You may have decided that you’re going to elope instead of holding a traditional wedding ceremony. Which is great news! An elopement offers you the chance to have a stripped-back ceremony, without the hassle of a huge guest list and worries about conforming to outdated traditions.

Once you’ve made the decision to elope, there’s a huge question now left: where should we go? Most of the elopements that I photograph involve travel: the couple can choose an epic location, without feeling like they’re tied to a specific church, hotel, courthouse or other venue. They can go on a hike, stroll on the beach, climb a mountain, ride a boat…whatever they like!

With this freedom comes a great deal of choice, which is both a blessing and a curse. How do you choose a location when you could literally go anywhere? I’ve previously given some help for choosing an elopement location, which offers some tips to help get you started.

Some standard elopement destinations include: Florida, Nevada and Colorado for various reasons. But I got thinking recently: where are the less obvious elopement locations that people are choosing? Which states are the unsung heroes of elopements? And which states aren’t attracting many couples?

To find out, we’ve taken data from Google to look at how many people are searching for elopements in certain states. We’ve cross referenced this with the number of marriage licenses issued in a state per 1,000 residents to estimate which states are popular for elopements.

Some of the findings will be kind of obvious. Nevada and Hawaii are the most popular states, taking into account the number of Google searches and the marriage rate. However, there will be some surprises as well.

Here are our findings:

Most Popular Overall – Nevada

This one will come as no surprise. Nevada, home to Las Vegas, is the elopement capital of the world. Every year, thousands of people flock from around the USA and further to tie the knot, whether that’s by an Elvis, in a chapel or in one of the many hidden gems that are on offer.

Nevada laid the foundations for its elopement popularity back in the early 1900s, when they waived the requirement for a blood tests and abolished waiting periods for marriage licenses. This was at a time when most other US states still had these in place, so Nevada became a popular destination for a quickie wedding.

And with very little rainfall throughout the year, you can almost guarantee a dry day for your ceremony, no matter what season you choose to elope.

Learn how to get a marriage license in Nevada

Easiest Place to Elope – Colorado

Colorado’s place as a top elopement destination is largely thanks to its self-solemnization rules. Put simply, it is one of very few places where a couple can marry themselves, and sign their own marriage license, without the need for any third parties such as an officiant or witnesses.

For those couples seeking the most stripped back of ceremonies, focusing on just the two of you with no other distractions, then Colorado is the place for you.

Colorado is the third most searched state for elopements, and makes the top 10 sates for marriage licenses issued compared to its population, showing its popularity for adventurous eloping couples.

Learn how to get a marriage license in Colorado

Surprise Popular Location – Montana

Montana may not be the first place you think of for elopements, but it’s a state with plenty to offer couples who are looking to do things their own way.

Montana ranks in third place for marriage rates: with 9.9 marriage licenses issued per 1,000 residents. As a sparsely populated state, it requires fewer elopements there to increase that rate. But is that actually what’s happening?

Google search data would suggest so. With just over 1,000 searches per month related to eloping in Montana it ranks in 14th place, massively outperforming its status as the 8th smallest state by population.

So what is it about Montana that makes it so popular for eloping couples? Perhaps it’s that sparse population. If you want to avoid crowds and have a focus on just the two of you, Montana would be a great choice.

It also enjoys seasons. You could get married on crisp snow during the winter, on a beautiful sunny day in the summer, or amongst vibrant fall colors.

Learn how to get a marriage license in Montana

Hidden Gem – Mississippi

Despite its close proximity to Florida, one of the most popular elopement destinations, Mississippi is low on the list of Google searches for elopements, with just an estimated 50 searches per month.

It also comes in at number 30 when ranked for marriage rates per 1,000 residents, not far at all from its position of 35th most populated state. So it’s not attracting an awful lot of elopements, which makes it my choice for hidden gem.

Mississippi has a lot to offer eloping couples. With access to the Gulf Coast, it’s perfect for beach elopements, without the crowds you might get in other states. There’s also the Mississippi River, offering beautiful scenery and the opportunity to have a ceremony on a river boat.

If you’re looking to do something different, and let’s be honest most couples who elope are, then you should definitely consider Mississippi.

Learn how to get a marriage license in Mississippi

Popular, But Less-Obvious Choice – Tennessee

Tennessee may be more famous for music and bourbon than elopements, but that may not be for long according to our research.

With over 3,500 searches made in the USA for elopements in Tennessee, it ranks as number two behind Nevada. This may come as some surprise, considering more obvious locations like Hawaii and Florida don’t go over 3,500.

With a marriage rate of 7.3 per 1,000 residents it’s also in 12th place, although there’s very little separating position 7-15.

So what is it about Tennessee that attracts eloping couples? It’s known as a place to have a great time. The couples I’ve photographed on elopements have been on the more fun-loving side, so kicking back with a whiskey, listening to some country music and dancing the night away would be right up their street.

It’s also super easy to hold your ceremony in Tennessee. There’s no waiting period to marry once you have your marriage license, and although you’ll need an officiant to solemnize the marriage, you don’t require any witnesses.

Learn how to get a marriage license in Tennessee

Summary

Hopefully you’ve found a little bit of inspiration from our research, which you can use to plan your own elopement. Understanding which locations people are searching for, and getting married in, will help you find popular places to hold your own ceremony. Alternatively, you may want to avoid them and go with somewhere that fewer couples choose – making something truly your own experience.

If you need any further help, you can contact me. With over a decade of experience as a professional, full-time elopement photographer, I can help you with planning your ceremony, understanding how to get a marriage license in your location, as well as helping select any additional vendors you might need.