Let’s be real: when couples ask “how much does it cost to elope?” what they really mean is… “Am I about to accidentally spend $30,000 and still eat Taco Bell in my dress?” Because honestly? It happens.

The good news: eloping can be super affordable OR it can be a full-on luxury adventure wedding + honeymoon combo, depending on what kind of vibe you want.

And yes bestie, I’ve seen it ALL after 500+ couples. So let’s break this down in a way that actually makes sense. If you want to kick it off with an elopement planning checklist, here ya go! 

So… How Much Does It Cost to Elope?

Here’s the honest range:

Most elopements fall between: $5,000–$20,000

But here’s the kicker…

Elopements can also be:

• $100–$500 (court marriage + dinner)
• $8,000–$12,000 (classic “we want it special but not insane”)
• $20,000–$40,000+ (destination elopement + 2-week trip + activities + luxury)

And no, none of these options are “more valid” than the other. The only wrong answer is spending money on things you don’t even care about!

How Much Does It Cost to Get Married by Court?

If you want the cheapest legal option, a courthouse wedding is the MVP.

Typical cost: $50–$200 Depending on your county and state.

You’ll usually pay for:

• Marriage license fee
• Civil ceremony fee (sometimes separate)
• Certified copies of your license

This is the best move if you want to get legally married at home, then do your “real” elopement ceremony somewhere epic later (hello, Glacier cliffs or Scottish Highlands energy)!

The BIGGEST Thing Couples Forget About Budgeting For

Just because your wedding is smaller… doesn’t mean it should be shorter. Like bestie… you deserve more than 90 minutes of photography, with rushing around trying to get all the “must have” photos in, alllll while only spending time in one place.

If you’re traveling somewhere on a bucket list, 2 days is the BEST amount of time for photography and exploring. We love packages that give you a certain amount of hours that you can use over two days, however you want to use them! You’ll want to budget for that photography time adding another $2-3k to your budget! When we’re thinking about how much does it cost to elope, it’s definitely worth comparing it to the $30k+ average that traditional wedding couples are spending.

Because you’re not investing in feeding 100 guests. You’re investing in YOU.

Real Eloping Couple Budgets (Actual Numbers)

I’m sharing these because it’s the only way you’ll really understand how wildly different elopement budgets can be.

Example 1: Fiji Elopement + 2 Week Vacation

They splurged and spent ~$20K total, but their wedding-only costs were closer to $10K.

Breakdown:

• Dress + suit: $3K
• Rings: $3K
• Photographer: $2K
• Hotel wedding package (officiant/flowers/etc): ~$2K
• Hair/makeup + extras: ~$500
• Legal paperwork: $300+

This is a perfect example of couples turning their elopement into the two week vacation they’ve always wanted.

Example 2: Arches National Park Micro Wedding

Total: $8K–$10K

Breakdown:

• Photographer/planner (8 hours): $4,300
• National Park permit: $180
• Dress + alterations: $800
• Groom attire + alterations: $700
• Flowers: $500
• Cake: $100
• Airbnb: $300
• Rental car (1 week): $900

Here’s an Arches National Park Micro Wedding of ours that featured 8 hours of photo and video coverage! 

Example 3: Botanic Garden “Sneaky” Elopement

Total: ~$8K

Breakdown:

• Photographer: $6K
• Outfits: ~$800
• Hair + makeup: $400
• Donation fee (venue): $60
• Hotel: included
• Odds and ends: yes, always

And they nailed it.

Example 4: Scottish Highlands (Two Weeks!)

Total: ~£12K

Breakdown:

• Photographer: £2,700
• Videographer: £2,150
• Florals: £600
• Hair + makeup: £450
• Suit: £400
• Gown: £2,500
• Accommodation (2 weeks): £2,000
• Alterations: £950

This is giving: cinematic, luxury, “we’re the main characters.”

If you’re interested in the UK, here’s a UK elopement where the couple spent another week exploring!

Example 5: Yosemite 11-Person Intimate Wedding

Total: $20K+ (not including attire)

Breakdown:

• Photographer: $6,000
• Lodging: $6,000
• Hair/makeup: $1,200
• Catering: $2,600
• Rings: $2,500
• Airfare: $750
• Rental car: $1,140
• NPS permit: $150
• Marriage license: $116
• Misc decor/vow books: $350

This couple basically said:
“We’re going small… but we’re going HARD.”

Respect.

Example 6: Tulum, Mexico

Breakdown:

• Beach hotel: $2,600
• Elopement setup + dinner + florals + musician: $2,500
• Photography: $1,600
• Hair + makeup: $400

Not including flights, dress, or honeymoon.

Mexico is a whole vibe! Here’s a steamy Mexico honeymoon beach sesh I’d highly recommend you repeating! 

What Makes an Elopement More Expensive?

Here’s what spikes your budget FAST:

1. Guest count

More people = more:

• dinner
• rentals
• transportation
• lodging coordination
• logistics

2. Destination + travel

Flights, hotels, ferries, island hopping… it adds up quickly. 

3. Remote locations

Want a cliffside, glacier, mountain top moment?

Love that for you (obvi), buuuuut vendors charge more when access is harder, timing is tighter and weather is unpredictable

4. Photo + video

This is usually the biggest investment and should be! Because your photos/video are the only thing that lasts beyond the day.

How much does it cost to elope in a National Park? (Quick Reference)

If you’re planning a National Park ceremony, you’ll need a permit. Keep in mind that entrance fees are separate, so don’t forget to budget that in too! Many parks also have guests limits (think 50 or fewer) and specific location restrictions. Talk with your photographer about these, as they should know all the areas you can and can’t use for ceremony sites, participant restrictions, and how to apply for the permit! They will also know which areas are more secluded or photograph best! 

These permit fees are often non-refundable. If your specified location and time are not available, the park will work with you to find a location and time that works best. 

Each link below will lead you to the special use permit website for the park! Parks often change these numbers year over year, so be sure to click the links to confirm! I hope that’s helpful!

Some examples:

• Glacier National Park: $125 
• Rocky Mountain NP: $300
• Yellowstone National Park – $300
• Yosemite National Park – $100 (plus possible monitoring fees)
• Arches National Park – $185
• Haleakalā National Park – $150
• Channel Islands National Park – $250
• Acadia National Park – $125 + $100 photography permit
• Grand Canyon National Park – $280. $70 non-refundable fee required just to be considered.
• Grand Teton National Park – $200
• Olympic National Park – $50
• Zion National Park – $100
• Joshua Tree National Park – $120
• Denali National Park – $200+
• Crater Lake National Park – $50
• Sequoia National Park – $150
• Glacier Bay National Park – $50
• North Cascades National Park – $50

Elopement Photo + Video Packages (What we Offer)

If you’re wondering where my pricing fits into the “how much does it cost to elope?” conversation, here’s the breakdown:

Montana photography packages start at $3,800 with my team of kicka** photographers! Experiences start at $6,000 for me, the Queen Bee!

USA & Mexico elopement experiences with photography start at $7,800

Photo & Video experiences start at $8,800

Europe packages start at $8,800 for photography

And yes, I travel all over the world.

Most of my packages include:

• location matchmaking
• permits guidance
• my power list of vendors
• elopement planning bootcamp
• custom timeline
• photography that feels natural + adventurous
• optional 2-day adventures

How much does it cost to elope? Well that’s completely up to you and your priorities! If you value high quality photos and video, you can definitely expect for that to be most of your budget! After 500+ couples, there’s truly nothing I haven’t seen. Reach out today to get this thing started!