How to Elope in New York: Everything You Need to Know

Whether you’re celebrating your love in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the big apple, having a slower ceremony near the wineries in the finger lakes, or escaping into the Adirondacks for private vows, New York has something for every couple looking to elope. The question is — how to elope in New York?

The steps to make your marriage legal, whether an elopement, a micro wedding or a traditional wedding, can feel complicated and tedious. With some planning and a little bit of help, it can be done quickly and stress free! Here, we’ll review:

• How to obtain a marriage license 
• How many witnesses are required
• All inclusive New York elopement packages
• Top booked venues in New York on Simply Eloped
• Post elopement: getting a marriage certificate
• Post elopement: changing your last name

How to Get your Marriage License

Your marriage license is the most important part of your marriage process. This is because to get married in New York, or really anywhere in the US, you need a marriage license. To obtain that, you can begin the application process online, but you must go apply in person to any town or city clerk in the state to obtain the license. Your application needs to be signed by both you and your partner in the presence of the town or city clerk. If you’re eloping in New York City, you will need to schedule an in-person appointment with the New York City Marriage Bureau. Keep in mind that the online application will expire after 21 days, so don’t begin the application process too soon.

You’ll need to provide proof of age (you must be 18 in New York State) and identity by sharing one of the following documents:

• IDNYC
• Driver License with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its territories)
• Non-Driver Identification Card with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its territories)
• Learner Permit with photograph (from the United States of America or any of its territories)
• Active United States Military Identification Card
• Passport
• United States Certificate of Naturalization (good for 10 years after date of issue)
• United States Permanent Resident Card
• United States Employment Authorization Card

The marriage license application fee outside of New York City is $40.00 and in New York City it’s $35.00. Once you receive your marriage license it’s valid for 60 days (if you or your partner are active military personnel, it’s valid for 180 days), and you must wait a full 24 hours before your marriage ceremony can be performed unless you obtain a Judicial Waiver.

Obtaining a Wedding Officiant and Witnesses

In New York state, you will need an officiant and at least one witness who is at least 18 years old in order to get married. 

You can have a Civil Marriage Ceremony in the City Clerk’s office if you make an appointment and bring the proper identification that you brought in order to obtain your marriage license. Your witness must also bring proper identification. 

To elope outside of the city clerk’s office, you can choose any location within New York state. Your ceremony must be conducted by an officiant who is registered with the Office of the City Clerk. After your ceremony, your officiant, you and your partner, and your witness will need to sign the marriage license. Your officiant then needs to mail the license to the Manhattan office within five business days after the ceremony.

All Inclusive New York Elopement Packages

Simply Eloped offers a number of customizable elopement packages for your New York elopement! Our Seed, Simply Photographed, Sprout, Bloom, and Oasis packages are available in New York. This provides each couple the unique opportunity to build their perfect, customizable elopement package from top to bottom. Here are a few details on each package. To see more information on each of these New York elopement packages, click here.

• Seed Package Details: Includes professional officiant, personalized ceremony, advice on obtaining your marriage license and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Simply Photographed Details: Covers one hour of professional photography, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Sprout Package Details: Offers a professional officiant, personalized ceremony, one hour of photography, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Bloom Package Details: Includes a professional officiant, personalized ceremony, one hour of photography, a Nosegay bouquet and boutonniere, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Oasis Package Details: Covers professional officiant, two hours of photography, one hour of videography, hair and make up for one person, a Nosegay bouquet and boutonniere and dedicated Elopement Specialist.

Our Favorite Places to Elope in New York

A Treehouse for Dreaming

If you’re looking for an extra private nook in Central Park, A Treehouse for Dreaming, also known as the Dene Summerhouse is a private gazebo situated on the outskirts of the park perfect for an intimate elopement with up to 20 guests (including the couple and vendors). This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—however permits cannot be coordinated with less than 30 days notice. It’s available year round for 1 hour ceremonies between 9 AM and 3 PM (no ceremonies are allowed after 3 PM), but permits are only issued from November to March.

This venue is wheelchair accessible, and does allow for streaming, so you can have guests tune in from afar. Chairs and decor are not allowed, and as it’s in Central Park, alcohol is not permitted as well. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash between the hours of 9 AM and 9 PM. Music is allowed at this venue, so you can celebrate the moment with a favorite song. As for parking, we’d recommend taking a taxi or a horse-drawn carriage through the park to get to the gazebo.

Bethesda Arcade

For a unique and historic touch to your Central Park elopement, consider exchanging vows at Bethesda Arcade. This is an arched, interior walkway in the center of the park that connects the Mall to Bethesda Fountain and the Central Park Lake. The interior of the walkway features Minton tiles and the whole structure was built in the 1860’s. While incredibly public, this is a darling spot for your traditional Central Park ceremony.

This venue is available year round and does not require a permit. It can accommodate up to 20 guests (including the couple and vendors), and does allow streaming for those who can’t celebrate with you in person. The main part of the terrace is wheelchair accessible as well. Chairs and decor are not allowed, and as it’s in Central Park, alcohol is not permitted as well. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash between the hours of 9 AM and 9 PM. Music is allowed at this venue as well, so you can celebrate the moment with a favorite song. As for parking, we’d recommend taking a taxi or a horse-drawn carriage through the park to get to Bethesda Arcade.

Wagner Cove

Wagner cove is an adorable little nook in Central Park with a small covered structure on the side of a creek, perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony. It’s tucked away from the main walking paths through the park, offering a more tranquil spot to say “I do” with up to 15 people (including the couple and vendors). This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—however permits cannot be coordinated with less than 30 days notice. It’s available year round for one hour ceremonies between 9 AM and 3 PM (no ceremonies are allowed after 3 PM), but permits are only issued from November to March.

This venue is not wheelchair accessible, but does allow for streaming, so you can have guests tune in from afar. Due to the venue’s size, chairs and decor are not allowed, and as it’s in Central Park, alcohol is not permitted as well. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash between the hours of 9 AM and 9 PM. Music is allowed at this venue as well, so you can celebrate the moment with a favorite song. As for parking, we’d recommend taking a taxi or a horse-drawn carriage through the park to get to Wagner Cove.

Cop Cot

Cop Cot is a larger gazebo covered in Trumpet Vine in Central Park, perfect for larger elopement parties of up to 30 guests (not including the couple and vendors). This gazebo is one of the oldest structures in Central Park, and it’s situated at the top of a small hill, giving it its name with “Cop Cot” meaning “little house on the crest of the hill” in Scottish. This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—however permits cannot be coordinated with less than 30 days notice. It’s available year round for one hour ceremonies between 9 AM and 3 PM (no ceremonies are allowed after 3 PM), but permits are only issued from November to March.

This venue is wheelchair accessible, and it does allow for streaming, so you can have guests tune in from afar. Chairs and decor are not allowed, and as it’s in Central Park, alcohol is not permitted as well. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash between the hours of 9 AM and 9 PM. Music is allowed at this venue as well, so you can celebrate the moment with a favorite song. As for parking, we’d recommend taking a taxi or a horse-drawn carriage through the park to get to Wagner Cove.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a fantastic spot for your small ceremony. There are many backdrops in the park to choose from, including the NY Skyline across the bay or the actual Brooklyn Bridge. This venue does require a permit, which you and your partner will need to apply for regardless of the size of your ceremony. 

This venue is wheelchair accessible and allows for streaming, it can accommodate up to 40 guests (not including the couple and vendors), and allows for up to 10 folding chairs as needed. Since it is a park, alcohol is not allowed at this venue, however there are plenty of nearby bars and restaurants to pop a bottle of champagne after your celebration. Pets are allowed but must remain on a leash. As for parking, we’d recommend taking a taxi. 

Get Your Marriage Certificate

You’ll receive a Certificate of Marriage Registration documenting your wedding date, time, location, your Marriage Officiant’s name and title and any name changes. If you get married in the City Clerk’s office, you’ll receive this certificate at the end of your ceremony, but if you get married outside of their office, you’ll receive the certificate in the mail within 20 days from the date they receive and process your marriage license. 

How to Change your Last Name in New York

New York state law allows you to change your middle or last name as part of the marriage licensing process. It will not change automatically, but you can elect to change it when you apply for your marriage license, and if you do so, the change takes effect immediately after your ceremony. 

Your new surname can change to the following options:

• The surname of either spouse; or
• Any former surname of either spouse; or
• A name combining into a single surname, all or a segment of, the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each spouse; or
• A combination surname separated by a hyphen or a space, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses

And your new middle name can change to the following options:

• The current surname of the spouse electing to change his or her name; or
• Any former surname of the spouse electing to change his or her name; or
• The surname of the other spouse.

To change your name on your legal documents after that, head to the Social Security Administration’s website, and fill out the questionnaire. Once completed, the website will tell you whether you can make the request to change your name online, or if you need to go to a local office to make the request in person.

After you’ve changed your name with the Social Security Administration, you can head to the DMV to update your driver’s license. Don’t forget to bring your current license, your certified marriage certificate, and an Official US Court Name Change document in order to change your name on your driver’s license. You’ll need to fill out form MV-44NC and bring that with you as well.

To update your name on your passport, head to the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website. 

• If it’s been less than one year since your passport was issued and your name was legally changed, you will need to submit form DS-5504, your most recent US passport, An original or certified document showing you changed your name less than one year after your most recent passport was issued like your marriage certificate, and a passport photo by mail. The instructions for mailing these items is on form DS-5504.
• If it’s been more than a year since your passport was issued or since you changed your name, you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail using Form DS-82 or apply in person using Form DS-11.
  • You can renew by mail if your most recent passport is submitted with your application, is undamaged, was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and was issued in your current name (or you can show the name change). If you meet all of these requirements, you can submit form DS-82, your most recent US passport, your original or certified name change document like your marriage certificate, one color passport photo, a fee (which will depend on your age) by mail to the address listed on form DS-82.
  • To apply in person, find a location near you on the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs that issues passports. You’ll need to bring form DS-11, evidence of US citizenship, your original or certified name change document like your marriage certificate, Valid ID and photocopy of that ID, one color passport photo, and a fee (which will depend on your age).

Once you’ve completed the marriage license application and elected to change your name, you’ve done the tallest task of completing your legal name change apart from actually getting married. After your ceremony, you’ll then want to go through your accounts, credit cards, bank accounts, employers and insurance to make sure your name is up to date. It seems like a lot because it is! Take this process step by step, and it should all go smoothly. There’s also many businesses that help with the name changing process.

Eloping is an exciting moment in you and your partner’s life! Though there’s a few steps to get you down the aisle, Simply Eloped is here to support you in the full process. To learn more about our packages and services, chat with one of our Elopement Designers.

This article has been fact checked and reviewed for accuracy by a Simply Eloped Personal Elopement Specialist in January 2026.