Narrowleaf Adventure Wedding + Elopement Photography

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Eloping in Minnesota

Cass | Wedding & Elopement Photographer

Everything you need to know to elope in Minnesota!

Updated for 2024

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Why Is Minnesota Is The Perfect Place To Elope?

Sprawling lakes. Dense forests. Stunning fall foliage. Minnesota is an epic place to say your vows and celebrate your love in an adventurous and meaningful experience. This state has some of the most breathtaking and insane views. There’s so much more than what meets the eye (often wrongly deemed a “flyover state”)! From figuring out exactly when to elope to picking the perfect Airbnb to making it all legal, here’s everything you need to know about eloping in Minnesota.

WHERE TO HAVE YOUR ELOPEMENT CEREMONY IN MINNESOTA 

North Shore / Lake Superior

Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul Area

Northern Minnesota

Southern Minnesota

Sounding a bit overwhelming? Don’t worry, we’re going to help plan the most incredible elopement weekend! We’ll help by providing you a custom location guide that fits your vision and provide you with all the info you need to know about that specific spot (things like permits, guest limitations, if there is hiking or 4x4 involved, etc.)

THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA 

Minnesota is nestled in the corn belt, and the state has HOT summers and cold, cold winters. There’s a big difference between the southeast section of the state, where humidity is quite high, and the northwest region, which tends to be much drier. 

  • Spring and Summer: June, July, and August are the only months of the year that normally don’t have any traces of snow in Minnesota. It can be a hot month, but everything is in full bloom! 

  • Fall: Fall is THE most beautiful time of year in Minnesota! The trees around the state turn yellow and red for a couple of weeks in a stunning display of fall foliage. The fall foliage period is short, but normally happens sometime in late September, October, or early November depending on the wedding.

HOW TO ELOPE IN MINNESOTA - MAKING IT LEGIT

Making It All Legal 

The paperwork part is the least exciting part of your elopement. But filing the paperwork is just one small part of getting to marry the person you love in the most insane spot, right?! 

In Minnesota, you can apply for your marriage license in person only. You can fill out a pre-application in some counties and setup an appointment with them online. We will pick the county depending on your location of your elopement and your plans. 

Once you get your marriage paperwork, it’s valid for six months. You’ll need to have your ceremony within that time frame, or pay for a new license fee. When the ceremony is over, your officiant will need to file the license with the county that issued the license within five days. 

Sound too stressful? You can make your wedding “paper official” in your home state to avoid any stress and instead just have your ceremony and celebration in Minnesota! Sometimes, that’s a much easier step for out of town couples who don’t want to worry about the paperwork. 

Who Can Officiate Your Wedding? 

In Minnesota, an official marriage officiant or minister is authorized to officiate your wedding. The person has to be at least 21 years old and must file their "officiant credentials" with a Minnesota county. Also, I (Cassandra) am ordained and happy to officiate your ceremony if you are wanting something more intimate and private.

Permits and Fees

Depending on your elopement location, we may need a permit. For example, small ceremonies under 10 in Minneapolis State Parks require a low impact permit that costs $100. But I am here to help you with all the nitty gritty, all you two have to do is decide where and when, I can help with the how!

PICKING THE PERFECT MINNESOTA VENDORS

From wedding cakes to your bouquet, here are our favorite vendors across Minnesota. 

Wedding Officiants

Picking Up Sweet Treats 

Coordinators/ Stylist

Photographers

Personal Chefs

Your Bouquets & Flowers 

Videographers

Dress Stores 

WHERE TO STAY IN MN

Picking the perfect getaway will make your elopement feel much more...you! There’s nothing like coming home to a sunset on the lake, or snuggling up in your treehouse. Here are our top picks around the state: 

HOW TO GET TO MINNESOTA

The easiest way to get to Minnesota? Fly into either Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport, the largest airport in the state or if you are doing a North Shore elopement you can fly into the Duluth International Airport. From there, depending on your exact elopement location, we recommend renting a car to get you the rest of the way- there is Uber, Lyft and city transportation in both Minneapolis and Duluth, but beyond that it can be pretty rural especially North of Duluth. 

MINNESOTA ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES

You get:

  • 2 Photographers

  • Unlimited planning and consultations
    – custom location guide
    – vendor recommendations
    – personalized timeline
    – planning tips & permit info
    – planning guide
    – officiant services (when applicable)

  • High-res digital file download with print release

  • Travel for both of us photographers is included

Anywhere in the MN Starting at: $4,000

Minnesota Elopement Inspo

More Lake Superior Weddings, Elopements, and Planning Resources

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