Why the Northeast is a Hidden Gem for Elopements
When you first think of eloping, the Northeast might not be the first place that pops into your head. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be one of your top destinations! With just about every type of terrain and climate imaginable, the Northeast is a highly underrated elopement destination, and travel destination in general. The Northeast is home to incredible mountain ranges, beaches, and distinct beauty that you can’t find anywhere else.
Location, location, location
If you’re looking for the ultimate private destination for your elopement, you should definitely consider the Northeast. There are a ton of amazing mountain ranges to choose from, like the Catskills, White Mountains, and the Adirondacks. There are also dozens of incredible beaches all the way up the coast, from Maine to Maryland. Another awesome plus side is, these places are nowhere near as popular as destinations in the West, but they’re just as beautiful. You won’t be competing with dozens of other couples to snag these locations for your elopement!
Another benefit of the Northeast is that everything is quite condensed. On the East Coast, you’ll be in close proximity to just about anything you could imagine. You’ll have access to alpine lakes, historic cities, quaint small towns, and warm beaches within hours from each other. In states like Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut you can get to the mountains and the beach without even leaving the state! This is perfect for mixing family time and alone time on your wedding day, have the beach elopement of your dreams then head out to the town and have the night of your life!
If you’re considering a Northeast elopement, it’s probably because you live here already or you have family in the Northeast. If that is the case and you do choose the Northeast, you get all of the benefits of a destination wedding without any of the hassle, and you’ll probably save some money in the long run!
Seasons are a thing!
A major benefit of the Northeast is the seasons!!!! Having a distinct difference between winter, spring, summer, and fall provides an entirely different elopement experience depending on what season you pick. Northeast seasons are fairly predictable and can be easy to plan around, I can tell you all the best spots for beautiful fall foliage or when to expect exciting spring blooms!
If you’re planning on eloping in winter, make sure you do your research! Winter elopements can be beautiful, but some states are much harder to navigate than others in the winter. If you want to have an upstate New York wedding, be prepared to deal with feet of snow that seems to never end! If you’re looking for snow that’s a little less intense, look at New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Save that money!!
Eloping in the Northeast may save some people a lot of money, for a number of reasons. If you’re already living on the East Coast, you’ve definitely lucked out! You don’t have to travel as far as you’d think to have an elopement of epic (or chill) proportions, and you can save on a lot of those travel expenses.
Another benefit for your wallet is the seasonality of the East coast. Sometimes, destinations on the West coast don’t really have off-seasons, so they’re incredibly expensive all year long. In states like Colorado or Utah, there is an extremely limited time-frame for decent weather. Meaning instead of having 365 days to elope, you might only have 3 or 4 months! Whether they have clear blue skies and 80-degree temperatures or 10ft of snow, places to stay in these locations will always be expensive and hard to come by. But most places on the East coast do operate seasonally. So, if you want to get married in winter in the mountains or fall at the beach, your elopement will be much cheaper than it would during the spring and summer.
Plus, eloping and travel on the East coast is just generally cheaper than the West coast, unless you pick a really popular, wealthy area like Martha’s Vineyard or the Berkshires you can get a lot of bang for your buck! So either way, you’ll save a bit of money for a down payment on a house, a van build-out, or whatever your heart may desire!
Freedom to do things your way
The beauty of elopements is that there is absolutely no pressure to meet anyone’s expectations. When you elope, regardless of location, the best thing is that you can make your wedding day exactly the way you want it to be. If you want to have a wedding with a handful of your closest family and friends in an Airbnb on the beach, you can do that. If you want a private sunrise ceremony with just you and your partner, you can do that too! Plus, eloping in the Northeast provides a wide array of adventures to choose from. You can extend your wedding experience from just one day to a whole weekend (or week) full of unique experiences and adventures!
Weddings don’t have to be about anyone but you and your partner. They can be as simple or extravagant as you want them to be. If you’re interested in learning more about elopements or intimate weddings, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or check out my website!
Want my help planning your Northeast elopement?
If you’re looking for an elopement photographer, destination advice-giver, and wedding hypewoman all in one, you’ve come to the right place! As someone who has lived in the Northeast their whole life, I can recommend dozens of elopement destinations that would be perfectly suited to you and your boo. If you’re looking for more information, contact me here or send me an email at hello@beatrizveray.com!