Why should you elope at Shenandoah National Park?

If you and your partner are adventure lovers or desire to elope somewhere beautiful, Shenandoah National Park would automatically be a fantastic spot to elope. I’ve been here so many times, and the beauty never ceases to amaze me! I’ve photographed, engagements, elopements, you name it here are this park, and the photos truly never disappoint. There are over 500 miles of trails, with 101 miles being a part of the Appalachian Trail. The park extends along the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are honestly one of the most iconic parts of the American landscape. Although Shenandoah is mostly forested, there are countless wetlands, waterfalls, overlooks, and rocky peaks. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting giddy just thinking about it!

I love this breathtaking national park in Virginia, and if we’re anything alike, I know you will too. This guide will walk you through the steps of how to plan a Shenandoah National Park elopement, and at the end, you can decide if this is the right spot for you. Let’s get into it!

What you should do planning-wise for your Shenandoah elopement

Before we dive too deep, let’s have a little overview of what the planning steps are. Whether you’re newly engaged or just getting some ideas for when you are, I want you to be as informed as possible! Here are the general steps for eloping at Shenandoah National Park:

Decide on what season you want to plan your elopement. As with all outdoor events, you should be mindful of the weather that each season brings. And your elopement is the last event that you want to be taken by surprise at!
Figure out how many people you’re going to invite. This is going to affect where in the park you have your ceremony, as well as the timeline of the entire day.
Choose a location for your Shenandoah National Park elopement. I’m going to be listing all of my personal favorite locations within the park, along with a few notes about each one of them!
Next, is deciding where you’re going to stay for your elopement, as well as taking care of all travel arrangements to get there. You definitely don’t want to wait until the last second for this one!
I’ll be doing all the research for you, but inform yourself on what the permits, fees, and regulations are for eloping in Shenandoah. You should know what to expect, as well as prioritize aligning your elopement plans with the regulations set out.
Last but least, I’ll give you some Shenandoah elopement ideas to get your imagination flowing!

Secure your season - when should you elope at Shenandoah?

What’s it like in the fall?

Fall is considered ‘peak season’ at Shenandoah National Park because that’s when the infamous autumn foliage is in full bloom. The trees are an array of beautiful, vibrant colors, the weather is perfect… but everyone and their mother is there too. That can post a bit of a problem if you want any sort of privacy for your elopement. Not only that, but the parking lots get pretty packed and the entrances get backed up. Because of the heavy traffic, ceremonies must conclude by 10 a.m. if they are held on a weekend during the months of October & November.

If you do want to get married in the fall, your best bet would be doing so during the week. There still might be a few tourists, but at least it’ll be less than over the weekend! It’s important to check the weather before heading to the park no matter what, but it’s typically between 49 and 60 degrees fahrenheit in the autumn months.

What’s it like in the winter?

While technically winter weather can occur anytime between October and March, the official winter seasons start in November and ends in February. If you don’t do well in the cold, this probably isn’t the best season for you to elope! The temperatures can range from 29 and 39 degrees fahrenheit during the day. Keep in mind that Shenandoah covers over 100 miles with lots of differing elevations. The mountains are usually about 10 degrees cooler than other areas of the park, which is a pretty noticeable difference!

In the wintertime, many of the lodges in the park are closed for the season. We’ll get into your lodging options a little bit later, but you’ll have to find outside accommodations if you elope in the winter months. There is far less traffic during this time, which is of course a huge plus. You’ll have total privacy for your ceremony and the lack of foliage makes park visibility unmatched! On the flipside, if you plan on driving the Skyline Drive as part of your elopement, there may be a chance that it’s closed due to snowy or icy conditions. It can take days to clear the roads, so I wouldn’t count on being able to make that drive in the winter just in case.

What’s it like in the spring?

Coming out of the official winter season, spring temperatures might not be as predictable as one might expect. There are still warm spells that can bring temperatures up to a lovely 70 degrees fahrenheit, don’t get me wrong. But there’s just as high of a probability that the temperatures will drop, bringing along a winter snowstorm!

Once March is over, you really start seeing the beautiful spring colors, lush greenery, and wildlife coming out to explore. The birds are also in the midst of migration, and they make a pitstop at Shenandoah at this time. And the best part: the over 862 species of wildflowers are in full bloom in the spring. You can check out their wildflower calendar to find out which flowers are in bloom at different times!

During the longer, warmer spring days, hikers are taking advantage of the moderate weather and extending daylight. Just like in the fall, a weekday elopement would be best to avoid heavy traffic and full parking lots.

What’s it like in the summer?

In short, summers at Shenandoah National Park can be described in three words: hot, humid, and busy. School is out, families are vacationing, and everyone wants to get a taste of what Shenandoah has to offer! If you insist on having your elopement in the summer, plan on having it during the week at sunrise. Any other time, you might have difficulty getting to your desired elopement spot, or have to stop for lots of water breaks along the way!

Guest count - how many people are you inviting?

Elopements are considered intimate weddings with about 10 people or less. Couples tend to elope to reduce the stress of wedding planning, save money, and keep their day all about them! You should never feel obligated to invite anyone to your elopement. If you want to include a few of your friends and family, you can absolutely do so. You can also choose to livestream your elopement to your “guests” so that you still have the flexibility to roam around the park afterwards.

My favorite Shenandoah elopement locations

Pinnacles Overlook

Vista point along Skyline Drive with Shenandoah panorama & full views of Old Rag peak. The light in the a.m. at this overlook is beautiful!

Devil’s Knob Overlook

Blue Ridge Parkway overlook with views of mountain peaks

Pass Mountain Overlook

Amazing ceremony spot, great views of Page Valley and the Massanutten Mountain

Ravens Roost Overlook

One of the best overlooks in the valley, there’s also a picnic table and a jaw-dropping cliff to take photos on!

The Point Overlook

Beautiful for photos on the boulder at sunset, also secluded from the parking area for privacy

Franklin Cliffs Overlook

Another great boulder to sit down, relax, and watch the sunset

Little Stony Man

A 20 minute, .9 mile hike up to the overlook, beautiful for sunrise

Old Rag View Overlook

This is one of the best spots to see the wildflowers when they’re in bloom! Great mountain view as well

Blackrock Summit

Short hike with sunset views on the rocks

Mary’s Rock Summit

This one’s a little more lengthy at a 40 minute hike up to overlook - perfect for couples who want to enjoy the journey there!

Big Meadows

Large, open grassy field with views all around, although no overlook into the valley or mountains

Tunnel Parking Overlook

Great spot for sunrise & road photos, but keep in mind it is very narrow

Buck Hollow Overlook

Another great spot for sunrise, but again very narrow!

Spitler Knoll Overlook

Gorgeous grassy hills that seem to be endless, great spot for a sunset elopement

Jewell Hollow Overlook

This location is best visited during sunset but a great spot for a ceremony

Crescent Rock Overlook

Ultimately best for sunset elopements, but sunrise is a close second. Gorgeous rocks to sit on and watch the sunset after your ceremony

Hazel Mountain Overlook

One of the best overlooks for taking photos at sunrise!

Where should you stay for your Shenandoah elopement?

Options within the park

Skyland

This resort is located right along mile 41.7 and 42.5 at Skyline Drive’s highest elevation of 3,680 feet. They offer premium rooms, small, detached cabins, preferred & traditional rooms, suites, and pet-friendly rooms. Pretty much anything you could ask for! All with the convenience of being inside the park. There are 28 separate buildings that make up Skyland Resort, spread out over a total of 27 acres. Cell service is not guaranteed and there is no wifi available!

Big Meadows Lodge

Big Meadows Lodge is located one mile from the large, grassy meadow at mile 51 on Skyline Drive - a meadow which is ideal for gorgeous night skies viewing.

Lodging accommodations range from main lodge rooms to detached small cabins, preferred and traditional rooms, suites, and pet friendly rooms - all located within walking distance of the main lodge building. Cell service is not guaranteed and there is no wifi available!

Lewis Mountain Cabins

Lewis Mountain cabins are located a little closer to Luray at mile 57.5 near the Swift Run entrance. The cabins give a motel-esque camping experience, complete with outdoor grilling options and a gift store with groceries, beer & wine, & snacks!

Public Use Cabins

Looking to fully enjoy nature during your elopement weekend? Camping at one of the 4 campgrounds inside the park is totally an option to take advantage of!

Mathews Arm Campground, mile 22.2
Big Meadows Campground, mile 51
Lewis Mountain Campground, mile 57.2
Loft Mountain Campground, mile 79.5

Options outside the park

If you’re looking for accommodations outside for whatever reason, here are the nearby cities you can look into:

Marshall, VA

Massanutten, VA

What airports are nearby?

Here are the nearby airports that you can fly into if you’re not a local:

Washington Dulles International (IAD) 56 miles east of Front Royal Entrance Station.
Reagan National (DCA) 70 miles east of Front Royal Entrance Station.
Shenandoah Valley Regional (SHD) 27 miles west of Swift Run Gap Entrance Station.
Charlottesville-Albemarle (CHO)

Permits, fees, and regulations

To elope at Shenandoah National Park, you should familiarize yourself with all of the permits, fees, and regulations. To start off, here is all the information you need about Special Use Permits!

Special Use Permit for your Shenandoah elopement

If your elopement is more than 15 people (including your photographer), then you’ll need to obtain a Special Use Permit. Additionally, if your elopement includes any type of setup (think floral archway, chairs, decor, etc) then you have to obtain this permit regardless of your guest count. Oh, and you must hold your ceremony in the park amphitheater if you have a setup! Most couples choose to forgo decorations to have location flexibility as well as enjoying the natural beauty of the park.

Special Use Permits will take a minimum of 6 weeks to be processed and approved. If you send in your application and your elopement date is less than 6 weeks away, then unfortunately it won’t be considered! Even if you have no ceremony setup and no guests (AKA no permit needed), it’s still a good idea to contact the park and let them know your plans before the wedding.

Getting your marriage license

Your marriage license must be obtained from any county clerk's office, and it is good for the following 60 days no matter where you are in the state. When applying for your license, you and your partner must both be present. You must also have a current government-issued ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to obtain your license. If one of you has been divorced, you must provide proof of the date and place of the divorce (you must have a copy of your divorce papers if you are applying for your license in Arlington). There is no waiting period in Virginia, and the license is only $30 (most sites only accept cash!). As a result, you should be able to leave the office with your paperwork the same day. There are a few counties (Arlington, Fairfax, and Manassas) where you can drop off your marriage license within 5 days of your ceremony, but most will require you to mail it in instead.

Shenandoah elopement ideas

Have a private vow reading then celebrate at a nearby venue

Ingrid & Bejan set out to explore the mountains of Shenandoah and have a private vow reading between just the two of them. They stayed at the Big Meadows Lodge (mentioned earlier!) where they did their first look. They drove through the Skyline Drive for the first time which was such a beautiful experience for them! We saw the wildflowers, stopped at countless overlooks, and found the perfect spot for them to say their vows.

After popping some champagne, we headed back to the city so they could celebrate with their family & friends at a venue! This is a great option if you want the best of both worlds - privacy and friends & family present. If you’re looking for my favorite places to get married in Virginia, you can check out that blog here!

Wake up early for a sunrise hike

If you want to catch that sunrise glow, why not get up a little extra early and hike to a scenic spot in the park? We can choose a short hike if you want to leave in your elopement clothes, or we can pack them with us and you two can change when we get to our destination. You already know all my favorite overlooks, so I can help you choose one and we’ll have the best time hanging out!

Ready to elope at Shenandoah National Park?

I’m ready to document it! To get in touch with me about documenting your big day, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. In the meantime, we can connect on Instagram or you can visit my Pinterest profile for more Virginia wedding & elopement inspiration!