How to Elope on Black Beach in Minnesota

If you’re looking for a gorgeous and unique spot for your elopement or intimate wedding in Minnesota, then black beach is such a perfect location for you!! I totally understand how overwhelming it can be when you first start planning your elopement, so this guide is to help take that stress off your shoulders! This guide will give you all the information you need on how to elope on Black Beach in Minnesota, and give you some ideas on what you can do to make your day even more special up there!

This How to Elope on Black Beach in Minnesota Guide Covers:

• How to Elope on Black Beach
• When to Elope on Black Beach
• Permits & Rules for Eloping on Black Beach
• Where to Stay around Black Beach
• Where to Eat around Black Beach
• Activities For Your Black Beach Elopement
• Where to Hike near Black Beach
• Leave No Trace on Black Beach
• Black Beach Wedding Advice

LOOKING FOR AN ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER & PLANNER THAT SPENDS MULTIPLE DAYS UP ON BLACK BEACH EVERY YEAR?!

Let’s work together to create an experience that’s aligned to who you are individually and as a couple! (Psst.. I’ve photographed many elopements on black beach!!)

HOW TO ELOPE ON BLACK BEACH IN MINNESOTA

1. Dream up your ideal elopement day! What would you day look like if you planned it as an adventure first?
   
2. Book your black beach mn elopement photographer (contact me if you’re looking for a black beach mn elopement photographer that photographs on this beach numerous times a year!)
   
3. Book your other vendors (florist, videographer, caterer, baker/desserts)
   
4. Decide + plan out your elopement vision! What activities do you both want to include? Where do you want to adventure to, other than Black Beach? Are you getting ready together or separately?
   
5. Book your lodging + accommodations!
   
6. Apply for your marriage license (you can apply in any county in MN & it has to be 5 days before your ceremony. Your license is then valid for 6 months)
   
7. Decide who’s going to be your officiant and witnesses! (Minnesota requires an officiant + 2 witnesses)
   
8. Pick out and choose your wedding attire!
   
9. GET FREAKING MARRRRRRRRIED! 🥳

WHEN TO ELOPE ON BLACK BEACH

With the popularity of this beach, you’ll want to consider the timing of your elopement/intimate wedding to make sure you have the best experience! This is one of the MOST popular spots up on the north shore, so let me give you all the tips on the best times to get married here!!

• The best time of year to elope on Black Beach is June to mid October! Even by mid-October, it’s starting to get cold and windy so keep that in mind when planning your elopement on black beach. Another thing to note, this is also tourist season for the north shore, so if you’re wanting to plan your elopement around sunset, the chance of the beach being busy is quite high (especially over the weekend!)

• If you want to have the most privacy as possible, I highly recommend planning your day around sunrise and early morning during a weekday! The beach is usually very quiet in the early morning hours, but will fill up by late morning during the summer and fall.

PEAK FALL COLORS AT BLACK BEACH

The fall season up on the North Shore usually happens earlier than southern Minnesota (twin cities area). Typically, the fall color peak happens between September 21st and October 10th, but can happen earlier or later depending on the year! The fall season can be the busiest season of the year for the North Shore, so plan accordingly! Lodging books up quickly during these weeks, and parks can be chaotic! But it’s worth it for the gorgeous colors the north shore provides.

PERMITS & RULES FOR BLACK BEACH MN ELOPEMENTS & MICROWEDDINGS

When it comes to getting married on Minnesota’s black beach, you actually DON’T need any wedding permits or photography permits, as of right now (2025) — but it’s subject to change. With this, you can’t block off any portion of the beach for your ceremony and portraits, so keep that in mind when you’re planning your elopement or microwedding.

• One of the most important rules for this beach is to pack out when you bring in. Clean up any garbage you bring, along with any decor, flowers, etc. Be respectful of the beach!

WHERE TO STAY AROUND BLACK BEACH

WHERE TO EAT AROUND BLACK BEACH

ACTIVITY IDEAS FOR YOUR BLACK BEACH ELOPEMENT

WHERE TO HIKE NEAR BLACK BEACH

• Tettegouche State Park
• Palisade Head
• Cascade River State Park
• Gooseberry Falls State Park
• Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

LOOKING TO ELOPE ON BLACK BEACH IN MINNESOTA?

Are you ready to start planning your elopement experience along the gorgeous black sand of Black Beach?! Along with being a local black beach elopement photographer, I also help my couples plan their dream elopement experience. I’d love to chat with you and your partner, and help make that experience come to life while taking the stress of your shoulders!

“Sam was awesome to work with for our elopement! The planning process was easy, her suggestions and expertise were great to have, and our pictures turned out so so good! So grateful to have picked Sam to be our elopement photographer and to have such wonderful photos to look back on forever to remember our day! 🖤”

– Stephanie & Reid (Black Beach & Palisade Head)

LEAVE NO TRACE ON BLACK BEACH

Before I give you all the details on how to get married on Black Beach in MN, I want to tell you how important it is to follow the Leave No Trace principles. This beach has gained LOTS of popularity over the last few years, and if we want to continue to have the privilege of visiting this beach, we need to take care of it!

• Pack out what you bring on the beach! There’s one solo garbage can on the main part of the beach, and that’s it. Make sure you bring all of your garbage + everything else you bring back with you.
• Have a campfire SAFELY. There’s designated campfire pits, so make sure you use those when there’s no fire ban.
• Be considerate to others! This is a public beach which means that you will not be able to section off a portion of the beach for your wedding, etc. You’ll be sharing the beach with visitors, so make sure to be respectful of others!
• Leave only footprints, and take only photos.

BLACK BEACH WEDDING ADVICE

• The quietest time on the beach is around sunrise and sunset, and on the weekdays. The best light for photos also happens around this time!
  
• Pack + bring LOTS of water, especially in the summer! It can get hot.
  
• Bring your own snacks + food! Being hangry is never fun, and can damper your elopement experience.
  
• Wear appropriate shoes! The beach is more rocky than true sand, so be prepared. Always bring an extra pair of shoes or go barefoot!
  
• You don’t need a park pass for this beach.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BLACK BEACH IN MINNESOTA

CAN YOU LEGALLY GET MARRIED ON BLACK BEACH?

Yes, and yes! You can get your Minnesota marriage license from any county in the state, and as long as you have that, you can get legally married on the beach.

DO I NEED A PERMIT TO GET MARRIED ON BLACK BEACH?

As of right now, there are no permits required to have your wedding on black beach!

CAN WE BRING OUR DOG TO BLACK BEACH?

Absolutely! Black beach is dog-friendly as long as they’re leashed and you pick up after them.

CAN YOU CAMP ON BLACK BEACH?

There is no camping allowed on the beach, but there are campsites you can reserve that are away from the beach area at the Black Beach Campground.

IS THE BEACH NATURALLY BLACK?

No, it isn’t naturally formed. The black “sand” was created by the mining company dumping taconite tailings into Lake Superior.

CAN I SWIM AT BLACK BEACH?

Yes, but there is no lifeguard on duty so it’s swim at your own risk. Please be aware that the water is always freezing with strong currents!

CAN YOU RENT KAYAKS AT THE BEACH?

There are no rental options right on the beach, but you can rent some from Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte!

A REAL SMALL WEDDING ON BLACK BEACH

Are you looking for a little more inspiration or want to know what your wedding day could look like if you got married on Black Beach in Northern Minnesota? Here’s a look into Chris & Tyla’s MN small wedding where they had their ceremony with guests right on Black Beach.

ADDITIONAL MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT & SMALL WEDDING RESOURCES

HOW TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA

Are you not quite sure where you want to get married at yet, but still want to start the planning process? You might want to check out my ultimate guide on How to Elope in Minnesota!

HOW TO ELOPE ON THE MN NORTH SHORE

Do you and your partner know for sure that you want to get married on the MN North Shore and ready to start planning for it? Take a look at my guide on having a wedding on the north shore!

SMALL WEDDING VENUES IN MN

Looking for something a little different like small wedding venues in MN? Check out my complete list with all the best small wedding and microwedding venues located in Minnesota!

THE BEST AIRBNBS FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT IN MN

Okay, what about an airbnb for your Minnesota wedding? These airbnbs and vrbos in this list will definitely make you want to have an airbnb wedding!

MORE MINNESOTA SMALL WEDDINGS & ELOPEMENTS AT BLACK BEACH

STEPHANIE & REID’S MINNESOTA FALL ELOPEMENT AT PALISADE HEAD & BLACK BEACH

Friday the 13th elopement? HELL YEAHHHH! Black beach was the PERFECT place for it!

MELISSA & SETH’S TWO HARBORS MN ELOPEMENT WITH A STOP AT BLACK BEACH

Melissa and Seth had one request for their Two Harbors MN elopement: make it an adventure. So we spent 8 hours exploring some of best spots along Minnesota’s North Shore, starting with a morning hike to Caribou Falls and ending with their ceremony at Split Rock Lighthouse – with their families by their side.

HALLOWEEN ELOPEMENT INSPIRATION AT BLACK BEACH

Who says a halloween elopement can’t be badass, especially on Minnesota’s north shore?! Michelle and Riley absolutely knocked it out of the park!

MIRANDA & DUNCAN’S PRIVATE ELOPEMENT

Miranda and Duncan traveled from North Dakota to get married along the north shore, and it was beyond beautiful. Are you ready to get a sneak peek into their Duluth MN Elopement?!

KAYLEIGH & GAGE’S BLACK BEACH MN ELOPEMENT

A simple, short, and sweet elopement with the couple’s closest family and friends on black beach.