Best Places to Elope

Vegas isn't the only Eloping Hot Spot!

Not only is eloping cost efficient and less stressful than planning a larger, more traditional wedding, it's also romantic to go away by yourselves (or, maybe with a few close friends or family members) and tie the knot. But, where are the best places to elope?

It seems everyone has an opinion on that question. Some favor the Caribbean. Some think Niagara Falls is the obvious choice. The Travel Channel even weighed in with their "Sexiest Places to Elope" list, which included:

• Reno, Nevada
• Park City, Utah
• Calistoga, California
• Florida Keys, Florida

You may also want to look at places which are recognized as top honeymoon spots, as an elopement wedding often, but not always, is in the same place as your honeymoon. And, some resorts in top honeymoon spots will offer a free elopement wedding ceremony with a hotel stay.

Modern Bride Magazine recently came out with their list of the the world's most popular honeymoon destinations:

1. Hawaii
2. Jamaica
3. Mexico
4. Tahiti
5. St. Lucia
6. Italy
7. U.S. Virgin Islands
8. Aruba
9. Las Vegas
10. Bermuda

The above list is certainly a fabulous list of romantic spots. Another thing you might consider, however, is ease of planning. Some places cater so much to eloping couples that they have a well-run wedding industry in place, which means you have an abundance of choices for elopement packages, and people who will do everything for you, so you just have to say "I Do" and enjoy your honeymoon.

Below, then, is our list of the

Top 10 Most Popular Elopement Destinations

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is considered THE wedding capital of the world, and for good reason. Over 100,000 weddings are performed there each year. You have gambling, Vegas shows, and great restaurants. A Las Vegas wedding is also a great place to choose if you wish to bring along some friends and family. The endless supply of entertainment will provide your guests with something to do once the ceremony is over. And, for the eloping couple, there are a large selection of wedding chapels for cheap and easy ceremonies, as well as elopement packages at some of the more luxurious resorts and casinos.

Gretna Green, Scotland

Never heard of Gretna Green? You should. It's often referred to as the "Wedding Capital of the World." Gretna Green is a small, historic village on the west coast in the south of Scotland, on the Scottish/English border, where everything, it seems, is geared to romance. While there you might want to stay at Comlongon Castle, which is located 15 minutes from Gretna, and also serves as a very popular castle wedding venue. A restored 14th Century Medieval Scottish castle, Comlongon offers 14 individually themed 4-poster bedrooms perfect for romance.

Niagara Falls, Canada

Niagara Falls is an obvious choice for eloping couples. Not only do the Falls provide a lovely and romantic backdrop for your vows, but there are many different providers offering a variety of wedding packages. Do note that the most popular side of the Falls for weddings is the side which is located in Canada.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg, along with Pigeon Forge and Sevierville which are in the vicinity of the Great Smoky Mountains, are all considered the Wedding Capital of the South. A great number of elopement ceremonies and larger weddings are performed in the area all year round. The eloping couple will find a great variety of elopement packages to choose from.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Eureka Springs is also considered the "Wedding Capital of the South." Eureka Springs is a small, picturesque town located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas. It seems there are weddings everywhere: in quaint bed and breakfasts, historic hotels and beautiful gardens. Many of the innkeepers are authorized to perform weddings, which makes it very easy to plan your elopement ceremony. If you love old towns, you'll love Eureka Spring. In fact, the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Only 3.5 hours from Little Rock, Arkansas, 2 hours from Springfield, Missouri, and 6 to 7 hours from Dallas, Texas, Eureka Springs is close enough to get to easily, yet a world away from home.

Poconos, Pennsylvania

The Poconos in Pennsylvania is considered one of the "Romance Capitals of the World," popular as a destination for couples getting married or on their honeymoon. If you want the ultimate in romance, check out the Roman Tower Suite at Pocono Palace, which is designed with a Grand Roman theme. Of course, what's grand to some is gaudy to others, but the Roman Tower Suite comes with floor-to-ceiling columns, vaulted ceilings, and a 7-foot tall Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath built for two.

Catalina Island, California

Catalina Island is so romantic they had to write a song about it. The "Island of Romance," located approximately 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, has been host to eloping couples for decades. There are numerous wedding officiants on the Island who will take you to a picturesque spot and perform your wedding ceremony at very reasonable prices.

Anna Maria Island, Florida

Anna Marie Island is fast becoming one of the top wedding spots in Florida. Anna Marie Island has a number of specatular beaches to tie the knot, such as Coquina Beach, Bradenton Beach and Anna Marie Beach.

Golden Colorado - Rocky Mountain foothills, Colorado

If you're looking for that perfect mountain spot to elope to, look no further than Golden, Colorado and and the surrounding Rocky Mountain foothills which lie west of Denver, Colorado. Golden, Colorado is considered the "Wedding Capital of Colorado," and offers beauty as well as a host of wedding providers.

U.S. Virgin Islands

The great thing about the U.S. Virgin Islands is that you can elope to a beautiful Caribbean paradise without a passport. And, there are many lovely resorts there which offer low-cost elopement packages, such as the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort in St. Thomas, which offers an elopement package beginning at $1,000. While the U.S. Virgin Islands isn't as cheap as the above locations, if you want to elope and honeymoon on a Caribbean Island, you can do it with nothing near approaching the average price of a traditional wedding.

Synonyms: Elopin, elpoing, elopnig, and loping are all popular typos for eloping. Elopeent, elopmnt, elopemet, eopement and elopemen are all popular typos for elopement.