Are you thinking of eloping in New Hampshire, but aren’t sure where to begin? I’ve got you covered! In this blog I will go over everything you need to know about planning your 2024 New Hampshire Elopement. Oh, and feel free to jump ahead to what you need below!

New Hampshire Mountain Elopement Locations

NH Beach Elopement Locations

NH Waterfall & Lakeside Locations

When to Elope in NH

Best Season to Elope in NH

Decide on Your Guest List

NH Elopement Officiant

How to get your Marriage License in NH

So, what even is an elopement?

Back in the day elopements were specifically meant for people that wanted to “run away” and get married on a whim without telling a soul. Nowadays that construct has completely changed. My definition of a new age elopement is that it is a unique-to-you intimate wedding day that is focused entirely on you and your lover. A day that is curated from beginning to end with things that truly reflect you two as a couple. 

You can weave in bits and pieces of things you love to do, fun decor, + more. I also love that an elopement can be a mountaintop hiking adventure or an island celebration with 8 of your closest humans. This is such a beautiful thing – that your day can literally be anything you want it to be. The biggest takeaway to remember is that this is still your wedding day and the commitment to each other is no less than just because you aren’t doing it the traditional way!

Choose your NH elopement location

When you picture yourself getting married to the love of your life what does that look like to you? Do you see yourself on a mountain, in a whimsical forrest, or maybe on a serene lake? A rocky beach, with the waves crashing in the background? Or maybe a cozy winery with a backyard intimate dinner? There are so many options and New Hampshire is a versatile state with a variety of locations that make it perfect for an elopement. 

Here are some of my favorite elopement locations in the New Hampshire Mountains:

Mount Washington

Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeast and boy is she a beaut! We can go the epic route and hike up or we have the option of driving or taking the train to the top! 

Franconia Notch

One of my personal favorite locations in the Whites! The notch is home to Artists Bluff, the ridge trail, Echo Lake, + more! Its a great location if you want to have a few different options for scenery or backgrounds as well. 

Pinkham Notch State Park

Pinkham Notch is located on the East side of the White Mountains! Its home to beautiful scenic drives as well as gorgeous hikes that would be perfect for a mountain backdrop

Cathedral Ledge

Cathedral Ledge is a gorgeous 700ft overlook that is a perfect spot for a ceremony! This is a short walk with high reward. Check out my couples Cathedral Ledge vow ceremony!

Is the ocean more of your happy place? Here are the best coastal elopement locations on the seacoast of NH:

Rye Harbor State Park

If you are wanting the dramatic rocky coastline vibes, Rye Harbor State Park is for you! I have a few favorite spots that include sailboats in the backdrop 🙂

Odiorne State Park

I love Odiorne State Park for its lovely walking trails that lead right up to the water with views of the Wentworth! Its a slight fee for entry, but so worth the views.

If you are in need of a venue in the Seacoast of New Hampshire, check this blog out!

Looking for a waterfall or lake backdrop? Don’t you worry, New Hampshire has plenty of those for ya:

Crawford Notch State Park

This is such a gorgeous part of the Whites with so many different views! I love this part for gorgeous waterfalls.

Lake Winnipesaukee

I am such a big fan of this gorgeous lake in New Hampshire! It’s 72 miles of wooded shoreline and spring-fed water with great little beaches, restaurants, and shops all around. 

Arethusa Falls

This stunning waterfall stands at 160 ft high and is easily accessible off of Route 302. This would be such a cool winter elopement location with the frozen falls in the background!

When to elope in New Hampshire

After narrowing down your location you can then pick which time of year would be best for your elopement day! Are you dreaming about a warm summer breeze on the ocean, or a snowy winter wonderland in the mountains?  Would you like foliage colors or are wildflowers up your alley? Thinking about all of these pieces of the puzzle will help you create your dream day!

Here is a breakdown of what to expect with New Hampshire seasons!

Spring: Spring is very unpredictable in New England. We sometimes have light snow, rain, but also could be beautiful if you catch the wildflowers in bloom! I would say to definitely have a good backup plan if you choose this time of year. The pros are that the crowds are much less than the summer and fall months. 

Summer: Summer in New England is just magic. The seacoast is just bussin’ with coastal activities, the sunsets are lovely, and the seafood is poppin’! Hiking is very popular this time of year so sunrise would definitely be best! This way you can also avoid the pesky mosquitoes. 

Fall: As we all know, fall is epic in New England, specifically in the mountains. With the beauty also comes traffic and crowds, so a weekday elopement is definitely key if you want this time of year! The weather is also cooling down quite a bit (which I personally love) but just be prepared for that as well! 

Winter: Winter is just gorgeous in New Hampshire. I think it is sometimes slept on as an opportunity for a great elopement. With the right gear, and fun activities I think it is such a magic time of year!  

Decide on your guest list

One of the biggest misconceptions of elopements these days is that they are strictly just the couple running away to get married on a whim. Although this could definitely be true (if this is your vibe- I’m here for it) it is not the only option. A lot of people struggle with the thought of getting married without the people that love them the most, and I totally understand this!! 

There are definitely pros to each option! Eloping without guests allows for the freedom to choose and do whatever you choose location and activity wise. It makes it a little easier to do something adventurous or off the beaten path when it is just you two to focus on. There are also many ways you can include your loved ones like hand written notes or FaceTime calls! 

Elopements with guests are special because you are surrounded by your people, the ones that support and love you the most. This can be so powerful especially when all the frills of a traditional wedding are removed. It’s important to remember that elopements aren’t just weddings with no guests in attendance. Elopements can be whatever you choose them to be! It’s also important to note that it is also possibly to have both of these experiences. Check out my couple that did a sunrise vow ceremony together and then celebrated with their friends and family the rest of the day! 

Choose your NH Vendors

Every detail, big or small, makes your elopement day special and unique to you as a couple! The beauty is that you can go as big or as small as you want. This is your day and it’s important you both walk away feeling that your experience was undeniably you. Once you have narrowed down at least a general location and time of year, you can start researching for vendors!

New Hampshire Elopement Photographer 

It may be biased of me, butttt I truly believe that the photos of your epic day are one of the most important elements of your wedding day. This is how you are going to remember how it all felt. Since Elopements are so intimate, you really should choose someone that you trust + genuinely connect with! Get in touch, here! I would be more than honored to be your New Hampshire Elopement Photographer. Along with photography, I also assist with location scouting, timeline creation, + provide helpful info like a packing list!

New Hampshire Elopement Officiant 

There are a few options here, depending on the direction you want to go! If you want to have someone lead the ceremony you can hire an officiant (I have some great recommendations) or have one of your friends or family members assist with this! They can get ordained online easily, just head here to apply. I am also ordained and can act as an “officiant” for couples that want to have a vow ceremony together and I just make sure the paperwork is filled out and signed correctly!

New Hampshire Florist 

Totally not necessary, but I am an absolute sucker for a gorgeous bouquet. It’s a great prop and adds in a bit of color against your dress. This is also a great way to include some of your style and personality! I have a list of florist recommendations that I send to my couples based on location, and I also recommend looking into ETSY for more dried floral options.  

New Hampshire Elopement Hair and Makeup 

Once again, definitely not necessary (I did my own hair and makeup for my wedding!) but there is something special about being pampered and feeling your absolute best on your elopement day. If you choose to go this route just make sure you find someone that is freelance so they can come to you and keep the vibes super low-key like you are wanting.

Elopement Attire and Details

This is where you get to have some fun. Go crazy or keep it traditional! Like the rest of your amazing elopement experience, this is totally up to you. Pick something that you will feel beautiful, comfortable, and confident in and I will take those bomb photos of you in it. One thing I want to add, is to keep all your day of activities in mind. Hiking boots, rain jackets, or spikes could possibly be part of your day of wardrobe and I’m so here for it. 

How to get your marriage license in New Hampshire

To get a marriage license, you can head to any New Hampshire Town Clerk Monday-Friday. Bring the following things with you when you go:

• Full name 
• Date of Birth
• State of Birth
• A document that proves all of these things (driver’s license, non-drivers ID or passport)
• Current address
• Years of education
• Record of the date last marriage ended (if applicable)
• Father + Mothers full name and state of birth
• 50.00 fee by credit or cash 

Once issued, you have 90 days to do the damn thing! Find more information on your NH Wedding License here!

Want to save this blog for later? Hover over the image below and press “save” to your destination elopement boards. See more of my New Hampshire elopements on my Pinterest!