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For a couple just starting out, spending on a lavish wedding usually isn’t in the budget. With wedding costs averaging around $33,000 in 2024, it’s no wonder more and more money-minded couples are opting to elope. Choosing to tie the knot in budget-friendly places can make your special day just as memorable—without the financial stress. A smaller, more intimate ceremony is no less meaningful than filling a cathedral with thousands of guests. It’s more a matter of priority and preference.
Why not tie the knot at one of these beautiful locations and have more money for an unforgettable honeymoon experience instead? If the idea sounds appealing, consider one of these 15 beautiful locations.
1. Niagra Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is one of the best places to elope in the US.
Getting married near a natural wonder like Niagara Falls could be incredible for you and your partner. With roaring waterfalls and stunning scenery, it’s a romantic setting for your wedding and a popular choice for elopements.
Your wedding ceremony doesn’t have to be on land, either. You can get married on a boat or in a helicopter with the falls’ majesty as your backdrop.
A marriage license costs $40, and there is a 24-hour waiting period before the ceremony can be performed. Wedding planners in the area offer elopement packages starting at around $400 for the bride and groom plus two guests.
2. Yosemite National Park
Local, state, and national parks are another great option for nature-loving couples looking for cheap wedding venues and endless photo ops. Yosemite National Park is home to breathtaking locations like Tunnel View, Glacier Point, and Half Dome. You’re sure to find a remarkable and memorable setting to exchange vows.
3. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place to get married and a true destination for elopement. Its mountaintops offer breathtaking views, a gorgeous alpine lake, and lush forests stretch as far as the eye can see. You can choose to get married and honeymoon in a luxury resort or a rustic cabin.
If you venture to the Nevada side, Crystal Bay and Incline Village offer stunning views and a no-hassle marriage license procedure with no waiting period.
4. Glacier National Park, Montana
Glacier National Park features over 700 miles of trails, melting glaciers, spectacular lakes and meadows, and impressive waterfalls. A special use permit, which costs $125, is required. The park service requires at least 20 business days to process your application, so plan accordingly.
5. Central Park, New York City
New York City is a bucket list trip for most people. Why not elope and get married in Central Park? It’s a favorite park among couples wanting a beautiful elopement.
Central Park is in the city center but still offers plenty of intimate spots for a quiet ceremony and fantastic pictures. Superb locations for photo ops in Central Park include gazebos in Wagner Cove, A Treehouse for Dreaming, Bow Bridge, and Bethesda Terrace.
6. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Colorado is one of the most beautiful mountain areas in America. Rocky Mountain National Park is a gorgeous location for eloping in Colorado.
The park is only about 70 miles from Denver. You’ll find lakes, rivers, streams, and 350 miles of trails surrounded by mountains. Sapphire Point, Silver Dollar Lake, and Lake Isabelle are picaresque locations for religious or civil ceremonies.
7. San Francisco City Hall
Getting married at San Francisco City Hall is unlike any city hall or courthouse ceremony. You won’t be getting married in some drab office. The City Hall in San Francisco is widely considered one of the most beautiful public buildings in the U.S.
You can book a one-hour wedding package for $1,000, which includes an hour of private use. That price allows you to have a small private ceremony or invite up to 100 guests. You’ll need to line up your officiant for religious or civil ceremonies and get a marriage license from the county clerk’s office.
8. Tybee Island, Georgia
About 20 minutes from downtown Savannah, Georgia, Tybee Island offers mild temperatures, sunshine, and natural beauty. Beach weddings are available for a small fee. The island also has a number of cottages, charming inns, and vacation rentals available for hosting your celebration.
9. The Grand Canyon
If you’ve ever visited or seen pictures, you know how breathtaking The Grand Canyon is. It makes a stunning location for your event. Whether it’s just you and your partner or the two of you plus a handful of guests, your day will be memorable, and the photos will be fantastic for sure.
10. Big Sur, California
Redwood forests and cliffs on the shores of the Pacific Ocean make Big Sur a perfect location for an elopement. Garrapata State Park and Andrew Molera State Park are known for their gorgeous beaches. The Henry Miller Library has a private redwood canyon that makes for a beautiful backdrop for your elopement photos.
If you’re getting married on public land, keep in mind these locations are usually busy on the weekends. If you can hold your nuptials during the week, you have a better chance at privacy and the exact spot you want.
11. Balboa Park, San Diego
Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre park within walking distance of downtown sunny San Diego. The park offers more than enough potential spots to fit any elopement.
There are numerous trails, 16 museums, and 19 gardens. The San Diego Zoo is there, offering charming ceremonies among lush foliage and exotic wildlife.
12. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia
Blackwater Falls state park is one of the more unique and beautiful locations to have an outdoor ceremony.
Located in the Allegheny Mountains, Blackwater Falls State Park is home to a 57-foot cascade. The falls are tainted black by tannic acid from spruce needles and hemlock. It’s a scenic location for saying your ‘I dos’ and taking great photographs.
You can honeymoon in the lodge right on the rim of the canyon. Try The Smokehouse for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Sunday buffet breakfast is legendary.
13. Miami Beach
Your Miami Beach elopement and honeymoon can be whatever you want. That’s because Miami Beach offers excitement and glitz, but there are also tranquil and laid-back spots. It can be surprisingly affordable if you plan your ceremony on a weekday outside of the busy tourist season.
Most people opt for a wedding on the white sand beaches, but there are many options available to you besides a resort or beach wedding. You can choose from the lovely parks, lush botanical gardens, and pavilions in the area.
14. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is one of the best places to elope on a budget.
Las Vegas might be the first place you think of eloping, or it could be the last. You don’t have to have your wedding ceremony on the Vegas strip officiated by an Elvis impersonator or get hitched at a kitschy drive-thru wedding chapel.
If you’re looking for somewhere fun that can accommodate all different types of weddings, there are numerous unique hotels and special places outside the city to have your elopement ceremony.
Paris Las Vegas boasts its own Eiffel Tower, while the Venetian is home to romantic gondolas. If you take a day trip outside the city, you’ll find beautiful desertscapes. Red rock formations, mountains, and hot springs make for unbelievable photos.
15. Puerto Rico
There is nothing more romantic than hopping on a plane and eloping to an exotic location. If you’re looking at Caribbean wedding destinations, consider Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a volcanic island and a U.S. territory about a two-and-a-half-hour flight away from Miami.
They have slightly more complicated wedding laws than most U.S. states, but the stunning island locations are worth it. Get married at the St Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Hacienda Siesta Alegre, or Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, and combine your wedding with your honeymoon.
The Affordable Places to Elope on a Budget
Eloping offers an alternative choice while still providing an unforgettable experience and a romantic wedding. Choose a romantic location with a special meaning to you as a couple. You can skip all the biggest costs of conventional weddings without losing out on the romance.
