THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELOPING TO USA
USA the Beautiful.
With 423 national parks spread out all over its 51 states, North America is undoubtedly the most beautiful country with its diverse topography and naturally endless scenic surprises. This makes the United States the world leader even in adventure weddings that started the elopement trend. If you’re from this country, you need not go far, just choose a different state for a fresh, exciting backdrop to your wedding fantasy. If you come from overseas, America is a standout pick – from canyon to coast to convenience, it’s all here.
But where in the great wide US of A? The key factor is the season. The summer months are an instant hit almost wherever in the country, just avoid areas where there could be excessive heat. Spring promises new beginnings but it can be tricky in some areas where you have to deal with slush, rain and pollen. The mountains are gorgeous during the fall, so are the beaches when there are less people on vacation. The winter is gorgeous and majestic with ice-capped landscapes to complement your elopement dreams. While choosing the season helps to narrow down your choice of destination, there is really no bad season in the US because of the many regions that are great adventure wedding locations.
Let’s start with a few suggestions (states in alphabetical order)
Photo of map by Joel Csunyo, Unsplash
Table of Contents
ALASKA
Want to get married in one of the most ruggedly beautiful places in America? Go for a surreal winter wonderland wedding adventure in Alaska! With its awesome national parks, there’s always an interesting topography that will capture your imagination. You can get married on a glacier, on a snowboard or perhaps on a helicopter flight seeing the icy mountain tops. You can go classic or casual in Alaska’s magnificent luxurious hotels to its minimalist A-frame cabins and make your elopement a memory worth keeping.
- Denali National Park
- Chugach State Park
- Lake Clark National Park
- Gates of the Arctic National Park
- Glacier Bay National Park
ARIZONA
If a boho desert elopement is what you have in mind, Arizona is an instant favorite. Filled with natural wonders from open deserts to deep canyons, there are just so many interesting cliffs and corners to explore. Arizona also has charming urban centers, historic mining ghost towns and cliff dwellings of ancient American culture. It has over 30 state and 23 national parks that choosing the perfect elopement destination could be such a challenge because you would want to visit them all!
- Horseshoe Bend
- Sedona
- Monument Valley
- Antelope Canyon
- Glen Canyon
- Havasu Falls
CALIFORNIA
You can never go wrong in picking the Golden State for your elopement. Beautiful at whatever time of the year, it has something to offer to everyone. With the most pleasant weather all year round, you wouldn’t miss California’s glamour and grandeur. Go chasing sunsets along its palm-lined lanes and beaches, where the blue waters meet white caps crashing in between jagged green cliffs. Exchange vows perched on top of a picturesque cliff or down at the gorgeous beach below, best on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
- Redwood National Forest
- Yosemite National Park
- Lake Tahoe
- Big Sur
- Mammoth Lakes
COLORADO
From skiing to whitewater rafting and anything in between, Colorado is the place to go for the great outdoor adventure junkies. Both laid back and fun-loving, you will always find exciting biking and camping sites in Colorado. Have the vast Rocky Mountains stand witness as you exchange vows before them, or in any one of these other places that are just as wonderful in whatever season:
- Great Sand Dunes National Park
- Boulder
- Aspen
- Colorado Springs
- Mesa Verde
- Black Canyon of the Gunnison
FLORIDA
Florida, with its unspoiled white sandy beaches and emerald-blue waters, also known as the gorgeous Sunshine State, is your perfect destination for all types of beach elopements. You can choose from the quiet solitude of St. Augustine to the busy beaches of Miami, or discover underrated spots that are best kept local secrets. You might want to try an exciting alligator experience only Florida has to offer in its ‘gator national parks. In between swamp and sea, there are plenty of areas to explore during your Florida elopement.
- St. Petersburg
- Lake Louisa State Park
- Mt. Dora
- Falling Waters State Park
- Devil’s Den Spring
- Everglades National Park
HAWAII
This lovely group of seven big inhabited islands and 130 small uninhabited ones is surely one of the most spectacular and diverse places to visit in the USA. Perfect for a beach elopement wedding! There are also amazing jungles and breath-taking cliffs, accentuated by endless rainbows – the perfect postcard photo to send to your loved ones back home. Curious to see an active volcano? See if for yourself as a honeymoon sidetrip!
- Kauai
- Oahu
- Haleakala National Park
- Kalaupapa National Historical Park
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
MONTANA
Big Sky Country Montana is one of our favorite elopement destinations, mainly for all its awesome mountain ranges, forests, sparkling lakes, and alpine hiking trails. There are also so many hidden gems worth exploring in this home to national parks, abundant flora and fauna that make up a spectacular scenery. Montana’s charm is also its unique cowboy culture – a great theme suggestion for your elopement wedding!
- Great Falls
- Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
- Whitefish
- Glacier National Park
- West Yellowstone
OREGON
Whether you’re a beach or mountain person, Oregon is easily one of the best places to elope on the West Coast. Filled with forests, waterfalls, and coastal hikes, it’s easy to see why Oregon is a top elopement pick. There are just so many hidden gems in the Beaver State, making you feel like you stepped into a fairytale book. And best of all, most of these long beaches, green mountains and beautiful waterfalls are easily accessible from its nearby towns and cities, making your elopement wedding affordable as well as memorable.
- Cannon Beach
- Oregon Waterfalls
- Crater Lake
- Mt. Hood
- Smith Rock and White Falls
TENNESSE
The birthplace of country music, Tennessee has much to offer aside from its music. Couples can enjoy romantic trips in cozy inns serving farm-to-table cuisine for a memorable elopement. Just be keen on the seasons you may want to celebrate your big day. While the mountains in Tennessee offer arguably one of the most spectacular views, it may be best to avoid the winter months that may lead to road closures on icy roads in times of extreme weather. Also expect to prepare certain fees for special use permits for entry in scenic natural locations other than the pre-designated areas.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Rock Island State Park
- Roan Mountain
- Burgess Falls State Park
- Lovers’ Leap
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
UTAH
If you want an elopement escape to open deserts, red rocks, canyon cliffs, and sparkling rivers, the Beehive State beckons you. There are so many different areas to explore – outdoor parks, ski resorts, lakes and reservoirs, magnificent mountains, you name it. You can tailor your elopement dreams depending on what you both want to do during your big day. Or want to exchange vows under the stars? In all of the USA, Utah has the most number of certified International Dark Sky Parks and Communities that make sure the natural beauty of the night skies are undisturbed by artificial light pollution.
- Moab
- Arches National Park
- Zion National Park
- Snow Canyon state park
- Capitol Reef National Park
WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State has some of the most adventurous and romantic elopement destinations in the Pacific Northwest. The Evergreen State has more than lush forests to offer as you can certainly find everything from vast ice-capped mountain ranges with turquoise lakes to beautifully rugged coastlines and ancient forests in between. The best thing is you can have all of them in one epic elopement adventure wedding!
- North Cascades National Park
- Mount Baker
- Olympic National Park
- Hurricane Ridge
- Cape Flattery
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