Gone are the days where eloping in Boston consists of plastic flowers from the dollar store and a tacky looking altar with twinkly lights that belong in the 70s. Let’s elope in Boston in style!
Now, they can be adventure based – hiking mountains with a friend who has a one-day marriage designation to marry with the two of you. It can be revisiting favorite places that mean a lot to the two of you and sharing this experience with your favorite people.
It doesn’t have to be secret, but it doesn’t have to be overtly public either. Elopements can be anything you want it to be. Throw tradition to the wind!
I hope that this guide will help you and your person elope in Boston!
Why should you elope in Boston?
- More personal experience
- Reduce stress
- Reduce financial obligations
- Less family drama
- Avoid “center of attention” anxiety
Best Places to Elope in Boston
- Boston City Hall
- Arnold Arboretum
- Boston Common
- Fan Pier & Harborwalk
- Boston Public Garden
- Christopher Columbus Park
- Martha’s Vineyard
- Nantucket
- Museum of Science
- New England Aquarium
- Institute of Contemporary Art
- Fenway Park
- Boston Public Library
- and more Boston Wedding Venues here!
What is the best season to elope in Boston?
Spring
Months of April and May
Boston starts to become alive during the spring. Magnolias on Beacon Street in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill bloom. Slowly, the grass starts to grow back. The willow trees in the Boston Common and Boston Public Gardens start to come back to life!
However, you and your person may be battling seasonal allergies. Be sure to stock up on medication if necessary! Also, depending on the year, we may have fluke frost storms and snow, even in April. Trees may start to be green, but there may be lots of mud and dead-ish looking scenes.
During April, there’s a high chance for rain. April showers bring May flowers!
During May, you may be also be battling with the chaos of highschool and college graduations, as well as Mother’s Day and Memorial Day festivities.
Summer
Months of June, July, and August
There’s nothing more relaxing than looking at the full bloom of all flowers during the Boston summer months. I love walking through the Arnold Arboretum or several other smaller secret parks that I know of to look at all of the flowers! Being close to the water – whether the Charles River or the Atlantic Ocean, both near the city like at Fan Pier or down the Cape, (*ahem, Cape Cod), are also great locations!
Summer months are popular for tourists, families checking out colleges for their children, and locals emerging from their winter hibernation.
Busy weekends include Father’s Day and July 4th weekend. Depending on the weather, it can be unbearably humid, too.
Fall
Months of September, October, and November
This is my personal favorite season because of the stunning New England Foliage. The vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows are unmatched to any other foliage in the world! I have some secret spots of big trees that I love bringing my clients to, that aren’t on most tourist and “leaf peeping” maps.
Avoid Sept 1st, the first weekend of September, and Labor Day weekend. It marks the weekend before colleges open, so lots of students are moving in. Traffic is a nightmare.
Early to mid October is ideal for the best foliage, but I’ll be able to scout out some locations if you’re even looking later than late October. Sometimes, there are specific types of trees that will keep their colors until early November!
Halloween can be a big deal in some parts of Massachusetts – Salem specifically!
Winter
Months of December, January, February, and March
I personally love the crisp air of winter. If dressed appropriately, the cold is bearable. Think merino wool, fleece lined everything, outer layer for wind. Accessories that help include scarves, mittens/gloves, thick socks, and hand warmers!
You’ll be able to get some romantic snowy scenes with a gorgeous city skyline. The winter months are the least overrun with tourists!
6 steps to eloping in Boston
Identify your priorities and what is important
Is it imperative that you get married on the bench where you shared a long meaningful conversation on a date? How about that photographer who you’ve dreamed of hiring ever since you saw their instagram? Has it been a dream of yours to eat in there a private room in a restaurant that you’d love to celebrate in?
Identify your must-haves and craft your Boston elopement around those priorities!
Select a venue
Research possible venues that fit the experience that you’re looking for. Narrow it down to a few top choices, compare offerings, and take venue tours if necessary.
Identify several possible dates
Because it’s a smaller group, it may be ideal to have a weekday elopement to avoid the crowds. Depending on the venue, it may be less financially straining, as well. If you’re having a Boston City Hall wedding, all weddings there are performed on weekdays.
I love when couples approach us to be their Boston elopement photographer and videographer and they have several options for dates. It’s often that our teams get booked up quickly, and having a few options makes it so much more flexible.
Assemble your vendor A-Team!
Send out a handful of e-mails and make some phone calls on vendors that you’ll need! At a minimum, an officiant and a photographer. Again, this comes back to your priorities. Do you love flowers and want to collaborate on a bouquet with your favorite designer? Do you want to remember how your vows sounded and want to hire a videographer? Have you dreamed of designing a custom gown or suit?
Find an Officiant
There are plenty of officiants that you can hire or you can ask a friend/family to officiate the ceremony for you. I recommend that you have phone calls, video chats, or in-person meetings so that you can get a feel for their vibe and see if they’ll be a good fit for you two.
Send out invites (if necessary)
Will your guests be allowed to come to the ceremony? To dinner afterwards? It’s up to you! Either way, notify them and perhaps send information around timing, location, parking, what to expect, dresscode, etc.
How to get a one-day marriage designation in Massachusetts
Looking to have a friend officiate your wedding? Applying for one time officiant certificate allows a friend or family member to officiate your wedding ceremony. They will be able to be your officiant for a day and perform your marriage ceremony! Here are the easy steps on how you can marry someone in Massachusetts.
- Apply for a one-day marriage certificate via the Governor’s office up to 6 months in advance of the wedding date or up until 1 week before the wedding.
- Pay the fee. The online fee is $20.00, plus a $3.50 expedited fee. Once your request is approved, your certificate will be expedited in 5 business days.
- If they are a clergy member or authorize to marry people in other states, they can fill out a non-resident clergy petition form.
- For urgent requests, call the Commissions office at 617-727-2836
Boston Elopement Packages
We offer Boston elopement photography and videography packages ranging from two hours to full day coverage!
Email us now so that we can craft your perfect Boston elopement wedding!