Idaho Elopement Packages & Venues

How to elope in Idaho

Idaho may still be slightly off the beaten track, but it won’t be for long. It is no wonder this hidden gem of a state is the fastest-growing in the United States. In the Intermountain Northwest, the Gem State is rich in natural parks, hot springs, and waterfalls higher than Niagara Falls. With some of the best-preserved 19th-century architecture this side of the Mississippi, Idaho is the perfect escape for exploration and outdoor recreation.

Why should I elope in Idaho?

Nature is huge in Idaho: as one of the Rocky Mountain states, it boasts more than 110 named mountain ranges, not to mention the beautiful bodies of water running through it. For a rugged and outdoorsy elopement, you can’t go wrong with an Idaho setting. Whether you seek snow-capped mountain peaks or white water rapids, Idaho’s natural beauty abounds. With four gorgeous seasons to choose from and less competition for elopement dates, it is never a bad idea to elope in Idaho.

Where can I elope in Idaho?

We offer elopement packages in Idaho with a focus on Boise and Sun Valley. If you’re looking for wide-open spaces and luxurious rolling hills, look no further than the Boise Foothills. Jutting right up against the capital city, the Boise Foothills is a great place for impressive elopement photography with the dazzling city skyline as your backdrop. If you’re looking for something straight out of a secret garden, the Idaho Botanical Garden is nestled on 50 lush acres and is home to a variety of themed gardens for your elopement ceremony. Choose from spaces like the Meditation Garden, Water Garden, and Rose Garden. Vendor fees will apply here. If architecture is what you crave, the Idaho Capital Building, buffered by green gardens and made of marble, makes for an extra enchanting and extra simple wedding venue. Note that reservations are not required for public use of the State Capitol, so permission to use these spaces is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you’re looking for a Sun Valley elopement, a truly unique destination unto itself is the Bow Bridge of the Big Wood River, a monumental pedestrian bridge spanning the Big Wood River. Over 160-feet long, the Bow Bridge connects the east and west sides of the Draper Wood River Preserve and the Hailey Greenway respectively. On the east side of the bridge, you’ll find a 17-foot steel arrow. If nature is more your speed, Redfish Lake is crystal clear and safe for swimming, flanked by the imposing peaks of the Sawtooth National Forest. With ultra-blue waters surrounded by deep green pines and snowy mountains, this lake doesn’t have any bad angles, making it a dream location for an elopement photo shoot.

How do I get married in Idaho?

You do not need to be a resident of Idaho to obtain an Idaho marriage license, but an Idaho State marriage license is only valid for ceremonies performed within the state of Idaho. Marriage licenses are issued by County Recorders and no appointment is necessary. Both you and your partner will need to appear together at a County Recorder’s Office with about $30, a valid form of identification, and a social security number for each applicant. Both parties will be required to read an AIDS information sheet. Once you have been granted your marriage license, you can go ahead and get married right away! There is no waiting period for using an Idaho marriage license and you do not need a witness for the marriage. Non-U.S. residents should bring identification from their home country. If either you or your partner does not have a social security number, you will need to get a letter from the nearest Social Security Office. You should also note that the marriage license fee varies by county and that some counties charge up to $20 more to process these requests on Saturdays.

How much does it cost to elope in Idaho?

Idaho is an affordable state to visit and elope in. On average, a trip to Idaho for two people costs around $1,779 for one week. To put this in perspective, this is less than the total cost for just one person to visit the Hawaiian islands for a week. Keep in mind that eloping in certain areas of Idaho, like the ski resort town of Sun Valley, will typically cost more than an average Idaho elopement. Our Idaho elopement packages are priced affordably from $400 for our more basic ceremony to $2,350 for our top-end package, with options in between. You can always arrange venue permits and find a photographer on your own, but our Idaho elopement packages match you with a personal coordinator to help you with all the logistics.

When is the best time of year to elope in Idaho?

Idaho experiences all four seasons to their fullest. Snowy winters make for magical scenery and epic skiing; Summers are picturesque and perfect for hiking; In autumn, the state’s fall foliage starts to pop, and with the spring comes the annual thaw and reawakening of Mother Nature. For an outdoor elopement in Idaho, be aware that winter can come early and stick around for ages. Once October arrives, temperatures begin to fall into the 50’s and beyond — and the chill won’t let up until late April or even May. Even on the fringes of these colder months, you will want to check the availability of certain trails, which may be closed due to excess snow. For self-proclaimed snow bunnies, a winter elopement in Idaho may be a good fit! Expect it to be both cold and snowy on a regular basis. If it’s a winter wonderland you’re after, Idaho has you covered. And, while summer in Idaho is sunny, keep in mind that August in Boise is very hot and dry. Temperatures regularly top 100 degrees and the sun can be punishing, so plan accordingly.

Article written by

Coby Carlson

Coby Carlson is a customer experience and elopement specialist for Simply Eloped and has planned small weddings all over the US. In Coby's spare time she loves hiking and camping.

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Read the real stories of couples that eloped in Idaho!

Nichole + Andrew

Fate has a way of bringing two people who may not have ordinarily met together, and that’s exactly how Nichole and Andrew’s love story began. After a chance encounter during their respective jobs, they knew that there was something between them, and slowly began falling for one another. After an intimate proposal, Nichole and Andrew knew that they wanted to keep their wedding day small, intimate and personal, without spending time and money on a large, more traditional wedding. They found their perfect venue at Redfish Lake in Idaho, and on July 1, 2020, Nichole and Andrew said their vows amongst a small group of loved ones. Read all about their big day – and the details leading up to it – below!

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another?

I was working for a bank, and he worked for our armored truck service, delivering us our shipment of money. It wasn’t always my job to accept the delivery, but all my coworkers knew when they saw him enter the building, I was making it my job that day. When I looked at him, I felt intrigued by him. When he looked at me, he [said he] had no idea that he had a chance.

When did you first fall in love? How did you know?

We fell in love slowly over time. We actually agreed that we would just be friends! We saw each other weekly and each week, the conversations got deeper and eventually, we realized that we were meant for each other. I’m not sure if it was when I caught him spending as much time saying goodbye to my cats as he did saying goodbye to me in the mornings, or if it was when he realized I’d drive through a blizzard just to spend time with him that we really fell in love. But one day we just realized we loved each other in that “you just know” kind of way that people in love can’t explain.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Andrew proposed to me in the park where we spent hours getting to know each other. That park is usually crowded with people, but in the middle of the day he got down on one knee and for those few minutes, nobody walked by. It’s like the world stopped for us to have that private moment. We’ve talked about how surreal that was.

What do you love about your partner?

I love that he is playful, thoughtful and willing to adventure through this world with me. He loves that I will always need him to kill the bugs in the house that nobody but me can spot.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Our dedication to one another and shared passion for living a life that is adventurous and meaningful.

Why did you decide to elope?

Our love is special to us and intimate. We wanted our wedding day to be the same way. We didn’t want to spend time, energy, and money on a big fancy party. We wanted to spend our day together, having fun with the people who made us who we are.

How did you find Simply Eloped?

I knew about it because of research I had done. But a close family friend mentioned this company to me, and I took it as a sign that we should pick them and trust them with our important day.

How did you know Simply Eloped was the right fit for you?

I spent months trying to find the perfect location. Simply Eloped was great at communicating with us and they found us the PERFECT spot to get married, in a state we never thought of, in a place nobody ever heard of.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

The mountains, the scenery, the fact that it was off the beaten path. It allowed us to have what we called an “adventure wedding.”

What activities did you do before the wedding? How did you prepare? How did you feel leading up to the moments of your elopement?

We spent the week horseback riding, white water rafting, exploring in an ATV rental, and relaxing under the stars next to the river. We spent our wedding morning out on a pontoon boat with all our friends. And leading up to the elopement, we felt energized and high on life. We felt ready.

Tell us about your experience with Simply Eloped leading up to and on your big day!

They were great with communication! We needed that because we didn’t live anywhere near where we got married. We had no idea what to really expect. We took a chance and it paid off!

How did you celebrate after?

We had dinner at Limberts and went back to our cabin to celebrate with all our guests.

What words of encouragement do you have for those considering eloping?

You need to do it. A wedding day should be about you and the love of your life and the fact that you found each other in this crazy world, and all the decisions in your life led up to this moment. Focus on how rare that is, and create a day for yourself that you will enjoy. You won’t regret it, and everyone will understand.

Planning: Simply Eloped
Officiation: John Moreland
Photography: Christine Hansen

Go back up

Erika + Kyle

They say that home is where the heart is, and Erika and Kyle knew from the moment they met that they had found home with each other. A chance meeting and a series of fortunate events brought these two together, and they haven’t looked back since. This wayfaring couple is always looking forward to find the next destination, but no matter where they go, they will always be at home with each other. Read more about how their straight-from-the-movies romance led to a gorgeous mountain elopement at Redfish Lake.

How did you meet? What was your first impression of one another?

Erika: I guess you can say it all started with a “home.” Our story sounds like a sweet country song. I was living in Nashville, Tennessee at the time. I wanted to move to Clarksville, to make my commute to work easier. A friend had told me about this charming tiny white house with a front porch surrounded by magnolia trees that was going to be available for rent over the next month. I pulled up to the address, parked my car, and that’s when I first saw Kyle. My heart literally skipped a beat. Kyle was outside having just pressure washed the porch. He was barefoot, wearing wranglers and said in his sweet southern drawl, “Hi, you must be Miss Erika.” I still remember the first time I heard his sweet laugh. The house was all of 300 square feet, so as cute as it was, the tour didn’t last that long. Instead, we ended up chatting for hours that day on the porch. As it turned out, Kyle was moving out of the house to relocate to Colorado. I ended up signing the lease that day, excited for my new home, but bummed the cute cowboy who lived there wouldn’t be local.

Kyle: I remember her leaving to sign the lease. I wanted to get her number but I didn’t want to be too forward.

Erika: Well it all worked out! I called my friends on the way home to Nashville and they were like “How was the house?” They still joke that the first thing out of my mouth is “Oh my God! A really good-looking cowboy lives there!” His huge heart was the first thing I was drawn to – he has a heart of gold. When I moved into the house a month later, I opened the mailbox and there was a stack of mail for Kyle. I was able to get his contact information and I messaged him asking if he would like me to shred some of the important looking documents.

Kyle: That’s when I said, “Hell no! I’m coming back to Tennessee to get them myself!”

Erika: Pretty close to that! He replied and said plans fell through in Colorado and that he still had work in Tennessee. And he asked if it would be alright if he stopped by in person to get the mail. I remember being so excited to see him again. I immediately said, “Yes! Come on over!” We started dating shortly after Kyle came back to Tennessee and the rest is history.

Kyle: Best decision I ever made. Next to asking her to marry me.

When did you first fall in love? How did you know?

Erika: I fell in love with Kyle’s heart the minute I met him. He has this huge, warm smile and kindness just echoes through his being. I had a crush on him for months! I think it was love at first sight for me.

Kyle: She is such a good person. We could talk like we had been friends forever. I thought she was beautiful when we met, but it was when I came back to Tennessee that I knew we had something special.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Erika: We were supposed to backpack Zion National Park last Thanksgiving. The weather turned crazy basically all over the country. We ended up heading to Joshua Tree National Park because it was the only area we could find that wasn’t getting plummeted with a storm. We drove out to Joshua Tree (from Arizona, where we were living at the time) and when we arrived, Kyle saw snow covering the San Bernardino Mountains. So we drove towards the mountains and stumbled upon Idyllwild, California. It was so cute! And absolutely covered in snow.

Kyle: It was awesome! I found us a campsite. We went in and spoke with the ranger, and she told us that in just an hour the town was going to have their annual tree-lightning where they lit up five giant Sequoia trees in the middle of town. I knew that was it.

Erika: It was the most beautiful mountain town engagement! I was so surprised when he proposed. After Kyle set up the tent, we walked into town and explored all the shops, and then he took me to a romantic dinner. When we left the restaurant there was a snowball fight happening in the center of town and we jumped in. We had a lot of laughs. After everyone went home, we took one last stroll around the lit up Sequoias and that’s when Kyle took me to the center of them all and got down on one knee. Of course I shouted yes! It took my breath away.

What do you love about your partner?

Erika: Gosh, I just love everything! I love Kyle’s heart, and how generous he is. He is willing to help anyone and he always shows up for the people he cares about. I love how I can always count on him and I know he will always protect me and keep me safe. He is the perfect combination of a spontaneous soul with a grounded heart. He is my favorite adventure and he has shown me that I am capable of so many things I never knew. I would never have lived my life this fully if it weren’t for him.

Kyle: Erika is beautiful inside and out. She would do anything for me. She is sweet, caring and kind. She has shown me what love really is, and she is my best friend.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Kyle: Appreciation. Erika has always been so thankful for what we have and she shows me her gratitude every day. Waking up early to pack me a lunch, making sure my coveralls are clean for work, having a warm meal on the table when I come home from the shop…little things like that.

Erika: It took forever for me to find Kyle, and he is better than anyone I could have ever imagined for myself. I would say committing to making each other’s life better by being in it. We both want what’s best for each other. We support each other and we are always looking out for each other’s needs.