Plan the Perfect Massachusetts Elopement
You’re ready to throw tradition to the wind and instead of planning a big, stale affair you’d rather elope in Massachusetts. Now you’re looking for a Massachusetts Elopement Photographer and expert! The state of MA has spectacular coastal cliffs, rolling mountains, and lush forests. The state parks are home to some of the most stunning views.
Let’s get started planning your perfect, adventure wedding day.
Why Elope IN Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is one of the leading places in the country for elopements and there are a variety of Massachusetts elopement packages. From the incredible east coast dotted with islands and beautiful beaches to its mountainous western slope that boasts great views and plenty of forest land. Make sure to reach out if you’re looking for MA elopement packages. Couples can plan a spectacular beach getaway or a remote forested mountain elopement. Regardless of your style, there is an incredible landscape to match your vision in Massachusetts.
Where to Elope in Massachusetts?
These are the best places to elope in Massachusetts. Check out the full article HERE, but here’s the short list of my favorite places to shoot elopements in Massachusetts.
CAPE ANN PENINSULA
BORDEN FLATS LIGHTHOUSE
THE BERKSHIRES
BASH BISH FALLS
NANTUCKET
MARTHA’S VINEYARD
CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE
JIMINY PEAK MOUNTAIN RESORT
BASCOM LODGE, MOUNT GREYLOCK
Traveling to MA
Flying into Boston is your best option. Because of the varied landscape, the first thing you’ll need to decide is what type of view you’re looking for on your elopement day. If you’re into waterfalls, rivers, lakes, mountains, and forests, stick to the western part of the state. And if you’re looking for beaches, sand dunes, seagrasses, lighthouses, and islands, you’ll find those on the eastern side. Maybe proximity to family is important as well. Keep all of these things in mind, but remember that Massachusetts is a relatively small state in terms of driving distances, and you can drive across the whole area in about 3.5 hours.
WHERE TO STAY IN Massachusetts
I always recommend checking VRBO when looking for places to stay and planning your elopement. Why do I recommend VRBO over Airbnb? Because Airbnb no longer allows any type of event to take place. If it’s just the two of you that’s not a problem, but if you want to have any friends or family over and just enjoy a simple dinner celebration together VRBO allows that. In fact, there’s a box that you can check labeled “events allowed” and VRBO only shows you places where you are allowed to host a few people for a dinner celebration. Again, Airbnb is a great option if you don’t plan to use it for a celebration. I especially like their unique stays which feature super cool places, like treehouses. Who doesn’t want to elope and stay in a treehouse? I know I do!
HOW DO YOU GET LEGALLY MARRIED IN MASSACHUSETTS?
To get married in Massachusetts you will need to be at least 18 years old. You will need to fill out the marriage license, which can be done in person or by mail. After your application is processed, you will receive a marriage license. You can then have your ceremony within 180 days from the date
One of the requirements for marriage in MA is the presence of at least two people who serve as witnesses to the ceremony.
WHAT IS THE COST TO ELOPE IN MA?
The average cost of wedding venues in Massachusetts is $3,000 to $5,000, and the average cost of a full, traditional wedding is around $35,000. But if you choose to get married by eloping in the great outdoors that cost can go down significantly. Check out an elopement cost calculator here. Eloping couples choose to pay for what they care about and forget the rest. For some couples, creating an adventurous experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives is more important than paying for a party for a large number of friends and family, most of whom they don’t see that often. Eloping couples often choose to spend more on the experience and the process of documenting their day, than the guests involved.
Whether you’re from Massachusetts, New England, or somewhere else, MA is an incredible place to elope or have a small outdoor wedding. From epic island destinations to lush forests, lakes, and rivers, there are a lot of options to host the perfect outdoor elopement getaway. So if hiking down a wide-open beach, walking through sand dunes, or paddling to an island sound like your idea of a great elopement day, get in touch. I don’t just take a small outdoor wedding and elopement photos. I help you plan your perfect, adventurous day from beginning to end.
Massachusetts Elopement Packages
As an elopement photographer I provide a service that includes so much more than just beautiful photos of your day. I am a part guide/part planner as well, helping you craft your perfect experience.
Planning guidance and assistance
You get my massively informational 90+ page elopement experience guidebook. It comes with a packing list, how to navigate family dynamics when eloping, and more. It’s going to answer questions you didn’t even know you had.
In addition, I offer planning guidance and assistance including (but not limited to) locations, timeline, and permitting requirements.
Timeline
Plan your small outdoor wedding or elopement day timeline. Want to make sure you’re choosing a location during the best time of day for light, or best time of year for weather? I make sure we do just that. And then I put together the perfect timeline of your incredible day, so everyone is on the same page and the day unfolds seamlessly!
Location Scouting + Vendor Recommendations
My years of experience have taken me a lot of different places. You get knowledge of incredible elopement locations that include everywhere from stunning waterfalls, mountain tops, forest tunnels, and coastal cliffs. Along with that comes working with some pretty amazing teams of wedding vendors. So I pass that info along too.
Activity Ideas
From a backcountry helicopter tour to canoeing, hiking, climbing, train and ferry rides, horseback riding, plane rides, and everything in between. There is no limit to what you can experience on your adventurous day.
Officiant
I can also sign your marriage license. I’m an ordained officiant in every New England state and in New York. So if you don’t want to hire an officiant or make a family member fill the role- you can say your vows to each other and I can sign the paperwork.
Travel Included
You never have to worry about paying travel fees. You don’t worry about where I’m staying or how I’m getting anywhere. One less item on your to-do list!
FAA Certified Drone Pilot
That’s right, I have a pilot’s license to prove it and everything. I stay up to date on the latest drone laws so that I can fly my bird and capture your day from a huge variety of angles throughout the day.
Elopement expert
I use my GPS to make sure we don’t get lost. And I’ll bring along things that you might not have thought about like hand warmers, tissues, umbrellas, and headlamps. Most of all, you get an expert who has been through this over 100 times to guide you through the process.
Hi, I’m Kat
I’m a small outdoor wedding and elopement photographer. I photograph weddings all over Massachusetts and New England. I love this region so much and want to give couples here an incredible elopement or small outdoor wedding experience. If you’re looking for Massachusetts elopement packages, you’ve come to the right place!
My style focuses on telling the complete story of your day, from all the quiet moments to the exciting celebrations. So whether you are eloping with just the two of you or you decided to bring along some of your closest friends and family, I capture each moment, person, and experience as it happens.
I firmly believe you should get married exactly the way you want. I hope that means you get married outside in a stunning and adventurous location. I’m here to make sure your day is completely captured. Sometimes that means I’m a fly on the wall, taking in the action as it happens, and other times that means posing you and your partner or making sure your family portraits take place in the spot with the best light.
Whatever format or timeline your day takes on I’ll work with it, because after all it is your day, and I want you to have images that let you relive every moment over and over.
Hear from my amazing clients
Selina & Rob
My now husband and I used Kat from Swell and Stone as our photographer for our small wedding. What an amazing experience we had with her. We can't recommend her enough. You don't realize how important it is to be comfortable with your photographer because it shows in your photos!!!
If I could give people any advice from our experience it would be to consider taking photos over two days or more. The reason why is because the whole actual wedding day can be very stiff and more traditional. We spent the first day exploring Martha's Vineyard island. We took photos all over the island which is what my husband and I are more about. We are the outdoors and adventurer type. This also allowed us to get more comfortable with having photos taken and act like ourselves in front of the camera.
We planned our second day (wedding ceremony) to be more traditional. We had family and friends join us for the ceremony. By day two I was used to Kat being around but I also knew how to pose and move better for the camera. On your wedding day you want a really easy breezy experience. That is what Kat gave us.
In the end my photos are amazing - Better than I could have ever envisioned. Kat is a gem in the wedding photographer world.
Ally & Michael
Extremely grateful to have had Kat photograph our elopement! She's an expert in her niche, exudes warmness, and made everything about the day easy and lovely. Just received the photographs and they perfectly capture the feelings of the day. If you're considering working with her, do it! She's your gal :)
Maddie & Michael
My husband and I could not be happier after working with Kat! She made the whole planning process easy and very straightforward, if we had a question about anything we could reach out and she was always happy to help. Our whole day was perfect, she was very relaxed and easy going and made us both feel comfortable in front of the camera and our pictures definitely show that. We didn’t have to worry about anything, she had backup plans for any weather we could get (including a quick rain shower) but because she was prepared for it we were still able to get awesome pictures during it! We received our full gallery in three weeks as well, about three weeks than expected. We honestly only have good things to say about our experience and if any couples are considering an adventure elopement to definitely reach out to her!
Booking In Massachusetts Now!
