Elopement Guide

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK & BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Planning Checklist

Read the "Super Important Things To Know" at the beginning of this guide

Choose Your Location Using the "Location Guide"

Create Your Timeline

Create Your Experience Using the "Visitor Guide"

Read these Resource Blogs.

Choose Sunrise, Sunset, or Mid-Day

Find Vendors using the "Local Vendor Guide"

Make Your List of Things To Bring for your Elopement

Pick Out Things To Do During Your Elopement

Make Your List of Group Photos (for elopements with guests)

Schedule Your Final Detail Call Have Fun & Get Married On A Mountain

super important things to know

Driving along Skyline Drive - it is a 35mph speed limit because of turns and wildlife. There are a lot of deer and bear on Skyline Drive and they are often in the road, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Entry fees - It is a $35 entry fee for a day on Skyline Drive. There Is also a yearly pass for Shenandoah National Park for $50 or a yearly pass for all National Parks for $85. You can enter for free with a Military ID. The entrance stations are normally empty before 7am, so most of the time when you enter for a sunrise elopement there is no one there to pay.

Ticks - depending on time of year, there are ticks! so make sure you check well after your photo shoot that you don’t have any attached.

Bathrooms are scarce - but there are some bathrooms at different wayside stations as well as Skyland and Big Meadows.

Google Maps App - please use Google Maps Instead of Apple Maps. Apple Maps will take you up fire access roads, which are locked to the public, and then you will have to turn around and add another hour to your journey. Google Maps will look like a longer ride, but it takes you through the Entrance Stations.

super important things to know continued

The locations are easy to access, but this is still an adventure! It may not go exactly to plan, and the terrain can be rocky. Please bring comfortable shoes and your sense of adventure!

Because these locations are easy to access, they can be popular. Choosing sunrise means you're less likely to see other people, but other people might still be at the location. There may even be other photo shoots or elopements happening because these are public locations. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen. That means that there could be a last-minute location change (simply by moving 10 feet to the left or by going to another overlook nearby or waiting a few minutes).

It can be 10* colder along Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway - please bring warm layers, even for summer days.

It can also be hot in the mountains, so please bring sunscreen, water, and snacks!

It is very windy once you're at certain overlooks or at the summit of the hike - windy hair makes for fun, dramatic photos and tells a story. If you're worried about your hair in the wind, choose a hairstyle that can withstand the wind.

Things to Bring important

blankets, jackets, or shawls that can be photographed, it is normally 10* colder in the mountains than it is in the valley, and the wind can pick up.

extra makeup, if needed.

comfortable shoes.

- you should always hike In comfortable shoes, but feel free to change Into dress shoes or go barefoot.

extra layers for in-between photos if needed.

allergy medicine / eye drops.

sunscreen / bug spray.

backup clothes or towels in case it rains.

head lamps / lanterns.

plenty of drinks and snacks.

Things to Bring fun ideas of

vow books.

bouquet, flower crown, boutonierre.

a picnic.

special drink (champagne, whiskey, coffee, hot cocoa).

binoculars.

donuts, a small cake, cupcakes, icecream.

"just married" signs for your backpacks.

a small speaker for your first dance.

camping hammocks.

literally anything you want.

fun

ideas for your elopement

a first dance in the mountains. renting or bringing your own canoe to Lake Arrowhead or the Shenandoah River.

Bringing your bikes or motorcyles on Skyline Drive / Blue Ridge Parkway. Camping in Shenandoah National Park.

backup locations

Skyline Drive / Shenandoah National Park can close due to weather (snow, ice, wind) or wrecks. Or it could simply be a downpour or rain without closing the park.

Choosing a backup location just in case is a good idea!

Some location ideas :

Lake Arrowhead, Luray VA.

Sherando Lake, Lyndhurst VA.

Blue Ridge Parkway (if isn't closed for weather).

Local Brewery, Winery, Coffee Shop, Venue, Etc.

Your Airbnb / Cabin / VRBO.

A different section of Shenandoah National Park. Sometimes they'll only close down sections that are being affected.

helpful links

Resource Blogs to help with planning (including ceremony ideas, shoes, how to include family, etc.)

Blogs organized by season

Blogs organized by sunrise and sunset