The Complete Guide
15 Most Beautiful and Unique Places to Elope in the US
Unique places to elope for every couple
There are so many beautiful and unique places to elope in the us, so here is my list of 15 favorites! When you throw out the whole wedding, the ballroom and 3 tier cake and attendants, it’s time to dust off your bucket list and START DREAMING! You’re no longer planning an EVENT, you are planning a TRIP! So compare your individual bucket lists and look for the overlap. You can absolutely do this, for HALF of your “wedding budget.” What plan makes you the most excited? Start there!
Eloping is for everyone
You don’t have to hike to have an incredible elopement experience.
You don’t have to be an outdoorsy person, or an extreme backpacker to have an incredible elopement day in the great outdoors. Most locations are easily accessible by car. I’ve got some incredible locations for those with special accessibility needs such as wheelchairs.
15 most unique places to elope
I have witnessed over 200 wild and weird marriages and no two are the same, even if they are in the same park! However, If you’re looking for something that hasn’t been done before, look no further! These are my top fifteen most unique places to elope in the US.
#1 Crowley Lake Stone Column Elopement Location
These little known natural stone columns are absolutely bananas cool. On the shore of a sparkling clear lake that reminds me of Tahoe, California’s Sierra mountains tower over this unique place to elope in the us. Requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle to access, or a 1.5 mile hike.
#2 Unique Helicopter Elopement in Alaska
Yes, you can charter a helicopter to land you on a glacier in Alaska for your elopement. Honestly, there’s no reason you shouldn’t do this. So what are you waiting for?
#3 Lower Blue Lake, Colorado
Lower Blue lake is one of 3 sparkling turquoise lakes in Ridgeway, Colorado in the southwest corner of the state. A steep 3 mile hike is required to access it, but the views are worth the huffing and puffing. The shady forest gives way to a cauldron with unbelievable color.
#4 Most unique elopement location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The chance to see lava and hear the volcano roar isn’t found anywhere else in the USA. The big Island of Hawaii is home to this fabulous National Park, which offers more than just volcanos! Tour the sea cliffs and experience the rainforest like nowhere else. And oh my gosh – the stars!
#5 Channel Islands National Park – Underwater Elopement
Visit this string of Islands off the coast of Southern California and you’ll be transported away from all the crowds and city life. So get married on the island, or get married underwater while scuba diving in the kelp forests offshore.
#6 Valley of Fire State Park
The diversity of the desert really shines in this vibrant Nevada state park, located just an hour from Las Vegas. Slot canyons, doorway-shaped arches, and petrified dunes make this a very colorful and unique elopement location.
#7 Unique Everglades Elopement Places
This really speaks for itself – how many people do you know that have ever got married in the Everglades of south Florida? While flat, the moss-dripping trees, coastal mangroves, and jungle trails make for great photos.
#8 Death Valley – A Unique elopement location
I think the name alone makes this California desert park a less popular elopement location, which is exactly why you should choose it! The solitude, mirror reflection lake, and unique craters are highlights.
#9 Elope on a Boat in Kauai
Enjoy epic views of the Na Pali coastline on a boat charter and say your vows right on the bow. Plus, bonus points if you get the captain to perform the ceremony.
#10 White Sands Unique Elopement Locations
A white sandbox that stretches to the mountainous horizon in New Mexico is perfect for playful couples who want to explore the largest Gypsum sand dunes on earth. It’s truly like nowhere else!
#11 Bryce Canyon National Park
Utah’s most unique place to elope is definitely Bryce Canyon. The iconic red and orange formations called hoodoos are simply found nowhere else.
#12 Unique Glacier National Park Elopement Places
Nowhere else can you find pristine wildflowers and glacial lakes with icebergs in them then the Montana National Park known for epic elopements.
#13 Most unique place to elope in California: Mono Lake
California’s Mono Lake is a saltwater lake with deposits called Tufa around the edges. The tufa spires can be 10 feet tall and as big as cars, solidifying this as one of the most unique places to elope in the us.
#14 Sedona, Arizona’s most unique places to elope
In Central Arizona, the town of Sedona isn’t a national park at all! The red stone caves, mountains and hikes offer a place to elope like no other.
#15 Unique Elopement place in Joshua Tree
California’s Mono Lake is a saltwater lake with deposits called Tufa around the edges. The tufa spires can be 10 feet tall and as big as cars, solidifying this as one of the most unique places to elope in the us.
More Unique Elopement Ideas
If you want more ideas, think of the more specific elopement locations that are unique. In the redwoods, you could elope inside of a huge fallen redwood tree – or standing on top of one. You can get married on a scenic train ride through Oregon, or the steam powered Silver Plume train in Colorado. Elope on a whale watch on the coast of New England. Or at a lodge in Yellowstone, or a backpacking trip through Buckskin gulch in Arizona. Get soaked as you say your vows behind a waterfall in Washington.
Best places to elope in the US
The most beautiful places to elope in the us often require a long drive from an airport, a hike, a 4×4 jeep road or an early start if you want to avoid the crowds. As privacy is often a top priority for eloping couples, looking for unique places to elope will allow you to get the best experience.
This concept is outlined in my diagram below – you can only pick two.
- You can have Beautiful Scenery and Privacy, but it will not be easy to access.
- You can have Beautiful Scenery and Easy to access, but it will be busy with other people.
- Easy to access and privacy is possible, but it won’t be knock your socks off stunning.
Where is the most romantic place to elope in the us?
I couldn’t fit all the most beautiful and romantic places to elope in just one guide. There are just too many unique places to elope in the us! Some of my runner up locations that give you that romantic feeling are:
- Yosemite National Park, California
- Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
- Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona
- Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
- Crested Butte, Colorado
All Inclusive Elopement Packages
I design, plan, and execute dream date style All Inclusive elopements for couples who want a hands – off planning experience. Starting at $15,000usd.
Can I elope in another state?
Yes, you can elope in any US state, no matter which state you live in. To legally marry, you will need a marriage license from the state you wish to marry in. One exception is if you live in Texas, you may apply for a Texas marriage license and use it in any other state. If you have chosen a national park, you must also acquire a Special Use Permit ( or “S.U.P.”) from the park’s management.
Can I self-solemnize anywhere?
You may have heard that Colorado and Washington are Self Solemnizing states, meaning you don’t need an officiant, minister or clergy of any kind to get married. However, because I am ordained, you can benefit from my experience to fulfill the officiant’s signature in most states. In some states, an additional witness is required, but that is easily found on the course of your adventure elopement.
Still don’t know where to elope?
If you don’t know where to elope, please reach out! I have a huge directory of custom built maps for every western state, National Park and local gem I’ve ever been to. So, tell me about your wishes and hesitations, preferences and everything in between. Because I truly want to share these amazing places with more people! So, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Top 10 Unique Elopement Locations in the world
If you want to get married on your honeymoon, planning couldn’t be easier! Select an international elopement location that makes you excited and will check something off your bucket list. Alaska, Japan, Scotland, Greece and Kenya are at the top of my bucket list. What’s on yours?
Top ten unique destination elopement places:
- Jeeping Safari in South Africa
- New Zealand’s fjords and waterfalls
- The Cenotes in Riviera Maya, Mexico
- A misty moody castle in Scotland or Ireland
- A sunset rooftop elopement on an island in Greece
- Spring elopement in the cherry blossoms of Japan
- Tahiti elopement at an overwater bungalow
- Costa Rican rainforest treehouse elopement
- Iceland northern lights elopement with celestial capes
- A salt flats elopement in Bolivia
Contact Me
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