The Best Places to Elope in Fall

Are you and your partner dreaming of a moody fall elopement with gorgeous fall colors, but you can’t decide where to elope?! Trust me when I say there’s LOTS of places to choose from, but here’s a list of the best places to elope in the fall!

SPOILER ALERT: Some of these places may surprise you when it comes to the best places to elope in fall! (HINT: There’s lots of Midwest love in here)

THE BEST PLACES TO ELOPE IN FALL

1. Minnesota
2. Montana
3. Michigan
4. Wisconsin
5. Virginia
6. Alaska
7. Utah
8. Vermont
9. Colorado
10. Italy
11. Iceland

MINNESOTA

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Early to Mid October

Alright, I might be slightly biased, but I truly believe Minnesota has some of the best fall colors you can experience!! The crisp fall air, the warm coffee in the morning, I mean… say less right?!

P.S. I’ve been an elopement photographer for 4+ years now and have photographed 30+ elopements since! And Minnesota is where I photograph elopements the most! It’s truly such an underrated area for eloping in the states.

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN MINNESOTA

• North Shore
• Ely
• Taylor’s Falls

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME MINNESOTA FALL ELOPEMENTS I’VE PHOTOGRAPHED:

• Tofte MN Elopement with Kayla & Bennett
• Lake Superior North Shore elopement with Chris + Tyla
• Silver Bay MN Elopement at Palisade Head & Black Beach with Stephanie & Reid

CURIOUS ABOUT ELOPING IN MINNESOTA??!

• Check out my guide on How to Elope in Minnesota!
• Take a look at the best places to elope in Minnesota!

MONTANA

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Late September to Early November

When you think of Montana, you probably think of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park… right?! But maybe you don’t quite envision the beautiful fall foliage there, but it would be perfect for your fall elopement.

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN MONTANA

• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Bitterroot Valley

MICHIGAN

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Late September to Late October

Did you forget that Michigan existed?! Okay, again, I might be a little bias, but these Midwest hidden gems have some gorgeous fall colors, and you even have FOUR Great Lakes to choose from!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN MICHIGAN

• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
• Porcupine Mountains
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

WISCONSIN

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Late September to Mid October

Alright, I might be slightly biased, but I truly believe Minnesota has some of the best fall colors you can experience!!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN WISCONSIN

• Madeline Island
• Pattison State Park
• Door County

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME WISCONSIN ELOPEMENTS I’VE PHOTOGRAPHED:

• Pattison State Park Elopement near Superior Wisconsin with Lexy and Kaine
• Madeline Island Elopement with Chantel & Alex

CURIOUS ABOUT ELOPING IN WISCONSIN??!

• Check out my guide on How to Elope in Wisconsin
• Take a look at the best places to elope in Wisconsin!

North Carolina

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Mid September to Late October

Another hidden gem for fall colors – North Carolina!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN NORTH CAROLINA

• Mount Mitchell State Park
• Blue Ridge Mountains

Virginia

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Mid September to Late October

Another hidden gem for fall colors – Virginia!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN VIRGINIA

• Shenandoah National Park
• Blue Ridge Mountains

ALASKA

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Mid August to Mid September

Looking for fall colors, mountains, glaciers, and the whole thing?! You might want to consider Alaska! There’s no shortage of beauty here, and is perfect for the outdoorsy adventurers.

FUN FACT: Did you know I actually used to live in Alaska for two years?! It’s true! My family lived in Anchorage and the Wasilla area quite a few years ago.

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN ALASKA

• Denali National Park
• Hatcher Pass

UTAH

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Early to Mid October

The first time I visited Utah, it was in October of 2019 and the fall colors were had me in awe!! I adore Utah during all the seasons, but fall might just be my absolute favorite.

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN UTAH

• Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Capitol Reef National Park

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME UTH ELOPEMENTS I’VE PHOTOGRAPHED:

• Capitol Reef National Park Elopement with Anna & Richard
• Bonneville Salt Flats Elopement with Joey & Gage

VERMONT

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Late September to Mid October (depending on location)

Alright, I might be slightly biased, but I truly believe Minnesota has some of the best fall colors you can experience!!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN VERMONT

• Smugglers’ Notch State Park
• Quechee State Park

COLORADO

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Mid to Late September (depending on location)

Colorado might be one of the more popular and iconic locations for fall colors, but it never fails to be beautiful! The dramatic mountainscapes paired with the bold fall leaves is one for the books!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN COLORADO

• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Estes Park
• Maroon Bells

ITALY

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Late September to Mid October (depending on location)

Alright, I might be slightly biased, but I truly believe Minnesota has some of the best fall colors you can experience!!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN ITALY

• Italian Dolomites
• Forest of Bagni Masino

CURIOUS ABOUT ELOPING IN ITALY??!

• Check out my guide on How to Elope in Italy!

ICELAND

• When to Elope for Fall Colors: Mid September to Mid October (depending on location)

When you think of Iceland, the first thing you probably think of is waterfalls and greenery… fall colors probably don’t even come to mind!! But trust me, Iceland has a BEAUTIFUL fall season!

THE BEST PLACES FOR FALL COLORS IN ICELAND

• Þingvellir National Park
• Vatnajökull National Park

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WHY ELOPE IN FALL?

Are you and your partner currently trying to decide when to elope, and you’re thinking Fall might be the perfect season for you? Here are some reasons why you should elope in the fall, just to help solidify your idea 😉

REASONS TO ELOPE IN THE FALL

• Cooler temperatures and less humidity (The crisp air just hits different for your fall elopement)
• Beautiful fall colors on the trees make for epic backdrops for your elopement! (And so romantic)
• Moody vibes for the moody & romantic couples

FALL ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES

When planning your fall elopement, you probably want to include some fall activities! Having an intimate wedding or elopement really gives you the space to get creative and include activities that speak to your hearts. There’s SO many activities you can choose to include on your big day.

• Hiking
• Hammocking
• Have a bonfire with s’mores
• Stargazing
• Canoeing
• Paddle-boarding
• Kayaking
• Apple picking
• Watch the sunrise
• Carve pumpkins
• Camping

FALL ELOPEMENT INSPIRATION

Are you looking for some more inspiration for your fall elopement? Check out some of these fall elopement and intimate wedding galleries below!

FALL ELOPEMENT & INTIMATE WEDDING INSPO

• Duluth MN Fall Elopement with Miranda & Duncan
• Lyndale Park Elopement in Minneapolis MN with Abby & Chris
• Moody Halloween Elopement on Black Beach in MN

FALL ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

Are you feeling inspired to elope in the Midwest after looking through some of the best locations to elope at… but maybe feeling overwhelmed with planning?? As a local Midwest elopement photographer, I’m here to help you plan the elopement of your wildest dreams AND documenting the art of your day and your love.