Your Step-by-Step Guide to Elope in Upstate New York

New York’s rolling mountains create a beautiful backdrop for weddings. It doesn’t get much better than sparkling lakes and unobstructed views of the Catskills. If you want an intimate wedding in one of the most stunning destinations in the nation, check out this How to Elope in Upstate New York guide. My insider tips make it easy to plan an elopement that feels right for your love story.

Discuss Your Guest List First

Eloping doesn’t have a singular definition. It’s what makes the small wedding option so appealing. You can have the quick ceremony with a witness and a court hall officiant, but you can also invite your closest family or friends.

Talk about what you and your fiance picture when you imagine eloping. While the average wedding features around 115 guests, your big day might feel most special with just you two, your best friends, or immediate family. If you don’t want anyone arriving until your celebratory dinner, that’s something to discuss too.

Keep in mind, New York law requires one witness and an officiant to legalize a marriage.

Compare Your Preferences

Invite your partner on a dinner date to set the mood for a conversation about elopement plans. It’s important to discuss the general details so your big day incorporates both of your dreams. Talk about things like:

If you want to write your own vows
If you’re going to hire professionals to help with your ceremony or celebration party
What time of day you want to get married
Which date you want for your wedding day

I love suggesting a date night for this conversation because it can feel like daydreaming. Imagine having an upstate New York elopement with a backdrop of gorgeous fall foliage, sparkling snow flurries, the first spring blooms, or summer’s bright sunshine. Take notes on what you both want so you always have a reference point for future planning decisions.

Prepare for Your Paperwork

Even the most intimate elopements can’t escape the reality of wedding paperwork. It’s not the most romantic part of getting married, but don’t worry — it doesn’t take very long. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

You and your partner must both appear in person to apply for your marriage license at any city or town clerk’s office in New York.
You’ll both need to bring one of the 12 forms of identification paperwork (which includes birth certificates, passports, and driver’s licenses) to verify your ages.
If you or your fiance were previously married, you must present paperwork verifying your divorce, dissolution of marriage, or your previous partner’s passing.
You’ll have to pay the $40 fee to file your license application.

Very important: after filing, the last step is waiting 24 hours to elope. If you’re filing ahead of time, your license will last for 60 days (or 180 days if you or your fiance are an active service member). Just make sure to elope within those time frames or you’ll have to reapply.

Browse Potential Venues or Locations

The backdrop of your elopement sets the tone for your big day. It also creates the vibe for pictures you and your partner will cherish forever. As you plan your Upstate Elopement, I highly recommend locations like:

The Hudson Valley: Intimate weddings always look stunning in the Hudson Valley’s historic hills. Check out places like Poets Walk Park to host an elopement in a destination that will take your breath away.
River Towns or Small Downtowns within the Hudson Valley: River Towns like Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Cold Spring or Dobbs Ferry or quaint towns like Kerhonkson, Woodstock, Hudson, Kingston, or New Paltz give you an opportunity to to give guests and yourselves more to do before and after your elopement. A lot of these places have incredible restaurants, access to pristine nature, breweries, wine shops, music venues, and more.
The Finger Lakes Region: Lakefront elopements are some of the most peaceful. Whether you want a secret ceremony at Watkins Glen State Park or a wintery celebration, upstate New York has it all.
The Adirondack Mountains: Decorate a cabin with string lights and candles to get married in a place that doubles as the ultimate honeymoon. Elopements happen at the Lake Placid Lodge and the tucked inside a lush forest, but there are many other potential elopement venues to choose from.

The best way to choose a venue or location is by considering your budget. How much did you plan to spend on your elopement as a whole? Discuss how much you want to splurge with your fiance. You can always find an option that works with your budget, like a local city hall or public park.

Meet With Industry Experts

Traditional weddings often feature vendors who take the stress off your shoulders. While you might not need any if your elopement is just a few people and an officiant, tiny weddings and elopements can still benefit from some extra help. Talk with your partner about whether you want to work with vendors like:

A photographer
A hair or makeup stylist
A DJ
A caterer or restaurant
A florist

Think about what will make your day feel extra special. If you’d love an album full of timeless photos you’ll want to hang around your home, reach out to me. I’ve worked with enough eloping couples to know how to capture every shot within whatever timeframe is best for you.

Handle Your Upstate New York Wedding Planning Like a Pro

If a sweet, private wedding ceremony sounds like the perfect start to your marriage, use these steps to plan your big day. Once you know how to elope in upstate New York, you’ll never consider any other destination. Let’s set up a call if you want an expert to photograph your wedding. You and your fiance can focus on enjoying every moment and relive it all with an album full of memories delivered to your inbox.

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