to mountaintops, Twin Lakes is pretty dang perfect.
Mt rainier National Park, washington
Closest Airport: Seattle (2 hours)
If you’ve ever seen Mt Rainier rising in the distance from Seattle you know just how special this mountain is. It is MASSIVE and beautiful and offers loads of stunning hikes as well as reservable fire lookouts (which would honestly make for an EXTRA epic elopement!)! Mt Rainier also has the benefit of being not terribly far from the nearest major airport – and you have all the benefits of nearby Seattle (my favorite city in the US!)
silverton, colorado
Closest Airports: Durango (45 minutes), Denver (6 hours)
Silverton is one of my absolute FAVORITE places in Colorado for elopements. It’s not the easiest place to get to because it’s so far from a big city, but it’s totally worth the trip. The historic
The best places to elope in the desert
Looking for the best location for a desert elopement? This is for you!
I truly believe that the deserts of the Western U.S. are one of the most underrated places to elope. They are VAST, rugged, and drop dead gorgeous. They’re perfect locations for a fall or spring elopement when the temperatures in the mountains are cold and snowy but the deserts are absolutely perfect!
Here are some of my favorite places for a desert elopement in the U.S.
moab, utah
Closest Airports: Grand Junction, CO (2 hours), Salt Lake City (4 hours)
Moab is my happy place! This little desert town is known for it’s opportunities for adventure and STUNNING red rock scenery! Between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dead Horse Point State Park, and (best of all), miles and miles and MILES of public land, Moab is an ideal place for an adventurous elopement!
Check out this gorgeous Moab glamping elopement on BLM land and at Dead Horse Point.
Colorado National Monument, CO
Closest Airports: Grand Junction (20 minutes), Denver (4 hours)
When people think of Colorado they typically think of mountains but I’m gonna let you in on a little secret: Colorado’s deserts are hidden gems that are quiet and STUNNING. I firmly believe the Colorado National Monument is one of the most beautiful places to elope in the U.S. – and that it has all the beauty of Utah’s stunning national parks … but with a lot less crowds!
Check out this Colorado National Monument elopement to see why I’m so obsessed with this place!
great sand dunes national park, Colorado
Closest Airports: Denver (3.5 hours)
Great Sand Dunes National Park is a hidden gem and one of my favorite places to photograph elopements. It is stunningly otherworldly and, best of all, dog friendly! If you want an desert-vibes elopement but don’t want an officiant and want your dog to be able to sign your marriage license with it’s paw? This is for you!
Sedona, Arizona
Closest Airports: Phoenix (2 hours)
If there is a more perfect spot for a desert elopement than Sedona, I don’t know what it is. Red rocks, green trees, light snow in the winter, a bustling town, and not-too-far-away airport make Sedona one of the best places to elope in the U.S. This place is surrounded by public land, meaning that your options for killer views are endless. Sedona also has a wide range of lodging and restaurant options for all budgets and levels of bougie-ness.
The best places to elope for nature lovers
If you are looking for a stunning elopement in nature (and aren’t partial to one specific landscape), this list is for you!
While ANY location mentioned in this guide will be awesome for a couple who loves nature, I believe there are a few spots that truly stand out. These are places that just immerse you in their natural beauty, give you a chance to see something truly unique, and feel just so … wild.
Olympic National Park, washington
Closest Airports: Seattle (2.5 hours)
If you were to ask me what my FAVORITE location is to photograph elopements in the U.S., this might just be it. Part of what makes ONP so special is that you can see SO many landscapes in one day. Moody beaches, misty and mossy rainforests, sparkling lakes, and mountains – all accessible in one epic day – make this the PERFECT spot for a couple who wants to truly immerse themselves in nature. I can’t recommend it enough.
Want to see how epic an ONP can be? Check out this stunning Hoh Rainforest, Ruby Beach, and Lake Crescent elopement!
seward, Alaska
Closest Airports: Anchorage (2.5 hours)
If are looking for a mountains-meet-ocean vibe and love wildlife, Seward is for you! I will never forget photographing a vow renewal there with bald eagles flying overhead and ACTUAL WHALES breaching in the background. It was straight out of a fairytale. Midnight sun also means tons and tons of that low angle, glorious light for photos. Seward is perfect.
crested butte, colorado
Closest Airports: Denver (4 hours)
Crested Butte is on this page a few times for really good reason – it’s just SO stunning, especially in the summer when the wildflowers are in bloom. If you have a sense of adventure – and a 4wd vehicle – you can easily get away from it all and immerse yourself in nature. And isn’t that EXACTLY what you want?
Columbia river gorge, ORegon
Closest Airports: Portland (20 minutes)
If you love epic, Iceland-style waterfalls but don’t want to leave the US to get them, the Columbia River Gorge is for you! This area is super easy to access from Portland, making it perfect for a couple who wants an urban-meets-nature elopement. It could also be combined with the stunningly beautiful Oregon Coast (2 hours away) for a beaches-and-forests vibe.
on a glacier in alaska
Anchorage
For those who want to go big or go home, it doesn’t get much better than helicoptering to a glacier surrounded by bright blue water and getting married on ice that is hundreds of years old!
Confession: This isn’t one I’ve done yet but I’m dyyyyyying to! This photos is from a heli hike I did in New Zealand and strangers-turned-friends who let me photograph them!
how to choose the best elopement location in the U.S.
Deciding where to elope is an incredibly personal decision and depends on MANY factors. The biggest things I tell my couples to consider are:
1. The type of scenery you want
This is probably the best place to start. Cheesy as it sounds, I always suggest to my couples that they sit down together, close their eyes, and picture their perfect day. Take out the limitations like time of year, budget, and accessibility and just … dream. Do you envision mountains or deserts? Are you picturing beaches? Are they the warm ones of Hawaii or the cold ones of the PNW? Do you want to go somewhere you’ve been before or explore somewhere entirely new. There are NO wrong answers here – go with your gut!
2. consider when you want to elope
If your schedule is totally open, you are lucky! You can match your elopement date up with the weather you want in the environment you’re dreaming of. Want a warm mountain elopement perfect for hiking? Elope in the summer. Want to ski in the mountains instead? You’re looking at fall or winter.
If your schedule isn’t wide open and you have a specific time you want to elope you may need to be more flexible in terms of the landscape and/or activities you do for your elopement. E.g., if your elopement has to happen in April and you desperately want warm weather, you’re probably looking at heading to the desert, Hawaii, or somewhere similar. If your elopement has to happen in April and you’re up for any kind of weather? The world (or at least the country!) is once again your oyster.
Side note: This is where working with an experienced elopement photographer is worth it’s weight in gold! We are awesome at helping you figure alllllll these things out!
3. how will you be getting to this location?
The thing about the western U.S. is that it’s big – really big – and some of the most beautiful, quiet spots are quite a drive from the nearest major airport. For some couples this is totally fine and they love the road trip and chance to see more of the landscape along the way. For couples who are shorter on time, it is more important to be able to get there quickly and easily.
4. How easy is it to get married in this state?
Marriage laws are dicated state-by-state and vary widely across the U.S. Many states require an officiant and/or witnesses. Some states, like Colorado, allow self-solemnization (i.e. you don’t need anyone to sign your license except yourselves). You can even have your dog sign your license with their paw print!
Pro Tip: If you want to get married in a state that requires an officiant and/or witnesses but really don’t want to have anyone else there you always have the option of getting married at the courthouse and making your elopement purely ceremonial. This is something a lot of my couples do, especially for international elopements where it’s even trickier!
5. YOur budget
This probably goes without saying but some places are more expensive to travel to than others. Catching a flight to Alaska or Hawaii will cost you more than driving to the next state over (but it will be worth it!). Keep your total budget in mind when you start thinking about locations.
Frequently asked Questions
About the best places to elope in the U.S.
need help finding the best place to Elope?
I’m an elopement photographer and planner based out of beautiful Boulder, Colorado. I help adventurous couples plan not-getting-married-by-Elvis-in-Vegas elopements throughout Colorado and the U.S.
You will notice that the vast majority of these locations are in the West – that’s because this is the place where I’ve lived, worked, and played for the last 17 years. I’ll admit that I’m partial to wild places and big, sweeping landscapes, which is what brought me out West to begin with!
Some of these locations are places that I have photographed elopements in dozens of times. Others are ones that I’ve visited and KNOW would be epic elopement spots (and am dying to photograph an elopement in … hint hint!).
Trust me when I say I live and breathe this stuff and want nothing more than to help you get married in the most beautiful place you can imagine, wherever that may be!
Feeling overwhelmed?
If you’ve made it this far and are already feeling overwhelmed, I get it and I’m here to help! Few things make me happier than helping confused couples demystify the elopement experience and have the day of their dreams. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m kind of an expert in these things!
I promise that within an hour or talking you’ll have a MUCH more clear picture of how you want this day to go. And you’ll feel more excited and less stressed. And that’s what I want for you!
