Where Should We Elope?

7 Questions to Help You Choose Your Perfect Location 

Choosing where to elope is one of the biggest decisions of your planning process. Your location shapes everything: the experience you’ll have, the memories you’ll create, and the way your day will feel.

We’ve walked with hundreds of couples through this exact process, and we have even gone through it ourselves. What we’ve learned is that the right location isn’t just about stunning views—it’s about finding a place that reflects your relationship and supports the kind of experience you want to create.

Before we dive into the seven questions that’ll help you narrow things down, here are the two most important things to know:

Don’t pick a place just because it’s pretty. Your elopement deserves more than whatever’s trending on Instagram right now. The most meaningful locations are the ones that already hold significance in your relationship or represent something you’ve always dreamed of experiencing together.

There’s no wrong choice here. Whether you end up in the red rock desert of Moab, the mountain peaks of Washington, or somewhere completely different—if it feels right to you two, it is right.

Why Your Elopement Location is So Much More Than Just a Location

Your elopement location isn’t just a backdrop. It’s an active part of your day.

The landscape influences how you’ll feel, what you’ll experience together, and the kind of memories you’ll carry into your relationship. For example, a quiet forest creates a different energy than standing on a windswept summit, and the stillness of a desert sunrise feels completely different from a location with crashing coastal waves.

When you choose a location intentionally (based on what actually matters to you), your experience reflects your relationship and helps set the tone as you move into your marriage.

Where Should We Elope? 7 Questions to Ask Yourself to Find the Answer

Question 1: What landscapes make you feel most alive?

This is where you’ll want to start. Close your eyes and picture yourselves saying your vows. What do you see around you? How do you want to feel? 

Desert landscapes give you space. They’re filled with wide open skies, red rock formations, and a silence you won’t find in many other places. Areas like Moab and Sedona offer slot canyons, natural arches, and views that go on forever. The desert feels big and timeless because there’s nowhere to hide. It’s just you two, the landscape, and endless possibilities.

Mountain landscapes bring you closer to the sky. Whether it’s the volcanic peaks and alpine meadows of Washington’s North Cascades or the sprawling glaciers and snow-capped mountains of Alaska, these landscapes look and feel grand. Eloping in this landscape also gives you a bit of variety as each season brings something unique—wildflower meadows in summer, golden larches in fall, and snow-covered ridgelines in winter. 

Coastal landscapes are powerful and alive. The Oregon coast, Big Sur, and the rocky shores of Olympic National Park feel a little bit wild and allow you to be playful. You get ocean spray, dramatic sea stacks, tide pools, and beaches that can be sandy or rocky, depending on where you go. If you’re drawn to the water and want a moving, flowing coastal energy, this is for you.

Forest landscapes create a sacred, quiet space. The old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest and California’s redwoods have been standing for hundreds of years and offer solitude, soft light filtering through branches, and a sense of being held by something larger than yourself.

None of these landscapes is better than the others. It really just comes down to what resonates with you two and makes you feel most like yourselves.

Question 2: What season works best for you?

The season you choose can really shape your elopement experience. Different locations shine in different months. If a date or season is super important to you, that may be your biggest deciding factor in where to elope.

Spring often means fewer crowds and rushing waterfalls from snowmelt in the mountains. However, mountain passes might still be snowed in through May or even June. Desert wildflowers bloom after a good winter rain, and temperatures are perfect. In our opinion, Spring elopements are best in the Southwest, the Oregon coast, or Yosemite.

Summer opens up the high country. This is when you can reach alpine lakes, hike to fire lookouts, and access places like Artist Point in the Mount Baker region. With warmer weather, the trade-off can mean larger crowds at popular spots and more intense heat in desert areas. In our opinion, the best Summer elopement locations are Washington, Alaska, and Europe (specifically, Iceland, Switzerland, and Italy)

Fall is our favorite season in both the mountains and the desert. These months bring golden larches, comfortable desert temperatures, and thinner crowds. September and October often give you the best balance in most places, depending on what you are looking for.

Winter is quieter in most areas, but the landscapes transform. Snowy mountain elopements are incredibly beautiful and quiet, and desert spots like Moab become comfortable and uncrowded. One of the absolute best places to elope in the Winter if you ask us, is New Zealand. We can not get over the magical lupine fields, perfect weather days in the incredible mountain landscapes.

But season is only part of the equation. Your weather tolerance matters just as much.

Some people thrive in heat and aren’t affected by it at all, so an early or late summer elopement in the desert may be okay. For others, that could be a nightmare.

Cold tolerance is just as important. Snowy winter elopements are breathtaking, but you need the right gear and mindset. Snowshoeing in your dress can be amazing, but only if you’re actually comfortable being out in colder weather and handling the logistics required.

Rain, wind, humidity, and altitude will all affect how your day feels. The Pacific Northwest is wet mostly from late September through early June. Would you dance in the rain or would it ruin the mood of the day? These are important things to consider when picking your date/location.

None of these is a deal-breaker. They’re just things to plan for so you can be comfortable and present throughout your elopement.

If you are not local to the area, you may not know what to expect when it comes to the weather. Do not be afraid to ask your elopement photographer (hi!) for what they recommend based on the weather. We get a lot of couples that want to elope in late October for a “Fall” elopement in the mountains, but really, Fall, visually and weather-wise, is late September! Late October often brings lots of closed roads, trails, and snow.

Having a good expectation of how the weather can affect your elopement day is important for making the most out of your experience.

Question 3: Do you want to include guests?

This question can narrow down your options fast.

If you’re eloping just the two of you, the world is your oyster. You can choose pretty much anything from technical hiking trails to backcountry locations and longer adventures.

Bringing guests (even a small group of 10-12 people) means considering the accessibility of everyone involved. You can still find stunning locations that don’t require intense hiking. Places like Artist Point, Moab overlooks, and lakeside spots all work well for intimate gatherings.

Larger groups need a different kind of planning. Once you go above 15 people, you’re looking at parking, permits for gatherings, and spaces where everyone can witness your ceremony comfortably. Some wilderness areas have group size limits—for example, Mount Baker National Forest caps gatherings at 12 people total.

Guest count also affects Leave No Trace. More people mean more impact on the environment. As adventure elopement photographers, we take care to follow the principles of Leave No Trace so we can protect and enjoy these places for years to come.

Want to learn more about eloping with family and friends? Check out our guest planning resource here.

Question 4: What’s your preferred activity level?

At this stage of deciding where should we elope, be really honest with yourselves about what “adventure” means to you two. And remember, there’s no right answer here.

Low-key can mean short walks to viewpoints, sunrise at accessible locations, and easy forest trails. You can absolutely have a meaningful outdoor elopement without doing any technical hiking. 

Moderate adventure usually means 2-6 mile hikes with some elevation gain and maybe carrying your attire in your packs. These types of adventures often involve trails leading to fire lookout towers, alpine lakes, and summit views.

High adventure is for couples who really want to go the distance (sometimes literally). We’ve photographed couples who planned multi-day backpacking elopements and technical rock climbing weddings. If you’ve built your relationship on big adventures, your elopement can absolutely reflect that.

No matter what type of adventure you plan, choose what feels authentic to you, not what you think an “adventure elopement” is supposed to be.

How your activity level goes into deciding your location?

If privacy is important to you, but you do not want to hike more than 1 mile, we would not recommend a place like Artist Point as it would be really busy even through it fits into the activity level.

We would however, recommend Alaska, as you could take a helicopter or seaplane somewhere really private without needing to hike much at all!

We go more into detail in the next question to ask yourself!

Devin and Gabby trained for weeks leading up to their Mount Baker backpacking wedding. Read their full story here to see how their day came to be.

Question 5: How important is accessibility versus seclusion?

Understanding your preferred activity level often goes hand in hand with accessibility and seclusion.  

Accessible spots mean easier logistics. Some locations allow you to drive right up to your ceremony spot, which makes eloping with guests so much easier. Places like Artist Point at sunset or certain Moab overlooks still offer incredible beauty, just keep in mind that the easier it is to access a location, the more crowded the area will be.

Seclusion requires a bit more effort, but it’s something that most of our couples find worth it. These locations tend to involve longer hikes to harder-to-reach places, but the reward is complete privacy—just you two and the landscape sprawling around you. 

The sweet spot for a lot of couples is moderate effort for moderate seclusion. A 6+ mile hike filters out casual visitors but doesn’t require expedition-level planning. These locations are usually less well-known, but don’t worry—we’ve collected a list of under-the-radar locations from Washington to Utah and beyond that we can share with you when we plan together.

Question 6: What’s your Travel Budget?

Budget is one of those practical considerations that can’t be ignored, but it doesn’t mean you can’t dream big.

Travel budgets typically include flights, rental cars, accommodations, and permits required for parks and trailheads. Eloping in Washington when you live in Seattle looks very different budget-wise than choosing an international elopement.

Location factors into your elopement cost more than you might think. Desert elopements in Moab or Sedona tend to be more affordable overall than mountain locations, though within each region costs vary. Alaska typically runs higher due to flight costs and food prices. The Pacific Northwest offers some of the most budget-friendly mountain options, especially Olympic National Park and the Mount Baker area.

Don’t forget the hidden costs. Permits range from free (Mount Baker National Forest, BLM land in Moab) to $250 (Mount Rainier) and marriage licenses (which vary by state) cost anywhere from $38 to $100. By themselves, these fees may seem small, but they add up and should be factored into your elopement budget.

Even if you’re working with a limited budget, that doesn’t mean you have limited options. We’ve created stunning elopements with couples on tight budgets. Learn more about elopement costs here or check out this article to unlock the secrets to a stunning wedding on a budget

Question 7: How Much Time do You Have for Your Elopement?

How much time you have available shapes your entire experience—specifically whether you’re doing a single-day or multi-day elopement.

Do you have a long weekend? A full week? Can you take more time if the right location needs it?

Consider the remoteness of your location and travel time. Some locations require significant time just to get there. Flying into a small regional airport, driving several hours to a trailhead, plus hiking in. These logistics eat into your available time. Places like remote Alaska or backcountry locations in the North Cascades might need a full day just to get there.

Some places are worth a quick visit, others aren’t. You can have an incredible elopement experience in Moab or Sedona with just 2-3 days total—fly in, explore, elope, fly out. But other destinations deserve more time to really experience them. Places like New Zealand, Iceland, or multi-day backpacking elopements will absolutely feel rushed if you’re trying to squeeze them into a long weekend.

Time also determines what activities you can include. A single-day elopement might mean you plan for a sunrise ceremony and a few hours of adventure. Multi-day elopements let you spread things out with one day for exploration and private vows, another for a ceremony with guests, and a third for exploring a totally different landscape. We’ve photographed couples who spent one day in the mountains and another on the coast, and others who took multiple days to fully experience a single area.

Some experiences simply require more time, like backpacking elopements, multi-location experiences, and international destinations where you’ll want to adjust to time zones to actually enjoy the place. These types of elopements need more than a day or two.

If you’re working with a shorter timeline, it doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing experience. It just means you’ll need to be more focused and prioritize what matters most to you and then build your day around that. Check out some of our resources below to see what an actual elopement can look like, no matter what timeline you’re working with.

How to Plan a Last Minute Elopement

Sample Elopement Day Timelines (From Half Day to Two-Day Adventures)

Still Can’t Decide Where to Elope? Here’s What You Can Do

If you’ve worked through these questions and you’re still torn on where to elope, that’s not a bad thing. It just means you have multiple locations that could work great. If you still need help narrowing down your elopement location ideas, here are a few suggestions. 

Browse our complete list of elopement locations. Sometimes seeing all your options in one place helps you narrow things down. Check out our best places to elope guide for detailed breakdowns of our favorite destinations across the country.

Pick out of a hat. We’ve actually had couples try this and love the result. Write your top choices on pieces of paper, draw them one by one, and the last one left is your answer. Sometimes removing the weight of the decision lets your intuition speak more clearly.

Consider a multi-day elopement. Who says you have to choose just one place? We’ve photographed couples who spent one day in the mountains and another on the coast, or combined desert and alpine locations. Two-day and three-day elopements let you experience multiple landscapes and create an adventure that spans different environments.

Revisit a location that has meaning to your relationship. “Going to the mountains is going home,” John Muir wrote—and there’s something sacred about returning to the place where it all began. This could look like the trail you first hiked together, the lake where you said ‘I love you’, or the granite walls that you spent a weekend climbing. These places don’t just hold memories—they hold energy. A reflection of who you were then, and who you’ve become together since. Eloping somewhere familiar brings grounding, nostalgia, and deepens your connection to the location and each other.

Schedule a consultation with us. This is what we’re here for. We’ll talk through your priorities, share our experience with different locations, and help you see which options align best with the day you want to create. Sometimes just talking it through out loud with someone who understand eloping makes the right choice for you become clear.

Trust your gut. Sometimes the answer isn’t in a pros-and-cons list. It’s the place you keep coming back to in your mind. Which location makes you more excited when you picture yourselves there?

Don’t Just Pick a Pretty Place

It’s easy to get swept up in dreamy photos or popular spots trending on social media—but your elopement deserves more than that.

Instead, ask yourselves:

Does this place hold meaning for us already? Maybe it’s where you had your first road trip or a landscape that’s always inspired you. Some of the most special moments we’ve captured have been couples returning to a place that means a lot to their relationship.

Is it a bucket list destination? If you’ve always dreamed of standing on a glacier, hiking through red rock canyons, or saying vows on a quiet beach—you should go for it. Life is too short not to live it to the fullest, especially on your wedding day.

Can you come back here? Eloping in a location you can return to for anniversaries or future trips turns your wedding day into a lifelong tradition—truly one of the coolest aspects of an elopement.

You Don’t Have to Decide Alone

Choosing your elopement location is one of the biggest decisions in your planning process, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.

This is what we’re here for.

We’ll walk with you through the process, help you weigh your options, and recommend stunning, meaningful places that match your vision. We’ve scouted countless locations, photographed elopements in every season, and helped hundreds of couples navigate exactly where you are right now.

Every step of the way, you’ll feel:

• Supported in your decision-making
• Grounded in what matters most to you two
• Free to focus on each other instead of logistics
• Confident that your day reflects your values, not someone else’s idea of what it should be

Because at the end of the day, the right location isn’t about checking boxes or choosing the most dramatic backdrop. It’s about finding a place that lets you be fully present with each other—a place where your love story and the landscape come together to create something sacred.

Ready to start planning? Book a free location consultation call by filling out the form below, and let’s talk about where your elopement adventure can take you.

Free Consult Call about Where to Elope

Blog post written by Sonder Studio