You want to get married in a national park, but how? From choosing the best national park to securing your permits and figuring out the cost, planning a national park wedding may feel a bit overwhelming, which is why I’ve put together a guide all about how to plan a national park wedding. Whether you’re narrowing down your location or are curious about how to get a permit for your ceremony, you’re in the right place!
How to Get Married in a National Park
Planning a national park wedding is just like planning a traditional wedding. If you’re looking for a detailed breakdown of each step, check out my full planning guide. Here’s a general overview of everything you need to do to get married in a national park:
- Choose your national park
- Pick a date
- Apply for a special use permit
- Hire your vendors
- Book your travel
- Get your marriage license
- Get married
10 Best National Parks to Get Married In
The first step in planning a national park wedding is choosing your national park. Whether you’re looking for mountains, waterfalls, forests, deserts, or all of the above, there’s a park for you. This is a list of the 10 best national parks to get married in.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is the most diverse national park in the United States. It’s home to alpine lakes, snow-capped mountains, temperate forests, roaring waterfalls, rocky beaches, and other unique landscapes. Olympic is one of the few national parks that’s also snow-free and open year-round!
- Landscapes: Mountains, lakes, forests, beaches, rivers, rainforests, waterfalls, wildflowers
- Best time of year to elope: May, June, September, and October
- Crowd level: Moderate
- Permit cost: $50
- Guest capacity: 50
Want to plan a wedding in Olympic? Check out my Olympic wedding guide!
Redwood National Park
Redwood National Park is one of my personal favorite national park wedding venues due to its remoteness (no crowds!). While most people think of the giant redwood trees, Redwood National Park is also home to some incredible black sand beaches and coastal overlooks. This national park doesn’t get snow and is open year-round. It’s also one of the more dog-friendly national parks on this list.
- Landscapes: Forest, beaches, rivers, meadows
- Best time of year to elope: May, June, September, and October
- Crowd level: Low
- Permit cost: $175
- Guest capacity: 20
A wedding in the redwoods calling your name? I have a step-by-step planning guide for that!
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks for a wedding. Known as “The Swiss Alps of America,” it offers stunning mountain views, alpine lakes, and endless hiking trails. If you love the mountains and don’t mind a bit of remoteness, this national park wedding venue is for you.
- Landscapes: Mountains, lakes, forests, rivers, rainforests, waterfalls, wildflowers
- Best time of year to elope: August and September
- Crowd level: Low to moderate
- Permit cost: $50
- Guest capacity: 12
Check out my North Cascades wedding guide to learn how to plan a wedding in the park!
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is Washington’s most famous national park. It’s a top choice for couples who want diverse landscapes while still being close to the big city of Seattle. This park is well known for its variety of different hiking trails, accessible mountain views, and summer wildflowers.
- Landscapes: Mountains, lakes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, wildflowers
- Best time of year to elope: August and September
- Crowd level: High
- Permit cost: $275
- Guest capacity: 24
Dreaming of a wedding in Mt. Rainier? I have a planning guide to help!
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is one of the most popular national park wedding venues on this list and for good reason. If you love mountains, wildlife, and feeling like you’re remote when you’re actually just minutes from town, you’ll love Grand Teton. This is a great honeymoon destination and fan favorite for couples who love mountain views without having to hike to see them.
- Landscapes: Mountains, lakes, forests, rivers
- Best time of year to elope: May, June, September, and October
- Crowd level: High
- Permit cost: $200
- Guest capacity: 40
Plan the mountain wedding of your dreams with my Grand Teton wedding guide.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is famous for its rocky beaches, lighthouses, and coastal overlooks. It’s home to the tallest point on the East Coast, gets some incredible fall foliage, and is recognized as one of the best places to watch the sunrise.
- Landscapes: Granite coastlines, hills, lakes, and forests
- Best time of year to elope: June and October
- Crowd level: Moderate to high
- Permit cost: $75
- Guest capacity: 50
Joshua Tree National Park
If you love warm weather and clean, minimalistic landscapes, look no further than Joshua Tree National Park. This park is home to unique rock formations, one-of-a-kind-trees, and some of the best night skies around. Not to mention how close it is to large cities like Palm Springs and Los Angeles.
- Landscapes: Joshua Trees, rock formations, sand dunes, flat valleys
- Best time of year to elope: March, April, October, and November
- Crowd level: Moderate
- Permit cost: $120
- Guest capacity: 100
I have a how-to guide when it comes to planning a wedding in Joshua Tree that you can see here!
Yosemite National Park
I knew you were waiting for this one, weren’t you? Everyone knows you can’t talk about national park weddings and not bring up Yosemite. Its sheer size and grandness alone will make you take a double take. With a variety of hiking trails, waterfalls, and picnic areas, Yosemite is the perfect place for a wedding of any size.
- Landscapes: Mountains, waterfalls, rivers, meadows, forests
- Best time of year to elope: May, June, and October
- Crowd level: High
- Permit cost: $150
- Guest capacity: 100
Of course I have a Yosemite wedding guide that you can see here!
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is popular for its turquoise water, jagged peaks, glaciers, and wildlife. Glacier tend to be a bit more strict than others when it comes to wedding locations, it’s still one of the best national park wedding venues for larger groups.
- Landscapes: Mountains, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, meadows, forests
- Best time of year to elope: September
- Crowd level: High
- Permit cost: $125
- Guest capacity: 100
Check my Glacier National Park wedding guide for all things planning!
Zion National Park
If you’re dreaming of a national park wedding with epic red rock views, Zion National Park is hard to beat. With towering sandstone cliffs, winding canyons, and open landscapes, it’s the perfect spot for an adventurous wedding or elopement.
- Landscapes: Petrified forests, red rocks, rivers, canyons, valleys
- Best time of year to elope: April, May, October, and November
- Crowd level: High
- Permit cost: $100
- Guest capacity: 100
How to Apply for a National Park Wedding Permit
To get married in a national park, you’ll need a special use permit. Costs range from $50 to $300, depending on the park.
Here’s how to apply:
- Go to the National Park Service website.
- Search for “[Your park] permit.”
- Click on the first link, which will direct you to the page that should have a “weddings” section with details about the application process, costs, and available ceremony locations.
- Fill out the application, submit it via email, and pay the fee online once you receive the payment link.
- Once approved, you’ll get your permit for the big day!
Tip: Apply at least 3 months before your wedding day. Some parks limit the number of weddings each year, and they don’t issue permits during holiday weekends.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Married in a National Park?
Technically, it only costs $50-$300 for a special use permit to get married in a national park. However, most couples end up spending between $5,000–$20,000 for the entire experience.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s an estimated breakdown for a 4-day, 3-night trip:
Luxury Elopement
- $650 – Plane tickets (East Coast to West Coast average)
- $400 – Rental car (SUV from Hertz)
- $1,500 – Airbnb (high end option)
- $10,000 – Elopement photographer (full-day coverage)
- $700 – Florals (bouquet + boutonnière + table)
- $900 – Hair and makeup
- $400 – Officiant
- $900 – Private chef
- $30 – Entrance pass
- $100 – Marriage license
- $150 – Special use permit
Total cost: $15,730
Affordable Elopement
- $650 – Plane tickets (East Coast to West Coast average)
- $300 – Rental car (sedan from Hertz)
- $700 – Airbnb (low end option)
- $6,000 – Elopement photographer (4 hours coverage)
- $250 – Florals (bouquet + boutonnière)
- $0 – Hair and makeup (DIY)
- $0 – Officiant (friend or family member)
- $30 – Entrance pass
- $100 – Marriage license
- $150 – Special use permit
Total cost: $8,180
Entrance Fees
Don’t forget, you’ll need a national park pass! It’s $30 for a 7-day pass or $80 for an annual pass. You can easily purchase one at the entrance station when you arrive by car.
National Park Wedding Restrictions
National parks have strict rules in place to preserve their beauty, specifically when it comes to weddings. Here are a few that you should be aware of:
Guest Count
Most national parks have 1-2 ceremony sites that can accommodate up to 100 people. However, if you’re looking for more options, I recommend limiting your guest count to no more than 12 for more flexibility.
Dates
Certain national parks, like Mt. Rainier, have specific days and times when weddings are allowed. You can usually find these details on the permit page for the park.
Decor
National parks typically don’t allow decor such as chairs, arbors, or tables. You also can’t bring speakers, non-native bouquets, or throw rice/confetti.
Crowds
National parks tend to be busy, especially during peak season. For the best chance of privacy, consider planning your elopement in the off-season, on a weekday, and during sunrise or sunset. Also, ask your photographer if they know of any secret, less-crowded locations!
Pets
Unfortunately, national parks are strict about pets. While some parks may have dog-friendly beaches and picnic areas, most prohibit pets on trails. It’s generally best to leave your furry friend at home.
Pro tip: If having your pet with you is important, consider getting married in a national forest or state park. National forests are typically more dog-friendly, often border national parks, and tend to be much less crowded!
National Park Wedding and Elopement Packages
Hey, I’m Brianna! I’m a Northern California-based elopement photographer who loves capturing weddings and elopements in national parks. If you’re thinking about a wedding in the great outdoors, I’m here to help make it happen!
I offer all-inclusive elopement packages that take the stress out of planning, so you can focus on enjoying the moment. I’ll help with everything from officiant services and finding the perfect spot to filling out permit applications and more.
Curious about what’s included in my packages? Check them out below. I’d love to help make your day unforgettable!
- 4 hours – 2 days of elopement coverage in any national park
- A personalized elopement planning experience with unlimited assistance
- Personalized elopement location recommendations
- Vendor, lodging, and activity recommendations
- Assistance and information to help you with permits, licenses, etc.
- 90+ page elopement planning guide filled with tips and tricks
- Customized elopement timelines
- Optional complimentary officiant services
- Online gallery with full resolution images and printing rights
- 24-48 hour sneak peeks to share with the world
- Travel fees to anywhere in the world are already included
- Starting at $8,000
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Don’t forget your FREE elopement guide!
An all-in-one planning guide for all things elopements! Whether you’re hoping to hike through the mountains of Washington or sip a margarita on the beaches of California, this comprehensive elopement guide has everything you need to know about how to plan the perfect elopement.
You? You’re the kind of person that gets a lil’ teary eyed looking at an epic view…
That moment when you turn to the person you’re with and ask, “Are you seeing this?” I live for it. Places with trees and mountains and soft breezes that make you say, “I can’t believe this place exists,” I spend pretty much all of my free time searching for and exploring them.
These places have always felt like home to me. And if you’re the kind of person who also feels more at home surrounded by trees than by people? Then we’ll get along really well. The Pacific Northwest is full of secret spots that are too special to share with just anyone. But it would make me happy to share them with you on your wedding day.
If the mountains/beaches/redwood forests are calling your name, go ahead…
(I promise you won’t regret it.)
P.S. I’m Brianna. My mission is to create custom, one-of-a-kind elopement experiences in the Pacific Northwest that allow couples to fully immerse themselves in the highest levels of excitement and wonder on a day designed exclusively for them.
