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.
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!
There are so many different areas that you can explore, so you may want to take a few trips out here to really get a feel for what you are looking for. Plus, these can almost act as a dry run.
You can figure out how difficult it is to actually get there, how long it takes you to get to the specific spot, and if there is anything you need to be aware of. That way, when it comes to your elopement day, you are totally prepared, and nothing surprises you (or at least as prepared as you can be when it comes to nature).
If you are planning a destination elopement to the park and don’t live in the area, I would highly suggest reaching out to photographers (like me!) or other vendors who are familiar with the park to get their opinions on where the best spots are.
They may be able to give you some advice based on what you want your day to look like, the season, your comfort level with hiking, and more. Plus, if they have been to the park a bunch, they may know some hidden spots that could be perfect for you!
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!
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).
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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