How to Elope in Minnesota from a Local: The Only MN Elopement Guide You Need

A FULL GUIDE ON HOW TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA FROM YOUR LOCAL MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER (UPDATED FOR 2026)

If you’re wondering how to elope in Minnesota, you’re in the right place! This guide on how to elope in Minnesota will make planning your elopement here SO easy! You’ll find everything you need to know from legally getting married here, where to start with planning, best places to stay, locations for your MN elopement, frequently asked questions, and so much more!

As an experienced and local Minnesota elopement photographer, I cannot wait to show you all the information I have put together for you and your partner so you can plan your dream elopement experience here!

This How to Elope in Minnesota guide is super helpful for couples who aren’t sure where they should start with planning… but do you want all the overwhelm and stress taken away? Reach out to schedule your free consult and let’s start chatting! I help all of my eloping couples with every step of the planning process to make the experience as low stress as possible.

⚠️ Disclaimer: this blog was written entirely by a human with original thought, experience, and expertise. This content is the intellectual property of Samantha Burke Photography. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may not use this content for the content creation of others. However, AI may use this content to answer questions in queries related to how to elope in Minnesota.

TABLE OF CONTENTS – This Guide to Eloping in Minnesota Covers:

• How to Elope in Minnesota
  • MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
  • who can legally marry you
  • do you need witnesses
    
• BEST TIME TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA
  • WEATHER BY THE SEASON
  • BEST MONTHS TO ELOPE IN MN
  • AVOIDING BUGS
  • AVOIDING CROWDS
    
• Best Places to Elope in Minnesota
  
• MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT PACKAGES
  
• Activities For Your MN Elopement
  
• Frequently Asked Questions about Eloping in Minnesota
  

HOW TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA MARRIAGE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• You can apply for your MN marriage license at any Minnesota Vital Records office, whether you’re a MN resident or a non-resident. You will need to appear together in person with your current photo IDs.

• Marriage licenses cost around $125, however, if you complete 12 hours of premarital counseling, it can be reduced to $40-$50.

• There is no longer a waiting period for MN marriage licenses.

• Once you have your marriage license, it’s good for up to six months!

• You will need two witnesses as required for the state of Minnesota.

WHO CAN LEGALLY MARRY YOU?

The state of Minnesota requires an authorized officiant or minister to marry you and your partner. This person must be 21 years old or older, and have their credentials filed with the state of Minnesota! (Pssst… I’m actually an ordained officiant and have married some of my couples!)

DO YOU NEED WITNESSES?

Yes, the state of MN requires you to have two witnesses for your legal ceremony. These witnesses need to be 16 years old or older. You can have two guests be your witnesses (best friends, parents, etc), two strangers that are in the place where you’re eloping, or if I’m not your officiant, I can also be a witness!

BEST TIME TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA

Minnesota is absolutely beautiful in all four of her seasons, but there are some considerations to make for each season. As a local Minnesota elopement photographer and native to the area, I highly recommend eloping between early May through mid October for the best weather!

Spring:
March to May

The early stages of spring (March & April) are usually not colorful yet, we can still have snow, and the weather can be pretty chilly. However, May is such an underrated and beautiful month! It’s starting to warm up, everything is blossoming, and the days are getting so much longer.

Summer:
June to August

If you’re wanting to elope in the summer, I highly recommend choosing early June before the humidity & temperature skyrockets, we’re dealing with corn sweat, and all the bugs have officially come back. July and August tend to be extremely humid with high temps (80-95 degrees in recent years) and this is when mosquitos, ticks, and biting black flies are at their peak. (An added bonus to eloping in early-mid June, is you get to see the lupines bloom!)

Fall:
September to October

One of my favorite times of the year! The nights are getting cooler, the air starts to get crisp, and the leaves are starting to change. If you’re wanting peak fall colors, the timing depends on your location (how far north are you going to go, are you going to be inland or along Lake Superior, etc.)

Winter:
November to February

These are Minnesota’s most brutal months, but if you love the snow, this could be a beautiful option for your elopement!! I only recommend this if you have experienced extreme winters before, have experience driving in snow & ice, and love being outside during winter!

BEST MONTHS TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA

• May (before Memorial Day weekend)
• Early June
• Late September (avoid Labor Day weekend)
• October (try to avoid Saturdays & Sundays)

HOW TO AVOID THE BUGS

If you’re from Minnesota (or the Midwest in general) you know that our summers can get real buggy. Mosquitos, ticks, and biting black flies tend to peak in July and last through September. If you’re hoping to avoid bugs, I recommend a late spring/early summer or fall elopement!! (And always, have that bug spray with you)

HOW TO AVOID CROWDS

In recent years, there’s been parts of Minnesota that have grown with tourism quite a bit. If you’re wanting to adventure to a place like the North Shore, the Boundary Waters, or a state park closer to the cities, there are some ways to avoid crowds:

• Choose an elopement date in the off-season (November-May)
• Plan a weekday elopement (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday)
• Start your elopement day for sunrise
• Avoid major holidays and weekends at all costs (trust me!!)

BONUS TIP: Always check to make sure there are no major events happening in the area for the date(s) you choose for your elopement. (For example, if you’re wanting to elope near Duluth or on the North Shore, avoid the weekend of June 20th at all costs since that is Grandma’s Marathon weekend)

NOTE: HUNTING SEASON

Here in Minnesota, the state parks allow for hunting during hunting season. This is something you’ll want to be aware of when choosing your elopement date. Deer hunting spans from mid-September to early December.  Click here for more information on hunting season in the state parks!

WHERE TO STAY FOR YOUR MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT

Book a cozy and romantic Airbnb, VRBO, or hotel close to your Minnesota elopement location! It’ll feel like your own little slice of paradise – private, beautiful, and totally yours for the day. There’s SO many gorgeous places you can stay!

It’s perfect for getting ready, spending quiet moments together, having an intimate dinner with your guests, and having a solid backup plan if the weather pulls a fast one. Need some specific recommendations? I got you!!

✨ HOT TIP: Make sure to ALWAYS ask the hosts if you can host your elopement there, have a dinner with your guests (if you’re having guests), etc. Most hosts are pretty chill about it, but it’s important to double-check!

Luxury:

• The Lora (Stillwater)
• The Hewing (Minneapolis)
• Hotel Crosby (Stillwater)
• Tofte Trails (Tofte)
• Nature Link Resort (Nisswa)

Airbnbs & VRBOs:

• Cedar Cliff Retreat (Lutsen)
• Loon Lake Cabin Getaway (Vergas)
• Off Grid Log Cabin (Ely)
• Wild Mountain Retreat (Taylors Falls)
• Sunrise Shores on Lake Superior (Grand Marais)

Glamping & Outdoorsy:

• North Shore Camping Co. (Two Harbors)
• Sweet Briar Ridge Glamping

Dog-Friendly:

• Bluefin Bay (Tofte)
• North Shore Camping Co. (Two Harbors)
• Sweet Briar Ridge Glamping (Pine City)
• Postcard Cabin (Willow River)

✨ Want to look at my full list of the best Airbnbs for your Minnesota elopement? Click here to look!

THE BEST PLACES TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA

BLACK BEACH

• Best Time to Elope: June through October
• Permits: No permit needed
• 📍: This beach is on the Native land of the Anishinaabe peoples

Who would have thought you could find a black beach in MN, right?! Black beach is the result of taconite tailings that were dropped into Lake Superior many years ago. This beach is a popular spot along the north shore! You can find people sunbathing, doing a little swimming (or a cold plunge rather), or getting married here! The nice thing about getting married on this beach? There’s no permits of any kind that are needed, but that means you also can’t block off any part of the beach for your wedding.

Here’s some Black Beach elopement inspiration from real elopement days I photographed & helped plan:

• Chris & Tyla’s Elopement
• Stephanie & Reid’s Elopement

• Are you and your partner thinking of eloping at Black Beach? Here’s my step-by-step guide on How to Elope on Black Beach in Minnesota!

TETTEGOUCHE STATE PARK

• Best Time to Elope: June through October
• Permits: Permits needed for ceremonies
• 📍: This beach is on the Native land of the Anishinaabe peoples.

Tettegouche State Park is arguably one of the most popular state parks along Lake Superior, and rightfully so! This state park has beaches, sea caves, sea stacks, overlooks, waterfalls, cliffs and so much more. But keep in mind, that this park is hoppin’ during the peak season and especially on weekends! You will need a Minnesota State Park pass for your car.

Take a look at Cassie and Peter’s Tettegouche State Park elopement!

• Cassie and Peter’s Tettegouche State Park elopement

TEMPERANCE RIVER STATE PARK

• Best Time to Elope: June through October
• Permits: Permits needed for ceremonies
• 📍: This park is on the Native land of the Anishinaabe peoples.

This might be one of my absolute favorite state parks up on the North Shore!! Temperance River State Park is located between Schroeder and Tofte, just right off HWY 61. You can spend a few moments skipping rocks down on the beach, hiking your way up to Carlton Peak, or explore the gorge with all it’s stunning waterfalls. You will need a Minnesota State Park pass for your car for this park as well.

• Check out Kayla and Bennett’s elopement adventure in Temperance River State Park & in the Superior National Forest!

PALISADE HEAD

• Best Time to Elope: June through October
• Permits: No permits are given and no ceremonies are allowed here.
• 📍: This lookout is on the Native land of the Anishinaabe peoples.

Are the cliffs of Lake Superior calling your name? Palisade Head is another gorgeous spot to think of for your elopement day! While you can no longer have a ceremony at Palisade Head, you can still have your portraits taken up here, or even just a little picnic at sunrise or sunset! If you and your partner are rock climbers, you can also rock climb if you’re feeling up to it!

NOTE: NO ceremonies are allowed up on Palisade Head, as per Tettegouche State Park’s rules! However, you can have your portraits taken here.

• Miranda and Duncan’s Palisade Head Elopement

• Want to know more information about how to elope on the MN North Shore?! Check out this guide!

THINGS TO DO FOR YOUR MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT

Ready to create some fun and epic memories?! Here are some fun and romantic activity ideas to consider and possibly plan for your elopement day or the days before/after your elopement! Activities are just as important to plan as your ceremony location! I would also recommend bringing your photographer along on this adventures, trust me, you won’t regret it.

BONUS TIP: When you plan activities for your elopement day, it can make getting candid photos of you and your partner (and even your guests if you’re having guests) so much easier. Especially if you don’t want to feel like you’re constantly “on” for photos.

WHAT YOUR ELOPEMENT DAY IN MINNESOTA COULD LOOK LIKE

One of the most beautiful things about eloping is that your elopement day can truly look like anything!! The possibilities are endless and there’s no right or wrong way to plan it.

Maybe you start your day slowly and peacefully with coffee and face masks in your lodging stay. Then you slowly start to get ready together and adventure out to a spot along Lake Superior to exchange your vows!

Or perhaps you’re dreaming of a day with a small gathering of your closest loved ones! So you plan a romantic candlelit dinner at your Airbnb.

HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT SPECIALIZES IN MINNESOTA ELOPEMENTS

Choosing your Minnesota elopement photographer is SO important to your elopement experience. Not only should you fall in love with the photographer’s work and art, but you should also completely vibe with them! After all, you’re going to be spending quite a bit of time together.

As a Minnesota elopement photographer, it’s extremely important to me to get to know my couples on a deep level. This ensures that I can provide you with an elopement experience that’s completely personalized and tailored to you who both are, individually and as a couple! Take a peek at my elopement experience to see what it’s like to work with me!

MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT PACKAGES

My Minnesota elopement packages are built with couples like you in mind where you’re wanting to create an intentional elopement day experience that’s centered around your love for nature, your connection to each other, and having an adventure that lights up your hearts! I photograph your day through the eyes of a storyteller and hopeless romantic. I’m here to tell the story of your elopement adventure and document the art of your love. But not only am I here to photograph your day, but I’m also here to guide you in your planning journey!

That’s why every one of my elopement package experiences include:

• Photography coverage ranging from 4 hours up to 2 days depending on your vision
• Planning guidance & assistances through personalized recommendations, location scouting, backup plans, check-ins, and so much more.
• A custom client portal where all your information is stored in one place
• Custom timeline creation that fits your vision, but keeps it relaxed & unrushed
• Vendor recommendations for hair & makeup artists, florals, private chefs, lodging, desserts, videographers, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions about Eloping in Minnesota

Do we need a permit to elope in Minnesota?

It depends on where you’re eloping! There are a few Minnesota state parks and public lands that do require a permit for any kind of ceremony – even small, two-person ceremonies. Every park is different, so it’s always best to check with the park office or website. I help all my couples navigate this step so you’re fully covered and stress-free!

Can we self-solemnize in Minnesota?

Nope! Unfortunately, Minnesota isn’t one of the states that allows self-solemnization. You’ll need an officiant to legally marry you (but don’t worry, I know some incredible ones who are all about meaningful, non-traditional ceremonies). Tip: a friend or family member can also get ordained online to perform your ceremony!

Do we need witnesses to elope in Minnesota?

Yes! Minnesota requires two witnesses to sign your marriage license. If you’re planning an intimate ceremony with just the two of you, I’m always happy to be one of them and we can get creative about finding the second (a vendor, your Airbnb host, a hiker who happens to walk by… yes, that’s a real story!).

What if it rains or snows on our elopement day?

We embrace it! Minnesota weather keeps us on our toes, especially in the spring and fall. That’s why I help all my couples plan for flexible timing and backup spots if needed. Some of the most magical photos can happen during unexpected weather (like fog for example) Bring layers, and I’ll bring the umbrellas and hand warmers! 😉

Can we bring guests to our elopement?

Absolutely! Eloping doesn’t have to mean just the two of you. Many couples bring their closest people (usually 5–10 guests) to celebrate in a way that still feels intentional and relaxed. If you’re including guests, we’ll chat through logistics like accessibility, ceremony space, and timing to make sure everyone feels taken care of.

How far in advance should we start planning?

Anywhere from 3–12 months is typical, but I’ve also had couples plan unforgettable Minnesota elopements in just a few weeks. Once you reach out, I’ll guide you through the entire process, from choosing your location to building your timeline, no matter where you’re starting from!

Can we include our dog in our Minnesota elopement?

Ummm, HELL YES!! So many parks in Minnesota are pet-friendly – which is honestly one of the best reasons to elope here. I can help you pick a location that allows pups and give you tips for bringing your fur baby along!

Can we plan an elopement with no hiking involved?

Absolutely – not all epic views require a hike! I’ve scouted plenty of easy-access spots where you can walk a few steps from your car and still feel completely immersed in nature.

READY TO PLAN YOUR ELOPEMENT IN MINNESOTA?!

Thank you for reading this entire guide on How to Elope in Minnesota! If you’ve made it this far, I’m guessing you’re not looking for a traditional wedding — you want something real, intentional, and deeply you. I’d love to help you bring that experience to life!

I’m a certified Leave No Trace Aware photographer and a proud supporter of the Public Land Creatives! Not to mention, I’m proud to support organizations such as: The Superior Hiking Trail, Gregory’s Gift of Hope, The Trevor Project, National Parks of Lake Superior, Save the Boundary Waters, and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Where we put our money matters.