If the thought of being the center of attention during a whole day brings you anxiety, then maybe eloping is made for you.
An elopement is an intimate, custom-made wedding day where you can plan all your dreams. Exchanging your vows on top of a mountain? Go for it. Hiking five miles to get to that beautiful valley you visited together two years ago? Hell, yes. Spending the day sipping cocktails in a hammock and going out at sunset for a beautiful and intimate ceremony in the forest? That is what dreams are made of.
Elopements are made for introverted couples, who dream to have a “just us” day. If that’s you, then I have news for you: the U.S. is filled with many amazing places that are perfect for elopements!
You are going the elopement route?
Well, congrats for being pretty amazing and deciding that YOUR COUPLE matters!
If you’re not sure where to elope, here is a list of more than 30 of the best places to elope in the US (in no particular order).
Mount Katmai is in Alaska. It is considered to be one of the best places to elope in the U.S. Since it is a large volcano, it has fascinating scenery for a couple’s elopement. There are also many things to do and see in the area.
The Antelope Canyon is located in Arizona. A couple who elopes in this area, will be especially interested in the tours that they can take of the canyon. They will also find that it is excellent for picture taking.
It is also known as the Big Creek Valley. Couples love to elope in the Arkansas Grand Canyon. At 1,250 feet, this is the largest canyon in Arkansas. It is a place that couples who love the outdoors will really enjoy. From rafting to hiking, they will have their pick of things to do and saying their vows in the awesome outdoors will make them very happy.
Located in Colorado, the Garden of the Gods is also one of the best places to elope in the U.S. The wilderness is impressive, and couples will love this as a backdrop for when they take their vows. It’s sprawled across over 3,300 acres of land with beautiful terrain.
Waimea Canyon, in Hawaii, is a beautiful spot for couples to marry. It is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The area has reddish colored water, which is due to soil erosion. It offers many fantastic photographs for newlyweds.
In New Orleans, Louisiana, many couples love to say their vows in this tremendous area. This city is also known as the Vieux Carré and it is the oldest city in the state. With many places to visit and things to do, couples will enjoy eloping in this very quaint area.
The Otter Cliffs are on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Since a couple wants to start off their married life right, they will love the peace and tranquility of the Otter Cliffs. They will have their choice of wonderful places to pledge their commitment to one another, when they elope in this area.
Aquinnah Cliffs is in Massachusetts. It is known for its cliffs that are made of clay and for its natural beauty. Eloping in this area is for those that appreciate the outdoors and all that it has to offer.
Cracker Lake is in the Glacier National Park in Montana. The scenery is gorgeous with lots of turquoise water.
When couples go to Lake Tahoe, Nevada, they have the opportunity to make their wedding day very special. It is another one of the best places to elope in the U.S. This is a freshwater lake that is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is the largest alpine lake in the entire U.S. Many couples feel comfortable in this very peaceful area.
The Badlands are in South Dakota. Couples will find all types of interesting terrain that they can explore. With many photo opportunities, this is a very different place to elope to. Couples love saying their vows in this area.
Caprock Canyon, in Texas, is a wonderful place for couples to elope to. It is a state park that offers many things for couples to do and see. Hiking, horseback riding, and biking are all part of this experience.
The Prusik Pass is in the State of Washington. For couples who love the outdoors will be fascinated with what they can do in this area. They’ll love the scenery and photo ops.
In Wyoming, the Grand Teton Nationl Parkis a fascinating place to visit and get married in. It has over 310,000 acres of land and the tallest mountain in the entire Teton Ridge. It is not far from Yellowstone National Park. There is much to see and do in the area.
Hanging Lake, in Colorado, is where many couples like to say their vows. This area is known for excellent hiking opportunities. Couples who love the outdoors will be impressed with what they can do for their nuptials in this area.
Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, is a place that many couples love to visit. It was this the first national park in both the U.S. and the world. Fascinating experiences await any couple who wants to elope to this area. They will love all that they can do and experience in the wonderful outdoors.
Sequoia National Park is located in California. People love the terrain, since it contains beautiful forested areas. There are giant sequoia trees that are just phenomenal. at this favorite for those that want to elope. The German Sherman Tree in this parkis the largest tree on earth.
Big Sur is another great place in California, that couples choose because of the awesome scenery. Depending on what time of the year that a couple chooses to elope to this wonderful place, they can take part in the events that happen throughout the year. It is surely a place of wonder.
Zion National Park is located in Utah. It has a variety of wonderful scenery. There are 229 miles of terrain for couples to enjoy.
Death Valley National Park is in California. It is a great place for couples that want to elope in the desert. The park has a wide variety of plants and animals. However, it is known for its heat, as well as being one of the largest parks in the U.S.
The Multnomah Falls, in Oregon, offers couples a great place for saying their vows, as well as many photo opportunities. This 625-foot waterfall is gorgeous.
The State of Colorado is the location of the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The sand dunes reach an elevation of 750 feet. These are the largest sand dunes in the United States. Couples that love this type of scenery will enjoy themselves here.
The Florida Keys are very romantic. They make a great place for couples to elope. These islands lay on Florida Bay. Couples will find romance as they take the 7-mile bridge to reach their destinations. It has sunshine, blue skies and clear waters.
The Kenai Fjords are located in Alaska. With glaciers and other attractions, this is a geological wonder and couples will love what they can see. Posing for pictures will be a wonderful experience.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is in California. It provides couples with a wonderful place to say their vows and have their honeymoon. They will be able to enjoy McWay Falls and many other attractions. There are 350-foot redwoods that they will also enjoy.
Couples can elope to Joshua Tree National Park. Located in the Mojave Desert, this is the home of the Joshua trees. It is situated on over 790,000 acres of gorgeous terrain.
The Grand Canyon is a top choice for many couples that want to elope. They will have their choices of a variety of exciting ways to start their lives as a married couple. It is situated on a 220-mile long canyon with a depth of over a mile, which has phenomenal scenery.
Arches National Park is located in Utah. There are over 4,000 natural arches in this park. It is a great place to get excellent photos.
Maroon Lake, in Colorado, is a favorite place for couples. They can make their vows in many gorgeous places with wonderful scenery.
Savannah is located in the State of Georgia. It is a gorgeous place that couples really love. It is Georgia’s oldest city. There are many things to see and do and the people are very friendly.
Big Bend National Park is in Texas. This park borders Mexico. With over 1.200 species of plants, couples will love what they will be able to see.
The Aleutian Islands are in Alaska. There are 14 large islands and 52 smaller ones. This is a paradise for many people. Couples should dress for the cold temperatures.
These destinations are just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to finding the best places to elope in the U.S. Depending on what you’re dreaming of and what you love to do as a couple, I will give you various options as to where is the best place FOR YOU to elope!
Since eloping is something that alleviates a lot of the stress and takes pressure off of you in a variety of ways, it is now more popular than ever. With the list of the best places to elope in the US, you will definitely find just what you are looking for, so that you can start your life as a married couple in the right way!
There can be many different reasons for an elopement. People may find that it may be too difficult for them to go forward with a large and crowded wedding. Here are some other reasons, why elopements are becoming increasingly more popular:
Check out this brand new article about the best places to elope IN THE WORLD
Photography credits:
Mount Katmai: Katmai National Park and Preserve / Antelope Canyon: Alexander Shchukin / Arkansas Grand Canyon: Noel Pennington / Garden of the gods: Lee Coursey / Waimea Canyon: Wikiphotographer / The French Quarter: Pedro Szekely / Otter Cliffs: Mattia Panciroli / Aquimah cliffs: Bob P.B. / Cracker lake: Troy Smith / Lake Tahoe: Beau Rogers / South Dakota badlands: John Fowler / Caprock canyons: Matthew Lee High / Prusik pass: Butterbits / Grand Teton NP: Mzagerp / Hanging lake: Bryce Bradford / Yellowstone NP: Harald / Sequoia NP: Nate Steiner / Big sur: Stuart L Chambers / Zion NP: Andre Gonsalves / Death Valley NP: Lucian / Multnomah falls: Rabesphoto / Great Sand Dunes NP: Christian Collins / Florida Keys: Thomas / Kenai Fjords: Praveen / Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP: Joe Parks / Joshua Tree NP: Chuck Holland / Grand Canyon NP: Zephyr & Luna / Arches NP: Duncan Rawlinson / Maroon lake: John B. Kalla / Savannah: Jason Pier in DC / Big Bend NP: Steve Davies / Aleutian Islands: Paxson Woelber
As an elopement photographer, planner and guide, I offer a range of option that all include planning and photography, from 5 hours all the way to your ultimate 14-day elopement and honeymoon gateway anywhere that suits you. As part of my photography service, I will help you choose and plan the perfect elopement day(s) from crafting the whole day program to helping you choose amazing vendors and book your accommodation and flights.
Contact me now to get started!