6 Gorgeous Places to Elope in Massachusetts
Although Massachusetts is known for the beautiful city of Boston, it has so much more than that! It offers beautiful places to elope with ocean views, rocky cliffs, foliage views, city skylines, and waterfalls.
You can elope in the city surrounded by beautiful buildings, along the coast on one of the best beaches in the Northeast, or in the woods with stunning mountain views. No matter where you want to elope, Massachusetts has a place for you!
If you want to elope in Massachusetts, you are in the right place! This guide is going to review everything you need, including the weather in each season, how to avoid crowds, and the best places to elope in Massachusetts.
Tips for Eloping in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is an incredible New England state, offering beaches, city skylines, waterfalls, and mountains. There are over 80 lake and ocean beaches and over 150 state park properties, offering so many different places to have a Massachusetts elopement. No matter what you are looking for, Massachusetts will have a place to elope for you!
How to Elope in Massachusetts
It’s relatively easy to elope in Massachusetts. Here are steps you can follow:
Find an elopement photographer you connect with and can help you plan your day. You can set up a FREE call to learn how I can help be a part of your day!
I will provide a customized location list if you aren’t sure where you want to elope, personalized vendor recommendations, activity ideas, custom-made timelines, and any other details you need to make your elopement incredible!
Apply for a Massachusetts marriage license up to 60 days before your Massachusetts elopement. You and your partner can go to any City or Town Clerk in Massachusetts with identification documents and payment for the fee to get your marriage license. Massachusetts has a 3-day waiting period before you can pick up your marriage license, so make sure to give yourself enough time to get it before your wedding day!
Apply for any permits you need for your location. Don’t worry! I can help you figure that out, too!
When it’s time for your elopement, I will be there to capture every beautiful moment!
Celebrate eloping in Massachusetts and marrying your love!!!
Best Seasons for a Massachusetts Elopement
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons to explore Massachusetts because the weather is cool with low humidity, and the foliage paints beautiful colors over the landscape. Beaches are less crowded in the fall, which is perfect if you want to elope near the ocean. The beautiful fall foliage brings a lot of tourism to Massachusetts, especially on weekends. It won’t have as much tourism as some of the other New England states, but it can still be busy, so I recommend choosing a weekday if you can or eloping during sunrise or sunset.
Winter in Massachusetts is magical! Although it is cold, the snow makes everything so beautiful. You can ice skate, ski, or just enjoy the beautiful winter wonderland on your elopement day. Because Massachusetts can be very cold in the winter, I highly recommend packing layers if your elopement will be outdoors. Perfect additions to a wedding dress are a thick shawl or faux fur jacket. Both will look beautiful in photos and help keep you warm.
Spring brings beautiful wildflowers to Massachusetts once everything begins to bloom. The smells, views, and weather are incredible, so you cannot go wrong with having a spring elopement. Winter in Massachusetts can sometimes linger into April, so I always recommend keeping an eye on the weather and packing layers.
Summer is a beautiful season to have because of the warm weather. You can rent a boat, watch the sunset on the beach, or take stroll through Boston while enjoying some of the longest days of the year. The opportunities are endless for a summer elopement! Summers in Massachusetts can get very hot and humid, so I recommend eloping during sunrise or sunset to have the best weather.
Best Places to Elope in Massachusetts
Plum Island
Plum Island is a beautiful 11-mile barrier island on the Massachusetts coast that offers ocean views, sand dunes, and trails, making it a gorgeous place to elope year-round. In the warmer months, the beach offers beautiful waters for swimming, boating, or kayaking. In the colder months, the beach becomes lined with snow and deserted of most people.
Plum Island has stunning boardwalks and trails through the sand dunes leading to the beach and a small but beautiful lighthouse. If you want to elope by the ocean, Plum Island is the perfect spot!
Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful island off the Cape Cod coast and is home to lighthouses, beaches, and cliffs. It is one of the most quaint and scenic places by the ocean in Massachusetts.
Although Martha’s Vineyard is a small island, it offers so many incredible areas to elope. It has beautiful beaches and a wildlife refuge open year-round with incredible ocean views. If you are looking for something other than a beach, Aquinnah Cliffs are colorful clay cliffs and is one of the most beautiful spots in Martha’s Vineyard. Other than beautiful beaches, ocean views, and cliffs, Martha’s Vineyard has five lighthouses and many trails around the island!
Nantucket
Nantucket is another beautiful island off the coast of Cape Cod, and although it is smaller than Martha’s Vineyard, it does not lack views or beautiful places, including some of the most beautiful beaches in New England!
If you are looking for nothing but ocean views and beautiful beaches, Nantucket is one of the best places to elope in Massachusetts! Madaket Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Nantucket and offers a fun experience because you need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get there. It is one of the best places to see the sunset in Massachusetts.
Boston
Are you looking to elope in one of the most beautiful cities in New England? Boston has so many beautiful places, with my favorites being Seaport, Boston Public Garden, and Boston Common.
Seaport has stunning views of Boston’s skyline and beautiful ocean views, and you could spend the day enjoying a drink by the water or exploring the city by boat. The Boston Public Garden and Boston Common are near the center of the city, offering wildflowers and Swan Boat rides in the summer and ice skating on Frog Pond in the winter. They also have beautiful trails throughout with stunning views of Boston’s skyline.
The Berkshires
Did you know Massachusetts has mountains and waterfalls? The Berkshires are in the western section of Massachusetts and are home to the tallest waterfalls and mountains in Massachusetts. It is also known to have some of the best fall foliage spots in the state!
One of my favorite places for an elopement is Mount Greylock. It is the tallest mountain in Massachusetts, standing at 3,491 feet tall, and is accessible from an auto road or hiking trails. Another beautiful spot in the Berkshires is Bash Bish Falls, the highest single-drop waterfall in Massachusetts! It also only requires an easy 1.5-mile roundtrip hike.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is located on the arm of Massachusetts and is a beautiful place to elope because of its beautiful beaches, lighthouses, and cute towns spread throughout the peninsula.
Cape Cod is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in New England, so if you want a beach elopement, it has endless places for you to choose from. Some of the most beautiful beaches on Cape Cod are Chatham Lighthouse Beach, Coast Guard Beach, and Mayflower Beach, although every single beach is so beautiful!
On top of enjoying beautiful ocean views, you can go boating, kayaking, whale watching, or biking on your elopement day. Cape Cod also has 14 historical and beautiful lighthouses!
There are so many beautiful places to elope in Massachusetts, and this guide only touches on a handful. I have a huge list of almost every location you can think of, so if you are ready to elope in Massachusetts, let’s do it!
Ready to plan your Massachusetts elopement?
Hi,
New Hampshire elopement & wedding photographer serving New England & beyond
My name is Alex, and I am an adventure enthusiast, travel addict, and your dream-making wedding photographer! I am a New Hampshire elopement photographer and wedding photographer but will travel well beyond New England to capture your elopement or wedding day.
I got my start in photography capturing stunning landscapes around the world but realized my true passion was capturing beautiful photos of a couple’s love. There is something about the magic of love that draws me to couples like a magnet.
Over the years, I have met so many amazing couples, and I am so excited to get to know YOU! I am here to provide you with beautiful photos of your elopement or wedding day, so you can look back and relive those memories forever!
