Table of Contents:

• What is a National Park Elopement?
• How to Plan a National Park Elopement
• 8 Best U.S. National Parks to Elope In
• National Park Elopement Packages + Pricing

If you’re craving an elopement full of adventure, scenic views, and tranquil settings out in nature, there is truly no better place to elope than in the middle of a wild and rugged national park. Join me as I take you through all the steps to eloping in a national park, from setting your budget to choosing the right park for your one-of-a-kind adventure!

What is a National Park Elopement?

It’s exactly what it sounds like, y’all! A national park elopement is simply an elopement or intimate wedding that takes place within a national park. National park elopements have become increasingly popular over the past few years, especially since COVID when a ton of couples had to reroute their original wedding plans + opt for something smaller. After all, what could be more remote and socially distanced than a tiny gathering somewhere out in the middle of the rugged wilderness? I’m personally so glad that adventure elopements in national parks have become such a trend, because the magic that can be experienced when getting married out in the beauty of nature is unlike ANYTHING else.

How to Plan a National Park Elopement

Planning your national park elopement doesn’t have to be difficult, especially if you have the right people by your side to guide you through the process. Before we dive into my favorite national parks for elopements, I wanted to give you a rundown of exactly how to plan your national park elopement. From creating a budget to getting your permits, I’ve got more than enough experience photographing + curating national park elopements for couples like you, and can’t wait to help you with yours.

1. Set your budget + decide your priorities

This may or may not be the very first step you take  when planning your elopement, but whether it comes first or fifth in the process, setting a budget is a key part of bringing your dream day to life. Not only will you want to go through your numbers and determine how much money you have to spend on your elopement, you’ll also want to pick out what your priorities are when it comes to your spending. What are you willing to spend more on to make your dream celebration happen, and what matters a little less that you can set a smaller budget for?

Getting on the same page about your national park elopement budget is SO important in making sure that you know what to expect with the amount of money you have to spend, and that you feel good about where every single freaking dollar goes. Your priorities and visions might look completely different than other couples you know, and that’s totally okay!

Here are a few FAQ’s I’ve often heard couples ask about the financial side of eloping in a national park:

Can you get married for free in a national park?

No, it’s not free to get married in a national park—but it is SO, so much cheaper than renting a traditional wedding venue. When you realize how little it costs to tie the knot in a national park compared to having a celebration at a larger venue, it’ll basically feel like it’s free haha! The main costs associated with national park elopements, specifically, are permit fees, entrance fees, monitoring fees, backcountry permit fees, and timed entry reservation fees if applicable. More on this a little later, when I tell you about my favorite parks that you should consider for your special day 🙂

How much does it cost to get married in a national park?

It completely depends on the park, as every individual one is a little different. I’ve seen Special Use Permit fees range from $75-$200+, entrance fees from $25-$35, and additional fees such as monitoring, backcountry permit, and timed entry reservation fees totally vary. 

Let’s do a little math to see how much it might cost you to get married in a national park, using Yosemite as our example!

• Special Use Permit: $150
• Monitoring fee: $50 per hour
• 7-day entrance fee: $35 per vehicle

If you had five guests traveling in two vehicles, and required a monitoring fee for two hours, your total cost to elope at Yosemite would be $320—in addition to all of your vendor fees, outfit costs, etc. of course. How crazy low is that compared to the thousands of dollars you would spend on a venue for your ceremony?!

What vendors should we hire for a national park elopement?

It’s really up to you what vendors you choose to hire, and will depend on your budget + what’s important to you.

At the very least, you’ll want to hire:

• Photographer
• Officiant
• Hair/makeup
• Florist

If you’d like more support in planning your elopement + have the budget for a larger group of vendors, you can also consider hiring:

• Planner/coordinator
• Videographer
• Stationery
• Caterer/baker, if you’re having any type of post-ceremony reception outside of the park

2. Hire a national park elopement photographer

Your photographer should be one of the FIRST vendors you hire for your national park elopement, as they tend to book out much further in advance. Same goes for a planner/coordinator and officiant! Hiring a photographer early on in the process is also a great idea if you’re having trouble deciding when/where to elope, as they’ll be able to give you their expert input + provide you with the best recommendations. 

I strongly suggest hiring someone who has experience with national park elopements so that they can help you with getting permits, scouting out the best locations in the park, helping you create your timeline, etc. I’d be honored to be that person for you, let’s chat 🙂

3. Choose what type of landscape you want

Now comes the MOST fun part in my opinion: starting to dream up your perfect elopement location! Before you actually start looking into potential park options, I want you to take some time to just dream BIG. Envision what your most flawless, incredible elopement looks like in your heads: where are you standing when you say your vows? What does the backdrop look like behind you? What are you looking at out in the distance?

We’re so lucky here in the U.S. to have a super diverse variety of national parks, all offering their own beautiful landscapes and one-of-a-kind terrain. Here’s a list of options to start with when it comes to visualizing your dream elopement + what your surroundings look like:

• Deserts
• Forests
• Lakes
• Mountains
• Oceans
• Sandy beaches
• Rocky beaches
• Glaciers
• Volcanoes
• Rivers

You can also start to think about what vibe you’re going for. Are you dreaming of a moody + gloomy Twilight-inspired elopement? Maybe a bright and warm day surrounded by colorful wildflower meadows? While you ultimately can’t control the weather and conditions on your elopement day, you can think about the type of atmosphere you’d like to create for you and any guests you’re inviting. 

4. Pick your dream location

I have just ONE question I want you to answer when it comes time to pick your elopement location: Where would you go if the only thing that mattered was your connection?

No limits. Anything and anywhere is possible. All that matters is that you choose a place that can foster connection, joy, and love between the two of you + any guests you invite. And as your elopement photographer, I will be more than happy to help you find the perfect national park for you if you’re having trouble deciding!

5. Pick your date

Now that you know where you want to elope, it’s time to figure out when you want to elope. 

Here are the most important factors to consider when choosing a date for your national park elopement:

• Crowds + other visitors
• Weather conditions
• Sunrise + sunset times
• Seasonal colors, landscapes, + terrain
• The vibe you’re going for + what kind of atmosphere you want
• Snow melt (especially at high elevations)
• Time of day you want to have your ceremony
• Road + trail conditions (including seasonal closures)
• Cost of travel + accommodations (usually higher during peak season)
• How far in advance you need to apply for a Special Use Permit
• Timed entry reservations (if applicable)
• Activities you want to include in your day

6. Invite your guests

Can we have guests at our national park elopement?

Absolutely you can! You’re allowed to do whatever the heck you want on your elopement day, whether that looks like having a completely private ceremony with just the two of you and the mountains, or a vow exchange surrounded by a few of your closest loved ones. The only thing you’ll want to think about is whether your desired ceremony spot in the park has any limits on group size; for example, certain ceremony locations may only be able to fit five people and have space for two cars to park. Keep these limits in mind when deciding who to invite to make sure you’re following all of the park rules!

7. Apply for a Special Use Permit

As your elopement date draws closer, you’ll want to start looking into getting a Special Use Permit. The exact details are different for every park, but here are the main pieces of information you usually need to pay attention to:

• How far in advance you need to apply (some parks will only take applications for dates at least a month away, some will take applications for anywhere between one week and one year in advance)
• Any restrictions on group size/guest count that may be in place
• Permitted ceremony locations, as well as locations that aren’t permitted
• Any activities, props, or equipment that are prohibited
• Potential park monitoring fees
• Length of time you’re allowed to hold your ceremony
• Application cost, and processing time
• Whether you need to bring a physical copy of your permit with you to your elopement or not
• Who needs to apply for it (does it have to be you as the couple, or can it be your planner/coordinator?)

Again, the process to apply for the permit varies by park, but below are the steps you will typically need to follow:

1. Download and fill out an online permit application form (usually a PDF) through the NPS site
   1. Include your personal details, desired date, desired ceremony location, details of your ceremony, any decor/props/equipment you plan to bring, guest count, vehicle count, ceremony length, etc.
2. Submit your application to the corresponding park office via mail or email
3. Pay your non-refundable permit application fee via the park’s preferred method—usually check, money order, or Pay.gov
4. Wait for your permit to be approved, then sign and return your final permit to the park office

8. Create your timeline

Your timeline is the most important element of your elopement, as it’s what will guide the events of the day and allow everything to flow naturally. Having a really amazing and experienced photographer by your side who can help you plan your timeline will make all the difference, trust me!

This is also a great time to start planning your activities and booking your travel + accommodations.

Let’s take a peek at what a 2-day micro wedding adventure in Yosemite might look like (taken from the timeline of a real elopement I photographed):⁣

🤎 Starts off with a 3am wake up call, private vows at Tunnel View at sunrise⁣

🤎 Exploring Yosemite Valley before all the guests arrived for a beautiful riverside ceremony with a front row view of El Capitan⁣

🤎 A beautiful ceremony with their friends + family, and the cutest brunch setup for all the guests to enjoy with the best views. ⁣

* A little break in the schedule *⁣

🤎 Meet back up at the most beautiful hotel just minutes outside the National Park, for dinner, drinks + all the fun wedding activities!

🤎 Including a super intense Flip Cup Competition!⁣

🤎 The second day started with portraits of the newlyweds and their amazing daughter, exploring around, playing with rocks + pinecones, singing all the Frozen songs⁣

🤎 Ending the night with a hike for just the newlyweds to enjoy the most epic sunset while Grandma watches their baby girl. The entire hike was filled with gorgeous views, amazing light, and the most beautiful pink sunset.⁣

If you’re looking to have a national park micro wedding, and want it to be super chill with time and be able to explore all the beautiful spots, breaking up your wedding day into 2 parts + then also doing a day after session is SO WORTH IT! ⁣I love getting to spend a full 2 days with couples and having the chance to capture every single moment that matters.

⁣9. Get your marriage license

One of the last steps to planning your national park elopement is obtaining your marriage license, which you’ll need to do through whichever state you’re eloping in. This is usually a pretty easy process and just requires you to apply either online or in-person, depending on the county you’re going through. And if you’re eloping in Washington or Oregon, I’ve got two guides below that break down the marriage laws + marriage license process in each state!

• WA
• OR

10. Celebrate + embrace the adventure

The moment has arrived! You now get to reap the benefits of all your hard work and planning, and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with the love of your life. Take it all in and practice gratitude every step of the way, y’all. I highly recommend reading through my blog post with 10 Ways to Slow Down + Be Present On Your Wedding Day before the big day arrives, so that you’re fully prepared to enjoy each and every freaking moment <3

8 Best U.S. National Parks to Elope In

Mount Rainier National Park

Located in the west-central part of Washington State, Mount Rainier is by far one of the most iconic parks in the entire Pacific Northwest (and maybe even beyond). It’s got wildflowers, it’s got snow-capped mountain peaks, it’s got lush green meadows and an abundance of wildlife. . . what more could you ask for from a national park elopement location? A few of my favorite elopement locations at Rainier include Paradise, Sunrise, Myrtle Falls, the Skyline Trail, and Mt. Fremont Lookout.

Click here for a complete guide to eloping in Mount Rainier National Park!

Olympic National Park

If you want to elope somewhere with incredibly diverse landscapes, Olympic National Park is the place for you. From scenic beaches to vibrant rainforests, majestic mountains to sparkling alpine lakes, this park is home to endless scenic overlooks, trails, and viewpoints that’ll leave your jaw on the floor. And the best part is that you can elope here at any time of year—the beaches and rainforest are SO uniquely magical and quiet in the winter months.

Click here for a complete guide to eloping in Olympic National Park!

North Cascades National Park

Whether you’re into hiking, boating, or just soaking up the beauty of nature, there’s something magical about the Cascades that makes it feel like the ultimate wilderness escape. It’s undoubtedly the most underrated national park in Washington, but I fell in love with it when my own hubby and I eloped at one of the freaking incredible, turquoise blue alpine lakes! Even just driving through these dramatic mountains is an experience in itself, taking in all the otherworldly beauty and the tranquility that the peaks and valleys have to provide.

Click here for a complete guide to eloping in North Cascades National Park!

Crater Lake National Park

A lot of people forget that we actually have a national park here in Oregon, and I’ll be totally honest (though I may be biased): it’s one of the most unique and epic parks in the country. Crater Lake National Park paints the perfect scene for a romantic adventure elopement, boasting vibrant blue waters, stunning sunsets, panoramic mountain views, and hiking trails galore. Whether you want a quick hike, a wheelchair-friendly overlook, or a steep climb to a high viewpoint, Crater Lake has something for everyone.

Click here for a complete guide to eloping in Crater Lake National Park!

Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Tetons are seriously one of the most epic mountain locations to elope, y’all. Imagine saying your vows beneath towering mountain peaks, with crystal-clear alpine lakes and wide-open valleys as your backdrop—literally would look like something straight out of a storybook. It’s not just about the views though, because this national park is FULL of amazing wildlife, gorgeous hiking trails, and cozy spots to stay, making it perfect for couples who want an adventurous experience! 

Click here for a complete guide to eloping in Grand Teton National Park!

Redwoods National Park

If you’re dreaming of a fairytale-woodland type vibe for your elopement, set amongst towering trees and vibrant green foliage, look no further than Redwoods National Park! The magical landscapes of the California coastline are UNREAL, and so diverse with all sorts of coastal magic to explore. This area is actually composed of multiple state parks as well as Redwoods National Park, so there’s tons of area to explore—including a state park that’s super close to the border of southern Oregon.

Click here for a complete guide to eloping in Grand Teton National Park!

Yosemite National Park

Let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to elope in Yosemite?! The iconic cliffs, dramatic sunsets, and recognizable landmarks make this an epic place to elope—and also a super popular one. As long as you’re down to plan around crowds and other visitors, as well as go through the somewhat strict permitting process, eloping in Yosemite will be one of the most incredible days of your lives.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Last but not least we’ve got the Great Smoky Mountains, which are located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. This park is best known for its diverse wildlife, breathtaking views of mountains everywhere you look, and its Southern Appalachian mountain culture. It’s actually the most visited national park in the country, and for good reason—you’ll fall in love with the amazing landscapes, trails, and peaceful atmosphere hidden away in this iconic mountain range.

Click here to see some elopement inspo in the majestic Great Smoky Mountains!

National Park Elopement Packages + Pricing

The fact that capturing connection in national parks is my job never fails to amaze me, and I’d be incredibly honored to document your memories no matter the park you choose for your special day. As a documentary and storytelling photographer, my intention is to preserve these fleeting moments so that you can relive them for the rest of your lives, from the small moment of joy as your eyes light up at the grandeur of the scenery in front of you, to the long-awaited moment of celebration as you become lifelong partners. My national park elopement packages are designed to honor and celebrate your journey, no matter what your unique adventure looks like. 

Ready to take a leap and kick off this exciting adventure that awaits you? Inquire now about having me as your national park elopement photographer, and we’ll begin the journey together!

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Find more adventure elopement planning resources below:

How to Leave No Trace With Your Adventure Elopement

Ultimate Adventure Elopement Packing List

10 Unique Elopement ideas to Make Your Big Day Feel Like You