Get Away to the White Mountains: A Guide on Eloping in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a stunning backdrop for eloping in New Hampshire with the White Mountain National Forest and so many perfect locations. Eloping in New Hampshire sounds like a dream, and you’re wondering what do you need to elope in NH? This step by step guide will walk you through the steps of planning your perfect elopement in New Hampshire!
- Choose your Location
There are so many beautiful places in NH to elope and the ones listed below have breathtaking views and are among some of the best places to get married if you are considering eloping in New Hampshire.
Franconia Notch State Park: This iconic location is a favorite for it’s beautiful views along the highway and hikes that are the perfect backdrop for your elopement. With a variety of locations from easy hikes, or 4000 footers, you will want to consider Franconia Notch if you are eloping in New Hampshire!
Popular Destinations in Franconia Notch:
- Flume Gorge
- The Basin
- Artist’s Bluff
- Profile Lake
New Hampshire Seacoast: Many engaged couples seek eloping on the beach in NH and there are many great places in Rye, Hampton, and Portsmouth New Hampshire. You can simply plan your elopement on the beach in the area you choose but it may require a permit depending on how many people you want to be at your ceremony.
North Conway: North Conway is part of the northern White Mountains of New Hampshire and a popular spot couples choose to elope in New Hampshire. Cathedral Ledge, Diana’s Bath, and the Kancamagus Highway that connects North Conway to Franconia Notch are beautiful places to considering when planning your elopement!
Popular destinations in North Conway:
- Cathedral Ledge
- Diana’s Bath
- Kancamagus Highway
Crawford Notch: Crawford Notch is stunning and is home to beautiful destinations for elopements such as their hikes, waterfalls, and more! Crawford Notch can be found north of Franconia notch near Twin Mountain and Sugar Hill and many Airbnbs that can accommodate your stay for your elopement!
Popular destinations in Crawford Notch:
- Arethusa Falls
- Mount Jackson
- Mount Willey
- Mount Pierce
- Mount Crawford
- Sugar Hill NH – Lupines
Lakes Region: Being from the Lakes Region this is one of my favorite areas to see couples elope. There are so many beautiful smaller hikes, covered bridges, and venues that you can choose to celebrate your love. The Lakes Region gives so many different options for elopement location styles from hikes, waterfalls, and venues.
2. Obtain a Marriage License
This is crucial in the process of eloping in New Hampshire, but also fairly easy! You can head over to any city/town clerk’s office in the state of NH and receive your marriage license in 30 minutes tops! It will cost roughly $50 to obtain a marriage license. The great thing is that NH doesn’t have any residency requirements, like some other states require. You’ll want to bring a government issued photo ID, Certified copies of your birth certificates, name changes before marriage must provide proof, and if divorced prior must provide the necessary documentation that marriage has ended.
3. Select a Date and Time
Selecting a date and time for eloping in New Hampshire is completely up to you as a couple but there really is no right or wrong time to have an elopement in NH. We have beautiful seasons here in New England with colorful springtime, lush green summers, vibrant leaf filled falls, and bright snowy covered winters. The possibilities are endless when it comes to deciding when you’d like to elope!
4. Find an Officiant
It is so important that when searching for a officiant that you have a great connection with them. You can even ask a family member to get ordained for your elopement ceremony. It’s surprisingly not that hard, and you can check out how to become ordained here.
5. Plan your Ceremony
You and your fiance get to decide on what you want your elopement ceremony to look like and the timeline leading up to it. Your photographer should be able to help you with this too if they are experienced and have great communication leading up to your wedding day. (PS… I’m your girl!!)
6. Find your New Hampshire Elopement Photographer
Finding your photographer is one of the most important parts of planning your elopement because they are capturing all the moments throughout. Often times they act as a planner and photographer during the planning process and leading up to your wedding day. I am a full time wedding and elopement photographer and have ample experience in planning, communication, and elopement photography. You can reach out to me by clicking HERE.
7. Check for Permits
Some locations for NH elopements require a permit especially if you are going to have people at your elopement ceremony in the White Mountain National Forest or on a public beach in NH for example. It doesn’t typically cost much and if you’re not sure if you’ll need a permit or not you can usually call and ask.
8. Respect Residency Requirements
The great news is there aren’t any residency requirements for getting married in the state of New Hampshire! Anyone who wishes to get married her can! To do so you must go to a local NH town office to retrieve your marriage license before your elopement ceremony.
9. Notify your Family
It’s important unless you want to keep it a secret to let your family know you are eloping in New Hampshire. Especially if you are traveling here from another state or across the country. Your family may have their own opinions on elopements but it is you and your partner’s choice on how you want to tie the knot!
9. Celebrate your Marriage
After all this planning you finally get to your elopement day. You can celebrate and elope in New Hampshire however you and your significant other want. Whether that’s hiking a mountain, going skiing at your favorite mountain, or getting married in front of one of New Hampshire’s beautiful landscapes! Eloping in New Hampshire brings endless opportunities to plan the perfect wedding ceremony and these are just a few tips!
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Thank you so much for reading my guide to getting married in New Hampshire. My name is Hailey and I am a New Hampshire-based wedding photographer serving New England states such as New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts. If you are looking for a photographer who is bubbly, adventurous, a lover of all animals, adaptable, and an avid hiking photographer, then we should start a conversation today!
READ ABOUT MY OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY ADVENTURES:
Top Places to Get Married in New Hampshire
Top 2024 Wedding Trends in New England
Surprise Proposal in the White Mountains
Wedding at Stone Garden in Westmoreland, New Hampshire | Kayla + Kyle
Including Your Dog in Your Engagement Session in New Hampshire
A Golden Hour Senior Session in Plymouth New Hampshire
HI FRIENDS, I’M HAILEY!
Hi friend! 
I’m Hailey, a full time New Hampshire based wedding and portrait photographer and I have the best job in the world! 
I love everything about living in the White Mountains. You can find me on a hiking trail, cross country skiing, on a trail run, eating tacos, petting dogs, reading a book in a coffee shop, or spending time with my friends and family when I am not photographing your beautiful love stories and more! 
I have a deep passion for photographing love stories, especially for those who love an adventure in nature or the coziest part of your home. For the last five years, I have traveled all over New England capturing beautiful love stories and I am obsessed with capturing your candid moments and all the FEELS of this special time in your life!
My books for 2024 weddings and elopements are open and I am so eager to chat with you about your hopes, dreams, and plans for your wedding or elopement. 
I can’t wait to capture your next adventure! 
Chat with me today!
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