10 Incredible Places to Elope: The Ultimate Destination Elopement Guide

So you’ve decided to skip the seating charts and passive-aggressive aunts and elope somewhere spectacular instead. Excellent choice. But where do you actually go? We’ve photographed over 200 elopements across Scotland and helped countless couples navigate the wild world of destination weddings. Here’s our brutally honest breakdown of ten incredible places to say “I do”—complete with the pros, cons and local experts who actually know what they’re doing.

Let’s be clear from the start: there’s no single “best” place to elope. The perfect destination depends entirely on what you want from your day. Do you dream of dramatic cliffs and moody weather? Fancy warm beaches and guaranteed sunshine? Want ancient history or raw wilderness? Each of these destinations offers something genuinely different, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise.

What we will do is give you the unvarnished truth about each location—the stuff the tourism boards conveniently forget to mention alongside those impossibly perfect sunset photos. Because nothing ruins an elopement quite like discovering your “secluded beach ceremony” shares space with 47 tour buses.

We’ve watched the elopement industry evolve dramatically over the past decade. What was once considered a hasty decision made by couples running from family drama has transformed into a deliberate, intentional choice made by people who simply want their wedding day to reflect their values. The destinations that work best for elopements aren’t always the ones you’d expect—and some of the most “romantic” locations on paper can be absolute nightmares in practice.

The key factors we’ll address for each destination include accessibility (both getting there and moving around once you arrive), legal requirements for actually getting married, weather patterns and best timing, crowd levels at popular locations, overall costs and the strength of the local vendor community. These practical considerations matter as much as the pretty pictures—possibly more.

For each destination, we’ve also tracked down photography and planning services that are actually based in that location. Not destination photographers who fly in for a premium, but people who live there, know the secret spots and can tell you exactly when to avoid the crowds. That local knowledge is worth its weight in gold when you’re planning from another continent.

1Iceland: Where the Earth Feels Alive

Iceland has become the poster child for dramatic elopements, and honestly? The hype is justified. This is a place where the landscape genuinely looks like another planet—black sand beaches, glacier-carved valleys, volcanic craters and waterfalls around every corner. The light does something magical here, particularly during the golden hours that seem to stretch on forever in summer or the ethereal blue light of winter.

What makes Iceland truly special for elopements is the sense of isolation you can achieve. Even popular locations feel intimate at the right time of day, and there are countless off-the-beaten-path spots that most photographers haven’t discovered yet. The weather is famously unpredictable, but that’s part of the appeal—those moody, dramatic skies make for photographs that look like paintings.

The midnight sun in summer means you can have a ceremony at 11pm in golden light, while winter offers the possibility of Northern Lights. Yes, actually. Imagine exchanging vows while the aurora dances overhead. It does happen, though we’d caution against planning your entire elopement around something so unpredictable.

The geological diversity within a relatively small country is staggering. You can stand on black sand at Reynisfjara in the morning, explore an ice cave in the afternoon and watch sunset from a volcanic crater by evening. The landscape changes dramatically as you drive around the Ring Road, offering completely different aesthetics within a few hours of travel.

Legal considerations are straightforward for Iceland. Most couples opt for a symbolic ceremony there and handle legal paperwork in their home country, which eliminates bureaucratic complications. The lack of permit requirements for most locations (unlike national parks in the US or archaeological sites in Greece) gives you remarkable freedom in choosing your ceremony spot.

2Italy: Romance with a Side of Carbs

Italy is the destination that needs no introduction. From the rolling hills of Tuscany to the dramatic Amalfi Coast, the ancient streets of Rome to the romantic canals of Venice—this country has been making people fall in love for millennia, and it’s very good at it.

What sets Italy apart is the combination of stunning landscapes, incredible architecture and a culture that genuinely celebrates love and life. Your elopement day doesn’t end with photos; it continues into a candlelit dinner with the best food and wine you’ve ever had. The Italians understand that romance isn’t just about the ceremony—it’s about the entire experience.

The variety is staggering. Lake Como offers that old-money glamour with its historic villas and mirror-calm waters. Tuscany provides endless cypress-lined roads and medieval hilltop villages. The Amalfi Coast delivers colourful cliffside drama and Mediterranean warmth. Venice is… well, it’s Venice. Each region feels like a different country while remaining unmistakably Italian.

There’s also a thriving luxury wedding industry here, which means you’ll find world-class vendors for everything from floristry to hair and makeup. The flip side is that popular locations can feel quite commercial, and you’ll need to plan carefully to avoid the tourist crush.

3Scotland: Wild, Moody and Absolutely Magical

Yes, we photograph elopements in Scotland. Yes, we’re including it on this list anyway. Because honestly? It deserves to be here on its own merits, not just because we happen to work here.

Scotland offers something you simply can’t find elsewhere: a combination of dramatic Highlands landscapes, ancient history and a legal system that actually makes it easy to get married. You can have a legally binding ceremony almost anywhere—on a beach, by a loch, on a mountaintop—without jumping through endless bureaucratic hoops. For couples who want their ceremony to mean something legally, this is massive.

The landscapes here are genuinely spectacular. Glencoe’s dramatic valley, the mysterious Isle of Skye, the ancient forests of the Cairngorms, the wild beaches of the Outer Hebrides—there’s a reason Hollywood keeps filming here. And yes, the weather can be challenging. But those moody skies and shifting light create photographs with an atmosphere you simply cannot manufacture.

There’s also a depth of history here that adds meaning to your day. Standing on ground where clans battled, where Jacobite hopes were crushed, where Mary Queen of Scots once walked—it connects you to something bigger than just your own story.

The legal advantages deserve emphasis. Scotland is one of the very few places where you can have a legally recognised ceremony outdoors, performed by a humanist celebrant who can craft something entirely personalised. Many countries require registry offices or religious venues—Scotland just requires that you give proper notice and have an authorised celebrant. This flexibility is genuinely unique and allows ceremonies in locations that would be impossible elsewhere.

For American couples in particular, Scotland holds additional appeal through cultural connections. Whether it’s a family heritage, an Outlander obsession (Jodie’s territory, that one) or simply an appreciation for the rugged aesthetic, there’s often an emotional pull that goes beyond just wanting nice photos. That connection makes the experience more meaningful when you’re actually standing in the places you’ve dreamed about.

4Hawaii: Paradise (If You Don’t Mind Sharing)

Hawaii occupies a unique position as technically part of the United States while feeling completely otherworldly. For American couples, this means no passport requirements combined with genuinely tropical landscapes, volcanic drama and a culture unlike anywhere else in the fifty states.

The islands offer remarkable diversity. The Big Island has active volcanoes and black sand beaches. Maui delivers the famous Road to Hana and Haleakala’s otherworldly crater. Kauai is the lush “Garden Isle” with dramatic Na Pali cliffs. Oahu combines world-famous beaches with actual city amenities. Each island has its own personality, and choosing the right one matters enormously.

The Hawaiian concept of “aloha” extends to weddings—there’s a genuine warmth and spirituality available if you embrace local traditions. Hawaiian ceremonies with traditional blessings can add real meaning beyond just a pretty backdrop. The weather is reliably warm year-round, though “tropical” also means “rain happens.”

The flip side is that Hawaii is expensive and popular. Very popular. Those stunning beaches? They’re stunning because thousands of people discovered them already. Finding true seclusion requires either very early mornings, local knowledge or venturing well off the tourist trail.

5Mexico: Colour, Culture and Cenotes

Mexico offers something no other destination on this list can match: the combination of ancient Mayan history, vibrant colonial architecture and otherworldly natural features like cenotes (those incredible freshwater sinkholes perfect for swimming and ceremony). All wrapped in a culture that genuinely knows how to celebrate.

The diversity here is staggering. The Yucatan Peninsula offers those famous cenotes, Mayan ruins and Caribbean beaches. Oaxaca delivers colonial charm, mezcal culture and some of the best food in the Western Hemisphere. San Miguel de Allende is a perfectly preserved colonial gem. The Pacific coast has its own dramatic beauty. And beyond the famous resort areas, there’s a depth of culture and warmth that rewards exploration.

Mexico is also remarkably affordable compared to other destinations. Your budget stretches significantly further here, allowing for experiences that would cost double or triple in Europe or Hawaii. The food alone is worth the trip—fresh ceviche, street tacos, mole that took three days to make.

The wedding industry here has matured significantly, with excellent vendors who understand international couples. Most offer symbolic ceremonies (legal marriage is more complex for foreigners), which suits most eloping couples perfectly—get legally married at home, celebrate properly in Mexico.

Cenotes deserve special attention because they’re genuinely unique to this region. These underground freshwater pools, formed when limestone caves collapse, create ethereal settings that look like something from a fantasy film. Some are open to the sky with roots hanging down from above; others are fully enclosed caves with crystal-clear water illuminated by shafts of light. Having a ceremony at a cenote and then swimming together in these sacred waters is an experience you simply cannot replicate anywhere else on earth.

The cultural depth available if you look beyond the resort areas is remarkable. Traditional Mayan ceremonies, local markets filled with artisans, villages where time moves differently—Mexico rewards couples who want to immerse themselves in a genuinely different culture rather than just visiting a beach that happens to have better weather than home.

6Croatia: The Mediterranean’s Best-Kept Secret

Croatia has emerged over the past decade as a serious destination wedding contender, and for good reason. The Dalmatian Coast offers everything the Italian Amalfi Coast does—dramatic cliffs, turquoise water, ancient walled cities—at a fraction of the crowds and cost. Game of Thrones fans will recognise Dubrovnik, but the country has so much more to offer.

The coastal towns here feel genuinely authentic in a way that some more famous Mediterranean destinations have lost. Stone-walled old towns, terracotta rooftops, crystal-clear water you can actually swim in, and restaurants where the seafood was caught that morning. The islands (Hvar, Vis, Korčula) each have distinct personalities and offer true seclusion when you need it.

What makes Croatia particularly appealing for elopements is the combination of accessibility and exclusivity. You can have a ceremony on a sea cliff that looks impossibly romantic, then dine at a restaurant where the owner knows everyone’s name. It’s sophisticated without being pretentious, beautiful without being overrun.

The wedding industry here has grown significantly, with photographers and planners who understand international couples while maintaining genuine local connections. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and the infrastructure is excellent for getting around.

7Canadian Rockies: Mountains on an Epic Scale

If you want mountains, the Canadian Rockies deliver on a scale that’s genuinely hard to comprehend until you’re standing there. Banff, Jasper and the surrounding wilderness offer some of the most dramatic mountain scenery on the planet—soaring peaks, impossibly turquoise lakes and wilderness that feels endless.

The lakes here have become famous for good reason. Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake—these places look photoshopped, but they’re real, and they’re even more impressive in person. The colour comes from glacial flour (finely ground rock particles), and it creates a turquoise that seems almost artificial until you’re standing beside it.

What sets the Canadian Rockies apart is the sheer scale of wilderness available. You can hike to genuine backcountry locations for your ceremony, take a helicopter to a remote alpine meadow or find relative solitude even at more accessible spots with proper timing. The infrastructure in Banff and the surrounding towns is excellent while still feeling connected to genuine wilderness.

The elopement industry here has exploded in recent years, meaning you’ll find photographers and planners who specialise specifically in adventure weddings. Many offer guided hiking elopements, helicopter packages and full planning services for couples navigating from afar.

Helicopter elopements have become increasingly popular here, and for good reason. They provide access to locations that would be impossible to reach otherwise—pristine alpine meadows, glacier viewpoints and mountain ridges with views that extend for hundreds of miles. Yes, it adds significant cost, but for couples who want truly epic and isolated locations, it opens possibilities that simply don’t exist with ground access alone.

Winter elopements in the Rockies offer a completely different aesthetic—frozen waterfalls, snow-covered peaks and a quiet that summer visitors never experience. It requires more planning and flexibility (weather can close roads without much notice), but the results can be absolutely magical for couples willing to embrace the cold.

8Greece: Ancient History Meets Island Paradise

Greece has been synonymous with romance since, well, since romance was invented. The country that gave us Aphrodite knows something about love, and the combination of ancient history, whitewashed villages and impossibly blue Aegean waters creates a setting that’s genuinely timeless.

Santorini gets most of the attention, and yes, those sunset views over the caldera are every bit as dramatic as the photos suggest. But Greece offers so much more—the lesser-known Cycladic islands (Paros, Naxos, Milos) provide similar beauty with fewer crowds. Crete has dramatic gorges and beaches. The Peloponnese offers ancient ruins without the island logistics. Even Athens pairs incredible history with a vibrant modern city.

The light in Greece is famous among photographers for good reason. There’s a quality to Aegean light that makes everything look slightly magical—whites are brighter, blues are deeper, and golden hour seems to last forever. Combined with the architectural beauty of the villages, it creates photographs that feel like they belong in galleries.

Greek food and hospitality deserve mention as well. Your elopement day can include incredible local cuisine, and the culture genuinely celebrates love and life. Just be prepared for everyone to want to feed you.

9The Maldives: Barefoot Luxury in Paradise

The Maldives exists in a category of its own. These tiny islands scattered across the Indian Ocean offer a version of paradise so perfect it almost seems artificial—overwater bungalows, powder-white sand, water so clear you can see your toes from the deck of your villa. It’s the ultimate escape.

For elopements, the Maldives offers something unique: complete isolation combined with world-class luxury. Most resorts occupy their own private islands, meaning you can have a ceremony on a beach that genuinely has no one else on it—because no one else is allowed on your island. The only footprints in the sand will be yours.

The marine life here is extraordinary. Your elopement adventures can include swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, snorkelling over coral gardens and watching bioluminescent plankton light up the water at night. It’s the kind of experience that makes everything else feel mundane by comparison.

The trade-off is cost and accessibility. The Maldives is not cheap—resorts here operate at the luxury end of the market, and everything (including photographer fees) reflects that. There’s also limited infrastructure outside the resorts, meaning you’re somewhat dependent on your resort for vendor recommendations and coordination.

10Bali, Indonesia: Spiritual Beauty on a Budget

Bali has earned its reputation as a spiritual haven, and for elopements, that energy translates into something genuinely meaningful. This is an island where rice terraces cascade down hillsides, ancient temples perch on clifftops and the local culture infuses everything with a sense of intention and blessing.

The variety here is remarkable. Ubud offers lush jungle, rice paddies and artist communities. Uluwatu has dramatic sea cliffs and ancient temples. Canggu brings beach vibes and surfer culture. The waterfalls tucked throughout the island provide magical ceremony locations. And everywhere, there’s a warmth and spirituality that makes your day feel significant beyond just the setting.

Cost is a significant advantage. Bali offers luxury experiences at a fraction of what you’d pay in Europe or the US. Your budget stretches incredibly far here, allowing for experiences that would be prohibitively expensive elsewhere—private villas, full-day coverage, additional vendors.

The elopement industry in Bali is well-developed, with photographers and planners who’ve been serving international couples for years. Many offer full planning services, which is valuable given the complexities of coordinating from overseas in a very different culture and time zone.

The Balinese concept of ceremony goes beyond Western traditions. If you’re open to it, incorporating elements of Hindu Balinese blessing can add genuine spiritual weight to your day—not as cultural appropriation, but as a respectful participation in traditions the Balinese are generally happy to share with visitors who approach them with sincerity. Many celebrants can create hybrid ceremonies that honour both your backgrounds and the sacred nature of the island.

The wellness culture here deserves mention for practical reasons. Bali is filled with world-class spas and yoga retreats, making it easy to build pre-wedding relaxation or post-ceremony pampering into your trip. After the stress of planning (even a small elopement involves coordination), having access to quality self-care at reasonable prices is genuinely valuable.

Waterfalls in Bali offer ceremony locations that feel genuinely magical—towering cascades surrounded by jungle, often with Hindu shrines nearby adding to the sacred atmosphere. Some are more developed (with entrance fees and crowds), while others require local knowledge to find but offer genuine seclusion. A good local photographer will know which waterfalls work best for ceremonies at different times of day.

A Note on Planning

Eloping somewhere spectacular requires more planning than a traditional wedding, not less. You’re navigating unfamiliar locations, time zones, vendors and logistics—often in a language that isn’t your first. The couples we’ve seen have the best experiences are those who invest in proper local guidance rather than trying to coordinate everything themselves from thousands of miles away.

That might mean hiring a planner, or it might mean working with a photographer who offers planning support as part of their service (like we do). Either way, having someone on the ground who knows the location, understands the quirks and can troubleshoot when things inevitably get complicated is worth every penny.

The vendors we’ve recommended throughout this guide all offer some level of planning support alongside their primary services. Reach out to them early in your planning process—even if you haven’t finalised your destination yet. A conversation with someone who actually lives in a place can help you decide whether it’s right for you far better than any amount of Instagram research.

Your elopement is going to be spectacular. Now go pick a destination and start making it happen.

Considering Scotland?

We’ve spent over a decade helping couples from across the world elope in Scotland. Not as photographers who occasionally visit—as people who live here, breathe this landscape and know every hidden glen worth finding.

Over 200 elopements photographed. More than 150 in Glencoe alone. We’re not just your photographers—we’re your complete elopement guides, handling everything from location scouting to supplier introductions to building your entire Scotland trip itinerary.

Local Knowledge

We lived in Glencoe. We know which spots have the best light at which times, where the crowds won’t be, and what the weather’s actually doing (not what the forecast claims).

Complete Guidance

Location scouting, timeline creation, supplier introductions, legal requirements, trip planning—we handle everything so you can focus on each other.

Zero Nonsense

No hard sells, no pressure, no generic packages. Just honest advice and photography that captures what your day actually felt like.

Scotland isn’t for everyone. The weather won’t cooperate. Your hair will be a mess. But if you want a day that feels wild and real and completely yours—we should talk.

Start Planning Your Scotland Elopement

Matt & Jodie — The Sassenachs
Scottish Highlands Elopement Photographers & Guides