Winter brings long cold nights, mountains blanketed in snow, and is the perfect time to cozy up next to a fire with a cozy drink. For some it’s the worst time of year, but for others, it’s the best! For couples that fall into the latter category, winter is also the perfect time to create a one-of-a-kind wedding experience with a winter elopement!
If your dream elopement takes place in winter wonderland, you’re in the right place! As an elopement photographer, I specialize in helping couples plan meaningful wedding experiences outdoors (and then photograph them, of course), and I want to help you plan an amazing winter wedding!
Read on for all-things winter elopements. From the best locations to elope in the winter to some epic winter wedding ideas!
Planning an elopement in the midst of winter is a lot like planning an elopement any other time of year. The biggest difference is that you will need to do a little more research into your location to make sure it’s actually accessible during the winter months, as many mountain locations close down due to dangerous conditions.
Keep on reading if you want a list of the best locations to elope at in the winter, along with information on the best months, lodging recommendations, and permit information, as well as lot’s of other information to help you plan an amazing wedding in the snow!
How to Plan a Winter Elopement
- Choose a Location
- Find Your Elopement Photographer
- Pick a Date
- Plan the Details of Your Day
- Have an Epic Winter Elopement!
Choose a Location
Choosing where to elope is one of the biggest and most exciting decisions you get to make! Take a moment with your partner and visualize your perfect day. What do you picture for your day? Do you have a special place in mind already?
With so many beautiful options to choose from, it can be hard to narrow it down. Don’t worry, if you don’t already have a location in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the BEST places to elope for a magical winter experience!
The Best Winter Elopement Locations
- Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- Yellowstone National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Leavenworth, Washington
- Grand Teton National Park
- Crater Lake National Park
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Coeur d’Alene is one of Idaho’s most charming towns and an amazing elopement location! Surrounded by lakes, mountains, and beautiful National Forests, Coeur d’Alene gets an average of 69.8 inches of snow per year!
Best Time for a Winter Elopement: January or February
How to Get There: You can fly into the Spokane International Airport and then drive to Coeur d’Alene via a quick 40 minute drive on I-90 straight to Coeur d’Alene.
Where to Stay: The Coeur d’Alene Resort or a local Airbnb.
Permit Information: A permit may be required for elopements on National Forest land around Coeur d’Alene.
Read my full guide to eloping in Coeur d’Alene here!
Yellowstone National Park
With geysers and wildlife, Yellowstone is a magical winter wonderland! While the temperatures reach well below freezing this time of year, there are far less crowds, unique opportunities to watch wildlife, and fun activities like skiing and snowshoeing.
Best Time for a Winter Elopement: December 15 through March 15th
How to Get There: The North Entrance and the Northeast Entrance are open all-year but there are limited roads accessible inside the park. You will need to book transportation with Yellowstone’s snowcoaches for transportation inside the park.
Where to Stay: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
Permit Information: A permit is required for wedding ceremonies taking place within the park. It costs $250 and should be applied for no less than 2 weeks before the date you are requesting. You can learn more about permits in my full guide to eloping in Yellowstone.
Glacier National Park
While access to Glacier is limited in the winter, it’s still a beautiful spot for a winter elopement with beautiful mountain views! The Going to the Sun Road is open to Lake McDonald all-year round, meaning you can get married in the park while it’s covered in snow!
Best Time for a Winter Elopement: December through February
How to Get There: Fly into the Glacier Park International Airport and make the 30 minute drive along US-2 to West Glacier.
Where to Stay: Cedar Creek Lodge or an Airbnb
Permit Information: A Special Use Permit is required for all wedding ceremonies taking place within the park. Permits cost $125 and must be applied no less than 20 days before the date you are requesting. You can learn more on the National Park website.
Leavenworth, Washington
Sitting in the “Alps of America” is the Bavarian style town of Leavenworth, Washington. This adorable town will have you feeling like you just stepped foot into Germany, and the winter here is especially magical!
Best Time for a Winter Elopement: January or February
How to Get There: Fly into the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From there you have a few options. Either drive there via I-90 and US-97 N or via US-2. The other option is the catch an Amtrak train from Seattle to Icicle Station.
Where to Stay: The Posthotel, Bavarian Lodge, or a local Airbnb
Permit Information: A permit is required for wedding ceremonies taking place in the surrounding National Forest land.
Grand Teton National Park
If epic views of snow capped mountain peaks are what you’re looking for, Grand Teton is the place for you! Home to the iconic Teton Mountains, this National Park is a winter wonderland. With lots of winter recreation opportunities in and around the park, this is an epic winter elopement location!
Best Time for a Winter Elopement: October 16th through March 1st.
How to Get There: Fly into Jackson Hole and make the 10 minute drive North into the park.
Where to Stay: Triangle X Ranch, Dornan’s Spur Ranch Cabins, or an Airbnb
Permit Information: A permit is required for wedding ceremonies taking place within the park. The permit costs $200 and should be applied for as early as possible. You can learn more about permits in my full guide to eloping in Grand Teton National Park.
Crater Lake National Park
Oregon’s only National Park, Crater Lake is serenely beautiful in the winter months! The perfect winter elopement location if you’re seeking a quiet, adventurous, and unique location. With cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and more winter activities to explore the park, Crater Lake is an amazing location any time of year!
Best Time for a Winter Elopement: November through early May
How to Get There: The South and West entrances are open all-year, so you will need to enter the park through one of these entrances. The Bend Municipal Airport is the closest airport to fly into. From there you will head south on US-97 make your way to US-62. Head North until you reach the park.
Note that there is no gasoline available in the park from October until late May.
Where to Stay: An Airbnb
Permit Information: A Special Use Permit is required for all wedding ceremonies taking place within the park. Permits cost $50 and are requested to be submitted no less than 8 weeks before the date you are requesting. You can learn more on the National Park website.
Find Your Elopement Photographer
Now that you have a location picked out, it’s time to start looking for an elopement photographer that serves that area. I recommend finding a photographer early on in the process, even if you don’t have an exact location picked out yet, because many elopement photographers (such as myself!) will also help with a lot of planning for your day!
I personally include planning assistance, location scouting, creating a timeline, and more in all of my elopement photography packages to help couples create an amazing wedding experience! If you’d like to learn more about eloping with me, click here!
When choosing an elopement photographer, make sure to look for someone who knows the area you’ll be eloping in. That way they can provide you with detailed information on things like the best time of year and information on permits.
Also make sure you take the time to connect with your photographer to make sure you’ll be a good fit! You’ll be spending the whole day with them, so it’s important that you get along easily and work well together.
Pick a Date
Next you’ll want to start narrowing down a date. If you don’t already have a specific date chosen, you can work with your photographer to choose a date! Remember that elopements give you flexibility and don’t have to elope on a weekend. Actually, I recommend you choose a weekday if you can, that way you’ll have less crowds to deal with and have better odds of privacy on your big day.
Some other things to consider when choosing your elopement date are your location (when is the best time for the area you want to elope in?), your photographer’s availability, and any dates that might have special meaning to you and your partner. Remember, this is going to be your anniversary, so choose a date you’ll want to keep celebrating on for the rest of your lives!
Plan the Details of Your Day
Now you have the big picture and it’s time to dive into the details of your elopement experience! This is where things start to get really exciting and your day begins to come together.
Let’s Talk Permits
I know that the idea of permits may sound scary and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Not all locations require a permit, but some do. So whether you need a permit or not is going to come down to your specific location.
How do you know if you need a permit?
Great question! The first place to start is asking your elopement photographer. They should be able to provide you with information about permits, whether they’re needed or not, and if so, walk you through the process of applying for yours.
Who applies for a permit? You or your photographer?
It depends on the type of permit! If it’s a Special Use Permit for a wedding ceremony, typically the couple getting married applies for that. Some locations will require a Commercial Use Permit, in which case your photographer will need to apply for that. So again, it depends on the location and it’s best to ask your photographer if you’re not sure.
Winter Elopement Ideas
Ready to start planning the details of your day? Great, because that’s what we’re doing next! Start figuring out what you want your day to look like. What kind of ceremony do you want to have? Will you be bringing family or friends along with you? Will you have a casual day together or will you include exciting activities in your day?
Winter Elopement Activities:
- Skiing/Snowboarding
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Rent a cozy cabin
- Ice skating
- Dog sledding
- Ice climbing
- Sleigh ride
- Hot tubbing
Organize Your Day with a Timeline
Once you have a better idea of the things you want to include in your day, you’ll want to start organizing it into a timeline to help the day run smoothly. This is another service that I offer all of my clients, so if you need help putting everything together into a cohesive timeline, ask your photographer for help!
I like to start by choosing the big moments of the day (like the ceremony, a main activity, or sunset) and work around that. Make sure to add plenty of time for getting from one location to the next and don’t forget to schedule in time to eat and hydrate!
Figure Out Where You’ll Eat, Sleep, and Your Transportation
Don’t forget to come up with a plan for the logistical parts of your day, like eating and sleeping.
Have an Amazing Wedding Experience!
When your elopement day arrives, you get to celebrate and have the best day ever! Congrats!! It’s going to be so much fun!
What to Pack for Your Winter Elopement
- Jackets
- Gloves
- Hand warmers
- Warm socks (plus an extra pair just in case!)
- Thermal leggings
- Waterproof boots
- Activity supplies, like ski goggles, snowshoes, or microspikes
- You marriage license
- A pen to sign your marriage license
- Rings
- Wedding attire
- Warm accessories, like ear muffs, hats, shawl, etc.
Tips for Planning Your Winter Elopement
- Do your research so you know what to expect
- Have a backup plan
- Pack the right gear
- Embrace the adventure
You’re on your way to planning an amazing elopement in the beauty of winter! Have fun planning and celebrating your wedding in a magical way!
I love helping couples plan meaningful weddings out in nature as well as documenting them. If you’re ready to start planning your own elopement, send me a message!
Happy eloping!
