The Best places to elope

Collage of the best places to elope in the US

18 Best places to elope in the US and the world

OUR LIST OF THE BEST PLACES TO ELOPE in the US and beyond

We’re a team of dog loving, peak bagging, award winning, adventure junkies – working together to help plan and document incredible elopements in the best elopement destination around the world.

Together we’ve photographed 350+ elopements all over the world! This is our definitive list of the absolute best places to elope in the US and overseas, so get ready to see some incredible options for your elopement day.

Best places to elope in the us north cascades

North Cascades National Park

Why the North Cascades are a Best Place to Elope: The North Cascades in Washington State is one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. With thousands of glaciers, rugged peaks, colorful wildflowers, and pristine alpine lakes you’ll quickly see why it’s called the “American Alps”. Standing atop a summit of one of these mountains, you’ll get a view commonly referred to as the “sea of peaks” where the layers of jagged mountain peaks seem to stretch on forever. How’s that for a place to say your elopement vows?

best places to elope redwoods national park

Redwoods National Park

Why the Redwoods are a Best Place to Elope in the US: California’s Redwoods are a natural wonder we think everyone should experience at some point in their lives. There’s no describing how massive these trees are, it’s otherworldly. That’s probably what Stephen Spielburg must have thought when he decided to make these forests the setting for the planet Endor in Star Wars. On sunny days, light streams through the canopy like sunlight through stained glass windows of a cathedral. On rainy days, mist floats through the prehistoric forest. No matter what the weather does, it’s always a good day to elope in the Redwoods.

best places to elope in canyonlands

Canyonlands National Park

Why Canyonlands National Park is a Best Place to Elope: Canyonlands is our favorite national park in Moab, Utah and one of the best places to elope for so many reasons. It’s like the Yosemite of the desert, with thousand-foot cliffs and overlooks galore. There’s white-knuckle off-roading, white water rafting, ancient petroglyphs, and plenty of places to find solitude amongst a breathtaking landscape for your elopement ceremony.

Moab Elopement

Utah Public Lands

Why Utah is a Best Place to Elope: BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land is public land that is not part of any state or national parks. There is BLM land all over the country, but the BLM land in Utah contains some of the most incredible places to elope in the whole country. You can find cliffs, desert towers, slot canyons and natural arches galore, with none of the crowds you typically find in the parks. One of the best features of BLM land is all the free camping. You can park your rig on the edge of a cliff and end the elopement night grilling over a fire while the stars come out! We actually did that for an elopement one time. Sounds pretty amazing right? 

best places to elope in the US

Oregon Coast

Why the Oregon Coast is a Best Place to Elope in the US: There isn’t a bad spot on the entire Oregon coast – all the way from the border of California to the border of Washington there are postcard-worthy views. At the far southern coast you can see a plethora of sea stacks and natural arches poking out of the ocean, and towering redwoods lurk just inland. As you head north, you’ll encounter rolling sand dunes, grassy bluffs that look like a scene from Scotland, dramatic sea cliffs, massive sea stacks, and pristine beaches. And the whole coast has cute little beach towns with great seafood, ocean-front Airbnbs, and the must see (and eat) Tillamook Cheese Factory

best places to elope colorado mountains

San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Why the San Juan Mountains are a Best Place to Elope in the US:

The San Juan mountains are a rugged range in the southern Colorado Rockies. Venture up into the mountains and you’ll discover a world of incredibly scenic views featuring abandoned gold mines, epic 4×4 roads (jeep rentals in town!), turquoise alpine lakes, and snow-capped peaks. Jeeping over the mountain pass between Telluride and Ouray is hands down one of the funnest adventures we’ve ever been on, and it’s no surprise that these mountains have been featured in many motion picture productions.

Columbia River Gorge

Why the Columbia River Gorge is a Best Place to Elope:

Hop on I-84 in Portland heading east and in less than an hour you’ll find yourself in the stunning Columbia River Gorge. Home to Oregon’s most breathtaking waterfalls (and lots of them!), wildflower-covered hikes, and scenic bluffs overlooking the massive Columbia River, there’s no shortage of places to explore out here. Hood River is a super cool town in the heart of the Gorge, with some fantastic breweries and restaurants that make for a great place to wrap up the elopement day. And you’re never far from Portland, which is a foodie’s paradise. 

best places to elope in joshua tree

Joshua Tree National Park

Why Joshua Tree is a Best Place to Elope in the US:

The artsy desert community of Joshua Tree makes it such an amazing elopement destination. Not only do you have Joshua Tree National Park, which is a desert wonderland of flowering cacti, monolithic boulders, and some of the most consistently beautiful sunsets we’ve ever seen. But you also have a vibrant community of artists who have made the funky little town of Joshua Tree a worthy destination in its own right. You can go shopping, stay in adorable Airbnbs, eat fantastic food, see cool art, and elope in a truly magical environment. It really ticks all the elopement boxes.

best places to elope olympic peninsula

Olympic National Park

Why Olympic National Park is a Best Place to Elope:

As if the North Cascades and Rainier weren’t enough, Washington also boasts the Olympic Mountains out on the Olympic Peninsula. The mountains rise up from the coast through a temperate rainforest filled with mossy, ancient trees and waterfalls. This means you can often start the day exploring the beach, wander through the forest, visit a waterfall, and end it with sunset high on a mountain peak! Being a little lower elevation than the Cascade range, the snow melts earlier in these mountains, so we love hiking here in June and July.

Check out our Inspo Guide for Eloping in Olympic National Park

best places to elope zion national park

Zion National Park

Why Zion National Park is a Best Place to Elope in the US:

Zion is a remarkable national park and one of the best places to elope for couples who want varaiety in the desert. From expansive overlooks to narrow slot canyons, you can easily fill your days with nonstop adventure. Zion is even home to one of the most dangerous hikes in the world if you’re up for It! (Photo pictured from the top of that one) Winter, spring, and fall are the best times to elope here when the weather is a bit cooler and the summer crowds die down. 

Check out our guide for the 7 Best places to elope in Zion National Park

best places to elope big sur

Big Sur

Why Big Sur is a Best Place to Elope:

Big Sur is a scenic stretch of coastline south of the San Francisco area. Highway 1 famously winds along this coastal clifflines, offering up views of rolling hills plunging into the ocean, where the waves crash against rocky outcroppings. It’s consistently ranked as one of the most scenic drives in America. A whole elopement day can be spent just cruising along the road and stopping to explore the beautiful roadside views. If you head inland a bit, you’ll even find Redwoods! And if you love a little luxury on your elopement day, there are some suuuuuuper nice Airbnbs along the coast 😉

Foxpack Tip: think about the vibe of your day when considering the best places to elope in the US

Don’t pick where to elope based on one photo. Instead, try to imagine the vibe of your entire elopement day, what’s surrounding you, and the kind of scenery that excites you two most. We always ask our couples “when you close your eyes and dream about where to elope, what’s the vibe around you?” Are you on top of a mountain feeling the crisp alpine air? Are you surrounded by ancient trees with golden light spilling through the canopy? Do you feel the sun’s warmth on your skin as you stare out over a vast desert canyon?

best places to elope mount rainier national park

Mount Rainier National Park

Why Mount Rainier is a Best Place to Elope:

If we had to pick one word to describe Mt. Rainier National Park, it would be “enchanting.” The trails meander through whimsical forests of tall evergreens dotted with colorful wildflowers, set against the backdrop of the behemoth Mt. Rainier. Did you know Mt. Rainier is an active volcano? Don’t worry, the experts are keeping a close eye on her 😉 Mid July through mid August is wildflower season at Rainier, while September brings fall foliage with wild blueberries covering the hillsides. Eloping here, the feeling of awe and wonder will leave you swooning over this place as much as each other.

best places to elope alaska glacier

Alaska Glaciers

Why Alaska is a Best Place to Elope:

Alaska needs no introduction. It’s known for its larger than life landscape and amazing wildlife, two things you’ll definitely witness on an Alaskan elopement. One of the coolest things about Alaska is all the helicopter companies that will literally fly you into the backcountry and land you on a glacier or remote mountain peak where you can say your vows in total solitude. Just you two and the wild Alaskan frontier. From Seward to the Chugach Mountains to Hatcher Pass, there are endless places to elope in Alska. While the summer brings the most predictable weather, fall and winter can also be an great times to elope here.

best places to elope in slot canyons

Utah Slot Canyons

Why Utah's Slot Canyons are a Best Place to Elope in the US:

You don’t have to go to the world-famous and insanely crowded Antelope Canyon to elope in a slot canyon. Arizona and Utah are full of hidden gems that provide a much better experience for your elopement day. We love exploring these narrow sandstone passages and have found some pretty incredible spots that we had all to ourselves! Wandering through these canyons and finding sacred little pools of light shining through the narrow canyon openings is truly a magical experience. And they can always be looped into multiple locations to get a variety of desert scenery in your elopement photos.

Foxpack Tip: the best places to elope in the US with guests

If you’re inviting guests to your elopement, you’ll want to pick a location that isn’t too remote, has good lodging options nearby, is easily accessible, and can sustain the impact of your group size. Party size can limit your location options, so if a big elopement adventure is a priority consider eloping without guests, and then have a reception with loved ones later in the week. Check out our advice from real couples on how to tell your family you’re eloping.

ruby beach elopement best places to elope in the us

Washington Coast

Why the Washington Coast is a Best Place to Elope:

The Washington coast has miles and miles of rugged beaches and ocean cliffs. Old growth forests with giant trees border these beaches and create an incredible diversity of landscapes to explore. This area is beautiful year round, from perfect summer sunsets to moody winter days that are straight out of Twilight. Ending the day with a beach bonfire just might be our favorite way to cap off an epic elopement before retiring to your cozy PNW lodge on the coast.

best places to elope sedona arizona

Sedona

Why Sedona is a Best Place to Elope:

Sedona is a desert environment unlike any other we’ve encountered during our travels around the US. It’s a desert, but it’s also green and lush. The richness of the reds and greens here is so striking, making it a perfect backdrop for elopement photos. There are some seriously cool Airbnbs and hotels to stay at here if you want a little pampering on your elopement day. To complete the trip, don’t forget to pick up some crystals, find one of Sedona’s famous energy vortexes

hoh rainforest best places to elope in the us

Hoh Rainforest

Why the Hoh Rainforest is a Best Place to Elope:

The Hoh is one of the biggest temperate rainforests in the world, receiving a whopping 140 inches of average rainfall every year! But most of this precipitation is in the form of a light mist that makes everything glisten in the most magical way. A good rainy day is honestly the best time to elope in the Hoh Rainforest. The dew drops glisten on the moss and ferns and you can feel the plants living their best life all around you. This is why we prefer to visit this area in the spring, fall or winter, when our chances for getting a nice overcast day are higher. Oh yeah, and they say Sasquatch lives here 😉 If so, he’s got some pretty gorgeous stomping grounds.

Icealnd

Why Iceland is a Best Place to Elope:

So this list is mostly US destinations, but we had to include one international spot in our best places to elope: Iceland. It blows our minds how one little arctic island can have such a crazy variety in its landscape. It has volcanoes and geothermal activity, which creates natural hot springs everywhere. There are more waterfalls than you can imagine, glaciated mountains, black sand beaches, barren moonscapes, cute little viking cottages, rolling green fields, wild Icelandic horses…we can’t even list all the variety here or else this description would go on forever. You’ll be hard pressed to find a place to elope that has as much variety. And surprisingly enough, it’s incredibly easy to travel to Iceland. Icelandair has affordable direct flights from cities all over the US

Best places for your washington elopement

Best Places to Elope in the US and world FAQ's

Where is the best place to elope?

The best places to elope in the US are places like Washington state, Oregon, California, and Utah. These places have a variety in landscape, good lodging options, and are easy to travel to.

Where is the cheapest to elope?

The cheapest places to elope are in state and national parks. Permits range from free to $200.

Where is the most romantic place to elope?

The most romantic places to elope are wild and international destinations that you and your fiancé have never been before.

When is the best time to elope?

The best time to elope is during off-season so you don't have to deal with crowds and tourists.

Still need help with picking the best place for you to elope?

Hope you found our tips helpful! As you can see, we LOVE talking about elopement destinations with all of our couples. We have so much more detailed information to help you plan your day. If you’d like to work with our team for your elopement, get in touch now!

CUSTOM PHOTO ALBUM AGREEMENT

THE FOXES PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

These Terms and Conditions are a legally binding agreement is between you (“Client”) The Foxes Photography, LLC (“Photographer”) (collectively the “Parties”, or in the singular “Party”), for the purpose of Client purchasing a custom photography album from Photographer. This Agreement shall become effective upon the date you complete the checkout process.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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Client shall commit to a custom album package by signing and returning this Agreement along with the initial payment for album service. Photographer will not begin its custom album services until the Agreement is signed and the album design fee is received. No final album will be printed until the full payment is made. In the event Client fails to remit payment as specified, Photographer shall have the right to immediately terminate this Agreement with no further obligation and retain any monies already paid as liquidated damages. Full payment must be completed by Client within 60 days of this Agreement’s date.

The fees in this Agreement are based on Photographer’s current album pricing at the time of booking. The price list is adjusted periodically, and any changes to custom albums will be charged at the prices in effect at the time.

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The following outline indicates the general procedure of a custom album design. Client understands and agrees to this procedure.

  1. Photographer will use photos and album specifications to create their first custom album design.
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  3. Client will approve or send in revisions to album design.
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  6. Photographer will send in album for printing.
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  8. Client receives final printed album.
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Albums will include 35 spreads and no less. The definition of a “page” is one side of a spread in an album (for example, a 70-page album contains 35 spreads). If Client requests more than 35 spreads, additional spreads are $50.00 each. 

  1. Revision Rounds

The first draft will include photos selected by the photographer and will be sent to Client for approval. Client may request modifications to be made. Photographer shall complete modifications and send the second draft of album design to Client. Client may then accept the design or request one more round of modifications. Photographer will complete this second modification request and send the final draft of album to Client. After these two rounds of revisions to the album design, no further revisions are allowed. Any additional revisions are invoiced at a rate of $75.00 per round. All additional revision rounds must be paid before the revision is made by the Photographer. Photographer requires up to 10 days to complete a revision request. Client has 50 days to send Photographer any and all revision requests. Any revisions requested by Client more than 50 days after this Agreement’s date will not be accepted by Photographer.

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Photographer will not place an album order with the album Manufacturer until Client approves the design draft, and the balance is paid on any upgrades or additional spreads. Client agrees to check the final album design very carefully before giving final approval. Once final approval is given, Photographer is not responsible for typos, image defects, duplicate images, or other errors that may have been missed. 

  1. Parent/Duplicate Albums

Parent/duplicate albums cannot be altered from the original designs. All parent/duplicate albums shall be ordered at the time of final approval of the original album design and will be invoiced and must be paid prior to Photographer sending in album for printing. No parent/duplicate albums are available after the original album ordering phase is complete.

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Client understands and agrees that Photographer’s album manufacturer (“Manufacturer”) generally takes 6-8 weeks to print and manufacture the album. While every possible precaution is taken and Manufacturer has been selected by Photographer for its superb quality, Photographer assumes no liability for the loss or damage of album while in possession of Manufacturer. 

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Client shall agree to final album design within 60 days of this Agreement’s date. Any delay by Client in approving final album design will result in termination of this Agreement and no further obligation by Photographer.

  1. Retouching and Edits

Photographer will use the final edited images delivered to Client to make the album design. Photographer will not re-edit or retouch any images.

  1. Returns

Client understands and agrees that once final approval of album design has been given to Photographer, no returns or refunds are allowed whatsoever. In the event Client receives the printed album and sees any manufacturer defects or dislikes the album quality, Photographer will work with Manufacturer to the best of their ability to remedy the situation. Client is responsible for any additional fees associated with returning or reprinting the album.

  1. Album Archiving

Photographer shall keep a copy of final approved album design for 90 days but does not permanently archive the final album design. Client understands that after 90 days the album design will not be available to order additional copies and a new agreement must be signed to start the process over.

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The final album design by The Foxes Photography, LLC is their property, will remain their property, and are protected by United States Copyright Laws (USC Title 17). Client hereby waives any claims for ownership, income, editorial control, and use of the images and album design. Violations of this federal law will be subject to its civil and criminal penalties.

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Photographer’s office hours are 9:00am – 5:00pm PST Monday through Friday. Photographer’s primary source of communication is through their email [email protected]. Photographer will respond to Client’s emails within those office hours.

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Client shall indemnify, release, discharge and hold harmless Photographer, its heirs, legal representatives, assigns, employees, contractors, or any persons or corporations acting under permission or authority of the Photographer from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses and costs, including reasonable legal expenses and attorneys’ fees, to which Photographer may become subject as a result of any claim, demand, action or other legal proceeding by any third-party to the extent such losses arise directly or indirectly out of activities performed by Photographer pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent such losses result from the gross negligence, willful misconduct, or intentional acts of Photographer.

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The sole remedy for any actions or claims by Client shall be limited to a refund, the maximum amount not to exceed the total monies paid by Client under this Agreement.

  1. Limitation of Liability

If, during the production and/or before the album(s) are delivered to Client, the media has been lost, stolen, or is unusable because of defect, damage, equipment/platform malfunction, processing, or other technical error caused by Photographer or by forces outside the control of Photographer, Client agrees to relieve and hold Photographer harmless and will not impose any additional liability.

In no event shall Photographer be liable under this Agreement to Client or any other third-party for consequential, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or enhanced damages, arising out of, relating to, or in connection with any breach of this Agreement, regardless of (a) whether such damages were foreseeable, (b) whether or not Client was advised of such damages, and (c) the legal or equitable theory (contract, tort, or otherwise) upon which the claim is based.

  1. Force Majeure 

No Party shall be liable or responsible to the other Party, nor be deemed to have defaulted under or breached this Agreement, for any failure or delay in fulfilling or performing any term of this Agreement (except for any obligations to make payments to the other Party hereunder), when and to the extent such failure or delay is caused by or results from acts beyond the impacted party’s (“Impacted Party”) control that are unforeseen and unpredictable at the time of contracting, including, but not limited to, the following force majeure 

events (“Force Majeure Events”): (a) acts of God; (b) a natural disaster (fires, explosions, earthquakes, hurricane, flooding, storms, explosions, infestations), epidemic, or pandemic; (c) war, invasion, hostilities (whether war is declared or not), terrorist threats or acts, riot or other civil unrest; (d) government order or law; (e) actions, embargoes or blockades in effect on or after the date of this Agreement; (f) action by any governmental authority; (g) national or regional emergency; (h) strikes, labor stoppages or slowdowns or other industrial disturbances; and (i) shortage of adequate power or transportation facilities. The Impacted Party shall give Notice (as defined in Section 27) within 10 days of the Force Majeure Event to the other Party, stating the period of time the occurrence is expected to continue. The Impacted Party shall use diligent efforts to end the failure or delay and ensure the effects of such Force Majeure Event are minimized. The Impacted Party shall resume the performance of its obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause. In the event that the Impacted Party’s failure or delay remains uncured for a period of 15 days following Notice given by it, the other Party may thereafter terminate this Agreement upon Notice. The Retainer and all other payments made by Client up to the date of Notice of a Force Majeure Event are non-refundable.

  1. Cancellation of Album Services by Photographer

In the event Photographer determines, in its sole discretion, that it cannot or will not perform its obligations under this Agreement due to circumstances including, but not limited to, injury, illness, death of family member, pregnancy, military orders, religious obligations, other personal emergencies, or total breakdown of communication with Client, it will:

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Should any sale and/or use tax be imposed on any part of this Agreement, such tax shall be collected from Client and remitted by Photographer. All sales tax will be included on invoices.

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This is a binding Agreement that incorporates the entire understanding of the Parties, supersedes any other written or oral agreements between the Parties, and any modifications must be in writing, signed by all Parties, and physically attached to the original agreement.


22. Venue and Jurisdiction

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington including all matters of construction, validity, performance, and enforcement and without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws. The Parties agree that any dispute or lawsuit arising out of, or concerning, this Agreement that is not first resolved by arbitration shall be resolved exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction located in Whatcom County, Washington. The Parties assume responsibility for their own collection costs and legal fees incurred should enforcement of this Agreement become necessary.

  1. Arbitration

Any and all disputes or disagreements rising between the Parties out of this Agreement upon which an amicable understanding cannot be reached, shall be decided by arbitration in accordance with the procedural rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Parties agree to be bound by the decision of the arbitrator(s). The arbitration proceeding shall take place in Whatcom County, Washington, unless another location is mutually agreed to by the Parties. The cost and expenses of the arbitrators shall be shared equally by the Parties. Each Party shall be responsible for its own costs and expenses in presenting the dispute for arbitration.

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In the event that any part of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain valid and enforceable. Any failure by one or both Parties to enforce a provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any other portion or provision of this Agreement.

  1. Transfer

This Agreement cannot be transferred or assigned to any third-party by either the Photographer or Client without written consent of all Parties. 

  1. Headings

Headings and titles are provided in this Agreement for convenience only and will not be construed as part of this Agreement.

  1. Notice

Parties shall provide effective notice (“Notice”) to each other via email at the date and time which the Notice is sent: Photographer’s Email: [email protected]

  1. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures 

The Parties agree that a facsimile copy (electronic copy) of this Agreement, which contains the Parties’ signatures, may be used as the original.

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By checking the box on this order form and upon completion of purchase, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.