How to Elope in Boston: Boston Elopement Guide
Are you looking to elope in one of the most beautiful cities in New England? Boston is an incredible place to elope, offering harbors, skyscrapers, botanical gardens, historic buildings, and over 200 parks! If you want to elope in a city in the Northeast, Boston is the perfect place! This guide reviews everything you need to know to elope in Boston, including why, when, where, and how to have a Boston elopement.
Why You Should Elope in Boston
Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in New England! If you are looking to elope in a city, Boston is perfect. It has everything from beautiful skyscrapers to beaches and gardens, making it easy to find the best elopement location! There are also so many restaurants and hotels at your fingertips to add to your elopement day! A Boston elopement is perfect for anyone looking to elope in an incredible city in the Northeast!
When to Have a Boston Elopement
Weather in Boston is unpredictable, so it is essential to have the appropriate layers and rain gear.
spring
Spring is one of the most beautiful times for a Boston elopement because everything begins to bloom. Although the snow can linger, it doesn’t stop the beautiful flowers and trees from coming back to life!
Tips for planning a spring Boston elopement: Because winter can linger into spring, we always recommend packing layers for your Boston elopement. Spring can bring a lot of rain, so it’s important to have a plan in place to stay dry or embrace the rain!
summer
Summer is one of the best times to elope in Boston because the warm weather arrives and brings long and beautiful days filled with sunshine. Summers in Boston have an incredible amount of daylight, so you can enjoy a fun-filled elopement day exploring everything Boston has to offer!
Tips for planning a summer Boston elopement: Summer is one of the busiest times in Boston, so we recommend planning your elopement near sunrise or sunset to avoid most crowds.
fall
Fall is another beautiful time to have a Boston elopement because the vibrant fall foliage takes over the city. The leaves change into beautiful reds, oranges, purples, and yellows, painting Boston beautifully!
Tips for planning a fall Boston elopement: Fall is another one of the busiest times in Boston because of the stunning fall foliage, so we recommend planning your Boston elopement during sunrise, sunset, or a weekday.
winter
If you don’t mind snow and cold weather, winter is a beautiful time to plan a Boston elopement! The weather during the winter is cold and snowy, but it creates a magical winter wonderland.
Tips for planning a winter Boston elopement: Since winters in Boston are cold and snowy, we always recommend packing layers. You can also wear a thick shawl or faux fur jacket over your dress that will keep you warm and look beautiful!
Where to Elope in Boston
This is where we come in. Not only are we Boston elopement photographers, but we are elopement guides, too! Boston is an incredible place for an elopement because you have access to a variety of different places. If you want to elope in a venue, you can choose from beautiful hotels, rooftop areas, or historic buildings. If you want to elope outdoors, Boston has gardens, parks, and beaches. Boston has an elopement location for everyone!
Here are our favorite outdoor locations and why they make incredible places to elope in Boston!
boston public garden and boston common
The iconic Boston Public Garden and Boston Common are incredible places for a Boston elopement. These beautiful areas are in the center of the city and offer something to do year-round! You can ice skate on Frog Pond in the winter or take a Swan Boat ride in the summer. The beautiful parks fill up with wildflowers in the spring and colorful foliage in the fall. No matter what time of year you want to elope in Boston, the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common are two of the best places to elope.
boston esplanade
The Boston Esplanade is a beautiful place for a Boston elopement if you want to get married along the Charles River. You can spend the day boating on the river and then saying your vows on a dock overlooking the water as the sunsets! The Boston Esplanade is in the Back Bay area of Boston, which has incredible restaurants to end your day eating some of the best food in the city.
seaport
One of the most beautiful places in Boston is Seaport. The Seaport neighborhood has everything, including stunning views of Boston’s skyline, delicious food, and beautiful buildings. If you are looking to say your vows on the water with the skyline as the background, Seaport is the best place for your Boston elopement! If you are looking to have a unique Boston elopement, you could even get married on a rooftop or cruise ship! Many of the hotels and buildings in Seaport have stunning rooftop decks that you can rent. There are also small cruise ships that you can rent for your Boston elopement! Seaport has many beautiful and unique options for places to elope!
arnold arboretum
The Arnold Arboretum is a beautiful and unique place for a Boston elopement. It is a 281-acre living museum with over 15,000 plants! The Arnold Arboretum has a beautiful collection of rhododendrons, maples, lilacs, and so many other different types of plants. If you want to say your vows surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers, the Arnold Arboretum is perfect!
fenway park
Did you know you can get married at Fenway Park?! If you are a Red Sox fan, you should consider planning your Boston elopement at Fenway Park. You can set up a time to say your vows in the beautiful and historic ballpark, and let us tell you it will be INCREDIBLE. If you are a baseball fan, we highly recommend eloping in Fenway Park!
martha's vineyard
Did you know there are beautiful islands off the coast of Massachusetts?! Martha’s Vineyard is a stunning island in Massachusetts and only a short car and ferry ride from Boston! If you are looking to escape the city for your Boston elopement, Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect place, offering lighthouses, beaches, and cliffs. Some of the best places to elope are Lucy Vincent Beach, Long Point Beach, and Aquinnah Cliffs. Once you say your vows, you can spend the day exploring the island, eating delicious food, and watching the sunset on a scenic beach or cliff.
nantucket
Nantucket is another beautiful island off the coast of Massachusetts that offers many incredible places to elope. It is smaller than Martha’s Vineyard but does not lack views. One of the best places for an elopement and to watch the sunset on Nantucket is Madaket Beach. An elopement on Nantucket is beautiful!
How to Plan a Boston Elopement
Eloping in Boston is pretty easy! All you need is to get your marriage license within 60 days of your elopement day, find an officiant, and obtain any permits necessary.
massachusetts marriage license
To elope in Boston, you will need a Massachusetts marriage license. You can apply for your marriage license at any city or town office in Massachusetts. You and your partner need to be present and bring the license fee and identification documents. After you apply for your marriage license, there is a 3-day waiting period before you can pick it up, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get it. Once you have your Massachusetts marriage license, you can officially elope in Boston up to 60 days after!
You can read more on the entire process here.
officiant
Your Boston elopement must be performed by any of the people listed here, including in-state clergy member, in-state Justice of the Peace, out-of-state clergy or Justice of the Peace, or anyone with a 1-day designation. The 1-day designation is perfect if you want a family member or friend to officiate your elopement. They can apply online anywhere from 1 week to 6 months before your elopement.
boston elopement permits
If you are eloping in an outdoor location, you will most likely need to obtain a permit. We recommend reaching out to a land or park manager to confirm what permits you need to have your Boston elopement.
Find & Hire Your Boston Elopement Vendors
It is so important to find the perfect Boston elopement vendors, even if you only want a few! We highly recommend hiring your Boston elopement photographer first so you can secure your elopement date with them. Reach out to us if you are ready to find your Boston elopement photographer! We are so passionate about documenting elopements, and we can provide customized vendor recommendations!
Fine-Tune the Details for your Boston Elopement
After you picked your elopement date, location, and vendors, it’s time to fine-tune the details for your Boston elopement! These details can include travel, accommodations, or anything else you will need before your elopement day!
Celebrate Marrying Your Best Friend in the Stunning City of Boston!
Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in the Northeast and does not have a shortage of stunning elopement locations. You will love eloping in the beautiful city of Boston with the love of your life!
Hi,
Boston elopement 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!
