Easiest Places to Elope in the U.S.

As you plan your adventure elopement, you’ll undoubtedly come across dozens (hundreds?) of lists of the best places to elope. Of course, “best” is incredibly subjective — does that mean the most scenic places, the least crowded, places with tons of things to do nearby, the most affordable?

For some couples, “best” may mean the easiest places to elope. After all, many people choose to elope because they don’t want any of the planning, stress, or logistics that often come along with traditional weddings. If that sounds like you, you’ll want to stick around!

In this list of the easiest places to elope in the U.S., I’ve included destinations that don’t require witnesses or an officiant, places with no waiting periods, and even some where you can self-solemnize (i.e.; make legal) your own wedding. Let’s dive in!

Easiest Places to Elope in the US

The states in this section are considered some of the easiest places to elope in the U.S. overall, with looser requirements across the board.

1. Alabama – no officiant, no witnesses, no waiting period, and no residency requirements

2. Arkansas – no waiting period and no witnesses required

3. Colorado – no residency or witnesses required, no waiting period, self-solemnization (famously, Colorado even allows dogs to legally solemnize marriages!), and proxy marriages permitted

4. Connecticut – no waiting period, plus no witnesses or residency required

5. Florida – no waiting period (for non-residents only; residents have a 3-day waiting period or must complete a 4-hour pre-martial course) and no witness or residency requirements

6. Hawaii – no waiting period, no witnesses (your officiant typically doubles as your witness), and no residency requirements

7. Idaho –  no waiting period, marriage license has no expiration date, and no witness or residency requirement

8. Indiana – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirements

9. Mississippi – no waiting period, no residency or witness requirements, and license does not expire

10. Missouri – no waiting period and no witnesses or residency requirement

11. Montana (I mean, we all love Yellowstone) – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirement

12. New Hampshire – no waiting period, plus no witness or residency requirements

13. Ohio – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirement

14. Tennessee (check out the Great Smoky Mountains)– no waiting period and no requirements on witnesses or residency

15. Vermont – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirement

16. Virginia (Shenandoah National Park elopement, anyone?) – no waiting period and no witness or residency requirement

17. Washington, D.C. – no waiting period, no witnesses required, license has no expiration date, and no residency requirements

18. West Virginia – no waiting period and no witnesses or residency required

Where to Get Married Just the Two of us – States That Don’t Require Witnesses

If you envision literally just the two of you exchanging vows on your wedding day without a group of family and friends, consider eloping in one of the states that doesn’t require any witnesses. The following states are some of the easiest places to elope for that very reason!

1. Alabama - Alabama Elopement Guide

2. Arkansas

3. Colorado - Colorado Elopement Guide

4. Connecticut

5. Washington D.C.

6. Florida

7. Idaho - Idaho Elopement Guide

8. Illinois

9. Indiana

10. Maryland - Maryland Elopement Guide

11. Massachusetts

12. Mississippi

13. Missouri

14. Montana - Montana Elopement Guide

15. Pennsylvania

16. South Carolina

17. Tennessee - Tennessee Elopement Guide

18. Texas - Texas Elopement Guide

19. Vermont

20. Virginia

21. West Virginia - West Virginia Elopement Guide

Where to Get Married the Same Day – States With No Waiting Period

Waiting periods were put into place to prevent hasty “shotgun” weddings, but there are many reasons why couples want to get married on the same day. One of the most common is traveling to another state to elope and having a limited amount of time. These states are some of the easiest places to elope specifically because they don’t require a waiting period.

1. Alabama

2. Arizona

3. Arkansas

4. California - Check out Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, or the mystical Redwoods!

5. Colorado

6. Connecticut

7. Washington D.C.

8. Georgia

9. Hawaii

10. Idaho

11. Indiana

12. Kentucky

13. Maine

14. Minnesota

15. Missouri

16. Montana

17. Nebraska

18. Nevada

19. New Hampshire

20. New Mexico

21. North Carolina

22. North Dakota

23. Ohio

24. Oklahoma

25. Rhode Island

26. South Dakota

27. Tennessee

28. Utah

29. Vermont

30. Virginia

31. West Virginia

32. Wyoming

Ready to Start Planning Your Easy, Stress-free Elopement?

Wherever it is that you ultimately decide to elope, I’d love to be part of it! I absolutely live to travel and I’ve shot elopements in many of the states listed here, so I’m happy to chat and answer any questions you might have - whether it’s helping you narrow down locations or deciding on the best photo spots once you have your location dialed in.

Oh and one last thing: I never charge additional travel fees; they’re always included in my elopement packages - no matter where! Let’s goooo!

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