How to Plan an Elopement: 5 Hotels With Packages That Make It Easy 💍

Quick Facts: How to Plan an Elopement

• A Bahamas marriage license costs $120, and couples can apply the day after they arrive.

• Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau's package covers up to 12 guests and includes the officiant, witnesses, and an hour of photos.

• The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando hosts water park weddings for up to 20 people, though you'll need to bring your own officiant.

• Paris Las Vegas's To Paris, With Love package starts at $1,950 and includes a pianist, a bouquet, an hour of photography, and a half-dozen macarons.

• A Las Vegas marriage license costs $102, there's no waiting period, and you can pre-apply online.

• L'Auberge de Sedona's top package includes two nights in a cottage, a couples massage, and two hours of photography.

• Most resorts quote elopement prices on request, so ask for a full breakdown including taxes, fees, and any minimums.

How to Plan an Elopement, Step by Step

The nice thing about eloping is that the to-do list is short, but the order matters. Settle the destination and the legal side first, because those two decisions shape everything else, from your travel dates to whether the ceremony will count on paper. Here's how we'd tackle it:

1. Pick the vibe before the venue. Beach, desert, chapel, or something wonderfully odd like a water park. Once you know the feeling you want, the shortlist writes itself.

2. Check the marriage license rules. Some places let you marry the same day, while others need a day or two of processing. If the timing doesn't work, you can marry legally at home and keep the trip ceremony symbolic.

3. Choose a package that covers the basics. The best ones bundle the setup, officiant, flowers, photographer, and toast, so you're not hiring five vendors from another time zone.

4. Budget beyond the package. Flights, hotel nights, the license fee, and any guests' travel add up, and many resorts add taxes, service fees, or minimums on top.

5. Book early for fall Saturdays. The Knot says the most popular wedding date is usually a Saturday in October, September, or June, so weekdays are easier to snag.

6. Decide who's coming. Most packages are built for small groups, which makes this the perfect excuse to keep the list short.

It's also worth asking each resort exactly what's included before you commit. Officiants, overnight rooms, and photo editing are the things most often left out, and a quick email now saves a scramble later.

Deciding the setting first makes it easier to narrow down your options, whether you're dreaming of a garden ceremony or saying your vows on the beach at Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau.

5 Hotels With Elopement Packages Worth Booking

Each of these hotels takes a different approach, from barefoot beach vows to a chapel with a pianist. None of them requires a year of planning, and all of them handle enough of the details that you can actually enjoy the day.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau, Bahamas

Couples can say "I do" on the beach at Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau with the A Day Away to Romance package. Image source: Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau

Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau sits on Bay Street in downtown Nassau, and its A Day Away to Romance package is made for couples who want a beach ceremony without the logistics. You choose a beach or garden lawn venue for an hour, and an on-site coordinator handles the white garden chairs, ceremony table, and linens.

The package includes a licensed officiant, witnesses if you need them, two fresh florals with boutonnieres, a sparkling wine toast, and an hour of professional photography. You also get VIP status and a day-use room from 9 a.m., so there's somewhere to get ready. It covers up to 12 guests including the couple, and pricing comes by request.

The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando, Florida

The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando sets the scene for colorful, tropical ceremonies for up to 20 people. Image source: The Grove Resort

For couples who'd rather trade the veil for a cabana, The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando hosts ceremonies at its Surfari Water Park in Winter Garden. The Water Park Weddings package fits up to 20 people, which makes it a natural fit for families who were heading to Orlando anyway.

You get two private cabanas for the day, decorated loungers, a prix fixe menu, a Champagne toast, a bridal bouquet, a wedding cake, a gift basket, a sound system, and an hour of photography. The resort even announces you on its digital signage and sends mascot Sammy Surfari over to say hello. Bring your own officiant, book at least 30 days ahead, and reserve rooms separately.

Paris Las Vegas, Nevada

The To Paris, With Love package at Paris Las Vegas starts at $1,950. Image source: Paris Las Vegas

Las Vegas is still the original elopement capital, and Paris Las Vegas gives it a little French polish. Its To Paris, With Love package starts at $1,950, which makes it the only hotel on this list with a published starting price.

The package includes a pianist, a bouquet and matching boutonniere, florals for the maid of honor and best man, an hour of photography, and a half-dozen macarons. If you want to go bigger, sister properties Planet Hollywood and Caesars Palace have packages starting at $2,849 and $20,000. You'll want to confirm whether an officiant is included when you book.

L'Auberge de Sedona, Arizona

L'Auberge de Sedona's elopement packages include a private ceremony, dinner, and a two-night cottage stay. Image source: L'Auberge de Sedona.

If your dream ceremony involves red rocks instead of sand, L'Auberge de Sedona offers two elopement packages that feel more like a romantic weekend than a wedding. Both include a private ceremony and dinner in two settings, a five-course tasting menu with wine pairings, a Veuve Clicquot toast, a custom cake, and two nights in a cottage.

The Timeless Elegance package adds an officiant, two hours of photography with prints, personal florals, a romance turndown, and a 60-minute couples massage. Pricing is by request, and the resort notes that site fees, lodging minimums, and food and beverage minimums may apply, so ask for the full number upfront.

The Marquesa Hotel, Key West, Florida

The Marquesa's tropical courtyards in Old Town Key West set the scene for small ceremonies. Image source: The Marquesa Hotel

The Marquesa is a boutique hotel in Old Town Key West with tropical gardens and courtyards that make a lovely backdrop for small ceremonies. Its Island Beginnings package is designed for intimate celebrations, with planning help from the hotel's wedding team.

The hotel can host receptions for up to 40 guests, so it's a good option if your "small" wedding is creeping toward medium. The package details and pricing aren't published online, so call 305-295-7044 or email the wedding team to get the full breakdown.

Marriage License Rules to Know Before You Go

A resort ceremony is lovely, but it only counts legally if you've got the right license for that place. The good news is that every destination on this list makes it fairly painless, and a couple of them let you marry the same day you apply.

One thing to know about Nassau is that Margaritaville's officiant performs a symbolic ceremony. If you want the Bahamas wedding to be legal, plan for the Registrar General appointment, or marry legally at home before you go and keep the beach ceremony for the photos and the memory.

Sorting out the marriage license early keeps an elopement stress-free.

An elopement doesn't have to be a compromise. With the right package, you get the flowers, the photos, and the toast without the seating chart, and you get to spend the day somewhere you actually want to be. Pick the place that feels most like the two of you, send a few emails, and let the resort take it from there. Preferably somewhere with a good sunset.

*Main image credit: Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau

FAQ: How to Plan an Elopement

How do you plan an elopement?

Start by choosing a destination, then check its marriage license rules so you know whether the ceremony can be legal there. Next, book a resort package that bundles the setup, officiant, flowers, and photographer, and budget separately for flights and hotel nights.

How much does it cost to elope at a hotel?

It depends on the resort. Paris Las Vegas's To Paris, With Love package starts at $1,950, while most resorts, including Margaritaville Nassau and L'Auberge de Sedona, quote prices on request. Ask about taxes, service fees, and minimums before you book.

What is the easiest place to elope in the U.S.?

Las Vegas is hard to beat. A Clark County marriage license costs $102, there's no waiting period, and you can pre-apply online before you arrive.

Can you get legally married in the Bahamas?

Yes, with a Bahamas marriage license, which costs $120. Couples can apply at the Office of the Registrar General in Nassau the day after they arrive, and licenses are usually ready about two business days later.

Can you get married at a water park in Orlando?

Yes. The Grove Resort & Water Park Orlando hosts ceremonies at its Surfari Water Park for up to 20 people. You'll need to bring your own officiant and book at least 30 days ahead.

Do elopement packages include an officiant?

Some do and some don't. Margaritaville Nassau and L'Auberge de Sedona's Timeless Elegance package include one, while The Grove asks couples to arrange their own.

When is the best time to elope?

Weekdays and off-peak months are easiest to book. The Knot says the most popular wedding date is usually a Saturday in October, September, or June, so those dates fill up first.