A Guide to Your Shenandoah National Park Elopement
The list of reasons to have a Shenandoah National Park elopement is LONG. This beautiful park in the famed Blue Ridge Mountains checks every box: jaw-dropping scenery in every season for equally jaw-dropping elopement photos. Plenty of adventure for during and after your elopement, from hiking and river rafting to backcountry camping and stargazing. Easily accessible from several major cities.
I could go on and on (and on…), but in short — Shenandoah is an incredible elopement location (maybe even one of my personal favorites!). Actually planning your elopement there requires planning, of course, so I put together this comprehensive guide to answer a lot of the most pressing questions.
Table of Contents
Where is Shenandoah National Park?
Best spots for a Shenandoah elopement
Shenandoah National Park elopement packages
What to do in Shenandoah National Park
Best time for a Shenandoah National Park Elopement
Where is Shenandoah National Park?
Shenandoah is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia, 75 miles west of Washington, DC. The park is also within easy driving distance, under 200 miles, of several other major cities including Chesapeake, VA; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA.
Best Spots for a Shenandoah National Park Elopement
Hawksbill Summit
Stony Man Mountain Summit
Mary’s Rock
Loft Mountain
Drive up to one of Shenandoah’s many overlooks
Hike out to one of Shenandoah’s waterfalls
How to elope in Shenandoah National Park
As you’re planning your Shenandoah National Park elopement, there are a few procedural and logistical things to keep in mind.
Permit process
One of the best things about eloping in Shenandoah National Park is that it’s very simple to do so! Many national parks require quite a bit of “red tape” in terms of the process, but in Shenandoah, you only need a Special Use Permit (SUP) for weddings that have more than 15 people in attendance and/or require setup. In other words, if your elopement involves just the two of you, a few family members and friends, and your awesome elopement photographer (that’s me!), you DO NOT need any sort of permit!
The NPS specific verbiage states, “simple, standup ceremonies with less than 16 participants and no set-up do not require a permit. Ceremonies, gatherings and weddings with any type of setup (i.e., decorations, chairs, arch, awning, music, etc.) requires a permit, regardless of the number of participants.”
If you do plan to invite a larger group and/or you want to bring some decorations, you should apply for your SUP as far in advance as possible. The park requires six weeks minimum to process all applications, but popular dates like weekends book much further out than that!
A few other things to keep in mind if you do want to have a slightly larger group or a setup requiring a permit:
Most weddings are approved only for park amphitheaters. All other locations must be approved by NPS.
Real flowers are not allowed to be brought in, so if you want an arch or even a bouquet, you’ll have to use faux flowers
If you want your Shenandoah National Park elopement on a fall weekend, it will have to be finished and cleared out by 10:00 am, due to heavy traffic
Keep in mind that regardless of your elopement size and separate of any park-related permits, you will still need a Virginia marriage license in order for your wedding to be legally recognized.
Park entrance fee
You, along with any guests, will still be required to pay Shenandoah’s park entry fee when you arrive at the park. The fee is $30 per vehicle and is valid for seven consecutive days. America the Beautiful annual National Park passes are also valid.
Leave no trace
When you enjoy The Great Outdoors, whether it’s a national park or somewhere else and regardless of the reason, it’s extremely important to practice the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace (LNT). These natural environments are fragile and human activity unquestionably causes harm, so it’s important that we take steps to minimize our impact.
This is the reason for Shenandoah’s policy on not allowing real flowers to be brought in. Other LNT principles that may apply to your elopement include packing out all trash or any food scraps, staying on well-established pathways and not treading on undisturbed surfaces, and being cautious of the types of props you bring in for photography.
Shenandoah National Park Elopement Packages
All elopement packages include my travel to anywhere in the United States (no hidden or extra fees!), customized location scouting and research, permit assistance, personalized vendor recommendations, activity suggestions that are unique-to-you + your location, and a customized elopement timeline for your one-of-a-kind day.
Every elopement gallery also includes high-resolution digital images with printing rights and a private online gallery to view, print, download, and share your gallery with your family + friends to relive the day with you!
4 Hour ~ $3000
Perfect for the couples who are wanting to take a more simplistic approach to their elopement day. Typically this package is ideal for capturing getting ready, a short hike to ceremony location, and couples’ portraits.
8 Hour ~ $5000
Perfect for couples wanting a day of adventure like a long hike, off-roading, or traveling to multiple locations. This package is best for telling the complete story of your elopement day. Typically couples who elope just the two of them select this package to document their day for the friends + family who are not in attendance to have that opportunity to experience the day.
Also ideal for couples bringing friends + family and would like to have their reception captured as well. Your reception could look like pizza at your airbnb around a fire with your parents + siblings or a private chef serving you a 3 course meal on a table decorated in flowers!
12 Hour ~ $7000
Perfect for couples looking for complete coverage of their elopement story. This package offers the ultimate storytelling experience. From waking up and having coffee with your partner to roasting marshmallows on a fire after dawn. Couples who elope just the two of them select this package to document their day for the friends + family who are not in attendance to have that opportunity to experience the day. Also ideal for couples bringing friends + family and would like to have their full day with their guests documented.
Multi-Day ~ $9000
Perfect for couples wanting a multi-day experience with lots of adventure. This package is best if you want to elope in one epic location and also experience another epic location the following day. An example of this would be eloping in Shenandoah National Park and the following day visiting an apple orchard or following the Beerwerks trail of breweries!
What to do in Shenandoah National Park
Hiking
Set up camp
Horseback riding
Cast a line and go fishing (catch-and-release only within park boundaries)
Rock climbing
Look for wildlife
Experience Shenandoah’s backcountry
Admire the stars in the night sky (especially in the winter, when the trees are bare!)
Take a scenic drive down Skyline Drive
Best time for a Shenandoah National Park elopement
Shenandoah’s geography means the park experiences all four seasons in spectacular fashion. The best time of year for your Shenandoah National Park elopement will depend solely on your personal preferences and what you envision as your perfect day, as each of the seasons has its own unique beauty and advantages.
Winter
NPS officially considers November-February winter, although it may arrive as early as October and stick around through March some years. The park is open year-round, although in-park lodging and other services close seasonally in the winter.
One of the biggest things to be aware of is that Skyline Drive may close in heavy snow or storms and specifically, in icy conditions. For adventurous couples who enjoy getting off the beaten path and don’t mind limited services, winter is a stunningly beautiful time for a Shenandoah National Park elopement. You’ll have the park largely to yourself and have the dramatic snow-covered Blue Ridge Mountains as your photo backdrop!
Spring
Springs is wildflower season in Shenandoah. The park is home to nearly 900 species! They’re particularly abundant along streams at low elevation, so stay close to water or get way up high for the best viewpoints. If you’re picturing a colorful, flower-filled backdrop, a spring Shenandoah National Park elopement may be perfect for you.
Summer
This is by far the busiest season in the park, with crowds forming early on trailheads and campgrounds sold out on weekends. It’s well worth it, however — the park is lush and green, weather hovers in the upper 70s and 80s, and summer sunsets are spectacular in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Fall
Many people feel very strongly that Shenandoah is at its absolute best in the fall. The colors are absolutely stunning and best of all, because the park has quite a bit of varied elevation, leaf-peeping season is a bit longer than in other places. When the leaves start to fall in the high country, you know you still have a couple of weeks at lower elevation.
Note: if you’re planning a fall Shenandoah National Park elopement, you’ll want to get your permit application to secure your date as early as possible. Shenandoah is one of the most coveted wedding venues in the entire country in the fall!
Where to stay when visiting Shenandoah National Park
There are many accommodation options in and around Shenandoah to suit every type of couple. I highly recommend staying for at least a couple of days to really take in all the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge!
Camping in Shenandoah National Park
Backcountry camping
Matthews Arm Campground
Big Meadows Campground
Lewis Mountain Campground
Loft Mountain Campground
Dundo Group Campground
Best Airbnb’s near Shenandoah National Park
Ready to plan your Shenandoah National Park elopement?
Regardless of where you are in the planning process, whether you just started toying with the idea of eloping or you’re ready to do the damn thing, I’d love to chat with you! I can help answer any questions you may have (including those you may not realize you have just yet!) and we can chat about your elopement day vision. Looking forward to it!
