Elope in Texas

How to Elope in Texas

Everything might be bigger in Texas, but your wedding doesn’t need to be. Texas is the perfect place for a small, intimate ceremony, pop-up wedding, or elopement, thanks to the diversity in landscape, friendly population, temperate weather, and central location. Texas is known for its barbecue and Tex-Mex cuisine, country and Tejano music, and cowboy fashion. There are so many amazing venues for eloping in Texas, from fields of Blue Bonnets in Hill Country to vibrant Austin, home to the best live music scene in the world. There are even beaches along the Gulf of Mexico! If you’re considering an elopement in the Lone Star State, then we’ve got you covered. This guide will outline the best places in Texas for your elopement, options when it comes to elopement packages, what you need to elope in Texas, as well as how much an elopement in Texas will cost you.

Where are the best places to elope in Texas?

Houston is an international city with incredible food, world-class art museums, and a plethora of city parks. Despite being the biggest city in Texas with a population of more than two million, Houston’s elopement venues can still offer intimacy. The Houston Arboretum offers 155 acres of rich, green foliage, conveniently located on the western edge of Memorial Park. Celebration Gardens will also provide your small wedding with a garden backdrop, albeit a more manicured one. If you’re a no-fuss couple, consider getting married at the 1910 Harris County Courthouse, an excellent example of neoclassical architecture. If you’re game for a drive, about 45-minutes outside of Houston there’s the Oak Atelier and the Galveston Beaches. The Oak Atelier is located in aptly named Woodlands and offers four different studio spaces for rent, all with their own unique charm of classic and modern elements. Drive west of Houston and you’ll hit the coast and the Gulf of Mexico where the sandy beaches are ideal for a small, romantic elopement. The Galveston Beaches and Seawall are especially perfect if you’re interested in a sunrise ceremony!

If you’re hoping to elope in Dallas—another cultural hub known for its breweries, Bishop Arts District, and beautiful neighborhoods—there are a few really stellar options. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is among our favorites, with views looking over White Rock Lake and plenty of hidden nooks, lush foliage, and art pieces perfect for your Texas elopement. We also like the Fort Worth Botanic Garden just a city over, as well as Lake Cliff Park, which boasts mature trees (cypress, red cedar, pecans, and cottonwoods), a sunken lake, and views of the Dallas skyline.

Austin is perhaps the most popular city in Texas for elopements and we can see why: there’s no shortage of things to do or natural beauty. Located in the heart of Texas hill country, Austin is known for being super cool by keeping it weird, as well as cultivating a thriving arts and culinary scene. Our favorite place for a small wedding in Austin is the Sekrit Theater, a garden and revamped greenhouse with an eclectic and DIY-style vibe. The themed Japanese of Rose gardens at the Zilker Botanical Garden make for a verdant, peaceful Austin elopement, while the open-air Chapel Dulcinea offers a stunning view of Texas Hill Country. Our last Austin elopement pick is The Vineyards at Chappel Lodge, just minutes from downtown. With a California-inspired vibe, this Austin wedding venue offers a stone-paved aisle, a natural backdrop of Texas live oak trees, and uplighting in a canopy. Oh, and it’s a functioning vineyard!

When’s the best time of year to elope in Texas?

Texas is a year-round elopement destination, with warm weather in Austin, Dallas, and Houston all year. That being said, Texan summer, which is roughly June through August, sees temperatures in the high 90’s with high humidity. For that reason we recommend September to November or March to May, when temperatures are in the 70’s and 80’s and the humidity isn’t too bad. When it does rain in Texas, showers tend to be short and intense, although occasionally rainy periods can last a couple of days.

What’s the best time of day for a Texas elopement?

Due to the potential for heat and harsh lighting, we recommend the hours around sunrise and sunset for elopements. For indoor or heavily shaded locations, this is obviously less of an issue. If you’re planning on eloping in a public place, however, avoid crowds by planning a ceremony around opening and closing time.

How much does a Texas elopement cost?

We truly believe your small Texas wedding or elopement shouldn’t be stressful—elopement packages are a great way to save both money and avoid a headache. Simply Eloped’s wedding packages pair you with an experienced, low-cost officiant, as well as a photographer, videographer, hair and makeup artist, and even an on-site helper depending on your elopement package. Ranging from $350 for a basic ceremony to $2,325 for our deluxe elopement package, with a ton of options and flexibility in between, a Texas elopement can be incredibly affordable. Some venues, such as Houston’s Celebration Garden, also offer significant discounts in the off-season (outside the months of March, April, May, and October). If you get married at Houston’s Harris County Courthouse, you can also save money on an officiant.

Austin, Houston, and Dallas all boast major airports (Dallas actually has two) with frequent flight deals and there’s no shortage of affordable lodging options, from Airbnbs to budget hotels. The average cost of a Texas vacation per person is just over $1,000 a week, which includes lodging, dining, transportation, and entertainment. If you decide to rent a car during your time in Texas, know that the state has some of the lowest gas prices in the world.

What do I need to legally elope in Texas?

To obtain a marriage license in Texas, you don’t have to be a state resident. Both parties just need to show up with a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license, copy of a birth certificate, or passport. U.S. citizens will also need to know their social security numbers, although the physical card isn’t necessary. If you get a license in one county in Texas it’s good for all locations, you just have to file it back with the original county. Texas marriage licenses are good for 90 days and costs between $70-$85 depending on the county (some counties only take cash, so check beforehand). If both parties are Texas residents, taking an eight hour premarital class can save you $60.

Can you get married the same day in Texas?

Unless you’re active duty military, there’s a 72 hour waiting period for all marriage licenses in Texas.

Do you need witnesses to elope in Texas?

Nope! No witnesses are required in Texas – perfect for elopements!

Article written by

Kiran Herbert

Kiran Herbert is an elopement officiant and writer who takes pride in making all of her ceremonies magical. Kiran grew up around the world but having spent a year living in national parks, she’s convinced that the U.S. is the most beautiful.

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Read the real stories of couples who eloped in Texas!

Alexa + William

More often than not, when you first meet your person, you know pretty quickly. With Alexa & William, they both knew early in the relationship that they were destined for each other. From the ease of conversation to the way they just ‘got’ each other in their initial conversations, it didn’t take long for William to know Alexa was going to be his wife. For practicality’s sake, they decide to have a Houston elopement at The Oak Atelier since they lived nearby. This light and dreamy Texas elopement is one for the books! Read on to learn more about Alexa and William’s darling love story.

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

Alexa: We met In high school through mutual friends that ended up introducing us. We gravitated quickly towards each other, finding that it was just so easy to talk to one another about everything and anything. I was a freshman and he was a senior. The first thing that drew me to him was his ability to make me laugh without even trying. I was like, “Wow, this guy gets me!”

William: My first impression was I recognized she was down to earth and always willing to spend time with me. A friend anyone would love to have on their side.

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

Alexa: I first fell in love about three months into the relationship. William always paid attention to the little things he knew would brighten my day. He always bought me bouquets of flowers and would buy me more before he knew they were going to die. I absolutely adored that he cared enough to do that.

William: I also knew about 3 months in the relationship that she was going to be my wife and I remember telling her that after one of our date nights. Luckily it didn’t freak her out so early on! But thankfully she felt the same way. Being friends for two years before dating gave us the foundation we needed.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

William proposed at home after a homemade dinner. I knew something was up because he NEVER cooks! I already had a hunch since we ended up looking at rings months to a year previously. He got down on one knee after dinner in the middle of our living room a few weeks before Christmas 2019. It was the most intimate, special moment and of course I said YES!

What do you love about your partner?

Alexa: I love how compassionate he is. William is always willing to go out of his way for a random act of kindness so it will make someone else’s day.

William: I love how open and strong Alexa is. She carries herself with grace and I love that her family and God come first always.

What is the greatest strength of your relationship?

Alexa: I believe our biggest strength is that we are a team. We tend to be on the same page about a lot of things and pay great attention to how each other feels and never shy away from talking through things.

William: Our biggest strength is our ability to overcome any obstacle whether big or small. After every difficult moment we could always see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Why did you decide to elope?

Alexa: I originally wanted to elope because I wanted the focus to be on us for our wedding day instead of trying to please other people and not enjoy the day. I wanted the goal to be preparing for MARRIAGE and not the WEDDING.

How did you find Simply Eloped?

I Googled eloping and intimate wedding ceremony’s and Simply Eloped was always first on the list!

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

The photographs were all I needed to see in order to know that Simply Eloped was right for us! I read reviews and every couple had no regrets with their choice.

What attracted you to the venue you eloped at?

I loved the natural lighting shining into the venue [The Oak Atelier, Houston] and being surrounded by nature gave off such a romantic vibe. The venue was beautiful without any decorations and I loved the simplicity of it.

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

Luckily for us we lived in the area of where our elopement was going to place. The night before we wrote down our vows in our vow booklets and relaxed up until the morning of. All we could keep telling each other was “Wow, the day is finally here.”
I (Alexa) started hyperventilating from nervousness on the drive to the venue because I couldn’t believe that we were really about to be husband and wife!

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

Simply Eloped was great at communicating through this whole process. It was so nice to not have to worry about planning anything. We loved that our officiant and photographer stayed in touch up until our big day, so that when we finally met in person we felt like they were already friends of ours!

How did you celebrate after?

Due to COVID we weren’t comfortable eating out, so we ordered dinner to-go from our favorite restaurant – Texas Roadhouse. We both had huge steaks and popped a bottle of champagne out on our patio at home and enjoyed dinner on our balcony with our dog Bella.

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

The more intimate the better! It’s so important to really enjoy that day with your spouse because you can’t get that day back! There’s no stress, and family/friends that truly love you will understand your reason on your choice to elope. You won’t regret it.

Planning: Simply Eloped
Officiant: KT Valkyrie
Photographer: Jacqueline Andrade

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