Top 5 Best Elopement Locations
Being a destination elopement photographer, I’ve had the pleasure of traveling all over to capture people’s intimate weddings. It’s a dream! Today I thought I’d put together a list of my top 5 favorite places I’ve shot an elopement. If you’re planning a destination elopement and need some small wedding inspiration, or maybe you’ve been thinking about traveling to one of these places, keep reading for all the juicy details of the best elopement locations!
5. Jackson Hole, WY
Everywhere you look here is pretty! If you’re an adventurous couple looking for a location that can give you options from fields to mountains, this spot is for you. The town can be a little pricey, but the views are so worth it. What could be more magical than an elopement in front of the Tetons? Another bonus is that it’s close to Yellowstone, so you could easily hit both National Parks for some great outdoor couple portrait locations!
4. Santa Rosa, FL / 30A
Can you ever go wrong with a good beach trip? Eloping in 30A is a no brainer for couples looking to have an intimate beach wedding. Gorgeous beaches as the backdrops of your photos, where the sun just hits differently! You can get such warm and cozy photos with beach sunlight. This area is such a great place for family trips, too, so if your family is joining you for your Florida beach elopement, they’ll have a great time!
3. Maui, HI
Hawaii seems like a no brainer for a top elopement location list, so let’s get into it! Eloping in Hawaii means unbeatable views, from cliff sides to jungles. Maui can be a little pricey, but you can get around the whole island in a day, which gives you so many options for bride and groom portrait locations! My couple got married on one part of the road to Hana and we drove the rest of the way stopping here and there to take portraits. We even stopped at a coconut stand along the way and got photos there too! (Check it out here in my blog post all about Erica + Drew’s Maui elopement!) We had such a great time and ended up at a luau at the end of the day. I love getting to hang out with and become friends with my couples on these trips!
2. Ouray, CO
Ouray is the Jeep capital of the world, and it has lots of location options. I’d say the best part about Ouray is its small town charm and activities. It’s one of my husband’s favorite places because they have an old time saloon, breweries, trains and great outdoor activities. When we were there for Kay + Jacob’s elopement, we jeeped into their elopement spot at Yankee Boy Basin, then drove to the top of the pines for their portraits. They got ready in a historic hotel, and Kay got her florals, hair, and makeup all through local vendors. Little Bucket of Flowers did their florals if you’re looking for an Ouray, CO florist! If you’re looking for an adventurous elopement location with epic mountain views, Ouray should definitely make your list!
1. Alaska
The elopement location that gets the coveted number 1 spot on my list has to be Alaska. I couldn’t make a list of the best elopement locations and not include it. I shot an elopement there last year and it was absolutely breathtaking! Alaska has such diverse locations – places with mountains, ocean, and snow tips all in one view, and also woody areas, overlooks, and beaches which were all remote and private. For Haley + Blaine’s Alaskan elopement, they got married in Girdwood, AK at an overlook, and then we drove 2 hours to get on a helicopter that took us to a glacier. It was amazing! The bride and groom portraits we got are so stunning, they look almost unreal! If you’re considering eloping in Alaska, I definitely recommend it!
It was hard to narrow it down, but those are the best elopement locations I’ve shot at (for now)! I love traveling and being able to capture people’s love at their intimate weddings, and I hope to find new favorites to add to my list soon. If you’re planning a destination elopement, whether it’s a beach wedding or an adventurous elopement, let me know! I’m always down for an adventure!
