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How to Choose the Perfect Elopement Location

Have you ever thought about where to elope after deciding you want to elope? The possibilities are endless, and we understand how daunting that may seem – you could literally say “I do” ANYWHERE in the world. So how do you know when you’ve found the perfect location? We asked real couples to share how they chose their epic elopement locations, and now we’re passing their stories on to you! Unlike traditional weddings, you don’t have limitations when it comes to a big guest list. Your budget is also more tailored to what you two want as a couple. This resource is a great place to start if you’re thinking about how to choose the perfect elopement location.

This resource is for you if…

(1) you’ve officially ditched all traditional wedding plans,
(2) you couldn’t be more excited to elope,
(3) you’re completely overwhelmed by the question of WHERE to elope.

Are you looking to start exploring some amazing elopement locations around the world? Check out our top places to elope to start getting inspired! 

1. Romantic Views & Stunning Images

Photo by Kimon Kaketsis Photography

Location: Santorini, Greece

“My advice is [this]: know exactly what you want to see in your photos and start from there… Work out your budget, stick to it, and then just make it happen… I work for an airline in Australia so… eloping overseas was a no-brainer. We travel often, [which] brings us closer and keeps us grounded. As we live along what we believe [to be] the best beaches in the world, a beach setting was out. I wanted something different, somewhere spectacular as our backdrop.

We [had] always wanted to go back to Greece and the most romantic and ‘postcard’ location is Santorini. It’s cliche but for good reason. We wanted the backdrop to be unique, [and] our photos are a million times better because of it… My photographer [was] local, [and had] shot many times in the area and scouted locations for us… [It was] absolutely perfect and was a great start to our three-month honeymoon!” [Amanda, bride]

See more of Amanda’s elopement HERE

2. Easily Accessible & (Relatively) Few Restrictions

Photo by Amy Bluestar Photography

Location: Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

“It was important our immediate families were there, so this was a major factor. After that, we chose a place I had been to many times, so I was familiar with the surrounding area and activities… [but] we needed a lot of permits! We needed a permit for the wedding, we needed a permit for the photographer, and we needed permits and guided tours for the slot canyon where we chose to do a photo shoot. These added up quickly, and it was not always clear how we needed to get the permits, which became frustrating.

I had originally wanted to get married at the Grand Canyon, but truth be told, they had way too many restrictions and limitations. I also looked into Zion and then thought of Horseshoe Bend… After looking into limitations and brainstorming with our photographer, I knew it was the place to have the wedding of our dreams… despite my anxiety when I realized it had grown from an unknown spot on the side of the road to a place where buses of tourists now visit, the whole wedding was everything I had dreamed of and more.” [Cheryl, the bride]

See more of Cheryl’s intimate wedding HERE

4. Childhood Memories & Family Ties

Photo by The Scobeys

Location: Vail, Colorado

“We got married at the top of Vail mountain at sunset overlooking Mount of the Holy Cross. This was the only location we ever seriously considered. Both of our fathers were ski bums in Vail in the 1960s, and we both grew up skiing there… Both of our families are originally from Colorado, and my husband’s grandfather was in the Army 10th Mountain Division that trained at Camp Hale, right outside of Vail. He was in the battle at Riva Ridge that the ski run in Vail was named after.

[We eloped] during ski season, which left a lot of things up in the air: weather, whether the spot we wanted was going to be occupied, etc. We lucked out on all fronts, but we did have multiple backup plans. We actually flew out to Vail two weeks ahead of when we got married in order to get our license, and while we were there, [we did a mockup of] the whole evening and then came up with two very specific backup plans in case of a blizzard or crowded mountaintop… There [have been] a lot of serendipitous coincidences in our relationship, and the fact that the most meaningful place to each of us was Vail meant it was the only possible place we could think of when it came to choosing where we got married.” [BobieJo, bride]

See more of BobieJo’s intimate wedding HERE

3. Pet-Friendly & Available on Short-Notice

Photo by Angela Hays Photography

Location: Moab, Utah

“We knew we wanted it to be in Moab because it is so special to both Dan and me, but we had a lot of difficulties choosing our location. Moab gets really busy in the spring, and we didn’t have a clear idea of what we wanted our wedding to look like until probably December. We wanted it to be outside, but it needed to be accessible. It [also] needed to be pet-friendly, so many campsites and the national parks were out.

It was kind of by chance that we found our spot and that it had one open date in our time frame. My advice would be to try to have a clear idea of what you want but to also be flexible. Our ceremony was on a Thursday because that was what was available. And while it wasn’t ideal at first, it actually ended up working in our favor – hotel rooms were less expensive, the town wasn’t as busy, and our photographer wasn’t booked” [Taylor, bride]

5. Intimate & Close to Home

Photo by Photos by Britt Rakosky

Location: Laguna Beach, California

“We began by brainstorming local getaway destinations where we had already created some special memories. We were between Bishop, CA [and] Laguna, CA. Our first getaway with his family was in Bishop, and we thought the mountains would be a perfect and unique scenery for pictures.

Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna was our first romantic weekend getaway, just the two of us, so we had a lot of special memories there as well. The overall goal was to make sure the elopement felt intimate and romantic, so that’s why we chose Laguna. It was also the closest location to us, which made it even easier for us to drive to.” [Bernadette, bride]

6. Find Somewhere That Feeds Your Soul

Photo by Tara Lilly Photography

Location: Mount Sproatt in Whistler, British Columbia

“Find something that feeds your soul and represents you and your partner. We are adventurous and outdoorsy people. Thus, we feel complete and relaxed in nature. We got engaged on top of a mountain on a rainy day during a New England road trip, so we felt getting married on top of a mountain would bring our journey full circle.

In Anton’s vows, he said, ‘As we stand on this mountain, which has endured eons of weathering, I believe it is no coincidence that this is where we are getting married. We have a love so strong, a bond unbreakable, that it is a fitting spot to begin together with a new life adventure from this day on and all that will follow. I love you and look forward to getting old and weathered together like these mountains.’”

See more of Melissa’s elopement HERE

7. Choose Somewhere That Feels Like Home

mount charleston red rock canyon nevada winter elopement adventurous wedding

Photo by Kyle Loves Tori Photography

Location: Mount Charleston & Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

“We knew we wanted to be in nature but also wanted to be budget-friendly… We did some research, got a few recommendations from our photographer, and spent the day prior to our wedding scoping out good ceremony spots and hiking… Choose somewhere you like to look at that you feel comfortable in! It will make for the best memories and photos.”

See more of Kayla’s elopement HERE

8. Choose a Breathtaking Landscape You Have Yet to Explore

Location: Southern Coast of Iceland

“Laurent and I had always wanted to go to Iceland because of the beautiful places to explore and the magical scenery but could never find the right opportunity or reason to go… With its chilly weather and out-of-the-ordinary landscapes, we knew right away that this was the best place for our elopement… we absolutely loved the place where we did the ceremony, with the waterfall in the background – it was just like in a fairytale… Iceland has so much to offer in terms of scenery, breathtaking landscapes, and its never-ending daylight during the summer – it was a natural choice for our elopement as we knew would have absolutely gorgeous pictures.

[My] advice for couples who want to elope in Iceland [is to] be flexible with your schedule. Be ready to have to change your plans at the very last minute – Iceland is known for its constantly changing weather.”

See more of Anne-Sophie’s elopement HERE

9. Pick an Elopement Location That Represents You As a Couple

Photo by Bekah Kay Creative

Location: Misty Rocks State Park in Jarrettsville, Maryland

“We knew we wanted something outdoors in the middle of nature, and we are mountain people… We chose to get married at a state park, which was perfect because there [was] no renting of a space or making sure a date [was] available – we just showed up and got married. The hard part was we wanted to get married early in the morning, but the rangers don’t technically open the gates until a certain time. We had been to the park early several times so we knew that they are often open before their posted time. but we made a ‘Plan B’ option [on] the off chance our location wasn’t opened. It all worked out in the end, but I recommend having some backup plans, and be willing to go with the flow…

My advice is to pick a place that represents you as a couple. If you hate the woods, don’t climb a mountain just because you saw cute pictures on Pinterest. Be authentic to yourselves, and it will make your day all the more special.”

See more of Meghan’s elopement HERE

10. Pick Somewhere Special to You

Location: Yosemite National Park, California

“I knew for a long time I wanted us to share our sacred promises to each other outside in beautiful nature. I had a few places in mind, but after we visited Yosemite together, we both felt something special and knew that was where we wanted to be. My advice would be to stick to what you want and feel for your location because it is all about the two of you. Whatever location feels special to you is the right place!”

See more of Yen’s elopement HERE

Now that you know how to pick your perfect elopement location, are you ready to start planning your elopement or intimate wedding?

The first step is finding the perfect vendors to help you create the perfect day. Search our Wandering Weddings elopement vendors to start planning your elopement!

Ready to Find Your Perfect Elopement Location?

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