Guide to Eloping in Europe - How to, and the Best Places to Elope in Europe
Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels
Guide to Eloping in Europe - How to, and the Best Places to Elope in Europe {Updated for 2024}
When you’re planning an adventurous elopement, what better place to tie the knot than Europe? Home to some of the most romantic cities on earth, and some incredible natural landscapes across the continent, you can’t go wrong eloping in Europe!
But, before you buy those plane tickets and start practicing your French, there are a few things you need to know. Keep reading this guide to learn all about how to elope in Europe, and the best places to explore while you’re there.
When to Elope in Europe
One of the biggest considerations when it comes to eloping in Europe will be weather. Of course, Europe consists of different countries, landscapes, and climate zones, so the weather can vary a ton. But, here are some guidelines for choosing a date for your elopement.
Winter in Europe
Overall, European winters can get pretty chilly. Coastal areas always have less extreme weather, but as you travel inland temperatures often drop below freezing, and snow begins to accumulate. Winter can be a great time to elope in Europe to avoid tourists - you’ll get all the sights nearly to yourself! However, the weather is less predictable, and you’re likely to run into rain, or snow. Make sure to bring layers, and prepare for any kind of weather!
Spring in Europe
As the weather begins to warm up, there will be more visitors all over Europe. But, the biggest crowds don’t come out until summer, so eloping in the spring can be a good way to avoid some of that! Early spring is often rainy, and many places in the mountains will be covered in snow into the summer, so keep that in mind when you’re figuring out when to elope in Europe.
Summer in Europe
Summer is by far the most popular time to visit Europe. The weather is warm and sunny, days are long, and there’s plenty to explore. It can get pretty hot, but the snow in the mountains usually melts by July. If you want to hike on your elopement day, late summer is a great time for sunny weather and snow free trails!
Fall in Europe
Early fall is one of the best times to elope in Europe - the crowds begin to fade, but the weather is still warm and sunny. This can be an amazing time for hiking as well, as the weather isn’t quite as sunburn-inducing. In high elevation areas, snow can begin to fall pretty early, so if you’re planning on a lot of elevation gain, elope early in the season!
Best Places to Elope in Europe
With so many incredible places, how do you decide where to elope in Europe?! We recommend working backwards - think about what kind of scenery you’d like to see. Do you imagine yourselves sipping margaritas on the beach, or hiking in the mountains? Do you want to experience the city, or get out in nature - or maybe a little bit of both? Here are some of the best places to elope in Europe, to get the gears turning.
Photo by Krivec Ales from Pexels
Mountain Elopements
Did you know that there are 10 major mountain ranges in Europe? When you venture outside the European cities, there’s tons of nature to explore. Whether you want mountain peaks in the background, or you want to hike on your elopement day, here are the best places to elope in Europe with mountain views.
Dolomites, Italy
Stanserhorn, Switzerland
Reine, Norway
Chamonix, France
Bavarian Alps, Germany
Beach Elopements
If you dream of eloping by the ocean and spending the week in a relaxing villa, eloping in Europe is the right decision! There are so many coastal towns that make the perfect elopement location. Here are some of our favorites.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Santorini, Greece
Mallorca, Spain
Konavle, Croatia
Cornwall, England
Lake Elopements
There are so many amazing places to elope in Europe for those who want to get married by the water. Whether it’s an easily accessible pond or an alpine lake nestled in the mountains, you’ll find the perfect spot! Here are some of the best places to elope with lakeside views.
Lake District, England
Dolomites, Italy
Sognefjord, Norway
Zurich, Switzerland
Lake Bled, Slovenia
City Elopements
If you want some more urban views, Europe has plenty of those! There's tons of culture, art, and history to be found in European cities. Wander the cobblestone streets, pop into the local coffee shops, and enjoy everything the city has to offer! Here are the best places to elope in the city.
London, England
Venice, Italy
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Barcelona, Spain
Paris, France
Adventurous Elopement Locations in Europe
For couples who are eloping in Europe and want something truly wild, epic, and remote, there are places where you can find some rugged terrain and amazing landscapes to adventure in! Here are the best adventurous elopement locations in Europe!
Faroe Islands, Denmark
West Fjords, Iceland
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Photo by Kelly Lacy from Pexels
Getting Legally Married in Europe
Each country in Europe has their own marriage laws - in some places (like Denmark), having a wedding in Europe and getting legally married is pretty easy, but in others (like Spain), it’s a time consuming process. We recommend doing the paperwork at home - your marriage doesn’t start until you actually have your ceremony, and papers aren’t what make it real, so many couples choose to skip the hassle of getting documents, translations, and foreign marriage requirements together and make things official at home. But, the US Embassy has guidance on getting married in each European country!
Hiring Elopement Vendors
Eloping in Europe can be confusing! On top of regular elopement planning, which can be stressful enough (even with a small ceremony), you’re eloping abroad - which means there are extra steps and considerations.
As a couple who had a destination wedding, we get it! Hiring elopement vendors who can help you plan the day is going to be one of the best things you can do for yourselves, as it’ll take a lot of the pressure and stress off of you - because isn’t that why you decided to elope in the first place?
A lot of wedding photographers will take on elopements and small destination weddings, but hiring vendors who specialize in elopements, and know what they’re talking about when it comes to eloping in Europe (like us, for example… hint, hint) means you’ll get help with everything from picking the perfect location, to making sure you have the right permits, to creating a timeline that’s totally custom and made for you!
Packages for Elopements and Weddings in Europe
We love to travel, and we’re ready to join you on any adventure! As a videography and photography team, we’re ready to not only document your day, but also to be with you every step of the way, including planning, cheering you on, and being your adventure buddies. We’re well-versed in traveling and often reminisce about our engagement in Italy and then our wedding in Jamaica. We’re seasoned travelers, adventures, and know our way around navigating the ins-and-outs of a destination wedding abroad.
Destination elopement packages start at $7250 - contact us to start planning, and to see all of our elopement and wedding packages in Europe!