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Eloping in Northeast Ohio: Explore a Hidden Gem

Northeast Ohio is an unexpected hidden gem for couples interested in adventure elopements. Home to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the gorgeous Lake Erie coastline, and a multitude of beautiful state and metro parks, there are a lot of options to choose from to ensure your big day is a good fit for you! Read on to learn more about how to plan an adventure elopement in Northeast Ohio.

Choosing the Best Time of Year to Elope in Northeast Ohio

Northeast Ohio experiences all four seasons, so no matter the time of year, the surrounding nature will be a beautiful backdrop for your day. There are snowy and more moody conditions in winter, beautiful blossoms in spring, vibrant greenery and nature in summer, and gorgeous foliage in autumn.

To choose when you want to have your adventure elopement, think about the types of weather you want on your day and the activities you’d like to do.

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Choosing the Location for Your Adventure Elopement Ceremony in Northeast Ohio

From a beautiful national park to Lake Erie’s shoreline, there is no shortage of stunning locations for your elopement ceremony. Need help brainstorming a spot? Book your elopement photography with me and I’ll help you plan your Northeast Ohio elopement, offering location and activity suggestions.

Elopement Locations in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Northeast Ohio is home to the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There are many locations within CVNP that could be ideal for an elopement ceremony. Just make sure you’ve got the appropriate permit to hold a ceremony in the park. You’ll need to apply for the permit at least 30 days in advance.

For a sunrise elopement, I’d recommend the Virginia Kendall Ledges trail at the scenic overlook. The park tends to be busier during the evenings and weekends, but at sunrise, you may have the overlook all to yourself! After saying “I do,” you can hike along the trail and explore some of the interesting rock formations.

Brandywine Falls could also be a beautiful backdrop for your elopement. Just keep in mind permits are only available for weekdays and cannot be issued in the month of October for this popular spot. And did I say popular? It totally is, so I’d recommend this as a sunrise location as well! Though the trek to the falls is quite easy, there are more extensive trails leading away from the waterfall and along Brandywine Creek that you can hike after your ceremony.

Kendall Lake is another beautiful spot in the park. I’d recommend this location at either sunrise or sunset for your ceremony. You can say your vows by the lake and then hike the scenic trail to fully take in the views.

Elopement Locations Along Lake Erie’s Shores

Headlands Beach State Park would make a gorgeous location for a summer elopement. Be sure to call the State Park office to inquire if a permit is needed.

If you’re looking to incorporate some city sights into your elopement day, Edgewater Beach in Cleveland is another good option for sunrise. You can see the city in the distance and take photos near the Cleveland script sign. Edgewater Beach is part of Cleveland Metro Parks and you can find permit information here.

Geneva State Park is another gorgeous beach location, and bonus, it’s in the heart of Ohio’s wine country. This is the perfect location for couples who want to enjoy a beach location, do water activities or hike, and stop by a winery or two during their elopement day. This is another state park, be sure to call them ahead of time to inquire on if a permit is needed.

Other Northeast Ohio Elopement Spots

Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens offer a variety of landscapes to choose from for an elopement ceremony. This is an especially great location for spring, summer, and fall elopements. A permit is required for this location, and you’ll need to submit the application at least 10 days in advance. You can find permit applications through the City of Cleveland here.

Another unique location is Squire’s Castle in North Chagrin. It is an old gatehouse from the 1890s and is now part of the Cleveland Metro Parks. I recommend a weekday here since it is a popular spot for photos. You can find Cleveland Metro Parks permit information here.

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Choosing Activities For Your Adventure Elopement in Northeast Ohio

First and foremost, your elopement is all about you and celebrating your love for one another. Beyond choosing how and where you’d like to have your ceremony, I recommend making a full day of your elopement. To do that, be sure to choose some fun activities to do throughout your special day.

Here are some ideas broken down by time of year to get you started:

• Year round: hike, visit one of Northeast Ohio’s wineries, stop in at a botanical garden, book a helicopter ride and explore from the sky, check out a museum, visit a zoo, go horseback riding, end the day with a bonfire and camping
• Spring: take in cherry blossoms, visit a local flower farm or flower field
• Summer: spend a day on the lake, kayak, paddle board, visit local flower farms, chase waterfalls, have fun at a county fair, stop at a hot air balloon festival, rent a hot air balloon, check out an alpaca farm, have a romantic picnic
• Autumn: admire fall foliage, navigate a corn maze, visit a pumpkin patch, go apple picking
• Winter: go ice skating, sled, snowmobile, snowshoe, explore a Christmas tree farm, end your day with a holiday light display

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How to Get a Marriage License & Elope in Northeast Ohio

With elopements, you have two options for taking care of the legal marriage side of things:

1. If you’re not from Northeast Ohio and don’t want to do the legal side of things in Northeast Ohio, you don’t have to. You can opt for a civil ceremony in your location instead. For example, I eloped in Iceland, but my husband and I did our legal ceremony in Ohio afterwards – it was just easier.
2. You can do the legal marriage on your elopement day in Northeast Ohio. If you are opting for this, check with the court in the county where your ceremony will take place for the most up-to-date guidance and requirements.

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Hire the Right Vendors for Your Elopement Day

Just because you are eloping doesn’t mean your day should be any less spectacular than a typical wedding. I’d actually argue it can be even more spectacular. That said, you can still include the traditions and customs that are important to you, and you can still plan to look fantastic! Read on for a list of potential vendors to consider for your day.

Elopement Photography

Your photographer is one of the most important vendors for your elopement day. Why’s that? This is likely the one person other than your significant other that will be with you consistently throughout the day. Make sure you like them as a person, and make sure you trust them to capture this important day for you.

Looking for an adventure elopement photographer local to the Northeast Ohio area? Check out my elopement services here.

Elopement Officiant

Are you doing the legal ceremony on your elopement day? Make sure you choose a trustworthy and qualified officiant for your ceremony. For an elopement, it may even be nice to have the officiant be someone you know and are comfortable with. If you want to keep things small, I can also officiate for you.

Florist

A bridal bouquet and a boutonnière are the perfect touch for an elopement. You can go for a local florist’s creations or look into silk flowers on sites like Etsy if you will be traveling or can’t practically store the flowers.

Hair & Makeup Artist

It’s your elopement day! Even if you will be having adventures all day, you can still look fabulous while doing it! Consider scheduling with a local hair and makeup artist to start your day off.

If you will be doing a sunrise ceremony and no one is available in the early hours of the morning, don’t be afraid to DIY your hair and make up. My husband and I had a pretty remote elopement day in the Westfjords of Iceland, so I did my own hair and makeup. My top tips are to practice beforehand, and if you are less experienced with hair and makeup, keep things simple and pretty close to what you normally do.

Catering

You will, of course, need to eat during your elopement day. Don’t be afraid to order a catered picnic or make reservations at a favorite spot for your elopement day meals.

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Plan Your Elopement Timeline

There are a few essential pieces of your day you will want to account for as you plan a timeline for your day:

• Getting ready
• First look
• Ceremony: vows, ring exchange, any special customs
• Celebratory meal
• Any activities or sights you would like to visit
• Travel time between locations

As you plan things, you’ll also want to consider ideal times for photography. I generally recommend having your ceremony take place during golden hour at sunrise or sunset if outdoors. That will ensure you have the most beautiful lighting possible for photos during that special moment.

When you book your elopement photography with me, I will also assist you throughout the planning process. You’ll receive a timeline template for planning and examples of elopement days in Northeast Ohio. You can learn more about my services here.