How to Elope in Boise
Surrounded by mountains in Southwest Idaho, Boise is the state capital of Idaho. Unless you’ve experienced this beautiful state for yourself, you might be surprised to learn that Idaho is home to several mountain ranges, dozens of hot springs, and some pretty incredible scenery with a lot fewer crowds than other areas, making it the perfect choice for adventurous couples looking to elope.
This guide will walk you through the best elopement locations near Boise for your adventurous wedding in the mountains, the best time of year to elope, and help you plan an epic Idaho elopement!
How to get to Boise
If you’re planning on a destination elopement in Boise, you can fly into the Boise Airport (BOI). This airport offers direct flights to 26 cities across the country, making the area easy to access no matter where you’re coming from.
The airport is located 4 miles from downtown Boise, which makes finding hotels or Airbnbs and food very easy for your trip.
How to Elope in Coeur d’Alene
- Hire Your Boise elopement photographer
- Choose a date
- Decide on a location
- Plan the details and logistics of your experience
- Get your Idaho marriage license
- Have an incredible elopement!
Make sure to check out my complete guide to planning an elopement in Idaho for more information!
The Best Time of Year to Elope in Boise
Boise has a high desert climate, and the temperatures heat up quickly during the day and cool off fast as night falls. The area also experiences all four seasons, meaning snow in the winter and warm summers.
Summers are hot with temperatures rising into the 90’s with lots of sunshine. Boise gets over 200 days of sunshine every year!
Winters dip into the mid-20s with snow in the surrounding mountains, but not so much close to town due to the milder temperatures where Boise is located.
May, June, and September are the best months for mild weather, but if you’re looking for snow, January or February is the best option.
There’s really no bad time to elope in Boise. When deciding on a date, consider the kind of elopement experience you want. Do you want to explore the outdoors and include activities like hiking or boating? Or does your dream elopement look like exploring out in the snow and coming back to a cozy fire at your Airbnb?
Make sure to check out my full guide to eloping in Idaho for details for a step-by-step guide to planning an elopement in Idaho, obtaining your marriage permit, and more.
Boise Elopement Locations
Whether you’re looking for stunning mountain top views or sand dunes, there’s a wide variety of locations to choose from. These are some of the most scenic (and unique!) locations to elope at near Boise, Idaho.
If you’re looking for a more traditional wedding venue for a larger elopement or a reception, check out this guide to the best mountain wedding venues in Idaho.
Boise National Forest
The Boise National Forest is over 2.2 million acres of wooded land in the mountains. Filled with hot springs, rivers, and beautiful forests of pine, there are so many trails to explore! This is a great area if seclusion and adventure are a big priority for your elopement experience.
Best spots to elope in the Boise National Forest:
- Crooked River Trail
- Pine Flats Hot Springs
- Kirkham Hot Springs
Distance from Boise: 2 hours
Closest Town with Amenities: Idaho City
Best Time of Year: Summer and early Autumn
Best Time of Day: Sunrise or Sunset
Where to Stay: Inn the Pines or the Smoke Jumper
The Snake River
Winding from Wyoming through Idaho and finally into the Columbia River in Washington, the Snake River offers beautiful canyon views. There are so many stunning viewpoints along this river, but the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area has some pretty epic views. You’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time as you overlook the river flowing through the canyon.
Distance from Boise: 50 minutes
Closest Town with Amenities: Nampa
Best Time of Year: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Best Time of Day: Sunset
Where to Stay: Inn at 500 Capitol
Bogus Basin
A mountain recreation area, Bogus Basin is a ski area with stunning mountain views all year round. From ski runs and snowshoe trails in the winter to hiking trails in the summer, this area has something to offer adventurous couples any time of year!
Distance from Boise: 45 minutes
Closest Town with Amenities: Boise
Best Time of Year: Winter or Summer
Best Time of Day: Sunrise or Sunset
Where to Stay: This Renovated Studio Ski In/Out Airbnb in Horseshoe Bend
Bruneau Dunes State Park
Did you know that the tallest single-structured sand dune is right here in Idaho? That’s right! Bruneau Dunes State Park has sand dunes, a lake, a campground, and even an observatory. You can experience this unique landscape by hiking, sandboarding down the dunes, or going off-roading.
Distance from Boise: 1 hour 15 minutes
Closest Town with Amenities: Mountain Home
Best Time of Year: Spring and Autumn
Best Time of Day: Sunset
Where to Stay: A cabin at Bruneau Dunes State Park or this Airbnb in Mountain Home
Sawtooth Wilderness
This one’s a bit of a drive from Boise, but if jagged mountain peaks and alpine lakes are your thing, it’s going to be worth the drive! With 57 mountains in the Sawtooth Range reaching over 10,000 ft. and almost 400 alpine lakes, this area is one of the most scenic in the state! But you don’t have to be into extreme outdoor sports to enjoy these mountains; the Sawtooth Mountains are home to several lodges and ranches for a more relaxing experience if that’s more your style.
Can’t-miss spots in the Sawtooth Wilderness:
- Redfish Lake
- Stanley Lake Overlook
- Boat Box Hot Springs
- Hike to Goat Lake
Distance from Boise: 3 hours
Closest Town with Amenities: Stanley
Best Time of Year: Late Spring, Summer, and early Autumn
Best Time of Day: Sunrise or Sunset
Where to Stay: Redfish Lodge or Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch
McCall
This mountain resort town sits on the shores of Payette Lake. Ponderosa State Park offers easy access to the lake with a reservable day-use area, perfect for weddings or elopements of just about any size. If winter sports are your thing, the nearby Brundage Ski Resort is close by with 70 runs for skiing and snowboarding.
Distance from Boise: 2 hours 15 minutes
Closest Town with Amenities: McCall
Best Time of Year: Summer, Autumn, and Winter
Best Time of Day: Sunset
Where to Stay: This A-Frame Airbnb or this Lake House Airbnb
Decide on Elopement Activities
Now that you know when and where you want to elope, it’s time to start filling in the details of your day by deciding what kinds of activities you want to include. This can range from traditional events, such as having your first dance together as a married couple or a cake cutting, to something a little more unconventional, such as renting a boat for the afternoon or hiking to a sunset viewpoint.
Activity ideas you can include in your Boise elopement:
- Explore the Boise Botanical Gardens
- Wander around the mountains of Stanley
- Watch the sunset on the Snake River
- Make dinner together at your Airbnb
Check out this list of 50+ elopement activities to include in your day
How to Get Your Idaho Marriage License
Next up, you’ll need to obtain your marriage license. Idaho Marriage Licenses are issued in person by Kootenai County. You will need to complete the application before you visit the Recorder’s Office.
Visit the Kootenai County Marriage License website for more information.
You do not need to be an Idaho resident to obtain a marriage license in the state; however, the license is valid only for ceremonies within Idaho.
Here’s what you will need to apply for a marriage license in Coeur d’Alene:
- You and your partner must be 18 years of age or older
- You both must appear together to submit your application
- You must make the payment on the day of your application. It is $31 cash or $32.78 with credit/debit card
- Have your SSN number
- Have a current government-issued photo identification.
If you are not a resident of the United States, you must bring a photo identification from the country you currently live in. You will also need to visit the U.S. Social Security Office to get a letter verifying the status of your Social Security. Your ID and letter must be presented with your application.
There is no waiting period once you get your license, which means you can get married the same day you receive your license!
Learn more about getting an Idaho marriage license in my complete guide!
Officiant
To legally perform your marriage, your officiant must be an ordained minister. This can be a judge, clergy member, an ordained friend or family member, or even your photographer if they’re ordained.
Witnesses
You do not need any witnesses to get married in Idaho. All you need is an officiant. This is perfect if you’re looking to elope with just your officiant and photographer present!
Boise Elopement Packages
Ready to start planning your Boise adventure elopement? Whether you need help finding the perfect ceremony location or creating a timeline for your day to fit in all of the fun activities you want, I can help with planning the logistics in addition to photographing your experience.
Send me a message and let’s start planning your Boise elopement together!
Happy Eloping!
