Steps to Eloping in Michigan

January 8, 2024

Eloping in Michigan doesn‘t have to be complicated. In this post, I’ll guide you through the basic steps of how to elope in Michigan. From finding your favorite vendors to choosing a location and planning the details – Michigan is a great state to tie the knot..

Step 1: Hire a Photographer/Videographer

Research and Contact: Begin your elopement planning by finding a photographer/videographer whose style aligns with your vision. Reach out to inquire about availability, packages, and their familiarity with Michigan’s landscapes.

Step 2: Choose Your Location

Explore Michigan: Research various picturesque locations like Pictured Rocks, Mackinac Island, Dead River Falls, or other state parks that resonate with your vision. Consider accessibility, permits, and regulations for elopements at these places. Once you have a direction, I can guide you through the process of planning your elopement. If you don’t have a direction, I have a long list of recommendations. Eloping in Michigan gives you so many more options for outdoor elopement locations – you can choose from waterfalls, cliffs along the shoreline, mossy forest and more. View my location guide for 2024, here.

Step 3: Date and Permits

Select Date and Obtain Permits: Decide on your elopement date, considering the best time of year for your chosen location. Check if any permits are required for your selected venue and secure them in advance.

Best Locations for your Michigan Elopement:

1. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: Iconic cliffs, stunning rock formations, and Lake Superior views make it a top choice.

2. Marquette/Central U.P.: Majestic waterfalls, tons of trails, miles of lakeshore and beautiful forests create an enchanting setting.

3. Mackinac Island: Quaint charm, historic architecture, and panoramic views of Lake Huron provide a unique elopement experience.

4. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: Rugged terrain, waterfalls, and vast forests offer secluded and picturesque spots.

Step 4: Plan Ceremony Details

Officiant and Vows: Decide if you’ll have an officiant or legally get married before a symbolic ceremony. Prepare your vows or customize the words you want to say to your partner.

Step 5: Lodging and Travel Arrangements

Book Accommodations: Secure lodging for your stay, whether it’s a hotel, cabin, or bed and breakfast near your elopement site. Consider any travel logistics, especially if your location is remote.

Best Stays for you Upper Peninsula Michigan Elopement :

1. The Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island): Known for its elegance and historic charm, it offers picturesque views and luxurious accommodations.

2. The landmark (Marquette): Close to downtown, yet not far from the trails and lakeshore. If you’re looking for more Marquette stay, look at these 12 best Airbnbs for your elopement.

3. Roam Inn (Munising): a boutique hotel a stone’s throw from Munising Bay. They offer intimate accommodations near popular elopement locations.

4. Campgrounds and Rustic Cabins: For a more adventurous experience, various campgrounds and rustic cabins are available within state parks.

Step 6: Obtain Marriage License

Marriage License: Research Michigan’s marriage license requirements, including documentation and waiting periods. Obtain your marriage license within the specified timeframe.

Step 7: Vendor Coordination

Communicate with Vendors: Coordinate with your photographer/videographer, florist, and any other vendors. Discuss timelines, specific shots, and logistics for the day.

Step 8: Ceremony Rehearsal (if applicable)

Rehearse (if desired): Consider having a rehearsal at your chosen location to familiarize yourselves with the site and the ceremony flow.

Step 9: Elopement Day

Enjoy Your Moment: On your elopement day, relax, soak in the beauty of your chosen Michigan landscape, and cherish the intimate moments as you exchange vows and celebrate your love.

Step 10: Post-Elopement Celebrations

Celebrate and Share: After your elopement, celebrate with a special dinner, plan a small reception, or share your joy with friends and family through photographs and videos captured by your photographer/videographer.

houghton mi elopement photographer and videographer

Elopements

Small Weddings

    
 
 
       Simply. The. Best.

Tiffany at Ink & Opal Co. is hands down the best! I recall searching for photographers in the area and all had such wonderful photos. What drew me to Ink & Opal was the story behind the images and within the videos themselves. Tiffany's true artistic ability shined through in her storytelling and I knew right away that she was a fabulous choice to capture our engagement photos and intimate wedding.

The elopement photos were hands down the best - as soon as I received them I had one printed and hung on our wall. As for the wedding, we got married Sept. 16 and within a week received a message from Tiffany linking to a thoughtful blog post along with a sneak peek of our photos and video teaser.

We are so excited to receive the rest of our images and full video, but I just had to leave a review right away. If you're searching for the perfect photographer/videographer for your elopement or intimate wedding in the upper peninsula (or anywhere, really!), you should highly consider Ink & Opal. Tiffany will exceed your expectations every time!
  
 
    
   Alexis DeLodder 
 2023-09-26
 
 
 
      Tiffany was amazing through the entire process, from planning to photographing. She had lots local suggestions to our questions and was into making the experience we wanted happen. She is super sweet, great communication, and helped give us the pictures we were imagining for our elopement. Highly recommend.
  
 
    
   Amber Cornelius 
 2023-08-03
 
 
 
      I seriously could not have imagined our big day without Tiffany!

Being a wedding photographer myself, I can easily admit I had some high standards, LOL. Tiffany easily blew those standards out of the water, both with her sheer skill and artistic vision, and with her gentle and loving personality. She captured every precious moment, while also having that "fly on the wall" approach, which kept everything the most genuine and raw.

We absolutely adore Tiffany/Ink and Opal, and hope to cross paths with her in the future!
  
 
    
   Alyssa Cherry 
 2023-04-12
 
 
 
      This review is long overdue but we could not have asked for a better wedding photographer/videographer for our special day. Tiffany is not only very talented and skilled at her craft, but also very personable. She took the time to really got to know us and what we were looking for which was reflected in the finished product.  Our pictures turned out great and we have a wedding video that legitimately makes 83% of people cry when they watch it.  Aside from that, Tiffany was the most reliable vendor we had. She was on time and where she needed to be on wedding day and her website made payments and communication with her easy.  Tiffany did an outstanding job of capturing our wedding ceremony and reception and I would highly recommend her for anyone who is in need for a wedding photographer.

"They say that your wedding day goes by in such a flash that you're lucky if you even get a piece of your own cake. I say, that's crazy. I say, "Let them eat cake." - Michael Scott
  
 
    
   Kevin Watts 
 2022-04-08
 
 
 
      Tiffany is an amazing wedding photographer & it's been a pleasure to work alongside her on a few projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. If you are looking for someone to capture your big day, or engagement, make sure she's booked behind the camera
  
 
    
   Eric Angerer 
 2022-01-14
 
 
 
      She hasn’t done picture for me but Tiffany has done multiple logos and I absolutely adore working with her. Attentive listener and really easy to get along with, always love the final outcome. Highly recommend!
  
 
    
   Remyllia Letourneau 
 2022-01-10
 
 
 
      I cannot express how much my husband and I recommend Ink & Opal! Tiffany and her team are incredibly professional, provide excellent customer service, and take amazing photos. We are so grateful that they shot our wedding.
  
 
    
   Kait Kachmarsky 
 2021-08-12
 
 
 
      Tiffany did an amazing job and was super easy to work with. She went above and beyond to get to a perfect design that exceeded my expectations! She worked quick, getting things back soon after I responded and she knew exactly what to ask to figure out what would be best for me and my business.

I would highly recommend this talented, independent artist!
  
 
    
   Josh Masserang 
 2021-05-01
 
 
 
      If you are looking for a photographer who will capture beautiful images of you on your special day, do not hesitate to contact Tiffany. You will be so happy you did!!!  Highly recommended 🤍
  
 
    
   Terry Calderwood 
 2021-03-24