How to Elope in Idaho

So you’ve decided to elope in Idaho. You’ve made an awesome choice! As an Idaho local and an elopement photographer that specializes in helping couples plan adventurous weddings, let me be the first to tell you you won’t be disappointed! The Gem State is going to make for the perfect location for your adventurous wedding!

Not sure where to start with planning your Idaho elopement? Wondering where to go for the best mountain views or how to get legally married here? You’re in the right place, because this guide is going to walk you through everything you need to help you plan a magical Idaho elopement experience!

What Makes Idaho Great for Elopements?

For one thing, it’s filled with some absolutely incredible scenery! Haven’t been here to see Idaho’s beauty for yourself yet? Well, we have a lot more than potatoes! This state is home to mountains over 10,000 ft. tall, a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon, and old growth forests that feel like a magical fairytale. No matter what you’re after for your big day, Idaho will provide (unless you’re looking for the ocean, that’s the one thing we don’t have here).

The other big reason Idaho is the perfect place to elope is because it’s one of the easiest states to get married in! There’s no requirement for witnesses and you can apply for your marriage license in person and get married the same day! That’s why I always recommend Idaho to couples looking for an easy breezy elopement experience!

We’ll go over marriage licenses further on in this guide. Click here to jump there >>

How to Elope in Idaho

Eloping in Idaho is actually very simple. We’re going to go through all 6 steps to plan an amazing wedding for you!

1. Choose a Location
2. Decide on a Date
3. Book Your Idaho Elopement Photographer
4. Plan Your Experience
5. Get Your Marriage License
6. Have an Amazing Elopement in Idaho!

How to Choose an Elopement Location in Idaho

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is where you will elope in Idaho. This state is huge and is home to a diverse range of landscapes. I’ve narrowed down a list of the top elopement locations in the state, but these are only skimming the surface of what Idaho has to offer!

Want a customized list of Idaho elopement locations? I offer this with all of my elopement packages!

The Best Idaho Elopement Locations

1. Coeur d’Alene
2. Stanley
3. Sandpoint
4. McCall
5. Priest Lake

Coeur d’Alene

The charming small town of Coeur d’Alene sits on the lake of the same name and is the gateway to adventure! With three National Forests within minutes, there’s dozens of wildly beautiful elopement locations nearby. Coeur d’Alene is where luxury and adventure meet, and is perfect for elopements large and small!

Where to Stay: 

• The Coeur d’Alene Resort
• The Blackwell Hotel
• The Roosevelt Inn

How to Get There: Coeur d’Alene is easily accessed from anywhere in the world thanks to having the Spokane International Airport just 40 minutes away.

Best Time of Year: July through September will give you the warmest and driest weather, but if you’re looking for snow, January through March is your best bet!

Permit Information: A permit may be required if you decide to hold your elopement in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Make sure to research any requirements for your chosen elopement location.

Stanley

If you want to elope in the midst of epic mountain views, then Stanley is the place! Situated in south-central Idaho, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area is is home to 3 mountain ranges with peaks over 11,000 ft. high. With its jagged peaks, alpine lakes, and wildflower meadows, the Sawtooth Mountains are a stunning and adventurous elopement location!

Where to Stay: 

•  Redfish Lake Lodge
• Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch
• Diamond D Ranch

How to Get There: The two closest airports to Stanley are the Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley and the Boise Airport. The drive from Sun Valley is only 1.5 hours to Stanley, whereas it’s an almost 3 hour drive from Boise, however airfare can be a bit pricey for flights into Friedman Memorial Airport.

Best Time of Year: While Stanley is accessible year round, the best time of year to elope here is June through early October if you want the most access to the mountains. The area is very popular in the peak of summer, so if avoiding crowds is important for your elopement, stick to the shoulder seasons.

Permit Information: You’ll need to apply for a Special Use Permit for your elopement if your ceremony location takes place within the Sawtooth National Forest.

Sandpoint

Sandpoint is one of North Idaho’s charming lake towns. Sitting on lake Pend Oreille (pronounced pon-der-ay), this area has easily accessible elopement locations as well as more adventurous spots to explore.

Where to Stay: 

•  The Lodge at Sandpoint
• The Schweitzer Lodge
• The Coeur d’Alene Resort

How to Get There: Sandpoint is a 1 hour drive from Coeur d’Alene, and a 1.5 hour drive from the Spokane International Airport if you need to fly to the area.

Best Time of Year: Summer through early October is the best time of year to elope in Sandpoint, but if you love the snow, December through March is perfect!

Permit Information: A permit may be required for your elopement if it takes place in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. A reservation is required for elopements at Farragut State Park.

McCall

McCall sits on the southern shores of Payette Lake in west-central Idaho, offering beautiful views of the lake and surrounding mountains for elopements. Sitting on the lakes shores is Ponderosa State Park, named for its old growth forest of Ponderosa Pines sitting at 150 feet tall, and a great location for weddings of a variety of sizes!

Where to Stay: 

•  Shore Lodge
• Nordic Inn
• Brundage Bungalows

How to Get There: McCall is located off of Highway 55, about a 2.5 hour drive from Boise.

Best Time of Year: Late spring through early Autumn is the best time to elope in McCall for sunny weather and snow free trails.

Permit Information: A permit may be required if you decide to elope in Payette National Forest, you may need to apply for an Event Permit for your day.

Priest Lake

In case you haven’t noticed by now, Idaho is filled with beautiful lakes. Priest Lake is no exception! Remote and serenely beautiful, this lake is surrounded by forests and mountains that make for a beautiful elopement location.

Check out my full guide to eloping at Priest Lake!

Where to Stay: 

•  Elkins Resort
• The Inn at Priest Lake
• Rent a cabin from Priest Lake State Park

How to Get There: Priest Lake is a 2 hour drive from Coeur d’Alene, and a 2.5 hour drive from the Spokane International Airport.

Best Time of Year: June through early October is a great time to elope in Priest Lake! The snow will be gone, making trails accessible, and the weather warm and enjoyable this time of year.

Permit Information: A permit may be required if you decide to elope in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest. Make sure to research your location and acquire any necessary permits.

Other Idaho Elopement Locations

In keeping with Leave No Trace, you won’t see some of my best locations listed here. This is because I want to keep them safe and beautiful and away from the masses. But when we work together, I’ll send you a list of the best locations based on what you’re looking for. Whether you want a spot to hike to or somewhere easily accessed by car, I’ll help you find that perfect spot for you to spend your day.

In Summary, the Best Idaho Elopement Locations Are…

Choosing Your Elopement Date

Once you begin to narrow down a location, you’ll need to start thinking about when you want to elope. You’ll need to keep in mind the best season for your location because that could affect the availability and accessibility of the location.

In addition to the weather, you should also keep in mind that the date you choose will be your anniversary! So pick a date that you will want to celebrate for years to come.

Keep in mind any significant dates to you and remember that you’re not limited to weekends! I actually recommend choosing a weekday for your elopement because you will have better odds of privacy than you would on a weekend, especially in some of the more popular destinations.

Seasons in Idaho

With that in mind, here’s some information about the weather in Idaho.

Idaho is a very large state with diverse landscapes and weather throughout its regions. You’ll want to research your specific location for more detailed information, but in general, you can expect hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. We get a bit of rain in the spring and parts of the state are blessed with beautiful Fall colors.

Summertime is great for stargazing because the evenings tend to stay warm enough to lay outdoors under the stars.

Sometimes in the Autumn and Spring we’ll even get some spectacular sightings of the Northern Lights in the northern part of the state.

Wildfire Season

It’s not uncommon for smoke to fill our skies in the summer months. Whether it’s a nearby wildfire or smoke blowing in from another state, August and September can oftentimes be smoky. If this is a concern for you, I’d recommend choosing a date early in summer or in the Autumn.

Crowds in Idaho

While most of Idaho doesn’t experience a lot of tourism compared to our neighboring states, some areas are quite popular, especially in the summer months when everyone is on vacation.

Tips for Avoiding Crowds on Your Elopement Day:

• Choose to elope on a weekday instead of a weekend
• Elope in the off-season
• Have a sunrise or sunset ceremony
• Hike at least 3 miles to escape the crowds

Tips for Finding Your Idaho Elopement Photographer

After you have an idea of your location and general timeframe, you’ll want to start looking for your photographer. It’s best to book your elopement photographer early in the planning process to ensure availability, but also because many will also help you with the planning process (like me!)

When looking for your Idaho elopement photographer, keep in mind their photography style and their approach to posing to make sure it’s a good fit for you. You should also take the time to chat with your photographer on the phone before booking them so you can get a feel for each other and make sure you get along well. You’ll be spending your whole day with them, so it’s best to make sure they’re easy to get along with.

I’m going to take a moment and shamelessly promote myself. I’m an elopement photographer based out of Idaho. I can help you plan your elopement by providing you with customized location recommendations, assist in planning your day by creating a timeline for you and making recommendations for vendors, lodging, or anything else you need for your day, and then document the day in beautiful images. If this sounds like what you’re looking for in a photographer, please reach out to me and let’s chat about your elopement!

Plan Your Experience

Now that you have the big decisions figured out, it’s time to start planning the details!

Decide What Your Ceremony Will Look Like

Do you know what kind of ceremony you will have? Now’s the time to start figuring that out! 

Start deciding what you will include in your ceremony: will it be a legal ceremony or will you just be exchanging vows? Will you have family or friends present? If so, will they be a part of your ceremony?

There’s no right or wrong answer here, so do what has meaning to the two of you!

Plan Activities for Your Experience

Beyond your ceremony, what do you want your day to look like? Will it be an adventurous day exploring nature? Or do you want a more relaxed experience, maybe dinner at a nice restaurant and celebrating with your families?

Remember that this day is free to be celebrated however feels right to the two of you! There’s no expectation for what it has to look like.

Elopement Activity Ideas:

• Hike to your ceremony location
• Rent a cozy cabin
• Have a bonfire and roast marshmallows
• Go on a picnic
• Have an intimate dinner with your closest relationships
• Watch the sunset together
• Go horseback riding

Some Additional Resources You Might Find Helpful:

• 50+ Elopement Activities
• How to Include Family in Your Elopement
• Epic Idaho Elopement Ideas

Book Your Elopement Vendors

You’ll need to start deciding what vendors you want to include in your day, in addition to your photographer. Elopements don’t always have a lot of vendors, but here are a few of the most popular to consider including in your day:

• Florist
• Caterer or Chef
• Videographer
• Hair & Makeup Artist
• Officiant

Create a Timeline for Your Elopement

The secret to a smooth elopement experience is creating a good timeline for your day. This is a service I include in all of my elopement packages.

Once you know what you want to include in your day, you’ll need to organize it all into a timeline to keep your day on track. Make sure to include extra time for traveling from one location to the next, scheduled time to eat during your day, and include plenty of time for taking in the sights.

Idaho Elopement Example Timelines

If you’re not sure what an elopement day might look like, here are a few example timeline’s to help you get a better idea of how your own day might flow!

8 Hour Sunrise Elopement in North Idaho Example Timeline

3:30am – Meet up at trailhead and start hiking to the alpine lake.

4:30am – Arrive at the lake. Scout out the ceremony location.

4:45am – Change into wedding Attire.

5:15am – Sunrise wedding ceremony and vow exchange.

5:30am – Celebrate being married!! Take some “just-married” portraits and detail photos.

6:00am – Take a few minutes to celebrate on your own.

6:30am – Make some coffee and grab a snack.

7:30am – Begin the hike back down.

8:30am – Arrive back at the trailhead. Drive to the next location, an old growth cedar forest.

9:30am – Arrive at the cedar forest. Explore and set up for a picnic lunch.

10:30am – Share your first dance together and cut your cake.

11:00am – Photography coverage ends.

12 Hour Elopement With Family in Stanley Example Timeline

10:00am – Meet up at Airbnb. Finish getting ready and take detail photos.

11:30am – Drive to the ceremony location on Redfish Lake.

12:00pm – Arrive at the lake. Find the perfect location for the first look.

12:15pm – First look between the bride and groom.

12:30pm – Get ready for the ceremony.

1:00pm – Wedding ceremony.

1:30pm – Celebrate being married! Take some “just-married” portraits and family photos.

2:30pm – Picnic lunch with family by the lake.

3:30pm – Couple and photographer head to hiking trail while family goes back to the Airbnb

4:30pm – Meet up at trailhead and start hiking.

5:30pm – Arrive at the alpine lake. Take portraits, enjoy a few minutes alone, and soak in the view.

6:30pm – Start hiking back to the trailhead.

7:30pm – Arrive back at trailhead. Drive back to airbnb.

8:30pm – Arrive back at Airbnb for reception with family. Celebrate with dinner, cake cutting, and first dance’s.

10:00pm – Photography coverage ends.

Plan Travel and Accommodations

Great lodging can make a good trip into a great one, so make sure to find the perfect place to stay to make your elopement that much more special! Now is also the time you’ll want to book your travel if you’ll be flying in from out of town. Don’t forget the rental car if you’re flying!

Check out these unique Airbnb’s in North Idaho!

Flying Into Idaho:

Idaho has several large airports and is easily accessed from anywhere in the world! Here are Idaho’s most popular airports and the regions they’re closest to:

How to Get Married in Idaho

Now, let’s get into how to legally get married in Idaho. Idaho is one of the easiest states to get married in and I’m going to walk you through everything you need!

1. Find the County Recorder’s Office
2. Bring the necessary documentation
3. Fill out your application
4. Receive your marriage license
5. Have an ordained minister sign your paperwork

How to Apply for Your Idaho Marriage License

Marriage licenses are applied for in-person at the local County Recorder’s Office. Some offices require you to fill out an online application before showing up or require an appointment to apply for your marriage license, so it’s best to check the website of the office you’ll be getting your license from.

What You Need to Bring with You:

• Approximately $30 cash (or a credit card, however a processing fee will be added).
• Your social security numbers. If you’re from outside of the U.S., you should also bring identification from your home country.
• Proof of identity and age. This can be a current drivers license, state-issued I.D., Passport, or your birth certificate.

Visit Idaho.gov for more information about getting married in Idaho.

Once you receive your marriage license, you can use it the same day and it will be valid for one year. Your license will be valid for weddings taking place anywhere in the state of Idaho.

If you are traveling for your elopement, I recommend you plan on arriving at least one day before you plan to get married to obtain your marriage license since you have to apply for it in-person. While there’s no waiting period once you receive your marriage license, it’s always best to have extra time so your wedding day can run smoothly and stress-free.

Do You Need Witnesses to Get Married in Idaho?

The state of Idaho does not require any witnesses for you to get legally married, which is perfect if you’re looking for an intimate elopement with just the two of you!

Can You Self Solemnize in Idaho?

While Idaho doesn’t allow self solemnization, they only require your officiant to be present, which is the next best thing! Did you know I’m ordained and can sign your marriage license for an easy breezy wedding process? This is one of the many freebies I include in my elopement packages.

Who Can Marry You in Idaho?

Anyone who is ordained! This means you can have a family member or loved one marry you if you’d like.

How to Get Ordained in Idaho

If you want a loved one to marry you on your elopement day, they can easily get ordained online for free! You can become ordained through Universal Life Church for weddings in most states, including Idaho, and it’s a very easy process. Just fill out the form, submit it, and your application will be reviewed and should be approved quickly.

Have an Amazing Elopement in Idaho!

All that’s left now is to have an amazing wedding day in the beauty of Idaho! Congrats! It’s going to be such an amazing day!

Tips for Eloping in Idaho

• Work with a local elopement photographer & planner (like me!)
• Choose your location, then your date
• Have a backup plan in case of bad weather
• Plan a full day elopement for a stress-free experience

If you didn’t know before, I hope you can see now that Idaho is beautiful and a perfect choice for creating a memorable wedding experience out in nature.

As a photographer based out of Idaho, I love helping couples plan meaningful weddings in this beautiful state. If you’re ready to start planning your Idaho elopement, send me a message!

Happy eloping!