A Road Trip Wedding is a Destination Wedding on the GO!

Hit the road for an adventure elopement like no other: Road trip weddings combine a destination wedding & honeymoon road trip

 

 

Start your marriage off with an unforgettable adventure: a road trip wedding! 

 

What is a Road Trip Wedding, You Ask? 

 

Road trip weddings are a wedding and honeymoon rolled into one: Take your vows in your dream destination while traveling the open road together! Discover new places, visit cute cafes and thrift shops, explore friendly bars, breweries, and restaurants, see the sights, visit friends and relatives at stops along the way (or bring them along for the ride!) and make lasting memories as newlyweds. 

 

Sounds like the adventure of a lifetime doesn’t it? We like to think of it as an adventure that launches a lifetime – kickstarting a lifetime of marriage, wanderlust, and love. 

 

So pack your bags and jump in! Here’s everything you need to know to start planning a unique adventure elopement! 

 

 

If you've asked yourself this question: 'Should we have a wedding or go on vacation?' then a traveling destination wedding is probably for you!  (Photo: Nikola Stojadinovic / iStock)

 

 

Pros & Cons of Eloping with a Road Trip Wedding

 

So before we get into how to plan a road trip wedding, here’s a look at why you might want to have one – and why you might not want to. Here's a quick roundup of the benefits and drawbacks of eloping. 

 

Pros: Benefits of Eloping on the GO

 

• See family & friends all over the country on your own timeline: If you love adventure like we do, it makes sense that your favorite people – your friends, relatives, and chosen family – are spread out all over the country. Trying to get all these wonderful people in one place at one time for just one day of festivities can be overwhelming, expensive, and ultimately unsatisfying. With a road trip wedding, you bring the fun to them, on your own timeline. 

 

• Make the best use of limited money and vacation time: The cost of weddings is up up up these days thanks to inflation, and vacation time is tough to come by. Many couples are forced to choose between a wedding and a honeymoon or vacation, or are deciding not having a wedding all together. With a road trip wedding, you don’t have to choose! Your wedding is a vacation, and you’ll probably spend a lot less than the average wedding cost. 

 

• Adventure, variety, the thrill of the open road: This kinda goes without saying, but hell yes! Road trips are FUN. The promise of new horizons, quirky roadside stops, packed playlists, delightful detours, hidden gems, and new stories is enough to make us pack our bags right now. If you share a love of adventure and wanderlust, this one’s for you.

 

• A wedding photo album filled with unforgettable memories & momentos: If you love photos, videos, and keepsakes of your time together, this is a big bonus! Your road trip wedding album will be filled with cute videos of the two of you; photos of scenic overlooks and stunning sunsets; ticket stubs, wristbands, and receipts commemorating your activities; and snapshots with friends and family along the way. Keepsakes like these can feel more authentic and fun than the typical wedding album fare, and they're blast to post and share after. So ditch the shots of standard wedding decor for sundrenched beach scenes, forest hikes, or sweet cafe selfies! 

 

 

Looking for fun & relaxed second wedding ideas for older couples? Then grab your pup or your kids, your sandals, and your sunglasses -- a destination wedding on the road might be right for you!  (Photo: Marilyn Nieves / iStock)

 

 

Cons: Reasons you might regret eloping on the GO

 

• Unexpected hiccups: Of course, no wedding plan is perfect and no road trip goes perfectly to plan! (This would be true even if you didn’t travel for the wedding.) If travel is a source of stress for you, an adventure elopement probably isn’t the best choice. You might encounter unexpected traffic, weather, or vehicle issues – on top of the logistics of applying for a marriage license and choosing a wedding officiant. You’ll need to go with the flow for this one! 

 

• More time than a typical wedding: This one is both a positive and a negative, depending on who you ask. A typical wedding is only one day – one and done. For some couples, this might be a relief, and it’s certainly something to consider. A road trip wedding is multiple days with many activities spread out over several stops (that’s kinda the point). Do you want a one-day event, or an adventure? 

 

• More expensive than a simple elopement or courthouse wedding: While a road trip wedding can be much cheaper than the average cost of a wedding (and combines the cost of an elopement and honeymoon to get more fun for your buck), it can also be more expensive than a simple courthouse wedding or small elopement ceremony in your town. If you’re on a very tight budget, you might want to spread out the cost of your ceremony and honeymoon. 

 

• No family at wedding / no friends at wedding: Again, this one can go either way depending on the couple! One of the biggest realities of eloping is that the guest list is usually smaller than at a traditional wedding, which some couples regret. On the other hand, you might see more friends and family if you travel to them, or have more quality time with them during a road trip wedding. (And some couples love the idea not seeing relatives on the big day, and prefer to catch up with them after taking private wedding vows.) Weigh this one carefully to decide what's right for you. 

 

 

 

Wondering how to pack wedding dress in suitcase? Get more mileage out of your wedding attire: dresses and suits travel well with a little planning, so there's no need to leave them at home! It's easy, just grab a garment bag, roll the dress or suit gently, and be sure to pack it on top so it doesn't get wrinkled on the road! (Photo: AscentXmedia / iStock)

 

 

How to Plan a Road Trip Wedding: A Dreamy, Wanderlust Inspired Adventure Elopement 

 

If you’re already envisioning what to bring, it’s time to start planning! Your plan will include typical steps for planning an elopement, such as applying for a marriage license and finding a wedding officiant, and planning a road trip. 

 

Let’s take a look! 

1. Decide Where You Want to Go & How Much Time You Have to Travel 

 

Like any destination wedding or road trip, the first step is to decide where you want to go and how long you have to spend there!

 

Pull out the map and ask yourself questions like these: Will you start and end at the same destination? Will you fly to your starting point, rent a car or camper van, or stop at free campsites? Which cities, towns, and people do you want to visit the most? Will you take a long weekend, a week, or two weeks to make your trip?

 

Below are a few road trip ideas to get the creativity flowing!

 

On a long weekend, consider: 

 

• A colorful fall New England road trip! Renee Roaming suggests flying into Boston in October for a four day drive from Dixville Notch State Park in New Hampshire; to Stowe, Vermont; to Smugglers Notch; to Pomfret; to Franconia Notch State Park (back in NH) and the White Mountains. 

 

New England fall road trip itinerary: Boston → Dixville Notch → Stowe → Smugglers Notch → Pomfret → Franconia Notch & White Mountains → Boston

 

• A desert excursion with magical southwest vibes & elope in Vegas! Adventuring Eyes recommends a flight into Las Vegas (filled with cute wedding chapels), followed by a drive to Valley of Fire State Park with a stop at Lake Mead; on to St. George, Utah and Snow Canyon State Park; to Zion National Park and Kanarra Falls, and back to Vegas for a show!

 

Las Vegas canyon road trip itinerary: Las Vegas → Lake Mead → Valley of Fire → St. George → Snow Canyon → Zion National Park → Kanarra Falls → Las Vegas

 

(If you have more time, consider a fun Las Vegas to Grand Canyon road trip, or a Denver to Las Vegas road trip with an Elvis chapel as your final destination!)

 

If you have a week or two, even better! On a week-long road trip you can drive from coast to coast to visit friends and family, check out state or national parks, visit famous landmarks, and anything else you want to see! 

 

A few wedding road trip itinerary suggestions for a week or two weeks include: 

 

• Drive along Route #66 making stops from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California

 

• Stop along the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco, to Big Sur, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles

 

• Check out the Florida Keys with a trip from Miami to Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park, and more

 

(See more US road trip itinerary reccs in this article from EarthTrekkers)

 

And countless others… You get the idea! 

 

 

Get married on vacation: Take your love on the road with a fun adventure elopement and road trip honeymoon in one! (Photo: The Chaffins Photography)

 

 

2. Pick Your Dream Elopement Destination & Research the Local Marriage License Application Process

 

Once you have your itinerary planned, it’s time to pick the location where you’ll actually elope and research the marriage license process there. This elopement destination might be in a city or town where friends or relatives live, or a place that’s just for the two of you. 

 

Getting married in another state: An important reminder about the marriage license:

 

You must apply for your marriage license in the same state where your elopement ceremony will take place, and possibly the same county. The application process will depend on your location; state marriage laws vary, and you might need to bring specific types of ID or documents with you, so it's important to do some research before you leave home.

 

Don’t worry though! Applying for a marriage license in another state is not as complicated as it sounds as long, as you plan ahead. Find out more here:

 

• Understanding the Wedding License Process / Marriage License Basics

 

 

A wedding venue is any place you want it to be! (With the property owner's permission of course.) Whether you're dreaming of an adventurous forest wedding, a Vegas chapel, or a sweet beach elopement, a road trip wedding can get you there! (Photo: Gerald Corsi / iStock / Yosemite Valley Chapel in California)

 

 

3. Choose Your Wedding Venue & Book in Advance (if Needed)

 

In addition to applying for a marriage license, you may also need to book a wedding venue. 

 

How you approach this will depend on whether you want a formal or traditional elopement ceremony (with flowers, lighting, and typical wedding decor) or an informal, nontraditional elopement (such as exchanging vows over coffee at the local diner, on the hiking trail, or in front of a judge at the courthouse). 
 
If you want to get married in a traditional wedding venue or wedding chapel, you should plan to book a few months in advance (at least), or research same-day wedding chapels in the area. If you take a more casual or adventurous fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach, you might not need to book a venue at all. 

 

 

4. Choose a Wedding Officiant & Check the Local Officiant Registration Requirements

 

This is one of our favorite parts of the entire wedding planning process! You can ask a friend or relative to marry you; your friend can get ordained online free with AMM and use our online officiant training resources to perform the perfect elopement ceremony. This is a great option for a low-cost or free wedding officiant, and can make the ceremony feel truly personal and intimate. Bring your friend officiant along for the ride, or meet up with them in your elopement destination!

 

If you choose a friend to officiate, they might need to register locally before performing your ceremony. This is an easy process, but it can take a couple days to a couple weeks to complete. Click the link below to get started:

 

• Weddings by State: Officiant Registration Requirements

 

If it will just be the two of you at the ceremony, you can hire a professional wedding officiant in your elopement destination. Wedding officiants can book up quickly, so be sure to hire one in advance. 

 

As an alternative, you might be able to get married at the local courthouse or city hall in your destination; but keep in mind that marriage services are not offered at all courthouses, and you may need to schedule an appointment a few weeks in advance. You might not be able to purchase your marriage license and get married on the same day.

 

• Learn about the marriage waiting period, expiration date, and return process.

 

The more the marrier! Having a friend officiate your wedding is a great way to make your trip even sweeter! Bring them along for the ride or meet up with them in your chosen elopement location. Friends and relatives can get ordained online free with AMM to officiate a wedding - just click the link at the top of the page to get started!  (Photo: wagnerokasaki / iStock)

 

 

4. Map out Your Lodging & Fun Excursions

 

Now that you have the important travel and wedding logistics out of the way, it’s time for the lighter side of trip planning! 

 

Choose which nights you’ll stay in a hotel or resort, park your camper, or put up your tent for the night, and book your lodging in advance. Then map out fun destinations nearby and make a list of all the things you want to see and do! 

 

 

5. Spread the News & Let Friends and Relatives Know if You’ll Be Passing Through Town

 

Let your favorite people know you hope to see them along the way! Send out Save the Date cards to share the news of your upcoming wedding and give your loved ones your travel itinerary. 

 

Check out a great example of a road trip wedding itinerary postcard in this Bustle article: F Weddings — We're Having A Dinner Party Road Trip

 

 

Elopement adventure planning can be easy if you give yourself enough time to apply for your marriage license, find an officiant, and choose a destination (or a dozen destinations!). Follow the simple steps above to get started, and we'll see you out there! Congratulations on your marriage and wishing you many years -- and miles -- of happiness! (Photo: Jovana Stojanovic / iStock)

 

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More Wedding Ideas & Inspiration 

 

Read Next: 

 

• How to Get Married in Another Country in a Dreamy Destination Wedding
   
• A Wedding Officiant's Guide to Performing Destination and Cruise Ship Weddings
   
• How to Ask Someone to Officiate Your Wedding - Our Favorite Way to Say 'Will You Marry Us?'
   

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Become a Wedding Officiant Online with American Marriage Ministries!
 

Get ordained online free with AMM and learn how to become a wedding officiant for friends and relatives! 

|* custom-button, "https://theamm.org/ordination-application", "ORDAINED MINISTER ONLINE APPLICATION" *|
Why AMM? American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings. Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expire.

 

Officiating weddings is an incredible honor, and a great way to show your love and support for the people getting married. As a wedding officiant, you will help to create memorable ceremonies and memories that last a lifetime.

AMM Ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state* (it's much harder in Virginia, where we're looking into our options). After getting ordained with AMM, you might need to register your ordination with your local county clerk’s office. Click the link above to get started! 

 

 

Become an ordained minister online with American Marriage Ministries and officiate wedding for friends and relatives. (Photo: Anchiy / iStock)

 

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