National Park Wedding Guide

BEST LOCATIONS, VENUES & TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR WEDDING AT NATIONAL PARK

Does getting married in one of our nations natural wonders sounds like a perfect day to you? If so, keep reading for some essential steps for planning an your national park intimate wedding + elopement.

Best Locations & Tips for Planning Your Wedding at a National Park

WHY ARE NATIONAL PARK WEDDINGS SO AMAZING?!

1.    Have you seen them? They’re absolutely stunning! Seriously, why spend thousands of dollars on a venue, center pieces and extra decor when you have these epic places brought to you by nature. Typically, to elope in a national park you just need an permit, which are typically in the $100-$250 range but can go up to $500 depending on what national park you want to get married in. Still better than $5,000 for a venue. See where I’m going with this?

2.    The possibilities are endless when you choose to have an elopement in a national park – with mountains, glaciers, deserts, volcanos, and hidden waterfalls as potential backdrops for your wedding day, you just can’t really go wrong. You could have a multi-day back packing national park elopement or opt for a short hike to your ceremony location. Some national parks allow for helicopter elopements or maybe you’d like to go 4x4ing to the perfect ceremony spot. Maybe you don’t want to hike at all. That’s the beauty of getting married in a national park, there are So. Many. Options. Most national parks even have locations that allow you to incorporate friends and family into your wedding day if that is what you desire.  

The first two reasons still not enought to get you to jump on board the National Park Elopement train?

3.   The third reason as to why national park weddings are so amazing is that weddings held within national parks are actually not as logistically complicated as one might think, especially with a great national park elopement guide like this one!

START PLANNING!

Elopement Locations | Planning Your National Park Wedding

Picking the perfect National Park Wedding Location

There are so many epic national parks to choose from and finding the perfect one to exchange your vows and say “I do” in can be done with some simple research and soul searching. Having help from someone who specializes in crafting unforgettable elopement experiences doesn’t hurt either.

HOW TO FIND NATIONAL PARK WEDDING VENUES + LOCATIONS

1. HTTP://NPS.GOV is a seriously amazing resource when it comes to – well anything about national parks, but is especially helpful when it comes to finding locations that allow for elopements or weddings (there are some places in which special events are prohibited).
2. the ALLTRAILS APP and FATMAPS are both great resources to find hikes for all levels of experience. You can search by difficulty, length, elevation gain, and it even has reviews of each hike and photographs of the area during different times of the year.
3.  Prepare to be flexible and have a backup location in case your first one doesn’t work out. As we all know, nature can be unpredictable so i always recommend being prepared in case of an unexpected event or weather situation. 

CONSIDER THE SCENERY 

What type of view do you want during your ceremony? Do you want an amazing 360-degree view of Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest? Cactus vibes in Joshua Tree California? Or maybe the glacier caved peaks in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. All of these things are very important to consider when choosing your elopement location.

ACCESSIBILITY 

Do you want a long 6+ mile hike, where you change into your wedding attire at the top? Or would you prefer a short walk that is right off the road but still has the most beautiful view? dDd i mention that taking a helicopter to your elopement location can mean zero hiking involved? Something to consider when thinking about accessibility is, are you eloping just the two of you or are you having a short list of family or friends? What are their limits to get to your ceremony location?

 LOGISTICS

I know, I know – everyone’s favorite part but also super important! but it’s very important to research logistics to find out what’s possible when planning your national park elopement (an experienced elopement photographer & guide, travel agent, or planner can help immensely with this).  

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

1.    What are the National Park Marriage License?

2.    What permits to do need to have a ceremony and photography?

3.    If you’re having attendants to your elopement, how many is allow per each parks limits?

4.    Do you want a well-known trail, where there may be other people around, but the most epic views? or would you prefer a location that’s more ‘off the beaten-path’?

5.    Do you want to have a first look?

6.    What vendors do you need and how easy are they to find?

7.    What kind of activities do you want to do?

8.    What does your adventure and weather look like? what will you need to do to prepare?

LEAVE NO TRACE:

Follow the seven “leave no trace” principles:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.                                       
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.                 
3. Dispose of waste properly.                                                                         
4. Leave what you find.                                            
5. Minimize campfire impacts (be careful with fire).
6. Respect wildlife.  
7. Be considerate of other visitors.

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Guest List | Planning Your National Park Wedding

Choosing who to invite (..or not):

As I touched on a little in the first step, if you have guest at your ceremony – you’ll probably want to consider having your ceremony in a more accessible location, then planning any activities, hiking, exploring or portraits, just the two of you before/after your ceremony.

DIFFERENT WAY TO INCLUDE GUEST DURING YOUR NATIONAL PARK WEDDING:

1. Have someone face-time or live stream your ceremony.
2. Have a private vow reading with just the two of you, then your ceremony at a more accessible location or back at an airbnb.
3. Consider eloping just the two of you and then celebrate with everyone at a later date.
4. Bring just a handful of your closest friends and family to your national park wedding then hold a reception someone nearby to celebrate.

Actives + Vendors | Planning Your National Park Wedding

Depending on the location you choose for your national park wedding, there is so much more to your day than just the ceremony.

WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES DO YOU WANT TO DO ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?

Seriously possibilities could be endless here, maybe you two have something you’ve been dying to check of your bucklet list. Or maybe theres something so typically, “you two” that you couldn’t imagine your wedding day without it. Google and Pinterest can seriously be your best friend (besides me) in finding the best activities to do on your elopement day. 

VENDORS, HOW DO THEY PLAY INTO THIS WHOLE THINGS?

Just because your not having a traditional wedding doesn’t mean you don’t want some of the typical things that come along with them. Some national parks allow certain types of vendors come along for your adventure – like a private chef to cook your favorite meal or a one man band to play your favorite song on an acustic guitar. Vendors can come into play in so many different ways; hair, make up, florals…a helicopter ride, you know – just to name a few. 

Make sure to check into the National Park Wedding guidelines for the specific location you are planning to elope at.

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Lodging | Planning Your National Park Wedding:

Where to stay during your elopement wedding is an important part of the whole experience.

Now that you have a National Park wedding location, ideas on what activities you want to do – its time to think about where and what kind of stay you want before and after your national park wedding.

While camping in a tent outdoors is my personal first go-to when traveling anywhere, I’m also a huge fan of airbnb’s. You want to make sure where you stay is allowing you to be relaxed and set the ton for the adventurous journey to come. If you’ve never personally stayed in an airbnb or checked out the site; it is a platform where real people rent homes, cabins, rv’s, private camping sites and my favorite – unique stays! by staying in an airbnb, your supporting a small business and I’m all for that!

If you are planning on having your post-ceremony celebration at your airbnb with your friends and family, you want to make sure the airbnb can accommodate your guest count and of course that your host are okay with your event.

Planning Your National Park Wedding Ceremony:

WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR NATIONAL PARK WEDDING CEREMONY?

I know I’ve said it before but seriously by having an elopement means how you get married is completely up to you. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box with your national park wedding. Your ceremony can include unique touches such as smudging, hand fasting or creating a time capsule with a small gift or letter to each other to open on your one year anniversary.  

• Tiny details like music on a portable speaker (if your location allows), walking down the isle of nature, holding hands, embracing each other in just the way only you two do. 
• Your vowes; did you two write them? did you compile something from another favoitre love story or a poem? 

DO YOU GUYS HAVE AN OFFICIANT OR DID YOU SEAL THE LEGALITIES BEFORE HAND?

If you have someone officianting on your elopement day, I highly recommend taking some serious consideration into who this person is for you. Sometimes this piece get a little overlook because you think, “Hey, there just saying a few words.” but in reality when it comes to elopements your officiant should be super comfortable in the elements of your national park wedding location. Your officiant should also want to customize your ceremony to fit your relationaship. I have lots os resources to help you find the perfect officiant or maybe you already know someone who is willing to get ordained and come along to make things official for you.  

INCORPERATING A UNIQUE WEDDING RITUAL?

Considering adding a simple unique wedding ritual is highly suggested to do a little research on and may spark ideas that you all the sudden couldn’t imagine your ceremony without.

LEARN MORE

Best National Park Wedding Venues | Planning Your National Park Wedding

While all of our national parks are seriously gorgeous, they all hold something a little unque to the other but here are a few of my favorite locations for your intimate wedding or elopement.

NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK, – WASHINGTON

North Cascades National Park is actually the least visited national park in Washington, and the 5th least visited park in the country. But that’s definitely not because the park isn’t beautiful! As an incredibly underrated national park, the North Cascades is the perfect place to elope and enjoy some privacy when you say your vows.The towering, jagged mountain peaks and snow capped glaciers surrounding you will make a breathtaking backdrop for your elopement.

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK – WASHINGTON

Mt Rainier is the most iconic mountain in Washington – drive down our highways on a clear day, and you’ll be able to spot it! To get up close to the mountain, take a trip to Mt Rainier National Park. Just a two hour drive from Seattle, you’ll be able to elope with mountain peaks in the background, and if you plan your elopement for summertime, you’ll be greeted with blooming wildflowers in the subalpine meadows.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – CALIFORNIA

Yosemite is one of the most popular National Parks in the U.S., and it brings hundreds of eloping couples every year. But don’t let that deter you – this beautiful glacial landscape has hundreds of miles of backcountry and plenty of secret, hidden gems that few tourists explore. Yosemite is a rock climbers paradise, and even if climbing isn’t your thing, the iconic towering granite Half Dome is a sight that everyone should experience at least once.

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK – CALIFORNIA

Joshua Tree National Park is home to, well, Joshua Trees! These unique, twisted, bristly trees make the perfect background for an elopement, and the rugged rock formations that line the trails make for some fun climbing opportunities. This is one of the best places to Elope in the US because of its gorgeous landscape, and because who wouldn’t want to escape to sunny Southern California for a while?

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK – COLORADO

Rocky Mountain National Park is Solorado’s most popular national park, and for good reason! With over 300 miles of hiking trails, the options for your elopement are endless. You can elope at the base of the mountains, or climb to 14,000 feet above sea level to say your vows. You might even spot a few elk!

GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK – COLORADO

While Colorado is mainly known for its towering mountains and high altitude 14ers, the southern part of the state is home to a stunning desert landscape called Great Sand Dunes National Park. Here, you’ll experience scenery unlike anything you’ve seen before. The rolling sand dunes stretch for miles and miles, with snow capped mountain peaks in the background. Eloping here at sunset is an out of this world experience.

ZION NATIONAL PARK – UTAH

Zion National Park was Utah’s first ever National Park! Throughout the park, you’ll find everything from overlooks you can drive right up to, to backcountry trails for seasoned adventurers. You can stand in the valleys and look up at the towering, multicolored cliffs above, or you can hike up the rocky formations for a birds eye view of Zion’s unique landscape. You can explore narrow slot canyons, wade through river crossings, and experience the array of plants and animals throughout the wilderness of the park.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK – UTAH

ready for the most unique red rock pillars? they’re technically called hoodoos and words really couldn’t even honestly describe how stunning these view points are. the rim of bryce canyon sits as high at 9100 ft above sea level – these make the most amazing back drop for your national park wedding.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK – MONTANTA

Snow-capped mountains, epic scenic drives, more wildlife than you’ve ever seen. With over 700 miles of hiking trails. Do these sound like your ideal adventure? Then you for sure need to consider this epic National Park for your wedding or elopement experience!

GRAND TETONS NATIONAL PARK – WYOMING

Looking for epic mountain ranges in the background for your wedding at a national park? Then the Grand Tetons are going to have to be at the top of your list! Their jagged ridge line is something so unique and beautiful, they will for sure take your breath away!

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