M & S’s September elopement at Rock House Cave in Hocking Hills was a stunner. But more importantly, it was relaxed, fun, and perfectly them! In this blog, I’m going to walk you through the day and give some insight into the planning process so you can take these helpful tips for your own Hocking Hills elopement. 

I’m a Hocking Hills elopement photographer who helps couples ditch the big wedding and plan an awesome day focused on celebrating themselves and their love … and all of that with epic scenery! Learn more about my photography and planning services.

Timing: Fall Elopement at Rock House

Fall is a beautiful time of year to elope in Hocking Hills’s Rock House. M & S’s elopement was over a morning in late September. The leaves were starting to change and the weather was that perfect happy medium between cool and hot. Since September is the off season, there were only a few other cars in the parking lot despite it being a weekend, and they had total privacy in Rock House Cave for their vows.

Why Choose a Fall Elopement at Rock House?

I love September for Hocking Hills State Park elopements because it’s the shoulder season in the park. You’re no longer going to have the crowds from summer and the weather isn’t going to be scorching. It’s ideal hiking weather and you’re going to be so much more comfortable on your day than during the hot summer.

The only downside to fall is that the waterfalls aren’t as likely to be flowing; however, the park is still plenty beautiful with its overlooks, caves, and fall foliage!

Pro-tip: Aiming for the best possible weather for your elopement? I recommend April – May or late August – October. If you don’t mind cold weather though, winter is pretty epic in Hocking Hills! Get my breakdown of when to elope in Hocking Hills.

Location: Eloping at Rock House in Hocking Hills

M & S love hiking in Hocking Hills and Rock House Cave is one of their favorite destinations. For their elopement day, M & S wanted to hike down to the cave and do their vows inside. We did just that and they had the cave to themselves during the entire ceremony.

Things to Know About Rock House Cave & Trail

M & S love Rock House, and I do too! It’s an all around gorgeous location and super epic for an adventure elopement. 

The hike is a quick loop trail that is 1 mile long. You basically hike part way down a gorge trail and reach the cave, you then go to the bottom (where a waterfall sometimes flows in spring) and then straight back up to the parking area. 

Rock House is the closest thing to a true cave in Hocking Hills State Park. We can blame its many windows as the reason it’s not technically classified as a true cave, but … all the better for your elopement photos! The windows and darkness add a touch of moody drama that’s hard to match anywhere else in the park. 

One last thing to know is that Rock House is not ideal for your ceremony if you are having guests. It is a more difficult location to get to and there is just not a lot of space inside for guests to observe your ceremony. If you are having guests during your day, I’d recommend doing your ceremony elsewhere and then visiting Rock House just the two of you!

Work with a Photographer to Choose Your Location

As you’re planning your elopement in Hocking Hills (especially if you aren’t familiar with the area), it can be hard to find the perfect location. And if you’re looking at what other people have done, it can probably start to seem like there are even only one or two elopement locations in the park (some trails are very popular for elopements!). But the secret is that there are a ton of hidden gem, off the beaten path locations that would be stunning for an elopement! That’s why I recommend couples work with a photographer who is familiar with the park and who has taken the time to scout epic locations beyond the popular spots.

As an elopement photographer in Hocking Hills, I have a list of hidden gems all over the park (that are way less crowded!). You can check out this recent video to see some of the epic locations around Hocking Hills:

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The Right Timing: Plan For a Morning Elopement at Rock House

We planned M & S’s elopement ceremony to take place in the early morning at Rock House.  And while I would usually recommend something closer to sunrise to avoid crowds, Rock House presents some challenges with that traditional advice! If we had planned for sunrise, it would have been so dark in the cave that we could not have taken photos there without flash. This would have been too disruptive for their ceremony and generally wouldn’t have fit the vibe. We also wouldn’t have been able to capture the unique lighting and scenery of the cave quite as well. So we settled on a few hours past sunrise, which was still early enough in the day that there wouldn’t be hoards of people exploring the cave at the same time. And their luck totally held out – there was no one but us in the cave during their ceremony!

This is another example of why I recommend working with a photographer familiar with the area! Learn more about my elopement packages in Hocking Hills. 

Permit Coordination: Navigating Hocking Hills Permit Requirements

As part of my Hocking Hills elopement packages, I help couples coordinate any necessary permits for their elopement day. 

As a general rule, if you are having your ceremony on a Hocking Hills State Park trail, a permit is needed.  But no fear, the process is super simple and the park office is very responsive.

Learn more about how I can help with your elopement in Hocking Hills. 

Making the Most of the Day: Fun Activities for Your Elopement

M & S love hiking and wanted to share a celebratory cake together after their ceremony. This made a hike down to Rock House Cave and a celebration back at the trailhead the perfect combo for their day. They set up a picnic with sparkling water (did you know you can spray that like champagne?!) and their favorite gluten-free chocolate cake on one of the picnic tables near the trail’s entrance. It made for a sweet (pun intended) wrap up to their elopement.

I always recommend couples include some favorite activities in their elopement day to make it feel like a fun celebration that is uniquely them. That could be hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, cooking a favorite meal, and more! Check out my blog on Ohio elopement activities for more inspiration.

Planning Advice: Extra Tips for Your Rock House Elopement

Find Awesome Stays Near Rock House Cave

To really make the most of your elopement day, I recommend renting a cute cabin as your home base (and Hocking Hills has no shortage of these!). You can take getting ready photos there, pop champagne, cuddle up by the fire and roast some s’mores, take a dip in the hot tub, and more.

Here are some spots near Rock House Cave that I would recommend:

• The Pinnacle A-Frame
• Secluded A-Frame Hocking Hills
• Creekside Hocking Hills Cabin

Download the Map

You will likely not have great cell service at Rock House, and you won’t have service for miles around. Make sure you make arrangements for your photographer and any guests to be traveling with you/at the same time so no one is late to the occasion. And also make sure you have all downloaded an offline map of the area so you don’t get lost!

Make the Most of Your Elopement Day

I always recommend couples plan full day elopements, because eloping doesn’t mean you can’t have an awesome celebration together – it might just look a bit different from a traditional wedding day. As you plan your day, add in your favorite activities (hiking, picnics, s’mores, enjoying a hot tub), explore multiple locations, and generally make the most of this once in a lifetime day. Want to learn what you could do with a full day? Check out this blog on how to decide how long your elopement day will be. 

Your Rock House Elopement Photographer

Hey, I’m Desiree! I help couples plan epic Hocking Hills elopements in awesome locations like Rock House! If you’re looking to leave behind the big wedding and have the adventure elopement of your dreams, reach out to learn more about how I can help you plan and photograph your Hocking Hills elopement.