Best Places for A Vermont Elopement
SWELL & STONE / Adventure Elopement Photographer / New England & Beyond
How to Plan Your Vermont Elopement
Eloping can spare a lot of the stress and anxiety that comes with planning a traditional wedding. With your partner by your side, the life-changing moment is sure to be a lot less overwhelming. Planning an elopement also offers a lot of benefits for people who are looking for an intimate, less costly ceremony. This article will explore some of your options, what to expect, and the best locations to elope in Vermont.
Vermont has so many stunning landscapes from waterfalls to mountain ranges and is considered one of the best places in the Northeast region and the country for elopements. Those looking for an adventure wedding experience should look no further than Vermont. The autumn in particular offers some of the best views in the entire world during fall foliage season.
Want to spread your search a little broader? Here’s my New England elopement guide. Check out these articles if you’re looking for Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, or Upstate NY. Or check out galleries from Vermont elopements here: A.J. & David, Sara & Joe, Anna & Sean, Lucie & Michael, Brittany & Wayne, Holly & Louis, Alexis & Nick, Rachel & Ryan, Kelsey & Kirsten.
There are a lot of reasons why people elope. Some people want to get married without their families present, some want to avoid the stress of planning a big wedding, and some just want the ceremony to be small and intimate. Whatever your reason for eloping, there are plenty of beautiful places in Vermont that are perfect for an intimate ceremony. You can also find a range of affordable options on Airbnb or VRBO if you’re looking for an alternative to hotels or bed-and-breakfasts.
Known as the Green Mountain State, Vermont is the 14th wonder of the natural world. Ok, that’s not true, but what is true is that it is home to more than 100 19th-century covered wooden bridges and it’s a major producer of maple syrup with “sugar houses” all over the state. It boasts thousands of acres of mountain terrain which are crossed by hiking trails and skiing slopes. It’s charming and cozy, and from enchanting forests that hide incredibly beautiful waterfalls to the mountain peaks, there is something everyone will love.
Mt. Mansfield State Park is home to the tallest mountain and only one of two spots where you can get above treeline in the state. Nearby Camel’s Hump is the other. Lake Champlain is a huge lake that has private islands, a ferry across to New York, and incredible sunset views. Go north to Lake Willoughby and find an incredibly clear and beautiful lake with mountains rising straight up out of the sides.
When planning an elopement it is always best to plan on a weekday. If you plan on having no guests, or just your immediate families, it is ultimately less expensive, plus easier to plan ceremonies with fewer crowds. Here are some of the best spots to elope in VT.
Where to Elope in Vermont
Mt. Mansfield
The tallest mountain in the Green Mountain State is Mt. Mansfield, and there are a multitude of ways to get up this mountain. From May to early October, you can take the Auto Toll Road which costs $22 per private vehicle and an additional $9 per passenger. Their hours are 9am - 4pm and it open generally from Memorial Day to the second weekend in October. This road takes you to the Visitors Center near the top of the mountain, however, it’s still another 1.2 mile hike to reach the summit. And don’t be mistaken there are somewhat sheer faces, and temps can be in the 40’s and 50’s on the summit even when it’s a warm summer day at the base. You can also choose to take the gondola which is a shorter but steeper hike to the summit via the precarious cliff trail. Taking the Gondola Skyride costs adults (age 13+) $30, and children (age 5-12) $20, the Family Pack (2 adults, 2 children) is $85. This is also open generally from Memorial Day to the second weekend in Oct, however, it’s also open in the winter during ski season. The cliff trail is too dangerous to ascend in the winter, but you can walk around the top. Gondola hours are 10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Of course, then there are hiking trails to the top. They range from 3 miles roundtrip (going straight up) to around 8 miles round trip. These are open all year except for mud season which generally lasts from April to late May when snow is melting rapidly and causing the trails to become basically waterfalls. Check out this gallery, and this one, and this one.
Various Waterfalls
There are so many amazing waterfalls in Vermont and they are one of my favorite spots to take people to who have never been to Vermont before. When they see the clear and pristine waters flowing over the granite rock they can hardly believe it’s real. The water is a deep blue-green and it really does seem like something only seen in movies. Several are super popular swimming holes, so in the summer especially I highly recommend a sunrise ceremony. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a bunch of eager swimmers waiting to jump in the water during your ceremony. There are a few with only a short hike to the falls, making them great spots if you are eloping with some family that can’t walk far. Check out this gallery.
Stowe
Stowe has so many great hikes and options for ceremony spots with views. This is a favorite spot for winter elopers too because of the ski resort on Mt. Mansfield. The town itself is extremely charming, and there are a ton of great options for places to stay. There are short and easy waterfall hikes nearby, you can ride the gondola, or you can do a more strenuous hike and find a little more seclusion here too. Check out this gallery.
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a huge freshwater lake that runs the length of the top third of Vermont all the way to Canada. It lies on the eastern border of Vermont and on the western border of upstate New York. From the Vermont side you can see the Adirondacks in New York, and from the New York side, you can see the Green Mountains and Mt. Mansfield. There is a ferry across that is super fun to take if you are looking for a more interesting way to go from one side of the lake to the other. It’s around $10.75 for the driver and car, and then an additional $4.50 for passengers after that. The lake has numerous lake houses, VRBO’s, Airbnb’s, and resorts along the shoreline, along with some conserved lands for public access. It’s a great place for eloping couples to rent a place to stay and come back after an exciting and incredible elopement day to watch the sunset over the mountains and the lake. Check out this gallery.
Lake Willoughby
Willoughby is a glacial lake over 320 feet deep in places second to only Lake Champlain whose deepest point reaches 400 feet. Lake Willoughby resembles a Norwegian fjord. There are a variety of hikes near the lake that allow for an elevated view of the lake and make for great ceremony spots. The water is beautiful and clear and this is also a great spot to canoe, paddleboard, or go boating.
Camel’s Hump
Hiking Camel’s Hump is a fairly strenuous 6-mile round trip hike, but the views from the top make it all worthwhile. Beautiful seemingly endless mountain layers stretch on for what feels like forever. Along with the nice views you get a challenge as well in terms of the hike. This won’t be ideal for everyone, but for those who want to experience the views and leave some of the crowds behind this might fit the bill.
Texas Falls Recreation Area
This is a gorgeous…gorge, haha. There is plenty of hiking to do here, and great views of the gorge, plus spectacular mossy trails in an old-growth forest. It’s a dreamy spot for those looking for quick and easy access to an intimate and beautiful area. Check out this gallery.
Smugglers Notch State Park
There are a ton of beautiful hikes in Smuggler Notch State Park near the Stowe area. One trail, in particular, leads to an incredible pond flanked by mountains on all sides. From here you can continue on and summit an awesome peak, which also has great views. It’s only a 2.3 round trip hike so there is a lot of beauty for relatively little exertion.
Emerald Lake State Park
Another state park with gorgeous views and crystal clear waters, but this one is actually in southern Vermont. This park is a favorite for outdoor recreation in the summer, but it’s just as pretty in the spring and the fall. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent right on the beach, and there are great hiking trails around the edge of the lake making finding a secluded ceremony spot a little easier. Check out this gallery.
Haystack Mountain
A mountain in southern Vermont, the summit of Haystack Mountain has views of Haystack Pond down below, along with incredible views of the rest of the mountain range. It’s not an easy hike, but there is only about 1000 feet of elevation gain over the 2.5 miles up, making it not all that steep and therefore doable in a wedding dress. A lot of people also snowshoe this one in the winter.
Brousseau Mountain
This mountain falls in the far north of the state of Vermont. It’s a short hike to incredible views and it’s very lightly trafficked, making it an ideal spot for a more secluded elopement experience.
How Do You Legally Get Married in Vermont?
The requirements for getting married in Vermont are simple - you just need to be 18 years old, have a valid photo ID and know where the wedding will take place. There are no residency requirements for getting married in Vermont.
You do not need witnesses to get married in Vermont.
How Much Does it Cost to Get Married in Vermont?
The average cost of wedding venues in Vermont is $3,000 to $5,000, and the average cost of a full, traditional wedding is around $35,000. But if you choose to get married by eloping in the great outdoors that cost can go down significantly. Check out an elopement cost calculator here. Eloping couples choose to pay for what they care about and forget the rest. For some couples, creating an adventurous experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives is more important than paying for a party for a large number of friends and family, most of whom they don’t see that often. Eloping couples often choose to spend more on the experience and the process of documenting their day, than the guests involved.
Whether you’re from Vermont, New England, or anywhere else in the country or world, VT is an incredible place to elope or have a small outdoor wedding. From epic mountain destinations to lush forests, lakes, and rivers, there are a lot of options to host the perfect outdoor elopement getaway. So if hiking to a stunning waterfall, summiting mountains, or paddling a lake or river sounds like your idea of a great elopement day, get in touch. I don’t just take small outdoor wedding and elopement photos. I help you plan your perfect, adventurous day from beginning to end.
