Honestly, there isn’t anything quite like getting married in a National Park. You’re surrounded by miles and miles of open land and natural beauty. It really is the perfect place for people looking to have a more intimate ceremony.
As a Pennsylvania elopement photographer, I get to go down to Shenandoah National Park to capture elopements, and it is such an incredible place to start this new chapter. Not only are there so many different areas that you can choose from, but the scenery is just incredible.
So, if a Shenandoah National Park elopement sounds like it is right up your alley, here are some of my top tips and a sneak peek into what an elopement in the park can look like.
Tips for a Shenandoah National Park Elopement
Make sure you know if you need a permit or not
The great news about a Shenandoah elopement is that if you have less than 15 people, you actually don’t need a permit to have your ceremony at the park. So, if you are planning to keep things really intimate and keep it to yourself and your partner or just a few people, you don’t need to worry about a permit here.
If you do have more than 15 people, you will have to apply for a special use permit. It is important to note that this permit can take 6 weeks at a minimum to process and get approved, so you definitely do not want to wait until the last minute to get this set up.
For more info about the rules of the park click here
Get your Marriage License
You will need to apply for your Marriage License at any County Clerk’s Office. Although, many offices allow you to start the application online, both you and your partner must be present to obtain your Marriage License. Both parties must have a valid, non-expired government issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport, or DMV issued ID card. The fee for the license is $30 (most offices only take cash, so come prepared) In Virginia, there is no waiting period, so you should be able to get your license the same day!
Your license is valid for 60 days to get married in the State of Virginia by a certified officiant. (For a list of those who can perform a marriage ceremony in Virginia, click here )
You do not need any witnesses in the State of Virginia.
For a link to the closest County Clerk’s Office click here
Choose the best time of year to Elope
With four distinct seasons, Shenandoah has something to offer any time of the year, but I think everyone would agree, that the park really shines in Spring and Fall
Shenandoah Winter Elopement-
Temperatures average 29°F to 39°F during the day.
With most leaves off of the trees, some of the views are even more breathtaking. There are also a lot less visitors this time of year, which makes it easier to find solitude. Although the park is open all year to hike, during the winter, you need to be aware that roads may be closed due to snowy or icy conditions.
Shenandoah Spring Elopement-
Temperatures average 35°F in March to 55°F in May.
Spring is a time of rejuvenation at the park. There is so much to see and experience at the park. Leaves begin to reappear on the trees, wildflowers start to pop (there are 862 species found within the Park). and migratory birds are starting to arrive on their journey North. The park is also less crowded this time a year (in comparison to summer and fall) making it an ideal time to elope.
Shenandoah Summer Elopement-
Temperatures average around 65°F, although hotter temperatures are not uncommon.
I mean, everybody loves summer, right? There is just something about warmer weather, and longer days. This time of year, kids are out of school, and the park is bustling, making it a little harder to find space to be alone. This is definitely a great time to explore a new trail, or a spot less known. I would also recommend considering a sunrise ceremony, to avoid onlookers, and the hottest temperatures of the day.
Shenandoah Fall Elopement-
temperatures average 49°F to 60°F during the day.
Fall is by far the most popular time to visit the park, and for good reason. The temperature is a little cooler, the air is a little crisper, the skies are bluer, and the fall foliage is on full display. Every direction you look is like a color filled work of art.
Shenandoah does get over a million visitors throughout the year, so I recommend choosing a weekday for your elopement. The trails are a lot more quiet, and this will give you the chance to focus on celebrating your love in nature.
Pick your favorite spot throughout the park
Now comes the fun part: actually picking where you are going to have your ceremony. The great thing about intimate elopements is you can basically go wherever you want to actually have your ceremony.
If you want to go on a longer hike to get to a more secluded spot, you totally can. If you want to stay right off one of the paths or pull-offs, you can totally do that, too! The choice is really up to you.
If you’re not familiar with the area, I have also done quite a bit of research on locations and have visited this area a lot so I have tons of locations and tips that I can share with you to help you as you plan! Here are some of the more popular locations, although the list is endless (and I know some less popular spots in and outside of the park)
Mary’s Rock North Trail
Distance: 3.7-mile round trip hike
Difficulty: Moderate
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/mary-s-rock-via-the-appalachian-trail-southern-approach
Mary’s Rock is a moderate hike with amazing westward views of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain.
Stony Man Trail
Distance: 1.6-mile round trip hike
Difficulty: Easiest
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/stony-man-via-appalachian-trail
Stony Man is the easiest of the summit hikes that I have done, but still offers breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley, Massanutten Mountain, and beyond.
Hawksbill Summit
Distance: 1.7-mile round trip hike
Difficulty: Moderate
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/hawksbill-summit
Hawksbill is the highest summit in the park, and offers 360-degree panoramic view of the Shenandoah Valley, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Virginia Piedmont. The trip up is steep, but well worth the effort.
Dark Hollow Falls
Distance: 1.4-mile circuit hike
Difficulty: Moderate
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/dark-hollow-falls-trail
Dark Hollow Falls is a very popular spot in the park (I mean who doesn’t love waterfalls). The trail is steep and rocky, but oh so beautiful. From Dark Hollow, you can also connect to the Rose River Loop, which is often less busy, and has more waterfalls to check out.
Old Rag (you need a permit for both of these options)
Via Berry Hollow
Distance: 5.4-mile round trip hike
Difficulty: Strenuous
Hiking Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Elevation Gain: 1,760 feet
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/berry-hollow-to-old-rag-mountain-trail–3
Old Rag Circuit
Distance: 9.4-mile circuit hike
Difficulty: Very Strenuous (hiking difficulty scale)
Hiking Time: 7 hours 30 minutes
Elevation Gain: 2,348 feet
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/old-rag-mountain-loop-trail
Old Rag is my absolute favorite hike in Shenandoah, but it can be quite strenuous if you are not prepared. The Circuit contains a lot of rock scrambling and bouldering (which is what makes it so much fun in my opinion), while the Berry Hollow avoids the Ridge Trail rock scramble. Both are amazing options, but need a day permit.
Big Meadows
Big meadows is exactly what it sounds like, a big beautiful meadow. It is easy to access, close to Big Meadows Lodge and campground, there is lots of parking, and there is a lot of space, which makes it easy to find a private spot for your ceremony. This is a great spot if you are including family and friends in your ceremony (you can have up to 15 without a permit)
https://www.nps.gov/places/big-meadows.htm
Keep an eye on the weather
Weather is going to be super important when it comes to any outdoor ceremony, but it is even more important when you factor in being in a National Park. There are a few things you want to keep in mind.
First, you want to make sure you are keeping an eye on the actual temperature. Now, this doesn’t just mean the temperature in general, but also where you are specifically going in the park. You may be surprised to find out how drastically the temperature can change between the bottom of a mountain and the top.
You also want to look at whether or not it is going to rain or snow. Keep in mind, though, that this doesn’t mean that rain or snow will make it so that you can’t have your elopement here.
A little dusting or a short afternoon shower doesn’t have to ruin all of your plans, but it is important to know so that you can prep and pack additional things – especially if you are hiking to your ceremony spot.
This may include things like bringing rain jackets or rain boots or even clamps or spikes for your shoes if they are going to be slippery.
You want to keep in mind that you don’t just want to think about your ceremony itself. You also want to plan for the walk or hike back and forth from your ceremony. Packing an extra jacket or shoes that you can wear as you walk to your ceremony can make things so much easier and enjoyable, so by the time you get up there, you are still in good spirits and excited for what comes next!
With this, you also want to think about any other places you are going to take photos throughout the day. If you are planning on going to any other locations or exploring different areas, make sure to check the weather there as well!
Take advantage of everything the park has to offer
One of the best parts of getting married in a National Park is that you are in a National Park. There are so many incredible things to experience in our National Parks, and Shenandoah is no exception.
When it comes to your elopement, you don’t just get the couple of hours surrounding your ceremony; you get the entire day. So, why not take advantage of that and really soak up the beauty that you are surrounded by?
Now, this is going to look different for every couple, depending on what you like to do. For some people, this may mean doing some hikes or exploring new areas around the park.
For others, this may look like planning a picnic or “mini reception” at an overlook or one of the picnic areas throughout the park to celebrate the journey that you are starting together.
There are also some great things to do around the park, so you can even split up your day and spend part of it in the park and the other park exploring the other areas around here!
Activities Inside of the Park
Hike to a summit
Ride bike
Have a picnic
Hike to a waterfall
Rock climb
Stargaze at Big Meadows
Take a drive on Skyline Drive
Share a piece of the parks signature Blackberry Ice Cream Pie (IYKYK)
Go horseback riding
Other activities you may want to include that are nearby
Kayak, canoe, or tube on the Shenandoah River
Go to a brewery or vineyard
Enjoy a catered meal with family
Build a fire at your airbnb and make s’mores
Spend some time sipping coffee at a local coffeeshop
Experience a hot air balloon ride over the Shenandoah Valley
Read letters from family and friends that are not present
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the park can be pretty busy from spring through fall. I would definitely recommend choosing a weekday for your session during these seasons and maybe even trying to plan your elopement for sunrise when the park is less crowded (especially in the fall).
Find a place to stay while you are visiting
There are so many cool and unique places to stay during your elopement in Shenandoah. There are countless AirBNB’s, lodges, campsites, cabins, and hotels. When trying to decide where to stay, think about the location, and how far it is from where you want to have your ceremony, and the activities you might want to do. Also, if you are including friends and family, try to think about how much room you need for everybody to be comfortable. If you are bringing your pets, remember to make sure the lodging is pet friendly! Here are a few that I think are really worth checking out.
Shenandoah Yurt-this yurt is like a luxury hotel perched in the mountains. It is close to the park, has a hot tub, wood burning stove, a large deck, and so much more. Ideal for 4 people, but can accommodate up to 8.
Getaway Shenandoah– If you are looking for a cute and cozy spot to stay, Getaway Shenandoah is home to the sweetest group of tiny cabins. Equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, and outdoor fire pit, you can have all the conveniences of home, while in the woods.
Bally Brook Farm-Bally Brook Farm offers the ultimate eco-friendly luxury tent camping experience. There is only one tent available, so you need to book early, but it mean that you alone, have access to the property. You can pick veggies from the garden, take a dip in the private swimming hole, or sit in a hammock and enjoy the views.
Mayneview B&B– Perfect blend of an old home with character, modern upgrades, and mountain views, this bed and breakfast, is full of charm. They also offer an option to rent the whole property, which is perfect if you are including friends and family in any part of your day.
Always have a plan B, and make sure everyone involved knows it. Shenandoah is famous for having terrible cell service, so do not rely on your cell phone for directions or where to meet up. Also, weather can greatly affect the trails and Skyline Drive, so make sure you check for road or trail closures before the actual day.
Have a Plan B
Have a Plan B when eloping in Shenandoah
Always have a plan B, and make sure everyone involved knows it. Shenandoah is famous for having terrible cell service, so do not rely on your cell phone for directions or where to meet up. Also, weather can greatly affect the trails and Skyline Drive, so make sure you check for road or trail closures before the actual day.
Haily and Jimmy’s Shenandoah Elopement
Haily and Jimmy got married at an Airbnb with their parents, siblings, and dog. Haily did a first look with her dad before the ceremony. The day was so relaxed because the group was so small, and there wasn’t a strict timeline.
After the ceremony, we took some family photos, and then the three of us jumped into their car and headed to the park with a plan to hike Bearfence Trail, and stop at two other overlooks. It was really important to them to get to hike on their wedding day.
On the way to out first stop, Haily was telling us that she had a reoccurring nightmare that there was a fog, and you couldn’t see any of the overlooks. As she was telling us this, Jimmy and I looked at each other because a cold front was causing this thick fog to roll in. What are the odds right?
I know the park pretty well, so we decided to change our plans a bit to beat the fog. We stopped at an earlier lookout just to make sure we got some photos with a view, and then quickly jumped back in the car hoping we could get to Bearfence with a view.
As we were driving on Skyline Drive, we saw another clear overlook and stopped to grab some more photos (okay, I may have excitedly yelled at Jimmy to pull over when I saw the clearing). We took some portraits there right before the overlook got completely covered with fog.
Honestly, even though this wasn’t how they had thought the day was going to go, we were having so much fun racing the fog and laughing the whole time.
We finally made it to the hike (which I had done earlier in the week so I knew which way the vista faced). On our way up, a couple stopped us for a selfie, and then told us the view was not great, but we had already gone that far, so we kept going.
When we got to the view, it was very foggy, but we decided to wait it out a bit. Then all of a sudden the fog cleared just enough for us to take some amazing photos. Of course, as soon as we left the park the fog cleared, but we had so much fun throughout the entire adventure and got some incredible photos to go along with it!
Final Thoughts on Eloping in Shenandoah National Park
I hope these tips and inspiration help you as you start to plan your own Shenandoah National Park elopement. This truly is an incredible place to get married, and you can’t really beat the views and the environment that you are surrounded by.
Now, you just need a photographer who is ready to take on this adventure with you (hint hint: me!). I love being in this park and just being a part of telling your love story.
You can find out more about my elopement photography services here, or you can reach out to me directly to chat about your own elopement!
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