Elope in Washington DC: 2023 Guide to Washington DC Elopement Packages.

Places to Elope in Washington DC

The historic, restored, mixed-use train station and transportation hub may be the easiest outdoor elopement location in DC. The Union Station wedding venue has several...

The DC War Memorial’s white marble columns, trees, and open grass area feel like an escape. With all its history and distinctiveness, the location is...

The Spanish Steps are a neighborhood gem amidst the embassies in Northwest DC. At the top, a small fountain offers an ideal ceremony location. Now...

Fathom Gallery is a multi-level space that combines historic elements of old 14th Street and modern simplicity. Have your Fathom Gallery wedding on the beautiful...

Built in 1765, this home is the oldest standing unchanged building in the country’s capital. If you’re looking for historical charm and garden green foliage,...

Montrose Park is a beautiful area that expands across 16 acres overlooking the northwest part of Washington DC. This park provides tons of greenery in...

Georgetown Waterfront Park extends along the borders of the Potomac River. The park has a beautiful fountain, lots of walking paths and unique design elements....

Meridian Hill Park is full of architectural elements and sculptures. It is home to a stunning mansion with a cascading fountain and reflecting pool, making...

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Add-Ons

You can optionally add the following to your package:

Flowers

Brighten your big day with our unique floral arrangements

Hair & Makeup

Starting at $550

Look your very best on the big day by hiring one of our artists!

Extra Photography

Starting at $600

Capture every perfect moment by adding hours of photography to your package

Engagement Shoot

Starting at $900

Every moment leading up to your day is special; book us for your engagement shoot!

On-Site Helper

Starting at $550

Hire our crew to stream or take cell phone photos/videos on your day

Relationship Coaching

Strengthen and improve your relationship with our professionals coach

Violin & Guitar

Starting at $600

Music makes everything more memorable. Book our musician today!

Add videography to your Washington DC elopement

Starting at $1,600

Our videography package comes with an edited 1 – 2 minute highlight reel (perfect for sharing on socials!), as well as a longform, minimally-edited film of the full ceremony.

Simply Eloped has been seen in

It was amazing working with your company for our elopement.

Kylie and Justin

I really enjoyed my experience with this company. Everyone made planning a breeze, even during last minute changes.

Amber and Michael

We had a great experience with Simply Eloped and would choose you guys again in a heartbeat.

Tess and Brandon

I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to work with Simply Eloped.

Kristin and Marin

We really liked the reviews we found online and everyone was very responsive and helpful with everything.

Sam and Katie

Simply Eloped was definitely the most affordable option and allowed for the most flexibility in location and size of wedding guests which was important to us.

Natalie and Austin

Thank you to the Simply Eloped team for helping us throughout the planning process and events day-of. We were taken aback by your know-how and kindness. It really felt like working with people we’d known for years. Thank you!! Our elopement went without a hitch – more perfect than we could’ve imagined. We couldn’t have done it without your help!

Rebecca and William

Love Simply Eloped and their great staff.

Cassandra and Garrett

Your company has great reviews! I wanted to work with a company that already has a reputation of quality work with newlyweds.

Jessica and Alex

Eloping in Washington D.C.

Bordering the eastern states of Maryland and Virginia on the Potomac River, Washington D.C. is brimming with culture and history. The compact capital of the United States is one of the most visited cities in the country for good reason. The District of Columbia is a national center for the arts, teeming with iconic — and free — museums and monuments. The city was planned and designed based on the groundbreaking cities of Paris, Milan, and Amsterdam and from some angles, being in Washington D.C. still feels a little like being in Europe.

While the architecture of Washington D.C. varies greatly, the district’s neoclassical icons make for impressive backdrops for small D.C. weddings. There is a lot of powerful history packed into a small space. At the center of the action, the National Mall is home to the White House, the U.S. Capitol building, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument. It is also bordered by the Smithsonian Institution and National Art Gallery. And if you visit in late spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the gorgeous display of Cherry Blossom trees that bloom around the nearby Tidal Basin.

How do I elope in Washington D.C.?

Applications for marriage licenses in Washington D.C. need to be submitted in person at the D.C. Superior Court. If you are from out of state, somebody in D.C. can submit your application on your behalf in advance of your special day. Keep in mind that the D.C. Marriage Bureau is only open on weekdays and that applying for your marriage license in person can take a couple of hours as there are typically long lines in the morning. Be sure to plan accordingly. To apply, you will need one form of identification for both you and your partner and $45. You will get your DC marriage license the same day you apply. The license has no expiration date and there is no witness required for your ceremony.

How much does it cost to elope in Washington D.C.?

Our Washington, D.C. elopement packages include everything you need for a monumental and metropolitan elopement. Our offerings range from an affordable $500 for our most basic Seed Package to $2,500 for the Oasis Package, which includes things like a florist, photographer, ceremony coordinator, and hair and makeup services. If there is something extra you’d like to arrange for your D.C. elopement, drop us a note and we will draw up a custom quote just for you!

What are the best places to elope in D.C.?

If you’re looking for a bit of old mixed seamlessly with a bit of new, the Fathom Gallery is a classic and timeless space to hold your D.C. elopement in the heart of Logan Circle. The uptown multi-level space has a few options to choose from, with both a chic rooftop garden and an indoor gallery available for wedding ceremonies. The outdoor space is almost two times larger than the indoor space, so if you plan to have more than a few guests, you should take this into consideration. We also love the Decatur Terrace in the Kalorama neighborhood, affectionately known by locals as the Spanish Steps. Tucked in between some of the city’s many foreign embassies, the Steps vaguely resemble their counterparts in Rome and are a memorable location for any D.C. pop-up wedding. This secluded spot on the National Register of Historic Places is topped off by a sweet stone fountain and cloaked in magnolias. Climb up to the top to say your vows and soak in the ethereal view. While this spot is open to the public, some planning is required to elope here. Lastly, the imposing columns and lush greenery of the D.C. War Memorial can compete with any of the city’s other storied monuments for the most unique place to elope in Washington D.C. The memorial commemorates the residents of the District of Columbia who served during World War I. The domed white marble monument is located right on the National Mall and sets the stage for intimate ceremonies and elopements and the surrounding lawn is perfect for larger parties. This is one of the more popular wedding venues in Washington D.C., so be sure to start considering the permits and processing time required well in advance of your elopement.

What is the best time of year for my Washington D.C. elopement?

Washington D.C. feels all the seasons in full force. Winters can hover around freezing and snow isn’t uncommon and summers are very hot and muggy. Spring is a beautiful season, but if you’re hoping to avoid the crush of crowds, be sure to avoid the weeks around the Cherry Blossom Festival. The dates of the festival vary slightly from year to year and typically fall between the end of March and the first few weeks of April. Autumn in D.C. boasts the most comfortable weather and the thinnest crowds. It is also far enough north to enjoy beautiful fall foliage that usually peaks around the middle of October.

Article written by

Kimberli Gunn

Kimberli Gunn is a customer experience and elopement specialist for Simply Eloped and has planned small weddings all over the US. In Kimberli's spare time she loves to sing.

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Read the real stories of couples that eloped in Washington DC!

Andrea + Justin

We love that Andrea & Justin chose to spend their 10th wedding anniversary eloping! What a way to celebrate their forever love. These two met at university, married at their local city hall, and have spent a decade as history teachers. Along the way, they also gathered a family with four children. Union Station, dripping in historical beauty, was the perfect place for Andrea and Justin to renew their vows to each other. Be sure to read about how they took no-stress seriously and welcomed Simply Eloped to take care of their romantic elopement details. (We especially loved how everyone in Washington, DC. became instant guests with lots of random congratulations…such a fun side to urban weddings!) Also, teachers rule!

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

Andrea: We met in January 2009 as juniors at Jacksonville State University. Both of us were pursuing a degree in education to be history teachers. I had already taken a seat in class. Justin came in and looked around the room. He came over to where I was sitting, and we started talking immediately. From that night on, we were friends.

How did you propose or accept the proposal?

Andrea: A year later, we planned to go to the Atlanta Braves game on my birthday. Justin had initially wanted to propose at the game, but he got so nervous he proposed while I was putting my makeup on. The ring he gave me had been his mother’s ring.

Where did you choose to elope, and why did you choose that destination?

Andrea: We married on July 1, 2011, at our local city hall. Over ten years, we had two children and adopted two more. We knew that we wanted to spend our 10th wedding anniversary with the wedding and photographs we didn’t get the first time. Being history teachers, we knew we wanted to elope/renew our vows in a special place with a historical connection. Justin had never been to DC, and I had been with students three times. We planned this amazing vow renewal, anniversary honeymoon to last 12 days. We started in DC, then took the train to Philadelphia, New Haven, and last Boston.

What attracted you to the venue you chose for your elopement? What were your favorite parts about eloping there?

Andrea: The architecture and detail of Union Station were the perfect backdrops for our vow renewal. The photos took my breath away and captured precisely what we felt that day.

How would you describe your elopement venue to someone who has never been there?

Andrea: The elegance and decor are breathtaking. Even though you are in a train station, it seems like you are in a ballroom.

What things did you do before the wedding? How did you get ready? How did you feel in the moments leading up to your elopement?

Andrea: We spent the day walking around DC, visiting historical landmarks. We ate breakfast at Lincoln’s Waffles. We headed back to the room at lunch, and a stylist came to my room to do my hair and makeup. My husband walked down to National Harbor to enjoy craft beer and watch baseball while I got ready. When we arrived at Union Station, everyone was so friendly as they walked by to get on their trains inside. So many people talked to us and said congratulations. It was a fairytale evening.

How was your experience with Simply Eloped?

Andrea: The ability of Simply Eloped to take care of everything I needed and schedule everyone involved made it so easy. The emails and text message communication were to the point and told me everything I needed to know. It was an amazing experience! I’m so glad we went with Simply Eloped.

How did you choose to celebrate your elopement?

Andrea: After the vow renewal, we went to a Nationals game and headed on a train up the East Coast.

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

Andrea: Just take the leap and let someone else do the hard planning for you. Every detail was covered in a city that I would not have been able to accomplish that. The price was affordable, and the payment plan made it even more appealing.

Photography by: Andrea Salazar
Hair & Makeup by: Emily Van Scoy
Planning by: Simply Eloped
Venue: Union Station, Washington DC

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Elope in Washington DC

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