Eloping In New Hampshire: Everything You Need To Know

Thinking of eloping in the beautiful state of New Hampshire? If you are looking for a location with mountains, lakes, rivers, and quaint small towns, New Hampshire is the place for you! The state is home to over 1300 different lakes and ponds and it is famous for it’s Fall foliage.

Eloping in New Hampshire

Eloping in New Hampshire is actually quite simple! There are just a few things you should be thinking about as you are in the beginning stages of planning. Great questions to ask are what are the legal requirements, where are the best places to elope in NH, what should I look for when choosing a photographer?

Legal Requirements to Elope in New Hampshire

Is a marriage license needed?

  • A marriage license is needed from the State of New Hampshire. You can acquire this by visiting any town or city clerk’s office with both you and your partner. Residency in the State of New Hampshire is not required to obtain a marriage license. This process takes about 30 minutes to complete in person.

  • Make sure to bring a valid government issued ID and a certified copy of your Birth Certificate.

Is there a waiting period for use of the license after it is obtained?

  • There is no waiting period to use the marriage license in the State of New Hampshire. You can use the license as soon as you receive it.

Is there a Fee for the marriage license?

  • There is a $50 fee to obtain the marriage license and this is payable by check, cash or credit card.

How long is the license valid for?

  • From the day you receive the marriage license, you have 90 days to use it!

Who can officiate the marriage?

  • Any of the following representatives are legally able to officiate your elopement; a Justice of the Peace, a Minister, or even a close friend or family member (they can use a one time license through the Universal Life Church to do so).

Is there a location permit needed to elope in New Hampshire?

  • The location and group size will determine if your ceremony requires a permit. Specific areas throughout the state have different requirements for this. If we work together, I ensure to provide all relevant information surrounding this process if the area requires it.

 
 

Best locations to elope in New Hampshire

White Mountain National Forest (Aesthetic: Panoramic mountain views, alpine lakes & dreamy forest vibes)

  1. Franconia Notch State Park

  2. Mount Willard

  3. Kancamagus Highway Overlooks

  4. Loon Mountain

  5. Waterville Valley

North Conway, NH (Aesthetic: Cozy/Historic New England Town, lakes, woodland & mountain views)

  1. Echo Lake Park

  2. Cathedral Ledge

Portsmouth, NH (Aesthetic: Cozy/Historic New England Town, Oceanfront)

  1. Prescott Park

  2. Strawberry Banke

  3. Little Harbor Chapel

  4. New Castle

Odiorne Point State Park, NH (Aesthetic: Oceanfront, Woodland)

  1. Frostpoint Loop

  2. Monument Way

New Hampshire Elopement Photographer

 

If you are looking for a creative, passionate and professional New Hampshire based elopement photographer with an easy to vibe with personality, then I’m your guy! I’m here to make your big day something to remember for a lifetime. Having your elopement in New Hampshire? I am here to bring your vision to life. 

I have been a professional wedding photographer for over 5 years now and truly enjoy what I do. Not only can I provide beautiful photos you will cherish forever. I can also assist you with location scouting, timeline development, vendor referrals, provide permit information and fun experience on your big day!

Over the years I have met so many amazing couples and I am so excited to get to know you! I am here to document and plan the best wedding day experience, so you can look back and relive these memories forever. 

When I’m not taking photos, I am probably spending time with my wife and dog, reading a good book or painting! 

 
 
 

Eloping In New Hampshire Wedding Day | Kinley & Alex

I had the honor of being Kinley & Alex’s elopement photographer for their wedding in North Conway, NH in the Fall. Kinley & Alex had contacted me with the vision of eloping in New Hampshire with an intimate and adventurous itinerary with a small touch of a Lord of the Rings theme. We were a fit from the beginning as Lord of the Rings is my favorite movie of all time haha!

Getting Ready & First Look at the AirBnb

Kinley & Alex reserved an AirBnb on the outskirts of North Conway, NH for their elopement in New Hampshire. This is where we started our day with detail photos, getting ready and a first look! The AirBnb was a cabin setup on a hillside overlooking the Mount Washington Valley. It was tucked into acreage of forrest and was the perfect place to begin the day. With Kinley & Alex, they had brought a small group of their closest friends with them to celebrate.

Getting ready photos are so much fun to capture as you can really feel the excited energy in the air for the ceremony to come. Kinley, Alex and myself had come up with some fun ideas to incorporate with the getting ready moments to bring elements to the photos that were creative and goofy (You can see these below)!

The first look was a very special moment for the two of them. I had positioned Alex to be standing out on the deck of the cabin facing towards the vast mountain landscape. Kinley walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder and when he spun around to see her, his face glowed with love. They spent a few minutes together here and then we brought their friends out to join them and take some fun photos on the deck.

 
 

New Hampshire Elopement Ceremony

Kinley & Alex’s elopement ceremony took place on Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, NH. This spot offered everything they were looking for; Woodland vibes, mountain views and an intimate space. Cathedral Ledge is very close to downtown North Conway, only about a 10 minute drive away! Kinley & Alex were officiated by Alex’s best friend, which made the moment even that much more special. The ceremony lasted for about 15 minutes and included beautiful vow readings from each of them that had me feeling emotional to.

After the ceremony we adventured to Echo Lake State Park as well as Diana’s Bath for group and couple portraits. In one part of the portrait adventure, there was a streak of sunlight coming in from the canopy above in the forest we were walking through and this provided AMAZING light to use for some creative portraits. Check them out below!

New Hampshire Elopement Photos

Alex Iby