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.
Alabama – no officiant, no witnesses, no waiting period, and no residency requirements
Arkansas – no waiting period and no witnesses required
Colorado – no residency or witnesses required, no waiting period, self-solemnization (famously, Colorado even allows dogs to legally solemnize marriages!), and proxy marriages permitted
Connecticut – no waiting period, plus no witnesses or residency required
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
Hawaii – no waiting period, no witnesses (your officiant typically doubles as your witness), and no residency requirements
Idaho – no waiting period, marriage license has no expiration date, and no witness or residency requirement
Indiana – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirements
Mississippi – no waiting period, no residency or witness requirements, and license does not expire
Missouri – no waiting period and no witnesses or residency requirement
Montana (I mean, we all love Yellowstone) – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirement
New Hampshire – no waiting period, plus no witness or residency requirements
Ohio – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirement
Tennessee (check out the Great Smoky Mountains)– no waiting period and no requirements on witnesses or residency
Vermont – no waiting period, no witnesses, and no residency requirement
Virginia (Shenandoah National Park elopement, anyone?) – no waiting period and no witness or residency requirement
Washington, D.C. – no waiting period, no witnesses required, license has no expiration date, and no residency requirements
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!
Alabama - Alabama Elopement Guide
Arkansas
Connecticut
Washington D.C.
Florida
Idaho - Idaho Elopement Guide
Illinois
Indiana
Maryland - Maryland Elopement Guide
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana - Montana Elopement Guide
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee - Tennessee Elopement Guide
Texas - Texas Elopement Guide
Vermont
Virginia
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.
Arkansas
California - Check out Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, or the mystical Redwoods!
Connecticut
Washington D.C.
Georgia
Hawaii
Indiana
Kentucky
Maine
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
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!