More and more couples are choosing elopements over traditional weddings, and I love seeing it here in Boston. When you have a smaller wedding, the connection, meaning, and intentionality take over, and it’s something that makes me smile so big! My favorite part of couples choosing to elope is that there’s so much flexibility in planning, ensuring it feels totally true to you. If you’re here, you’re probably considering an elopement because a smaller, more intentional wedding just feels right to you. As a Boston elopement photographer, I’ve helped couples plan days that feel calm, supported, and true to who they are, and I’m here to do the same for you. You’ll find all the best elopement locations, elopement tips, and elopement ideas for your own here!

A couple posing for photos on a city street before their boston elopement

a couple stopping for photos on their way to their elopement location

A black and white photo of a couple on the street before heading to their Boston elopement location

6 Boston Elopement Locations That I Love (+ Tips for Eloping There)

Elopement locations can be tricky to choose between, but at the end of the day, it’s the feeling of each of them that sets them apart. See six elopement locations I just can’t get enough of shooting at, to see if any match your dream elopement vibe!

Eloping at The Boston Public Garden

The Boston Public Garden is such a gorgeous setting. It’s perfect for family sessions, engagement sessions, and of course, elopements! Here’s everything you need to know about planning a Boston elopement:

You do need a special event permit to get married here, which you can apply for here! Note that it’s a little bit of a lengthy process, and the final approval will need to be submitted at least one week before your event, so plan accordingly! I know permits can feel intimidating, but I walk my couples through this step all the time, so you won’t be figuring it out alone!
Every inch of Boston Public Garden is beautiful, and you can’t go wrong with any of them as your ceremony spot or for photos. My personal favorites are the corner of Arlington St. and at the Japanese Lantern! Each of these spots has such a serene, peaceful feel, and that’s exactly what you need for your elopement day.
Hiring an officiant, or getting someone special to you to marry you, is super easy! And Massachusetts doesn’t require any witnesses for marriage, so you can choose for it to just be the two of you, me, and your officiant if that’s what feels right!
Note that the Public Garden can get busy depending on the day and time of year. Your best bet for beating the crowds will be a weekday morning, no matter the season, but the park will definitely be less crowded in the summer and winter months.

A couple standing underneath a willow tree at elopement location Boston Public Garden

A man lifting up his bride to kiss her in elopement photos

A couple posing for elopement photos in Boston Public Garden

A couple during their ceremony at one of my favorite elopement locations, Boston Public Garden

Guests crying during an elopement at Boston Public Garden

A couple during a ceremony with bridesmaids at one of my favorite elopement locations, Boston public garden

Eloping at Boston City Hall

A courthouse wedding? Sign me up! I will say, Boston City Hall may be simple, but that’s exactly what makes it such a good option for couples who want the focus to stay on the commitment, not the production. Here’s the info you’ll need:

First things first, you’ll need to get your marriage license. You can book your appointment to do so right here, and then be sure to show up with your IDs and $50 for the fee.
Between 3 and 60 days of getting your marriage license, schedule your civil ceremony (here’s the link!). These take fifteen minutes, and can be scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, between 10:00 am and 11:30 am, and 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Your ceremony will cost $75, and they only accept cash!
A City Clerk will then marry you two in their office, and then you’re all set and free to celebrate however your hearts desire.

A couple in their elopement location Boston City Hall

A couple during their civil ceremony at Boston City Hall

A mom crying watching a Boston City Hall wedding

A man taking pictures of a civil ceremony in a Boston City Hall wedding

A man hugging his dad after his Boston elopement at Boston city hall

A couple kissing while walking into their elopement location, Boston City Hall

A couple kissing in front of a mural at their Boston City Hall wedding

Eloping at Boston Public Library

Talk about gorgeous. Boston Public Library is absolutely beautiful. I seriously love shooting elopements here, and I’m sharing all the best tips I’ve learned:

The Library offers a one-hour wedding ceremony package that includes up to 12 guests in the Guastavino Room (which feels like academia meets romance, I love!). We have an hour for your ceremony, then photos in this room and outside of the library.
This package is only offered on select Mondays each month.
Also note that this package does not include an officiant, so you’ll need to hire one, or again, get someone special to marry you!
You must book your spot between 14 and 90 days, but note that spots fill up fast. This is a location that’s extremely sought after, for good reason! You can reach out to either of these contacts for booking: 617-859-2212 or events@bpl.org.

The inside of Boston elopement location Boston public library

One of my favorite elopement locations, the Guastavino Room at the Boston Public Library

A couple during their Boston Elopement at Boston Public Library

A couple sharing their first kiss at their library elopement location

A black and white photo from a Boston elopement of the marriage license being signed

Eloping at the Charles River Esplanade

The Esplanade is a prime Boston location, and you could seriously never go wrong with eloping here! If you love an easy, simple, outdoor elopement, here’s how to plan it at the Esplanade:

A permit is required to get married here, and here is the link for that!
You’ll need to BYOO (bring your own officiant) for an elopement here, too!
Depending on the time you choose to get married here, it can definitely get crowded! People love it here so much because it’s so stunning! I always recommend a weekday morning to my couples, if they want a bit more privacy.

A couple posing at one of my favorite elopement locations in Boston, the Charles Rive Esplanade

A couple walking together before their Boston Elopement at the Esplanade

A couple under a willow tree for elopement photos

A couple standing on a bridge at their elopement location, the Esplanade

A woman reading vows during a Boston elopement

A couple kissing in front of the pond at their elopement location, the Esplanade

Eloping at the Greenway

If you’re craving North End views instead of park vibes, I recommend the Greenway. It has a fun energy to it, skyline views, and a ton of greenery! Here are my top tips for planning your wedding here:

Again, you’ll need a permit for your elopement here! Remember that it can take a month or two to complete the entire process.
You must complete this planning form from the park at least 30 days prior to your event.
Once your event is approved, they help you with planning your event. And believe me when I say that that is so appreciated.
The Greenway is near a ton of hotels, which is nice. I love to recommend that my couples get ready in a hotel nearby and walk to the Greenway for us to get photos along the way!

A couple eloping at one of my favorite elopement locations, The Greenway

Guests watching a Boston elopement at The Greenway

An elopement guest crying outside at a Boston elopement location, the Greenway

A couple eloping at The Greenway, one of my favorite Boston elopement locations

Eloping at the Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard has it all: gardens, flowers, waterfront views, and, honestly, the most peaceful feel. I absolutely love capturing elopements here, and I’ve gathered so much good info from shooting here!:

There are SO many spots to choose from for your ceremony or for photos, and every single one of them is gorgeous as the rest!
Events at the arboretum are limited to 40 people maximum!
It’s a huge park, which makes it secluded. There probably won’t be many people around during your elopement, and the privacy makes your ceremony so special.

Guests outside for a Boston elopement at Arnold Arboretum

A bride walking down the aisle with her father

A groom's reaction to a bride walking down the aisle

A couple holding hands at their Boston elopement

A couple eloping at one of my favorite elopement locations, Arnold Arboretum

A couple sharing their first kiss during their elopement

Extra Tips for Planning Your Boston Elopement

If you’re here, you’re probably, at minimum, considering eloping in Boston. Which means that you know that elopements are incredibly flexible. There’s no single right way to do this, and you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s version of a wedding. At the end of the day, what matters is that it feels right to you. That your dreams are coming true. And if that means just the two of you, saying “I do!” under a tree, then so be it. If it means that you have your four best friends there to watch, I love it. Decorating? Gorgeous! Letting the space do all the work? Beautiful.

No matter how your elopement looks, there are a few things you’ll need to know for any of them. Don’t worry, they’re pretty easy, and I’m always your right-hand to help you out along the way!

Step-by-Step: How to Elope in Boston

First things first, your marriage license

As I mentioned earlier, you can schedule your appointment to apply for your Massachusetts marriage license right here. Bring IDs and $50 to your appointment, then plan your elopement within 3 to 60 days of officially getting it!

Schedule your ceremony

The next step is to plan out your ceremony with your partner, any guests, and any vendors you’ll have. Make sure everyone has the same plan, and from then on, everything is smooth sailing!

Say “I do!”

And now for the fun part: actually marrying the love of your life in your sweet, intimate ceremony! That first kiss feeling is so special, so hold onto that. Take in the way the air felt, the way the sun was hitting, the way you two took a deep breath together before saying your vows. Those are the moments that get to stand out the most in a small ceremony.

A couple posing in front of city hall for their Boston elopement

A couple showing off their wedding rings after their city hall wedding

A couple running away from the camera after their Boston elopement

The Best Time of Year to Elope in Boston

Weather-wise (and honestly, looks-wise), you can’t go wrong in the spring or fall. Depending on the location you choose, those might be the busiest times, but people are usually pretty respectful when they notice there’s a wedding happening around! But if you do want to be sure to be away from a crowd in a public area, winter or mid-summer might be your best bet.

A couple sitting on a bench before heading to their elopement location, showing their shoes and a bridal bouquet

My Photography Packages for a Boston Elopement

Your elopement doesn’t need to fit into a box, and neither do my photography packages. We’ll build something that supports your day, not the other way around.

Some people want getting ready coverage, some people don't. Some people want portraits done in different locations after the ceremony, some people don’t. Some people add on a quick “reception,” or dinner with their closest friends and family, some people don’t. My packages are customizable for whatever your day looks like, and my job? It’s to create the one that aligns with your day the best.

Sweet words from one of my elopement brides, Erika: “We discovered Ashley over a year before our elopement, and we were immediately drawn to her ability to capture the intimacy of any occasion. Whether it's a wedding, engagement, elopement, or family session, Ashley has a way of capturing genuine emotions that we absolutely adore. When we were planning our special day, we knew we had to have Ashley as our photographer. From our very first call to the three sessions we've had with her since, we've had nothing but amazing experiences. Ashley has a way of making being in front of the camera feel natural and fun, which we truly appreciated. Our photos were incredibly authentic and truly captured the essence of the moment. We wholeheartedly recommend Ashley to anyone looking for a talented and passionate photographer, and we're excited to continue working with her for many years to come!”

A bride getting ready before heading to her elopement location

A bride's mother helping her get ready for her Boston elopement

A bride looking in the mirror, getting ready for her elopement

A couple celebrating at dinner after their boston elopement

Ashley Olafsson | Boston Elopement Photographer

Elopements are heartfelt and emotion-led, every single time. And my photography approach works so well with that: grounded, warm, and rooted in authenticity and emotion. No matter who you are or how you love, you deserve a wedding experience where you feel supported, respected, and fully yourselves.

So, if you’re planning a Boston elopement, I’d love to be right there by your side for every step of the way. I’m the photographer that you can call at 2:00 am to freak out with. The one that will hype you up every single time, without fail. The one that by the end of it, you’ll feel more like you’re friends with than someone you hired. And if that’s the energy you need, you can inquire about booking me here. I’m so excited to capture your day!

Xoxo, Ashley