Tips for a Stress-Free Beach Elopement

Including Best Beaches to Elope at in New England

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / New England & Beyond

Eloping to the beach can be an incredibly romantic and intimate experience. However, it's important to plan ahead to ensure that everything goes smoothly on your big day. Below are a few things to think about and some tips for pulling off a stress-free beach elopement.

Why elope at the beach?

Beach elopements are becoming increasingly popular for a reason - they offer couples the chance to exchange vows in a truly unique and beautiful setting. If you're looking for a way to make your wedding day truly special, consider eloping to the beach. Just remember to follow these tips to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch!

Here are a few tips to help you pull off a stress-free elopement at the beach:

Choose a sunrise or sunset elopement ceremony

Not only will the lighting be stunning, but you'll avoid the crowds that tend to gather during the middle of the day. Further, if you're planning on having photos taken, the early morning or late evening light will be much more flattering than the harsh midday sun. If you're doing a mid-summer beach wedding the cooler temperatures will be more comfortable for you and your guests.

Wear comfortable shoes, or go barefoot

You'll be doing a lot of walking (and possibly even running) on sand, so make sure to wear shoes that won't rub your feet raw.

Bring insect repellent & sunscreen

Nothing ruins a romantic moment quite like getting bit by a mosquito or getting a terrible sunburn. Be sure to pack insect repellent and sunscreen to keep you comfortable during your elopement ceremony.

Plan for bad weather

Even if you're eloping in the summer, it's always a good idea to have a backup plan in case of rain or other inclement weather. Also, it's often windy at the beach, so be prepared to hold onto your hat or veil. Plan ahead with your hair and makeup artist to find a look that holds up in windy locations.

Pack light

The last thing you want is to lug around heavy bags on your elopement day. Pack the essentials, or get friends and family to help you carry stuff across the sand.

Pick a spot that's meaningful to you, or one where you are stoked to make new memories together

Whether it's where you first met or had your first kiss, choosing a location with meaning will make your ceremony all the more memorable. If you're looking to make new memories, pick a place that looks amazing and that you're both excited about exploring.

Keep your guest list small

A beach elopement is the perfect opportunity to keep things intimate and focus on what's truly important - your relationship. Remember, a smaller guest list means less stress for you both plus fewer people to worry about wondering if they can make it to your elopement location while walking over the sand.

Hire an experienced photographer

Beach elopements are beautiful, but they can also be challenging to photograph. Make sure you hire a pro who knows how to capture the perfect shot, even in difficult lighting conditions. In addition, ask your photographer for help with planning logistics - they likely have a lot of experience eloping and can offer valuable insights.

Plan a picnic celebration on the beach after the ceremony

Don't forget the details. From flowers to music, take some time to plan out the details of your ceremony so everything comes together perfectly. There are actually amazing luxury picnic vendors who will come set up a gorgeous spread for you and your guests and then clean up once you're done. You don't have to worry about a thing!

Best Beaches to Elope at in New England

There are endless beautiful beaches to elope at in New England. Here are a few of our favorites:

Newport, Rhode Island

Historic Newport, RI not only offers crazy beautiful beaches, but numerous amazing state parks, a super cute downtown area, and tons of historic sites as well. This is one of the best spots in New England to elope with a ton of options if you are looking for a place with both great beaches and other amenities. The only downside here is that it can be very crowded in the summer months. This is a great off-season or mid-week elopement choice.

Block Island, Rhode Island

Block Island may as well be called the land of magic for elopements. So many of my favorite elopement moments have happened here. From dancing in the rain while the seals watch, to frolicking down dunes with a perfectly picturesque lighthouse in the background and no one else for miles.

Jamestown beaches, Rhode Island

These are some of my favorite mainland RI beaches because they have so much more than just sand. Epic cliffs and trees, check. Incredible historic sites, check. And even the film location of one of my favorite Wes Anderson flicks, Moonrise Kingdom, check! If Wes Anderson is filming here, you know it’s aesthetically pleasing, with perfect coves tucked away inside looming coastal cliffs. I’ve lived in both San Diego and Rhode Island, and in terms of coastal beautiful RI give CA a run for it’s money.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The Cape has endless swathes of incredible coastal dunes, and honestly, this is one of my favorite places to suggest if people want a beach location that is away from everything. There are a bunch of 4x4 sand roads back here that can take you away from it all and boast secluded lighthouses and scenic beaches with both incredible sunrises and sunsets. With the right permitting one of my favorite things to do here is have a fire on the beach as part of the after-celebration.

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Just a short ferry ride from Woods Hole in Cape Cod, this island transports you to another dimension. Every single color in the rainbow can be found at Aquinnah Cliffs, and one of the coolest lighthouses I’ve seen is within walking distance of the cute downtown corridor here. All in all, it’s the perfect place to elope on the beach and then have a clambake to celebrate.

Ogunquit Beach, Maine

I’ll call this Maine’s version of Jamestown in RI, but this area is truly unique on its own. Walk the forest-lined trees to the coastal cliffs and find a place completely your own to say your loving vows to your partner.

Narragansett, Rhode Island

I won’t give away my favorite spot for elopers here, but this is another great example of the perfect place for couples who want some solitude, but also be close to other great amenities. A short hike brings you to unreal coastal cliffs and historic ruins. The greenery on the hiking path is often bursting with fragrant flowers in the summer months as well!

Whether you're looking for a crowded beach with plenty of amenities or a secluded spot to exchange vows, you're sure to find the perfect place to elope in New England.

Other Frequently Asked Questions when it comes to eloping on a beach...

How to deal with sand during a beach elopement?

The best way to deal with sand during a beach elopement is to embrace it! After all, that's part of the reason you chose to elope at the beach in the first place. If you're worried about your dress or suit getting dirty, why not go for a more casual look? A flowy white dress or linen pants and a shirt always look beautiful against the backdrop of the ocean.

What is the best time of day to elope at the beach?

The best time of day to elope at the beach is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. This is when the lighting is best for photos, and you'll also avoid the crowds that tend to flock to the beach during the midday hours.

Can I get married on the beach if it's not a state park?

Yes, you can! As long as you have the proper permits, you can get married on any public beach. Just be sure to check with your local town or city hall to find out what the requirements are.

How do I obtain a marriage license when eloping in a public area like a beach?

The best way to obtain a marriage license when eloping in a public area like a beach is to go to the town or city hall in the town where the beach is located. They will be able to direct you to the proper office.

Can I put chairs and an archway on the beach?

In some cases, you can put chairs and an archway on the beach. However, you will need to obtain a permit from the town or city hall first. Every beach has different rules and some allow this and others do not.

Do you have any other tips for planning a stress-free beach elopement? Share them with us in the comments below. Happy planning!

Unbelievable Block Island Elopement

Maddie & Michael’s Sublime Rhode Island Elopement with Seal Guests

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER / RHODE ISLAND & BEYOND

It’s hard to think of a day more spontaneous, adventurous, and full of joy than Maddie & Michael’s Block Island elopement. They started the day at a spot super near and dear to their hearts, Black Point in Narragansett on mainland Rhode Island. As we hiked out for a cloudy sunrise they recalled different memories of points in their lives that they spent together on Black Point. It was so awesome to do their ceremony in a place with so many amazing memories, and add another epic memory to the pile.

But we had a 9 am ferry to Block Island to catch, so we wrapped things up and headed to the nearby ferry terminal. The short ferry journey was beautiful, and in a moment of serendipity I heard someone call my name on the roof top overlook. It was Katie & Adam whose Maine elopement I shot the previous month!

We arrived on Block Island, dropped the cake off at the hotel and headed to our first location, South Light. The views were beautiful and endless, and it is right next door to Mohegan Bluffs, which is one of the most scenic spots on the island. We waited for most people to go to lunch people we started down the steps! I’m not sure how many steps there are total, but it’s enough to feel like a workout. The views are unreal and honestly reminiscent of the La Jolla coastline in San Diego (fun fact: I lived in San Diego for many years before moving to Rhode Island).

Next we headed over to the Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve where the blooming flowers made for shots of endless fields of orange and yellow! Finally, a couple hours before sunset we started our hike out to North Light. It’s about a mile or so to the sand spit at the end, but we found a nice spot in the sand where Maddie and Michael could spread out a blanket and cut their cake. It started to drizzle on us a bit, so we took the umbrellas out and walked down to the shoreline where we had a surprise waiting for us- a sea lion popping it’s head up to see who was walking along the beach. We went down a little further and their were about 30 sea lions resting on the sand spit, swimming around, and honking at us! It’s was an unbelievable sight to beyond and Maddie and Michael were jumping up and down with joy. They couldn’t believe the experience of their day, so unexpected, adventurous, and everything they hoped for plus more. It was one of my most memorable days as well, and I’m so happy we all have the photos of their day to look back on year after year and remember how truly epic it was!

I feel like they can summarize their love better themselves, when I asked them when they knew they were first in love Maddie said, “There was a specific moment for me, we had only been dating about a month when Mike came home from work on the 4th of July after hanging with his coworkers for a little while. He got home and curled up on the couch and put his head on my lap and started to sleep and said I love you (I didn’t tell him for months that he did it 😂) but it was such a calm moment and that’s when I knew he was the one.”

And Michael said, “I fell in love with Maddie because of her amazing personality. She accepted me for exactly who I was. She makes me feel like the only person in a room when she looks at me. My fiancé is the most incredible person I have ever met. I do not know how I got so lucky.”

“My husband and I could not be happier after working with Kat! She made the whole planning process easy and very straightforward, if we had a question about anything we could reach out and she was always happy to help. Our whole day was perfect, she was very relaxed and easy going and made us both feel comfortable in front of the camera and our pictures definitely show that. We didn’t have to worry about anything, she had back up plans for any weather we could get (including a quick rain shower) but because she was prepared for it we were still able to get awesome pictures during it! We received our full gallery in three weeks as well, about three weeks than earlier than expected. We honestly only have good things to say about our experience and if any couples are considering an adventure elopement to definitely reach out to her!”

— Maddie & Michael

Stunning Rhode Island Lighthouse Elopement

Samantha & Victor’s Canoeing and Sunset Lighthouse Elopement

SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / Rhode Island & Beyond

Samantha and Victor reached out to me about 3 weeks before they wanted to elope in Rhode Island. It was the summer and Coronavirus had been taking over the news cycle. They wanted something simple and beautiful, and their 4 year-old daughter was going to join in on the adventure. I proposed a number of locations around the state in my Rhode Island elopement packages, and they ultimately chose canoeing on Wyoming Pond (part of the Wood River) because they knew their daughter would love it, and then enjoying a sunset ceremony and celebration at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown.

Both Samantha and I mentioned that the week before their elopement we looked at the weather forecast, and there was nothing but sunny skies, except of course for the day they had chosen for their elopement. There was one lone lighting bolt lingering on their elopement day weather forecast. But as the weather does in the summer, things changed and we had pretty much the perfect day for canoeing on the river and we watched an incredible sunset at Beavertail.

Samantha and Victor have one of the cutest, and longest-standing, love stories I’ve had the privilege of hearing so far. They met in the 5th grade. “Our teacher had to move our desks because we talked too much, but even that didn’t stop us. We started ‘dating’ in middle school and went our separate ways in high school but we always remained friends. In 2015 we decided the timing was right and we picked up where we left off and we’ve been together ever since,” said Samantha.

“No matter how much we tried to stay away from each other the universe always pulled us together! In 2015, we spent that year getting to really know each other. Walks on the beach, climbing a mountain, visiting waterfalls, and taking mini trips to NYC and Chicago. We even bought a decent DSLR camera and documented almost every adventure big and small.” Like magnets they were drawn to one another, and when you see them together, you completely understand why.

The only thing that was more obvious than their love for each other was their love for their sweet daughter, Annabella. And they were right, she did LOVE canoeing! She wanted to jump in the entire time. She was a fearless and adventurous little explorer, and honestly she made my job getting candid shots so easy because she was constantly running around, playing and having an absolute blast.

After the canoeing we headed over to Beavertail State Park on the southern end of Jamestown. It took us a minute to find a more secluded ceremony spot, but when we did they each read their vows. Victor wrote several pages, and stopped short of reading all of them because Annabella was wiggling in her mom’s arms ready to run again. Samantha mentioned that she most certainly would have cried had he kept going. It was Samantha’s turn, and Annabella held still long enough for her parents to finish their words and exchange rings, which was quite a feat while holding her. But the part Annabella was most looking forward to was cake, and that time was finally here.

We grabbed the cake and blanket and headed over to the lighthouse. Annabella dug right in, and they enjoyed the cake with out cutting pieces, because let’s be honest- cake really is better that way. When I stole her parents for portraits for a few minutes she placed her entire hand on top of the cake and exclaimed, “You guys! Come feel this- it’s so squishy!”

Before we knew it the sun was low on the horizon and we managed a few more photos before Annabella started getting sleepy. The crescent moon came out, and colors lingered in the sky forever. The perfect ending to a fun-filled adventure elopement day.