Hey! I’m Corinne, your Indiana elopement photographer and this is your ultimate guide to everything you need to know on how to elope in Indiana from start to finish!
Can you elope in Indiana?
Yes, you can absolutely elope in Indiana, and this is every step you need to know on how to elope in Indiana! At first thought most people think of Indiana as the land big sky and rows of cornfields. But Indiana hides so many hidden gem, beautifully scenic locations, as well as quintessential Midwest vibes. You don’t have to go far in Indiana to have an epic and stunning elopement experience that feels like an adventure straight out of a fairytale!
What is an elopement?
We define an elopement as an intentional and unique celebration of you love with a focus on being authentic to yourselves. Whereas a wedding could be defined as a more of a focus on pleasing your guests and following a set script for the day. With an elopement, you have the freedom to create a unique wedding experience that is true to your hearts! Though both end in you committing your lives to each other, the general vibe and focuses are vastly different.
And just because you are eloping doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to include other guests! We consider an elopement to be 15 guests or less, with more than that being considered a wedding.
What do you need to Elope in Indiana?
If you plan on legally marrying the day of your elopement in Indiana, there’s just a few legality things you’ll need to do!
What you need to apply for a Marriage License:
- Both applicants must come to apply at the same time.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Both applicants must be present at the time of application with a valid driver’s license or a state identification card, for proof of residency, identity, and date of birth. Proof of residency can be a rental lease, valid driver’s license, state identification card, or current utility bill.
- The marriage license fee is $18 if one or both parties are Indiana residents and $60 for out-of-state residents. Some offices also charge an additional document fee of $2 (most counties require these fees to be paid in cash).
- License is good for 60 days.
Some counties have specific requirements like filing online vs in person, so be sure to contact the county you plan on marrying in for more info. Also more info can be found here! Indiana County Marriage Laws
How to Legally Marry: Day of or Not
Legally Marrying Day Of: Indiana also does NOT require witnesses for marriages, so the only person you’d need legally is an officiant to marry you and sign. Luckily both myself and my husband Jake are both ordained and can legally marry anyone in all 50 states! So if you’re still looking for an officiant, we’ve got your back. Or if you want a friend or family member to officiate, they can become ordained at Universal Life Church!
Legally Marrying before or after: If you don’t want to deal with the paperwork and an officiant day of, you can absolutely get married before or after your elopement and skip the extra work! You can still have a ceremony with vows, reading letters to each other, a ring exchange, a first kiss, etc. And it will still be just as special, the only difference being that you won’t have to sign anything! To marry before or after your elopement, simply apply for your license, and legally marry / sign paperwork at the courthouse in the county of your choosing.
Deciding Who: Guests or No Guests
The beauty of elopements is that you can have absolutely no guests at all, or include your closest friends or family, because there are no rules! And you don’t have to simply choose between guests or nobody at all either. You can structure your day or even weekend in a way that allows time for just the two of you AND guests! You could have an entire day hiking, exploring, and spending quality time just you two, and then have a ceremony, dinner, and a dance party with friends the next day. Consider how much time you both want to spend with each other, and how much time you want to spend with guests, if you have any.
Deciding When: The Best times of the year to elope in Indiana
Spring: Late March – May
Spring is a wonderful time to elope in the Midwest. The flowers and trees start blooming by early April, and Indiana can get some beautiful rains and fog in the spring, making for gorgeous photos. Definitely choose spring if you love the vibes of sunny and rainy days, lots of flowers, and birdsong.
Summer: June – August
The best time to elope in Indiana in the summer is in June and August. July tends to be extremely hot and humid, with June and August being slightly cooler. The green tones of the trees are in full swing, and the days are nice and long and golden with sunlight. Elope in the summer if you enjoy the vibes of warm summer days near water, golden hour, and lush greenery.
Fall: September – November
The best time for an Indiana elopement in the fall is September – November, with fall foliage color typically peaking the last 2-3 weeks of October. The temperatures start cooling down in late September, and we start to get more cloudy, foggy days in between days of sun. Elope in the fall if you love spooky vibes, colorful fall foliage, and cool nights for bonfires.
Winter: December – March
To be real, winter can really be hit or miss with classic Indiana weather for an outdoor elopement. Sometimes it can be beautifully snowy, and other times it can be freezing or muddy. But there are still plenty of locations that are beautiful in the winter, both indoors and outside! Botanical Gardens, thrifting, book stores, or a pretty restaurant are all wonderful indoor locations. Elope in the winter if you love the snow, and being cozy and warm indoors.
Deciding Where: Location and Permits
Indiana is SO much more than open sky and rows of cornfields. There are tons of hidden gem, stunning locations that feel like you’ve entered another world. Indiana is home to all sorts of geographical features, like waterfalls, forests, rocky cliffs and canyons, sand dunes, Lake Michigan, and so much more.
Personal Location Scouting services are included in all my elopement photography packages, so you can get married in beautiful scenery feels right out of a romance fantasy novel. I send full guides with all the details of each location, photos, and all the details of each location as well, such as trail length, difficulty, privacy, etc. So you two will have all the info to then decide which location suites you best! Some locations do require a permit for photography or getting married, so always be sure to call the location you choose, and find out what permits may be required and how much. Most Indiana state parks average $100 for a photo permit.
And for some starter location ideas, be sure to check out The 8 Most Scenic Locations in Indiana to Elope At here: Where to Elope in Indiana
Choosing Activities for an Amazing Experience
Now it’s time to decide what activities you want to do and include in your elopement experience! This is where you get to start fleshing out ideas of what your elopement day looks like. And since elopements don’t follow a set template for the day, the possibilities for a unique experience are truly endless.
So start with asking yourselves, what does a shared day off together look like? How do you like to spend time with each other? And what does your dream day together look like if you can do anything?
If you need more activity ideas while brainstorming, be sure to check out Elopement Activities for a Unique Experience!
Choosing Vendors, Lodging, and Food
Next up is choosing vendors, what you’ll be eating, and where you’ll stay (if you plan on staying somewhere overnight.) As a photographer I keep a massive list of recommendations for the best wedding / elopement vendors in Indiana / Michigan! I also have an ever growing list of great places to eat / order from, and awesome lodging that previous couples have stayed in for their elopements and loved. So once you book with me, I’ll send over any vendor, recommendations you need, as well as send lodging and food recommendations that are custom for your elopement.
Creating a Timeline and Final Details
Since elopements don’t follow a set, cookie cutter template for the day, it can feel almost like option paralysis at times trying to decide what your day can look like and what time should what happen. But have no fear! About 4-6 weeks out from your elopement, we’ll hop on the phone and craft a relaxed and fun timeline for the day that is perfect for you. We’ll determine what times things start, go over the final details like a meeting place and weather backup plans as well. Then once we’ve finalized all details, I’ll send over a super helpful, general packing list for elopements for you two!
I also allow couples to add on additional time to their package at any point in the process because you may realize later you want extra time for activities and to not feel rushed or stressed about time running out. It’s always the best to pad your timeline with additional time just in case!
Get Married and have an Incredible Experience!
Now it’s time to relax, celebrate, and enjoy your elopement experience to the fullest! When you book with me I also send previews within the week after so you can relive memories immediately and share with friends too.
I hope this guide was helpful to you in brainstorming how to elope in Indiana, and that you’ve an idea of how to start planning your elopement. If you are in need of a photographer + elopement guide, shoot me a message and let’s start planning your dream elopement day!
