An elopement used to mean running off in secret. Today it usually means a ceremony with just the two of you, or a handful of people, often somewhere scenic. What has not changed is the law: a ceremony on a mountain is a marriage only if you have a valid marriage license, the ceremony meets your state's rules, and the signed license goes back to the county on time.
This guide covers the legal part first (license, officiant, witnesses), then the costs that are specific to eloping: national park permits, entrance fees and photography. Every fee below comes from an official page, dated October 2026.
If you are deciding between eloping and a small wedding, compare with how much a courthouse wedding costs and micro wedding budgets for 20–50 guests.
Step 1: You still need a marriage license
There is no legal "elopement" category. You get the same marriage license as any other couple, from a county clerk (or the equivalent office) in the state where the ceremony happens, not the state where you live. Three things to check:
- Waiting period. Some places make you wait after issuing the license. Philadelphia's license becomes valid on the third day after you apply.
- How long the license is valid. Colorado: you must use it within 35 days. Philadelphia: 60 days from issue, after which you reapply and pay again. Under DC Courts guidance a DC license does not expire.
- Both of you, in person (usually). Philadelphia and DC require both partners to appear. Colorado counties such as Fremont County take an online application, then book an appointment to sign and pay.
State-by-state basics are in our marriage license requirements guide. The point for elopers: if you plan a ceremony in another state, put the clerk's office and its hours into your travel plan.
Step 2: Who marries you? Self-solemnization vs an officiant
Most states require an authorized officiant. A few let the couple marry themselves, which is what many eloping couples want.
| Place | Can the couple marry themselves? | Witnesses | License fee | Return deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Yes. State law allows solemnization "by the parties to the marriage" (C.R.S. 14-2-109). You sign as officiant and as Party 1 and Party 2 | None required (some officiants may ask for them) | $30 | 63 days; late fee from $20, plus $5 a day, up to $50 |
| Pennsylvania (Philadelphia example) | Yes, with a self-uniting ("Quaker") license | Two witnesses sign | $100 (regular license $90) | 10 days |
| District of Columbia | Yes. Name yourselves as officiant on the license application (DC Courts) | DC Courts says none | $45 per DC Courts | check with the Marriage Bureau |
| Most other states | No. You need an officiant authorized by state law | 0–2, set by state | varies | varies |
Notes:
- Pennsylvania: not every county issues self-uniting licenses. Philadelphia does. Elsewhere, ask the county marriage license office before you plan around it.
- DC: everyone involved, couple and officiant, must be physically in the District at the time of the ceremony. A national park outside DC cannot use a DC license.
- Colorado: a friend may officiate only if a legal or religious body authorizes them. Otherwise the clerk treats the ceremony as self-solemnization. Details in can a friend officiate your wedding.
Step 3: Witnesses
Witness rules vary more than people expect, and they are the most common way an elopement goes wrong on the day:
- Colorado: no witnesses required.
- Pennsylvania self-uniting license: two witnesses must sign. For a truly solo elopement, that means bringing two people or asking two people on site, such as your photographer and a hiker.
- DC self-officiation: no witnesses, per DC Courts.
- Courthouse ceremonies: NYC requires one adult witness. Our courthouse wedding cost guide lists the rules for eight large counties.
Check the age rule too. Many states simply say "adult" or "competent", but the definition varies.
Step 4: National park permits
Marrying in a national park is legal, but almost every park treats a ceremony as a special park use that needs a permit, even for two people. Rules and fees differ by park and appear on each park's own "Weddings" page. Three examples, as published in 2026:
| Park | Permit fee | Booking window | Group size | Notable rules | Page updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain NP (Colorado) | $300 non-refundable administrative fee; pay only when the park emails you | applications open one year before the wedding month; as late as 7 days before, not guaranteed | 10–30 people depending on site; max 2 weddings per site per day | designated sites only; 2-hour limit; no decorations, arches only at one site, no drones, no thrown petals or rice; permit holders skip timed entry but pay entrance fees | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Yosemite (California) | $150, non-refundable; event monitor $50/hour for larger outdoor groups (about 30–50+) | up to 1 year ahead, at least 21 days before | no fixed cap listed; vehicle limits at some sites | 2-hour limit; no amplified music; no ceremonies at sequoia bases or in sensitive meadows; entrance fees not waived | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Arches NP (Utah) | $185 application fee via Pay.gov, plus a monitoring cost quoted at issue | up to 1 year ahead; email the coordinator about dates first | 15 (Park Avenue) to 80 (Devils Garden amphitheater) | groups over 25 need a parking plan; standard entrance fee applies | 1 Apr 2026 |
Rocky Mountain NP said that all dates for May–June and August–October 2026 were fully booked. For a peak-season park elopement, apply as soon as the window opens.
Entrance fees and the 2026 nonresident fee
The permit does not cover entry. At Rocky Mountain, a private vehicle pays $30 for one day or $35 for seven days. Since 1 January 2026, non-US residents aged 16+ also pay a $100 per-person nonresident fee at 11 of the most visited parks, including Rocky Mountain and Yosemite (Arches is not on the list). A $250 nonresident annual pass covers it. If your guests or photographer are visiting from abroad, add this to the budget.
State and local land
National forests, state parks and city parks have their own permit systems. Before you book a photographer for a location, confirm who manages the land and whether ceremonies are allowed there.
What an elopement costs
There is no reliable national average for elopements. Wedding studies report averages for weddings with guests. The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study puts the average US wedding at $34,200 for 117 guests. An elopement drops most of that list: no venue for 100, no catering, no band. What remains:
| Item | Where the number comes from | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | state/county fee | $30 in Colorado; $100 for a Philadelphia self-uniting license |
| Ceremony permit | park or land manager | $150–$300 at the three parks above |
| Park entry | park fee page | $35 for a 7-day vehicle pass at Rocky Mountain |
| Officiant | none if self-solemnizing; otherwise a quote | ask for a short-ceremony rate |
| Photographer | quote, usually by hours of coverage | get 2–3 quotes for the exact hours |
| Travel and lodging | your itinerary | often the largest line |
| Outfit, rings, flowers | your choices | see the wedding rings calculator |
Worked example (fees only): a Colorado self-solemnized elopement at Rocky Mountain NP costs $30 + $300 + $35 = $365 in license, permit and a 7-day vehicle pass, before photography, travel, clothes and rings. That number is fixed. The rest of the budget is up to you.
We don't quote "typical" elopement photography packages. Prices vary by region, season and hours, and we have not found a published dataset we would stand behind. Get written quotes that state the hours, travel fees, whether the photographer needs a separate permit from the park (ask the park, not only the photographer) and delivery timeline. Our guide on how to choose a wedding photographer has the questions to ask.
To total your own plan, use the wedding cost calculator, and for the trip itself the honeymoon budget calculator. Outdoor plans also need a fallback: see the weather backup calculator.
Elopement checklist
- Choose the state, then check: officiant or self-solemnization, number of witnesses, waiting period, license validity.
- Choose the location and confirm who manages the land and whether a ceremony permit is needed.
- Apply for the permit as soon as the window opens (up to 1 year ahead at the parks above).
- Book the clerk appointment so the license is valid on your date. Mind short windows like Colorado's 35 days.
- Arrange witnesses if your state requires them.
- On the day: bring the license, follow the permit conditions (time limit, no decorations, group size).
- Sign and return the license on time: 63 days in Colorado, 10 days for Philadelphia licenses.
- Order certified copies, then handle a name change if you plan one.
FAQ
Is an elopement legally different from a regular wedding?
No. It is a regular marriage with a small (or no) audience. The same license, officiant and witness rules apply as for any ceremony in that state.
Can we elope in a national park without a permit?
Not at the parks we checked. Rocky Mountain, for example, requires a special use permit for a ceremony with two or more people, and limits ceremonies to designated sites and daily caps. Check the specific park's Weddings page.
Can we just have a symbolic ceremony and sign papers later?
Yes. Many couples do the legal part at a courthouse and a symbolic ceremony elsewhere. Remember that the legal marriage date is the courthouse date. That date matters for things like taxes in your first year of marriage.
Sources
- Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-2-109 (solemnization by the parties; 63-day return; late fee from $20, plus $5 per day, $50 max): https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_14-2-109
- Fremont County, Colorado Clerk & Recorder, Marriages and Civil Unions ($30 fee; use within 35 days; no witnesses required; self-solemnization signing): https://www.fremontcountyclerkco.gov/services/marriage-civil-unions/
- City of Philadelphia, Get a marriage license ($90 regular, $100 self-uniting; two witnesses; valid from the third day for 60 days; 10-day return): https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-license/get-a-marriage-license/
- DC Courts, Marriage Bureau general information (self-officiation without witnesses; $45 fee; license does not expire; parties physically in DC). The page blocks automated access, so these points come from a search excerpt of the official page. Confirm with the Bureau: https://www.dccourts.gov/node/50324
- National Park Service, Rocky Mountain NP, Weddings (updated 14 Sep 2026): https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/weddings.htm
- National Park Service, Rocky Mountain NP, Fees & Passes ($30 1-day, $35 7-day vehicle): https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/fees.htm
- National Park Service, Yosemite, Weddings (updated 9 Oct 2026): https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/weddings.htm
- National Park Service, Arches NP, Weddings (updated 1 Apr 2026): https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/weddings.htm
- National Park Service, Nonresident Fees ($100 at 11 parks from 1 Jan 2026; $250 nonresident pass): https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/nonresident-fees.htm
- The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study (average $34,200, 117 guests): https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218045442/en/The-Knot-Worldwide-Unveils-2026-Real-Weddings-Study
- Fees as listed on 27 October 2026. Confirm with the office or park before you book.