Elope in Idaho

Idaho is the underdog for the best elopement location. Most people either confuse Idaho with Iowa or only know it by The Great Potato State. However, Idaho is a well-kept secret for private lakes, quiet mountain-tops and fields of bright wildflowers. This great state is home to all types of stunning terrain that is perfect for your outdoor elopement.

Check out what happens after you book your elopement with us

intro video

Why is Idaho awesome

1

The Great Potato State is the underdog for underrated venues for a magical elopement day.

2

Private lakes and quiet mountaintops make for the perfect setting for your intimate elopement.

3

Dance the night away after your ceremony in Idaho’s bright wildflower fields. The stunning terrain alone will wow you.

Idaho Elopement Locations

Places to elope
view all

Boise

Idaho is the underdog for elopement locations. Most people either confuse Idaho with Iowa or only know it by The...

Read More

Sun Valley

Sun Valley and Stanley are perfect mountain towns for your memorable elopement. Whether you’re seeking a lakeside or open meadow,...

Read More

Idaho Elopement Packages

Our goal is to make it easy for a couple to elope in Idaho and we’ve designed elopement packages in Idaho that’ll help you do just that!

Idaho

Wildflower Experience

How about a dreamy adventure elopement?

Learn More

Simply Eloped has been seen in

We got married and it was such an amazing experience. I highly recommend Simply Eloped to EVERYONE!

Erica and Jared
Erica and Jared

My husband and I found Simply Eloped online about 6 months ago, and are so glad we did! It was perfect! I had so much anxiety about planning it long distance and all of the details coming together, but as soon as the moment came all of my stress was gone. Our flowers were absolutely stunning, the ceremony went smoothly! I would absolutely recommend Simply Eloped!

Jillian and Tyler
Jillian and Tyler

Amazing! Deciding to do this 2 weeks out, the team really worked with us. From the personal phone calls to the many emails to ensure everyone knew the important details of our reply to make the ceremony unique to us. Thank you for working with us. The day meant so much. We couldn’t be happier.

Abbigayle and Braydon
Abbigayle and Braydon

The streamline and simplicity of Simply Eloped is what hooked me. I am busy with work, so having to deal with as little as possible is what was perfect for me. They were all just simply fantastic! They all knew exactly what they were doing and made things flow so marvelously.

Maegan and Steven
Maegan and Steven

They were wonderful! Don’t think there’s anything that could have been better they were both really great to work with, thank you for everything!

Katherine and Cory
Katherine and Cory

Everything was perfect!! Thank you for everything, we both had a perfect stress free day!

Matt and Makenzi
Matt and Makenzi

Thank you for everything.

Britney and Zeke
Britney and Zeke

We had a great experience. Thank y’all so much.

Erica and D'Ashia
Erica and D'Ashia

Thank you, Simply Eloped, for everything. We had the best day.

Erika and Kyle
Erika and Kyle

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.

Coby Carlson

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.

Reading corner

Read the real stories of couples that eloped in Idaho!

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

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.

 

Why did you decide to elope? 

Erika: We wanted to experience a totally intimate wedding celebration – a day focused on just the two of us and saying our vows out loud for God to hear. I didn’t want the pressure, anxiety and obligations that can come with having a traditional wedding.

Kyle: We wanted it to feel like “us.” Free spirited but real, honest and meaningful.

 

How did you find Simply Eloped?

Erika: I Google searched elopements.

 

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

Erika: I had been researching various vendors and it seemed like a lot to manage for an event that I truly wanted to keep simple, fun and special. It was very important to us that we keep the focus on the love shared between us and the significance of the commitment we were making to share the rest of our lives together.

Kyle: When Erika told me that Simply Eloped does everything for the couple and all we had to do was dress up and show up — that sounded good to me!

 

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at? 

Erika: We wanted an outdoor location that captured our spirit of adventure. We live on a ranch in Wyoming and we just had to have mountains, cabins and horses with us or it wouldn’t feel like home. Redfish Lake is absolutely beautiful and created the peaceful and calming atmosphere that we wanted to experience on such an important day.

Kyle: Definitely the mountains. The Sawtooths are awesome.

 

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

Erika: I loved our wedding day. We chose an afternoon ceremony and by going through Simply Eloped, we were able to wake up slow and start our day with a stroll around the lake. We hung out in our cabin and just took our time getting ready. Kyle went on a hike with his dog, Cinch, while I was doing my hair and makeup. It was really peaceful and so enjoyable. We happened to elope while the wildfire smoke was encompassing the Sawtooth Mountains. I looked out and saw our location for the first time when I walked down the beach to meet my husband. I said “Wow, this is really beautiful.” It looked like we were getting married in the clouds. Our officiant Jill said, “Yes, it’s like we’re in the Heavens.” It was perfect.

 

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

Erika: Simply Eloped was amazing! I tell everyone to check them out. I can’t imagine having our wedding any other way. Olivia answered all of the questions that I had when it came to choosing our location. Haley introduced me to the wonderful Jill Iris, our officiant, and the amazing Jenni Simpson, our photographer. The whole experience was perfectly simple and truly enjoyable. Jenni went out of her way to make sure she captured every element I was dreaming of. Jill tailored our ceremony to include our favorite Bible passages and do a special reading of The Four Directions blessing that tied in the location with who we are as a couple and what we desire for our marriage. The day was flawless and Kyle and I have only positive memories of our wedding. We are so grateful to Simply Eloped.

 

How did you celebrate after?

Erika: After our ceremony we went to an intimate dinner with a few special loved ones. It was the perfect way to celebrate our elopement and share our joy with those closest to us. The next day we left for Glacier National Park and celebrated our honeymoon. It was a week filled with adventure and love, which is exactly what we wanted.

 

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

Erika: You only get one chance to marry the love of your life. When you’re planning your wedding, ask yourself,  “What is it I want to look back on and remember about our day?” I can guarantee, that will make the answer simple for you. Elope!

Planning: Simply Eloped
Officiant: Jill Iris
Photographer: Jennifer Simpson

Updated: September 29th, 2023

Planning, Questions, Advice
Let’s Chat

Enough about us, now it’s all about you. We can’t wait to plan your perfect day together. We’re happy to answer any question you may have.

* Fill in mandatory

Get a quote for your Elopment

We're all about giving you the best experience. To make sure we're on the same page, we'd love to know a bit more about your plans. After that, our team will reach out to you to help you with everything you need.

0 characters
quote image