Can you get eloped in Indiana? How do you do it?
The short answer to this is - yes, of course you can elope in Indiana. Even though Indiana may get a bad wrap since it doesn’t have as popular of scenery as other areas in the United States, there are still so many locations that would make for an epic day. The thing about eloping is that you don’t have to do it on a mountain top, but you also don’t have to do it at a court house.
Before we dive into this all, let me talk about why I’m so passionate about couples eloping - anywhere. I’m originally from Indiana - I lived there for over 22 years of my life. Two years ago I moved out to Tempe, Arizona. Since moving here, I’ve completely changed the direction of my photography business. I went from pursuing big, traditional weddings to realizing what I really wanted to focus on was intimate, not-so-traditional elopements. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting a “typical” wedding, but I’m here to advocate for those couples that want their wedding/elopement day to be just about them.
So if you’re thinking about ditching a reception & wedding party & you want to go on an epic adventure with your significant other to express your love & say your vows - let me help you get started.
So what all do you need to know about having an elopement?
What you’ll need:
Apply for a marriage license
Choose a ceremony location & check permits for your ceremony location
Choose an officiant to perform your ceremony
Decide if you want to be ‘legally’ married on the day of your elopement
Choose vendors
Apply for a Marriage License
You must have a marriage license to legally get married in Indiana
To apply for the license, you both must be present at the Clerk’s Office in an Indiana county where one of you resides - or for non-residents, in the Indiana county where the marriage will be solemnized (where your ceremony is performed).
You both must be at least 18 years old.
You both have to apply at the same time & bring a valid driver’s license or a state I.D. card (for proof of residency, identity, and date of birth).
The marriage license fee is $18 if one or both parties are Indiana residents & $60 for out-of-state residents (prices are subject to change so be sure to check beforehand). Some offices charge an additional document fee of $2. Most counties require these fees to be paid in cash.
The license is good for up to 60 days.
More info about specific county laws can be found on the U.S. Marriage Laws website here.
Choose a Ceremony Location & Check Permits
This step is more up to what exactly you & your love are looking for. Do you have a place that holds a special meaning for you two? Do you want to go on a hike to an area you haven’t been before? There’s a lot to think about when choosing a location to say your vows & go on an intimate adventure. There are truly endless places, but these are just a few options to look at that have some amazing scenery. I think it’s important to choose a location that speaks to the both of you & ignites your heart with love & happiness when you think about saying your vows there.
Easter Pierhead Lighthouse in Michigan City
Hemlock Cliffs in Hoosier National Forest
Turkey Run State Park (where the photos on this blog were taken!)
Different fees & permits apply for each location. Many locations in Indiana just require you to pay entrance fees.
Choose an Officiant to Perform Your Ceremony
In the state of Indiana, you do not need any witnesses to get married, but you do need an officiant to perform the official ceremony. From the indy.gov website: A wedding officiant leads a marriage ceremony, verifies the information on the marriage license, & signs & completes the officiant’s section of the marriage license.
In Indiana, the following individuals may serve as an officiant at your wedding:
Judge
Clerk of the district court
Governor or lieutenant governor
Mayor, within the mayor’s county
Member of the general assembly
Member of a certified secular organization
Clerk or a clerk-treasurer of a city or town, within a county in which the city or town is located
Member of the clergy of a religious organization, such as a minister of the gospel, a priest, a bishop, an archbishop, a rabbi, or an imam (someone that is ordained via an online organization such as Universal Life Church would fall into this category).
Many people choose someone they are close with that is ordained to be their officiant (or have someone get ordained for them). Since it’s such an intimate day that doesn’t include many people - you want someone you can trust & feel comfortable around. Ultimately it’s up to what type of ceremony you’re looking for whether you want it to just include what has to be said, be more spiritual, or include other aspects.
My brother, A.J. Brammer, is actually ordained & has been the officiant for 8 weddings in 3 different states. If you’re looking for someone to perform your ceremony (whether it’s a full wedding or an elopement), but don’t have anyone in mind - send him an email at: arbrammer@gmail.com
Decide if you want to be “legally” married on your wedding day
I’ll let you in on a little secret - a lot of people are usually married before their elopement day or sometimes after. The logistics & legalities of being officially married can sometimes be more complicated to deal with on your elopement day. If you choose to get all the paperwork done with ahead of time, that doesn’t make you any less married & it doesn’t change the meaning of your elopement at all! This day is still all about you & the love you have for each other. For most people, the day they say their vows is their true wedding day.
But if you do want to do it all on the same day, it’s not that hard. We just have to make sure we abide by Indiana’s waiting period, marriage license rules, & ceremony rules. In Indiana though, it’s super easy to include it all in one day - we just have to make sure to plan out all the details ahead of time.
Choose Vendors:
This is the most fun part in my opinion.
You by no means need to include all of these things. In case you haven’t realized this yet, when it comes to elopements you can include or not-include anything you want. This is just a quick list to go off of that other eloping couples have included in their day before.
A Photographer
A Videographer
A Hair & Makeup Artist
A florist
A backdrop
Need suggestions for vendors? I’ll be creating a list soon to share with all my Indiana couples.
Have questions about what’s most important to include? Send me a message & let’s chat! I’m here to help you plan a stress free, meaningful day.
I hope this post has been informative & at least has you & your partner considering eloping. No matter what you end up doing, your wedding day should be all about the two of you. You’re celebrating committing to each other & expressing your love - no matter how you go about doing that, don’t let other people make you feel like you need to include certain things or not do things a certain way. If you need help deciding what you should do for your day or even help telling people in your life that you don’t want a traditional wedding - let me help you find the right words.
This epic adventure was photographed last summer at Turkey Run State Park in Parke County, Indiana during a photo retreat hosted by Reagan Lynn Photography - check out some of her photos here from the day. Turkey Run State Park has a $7 fee to get into the park for in-state vehicles & a $9 fee for out-of-state vehicles. Want to plan your own epic adventure here? Let’s start planning your dream wedding that’s uniquely intimate to you & your partner. (And p.s. I do travel - with special rates for coming back to my home state of Indiana).
Hello! I’m Samantha Rose Photography (aka Samantha) - a Phoenix, Arizona based elopement & intimate wedding photographer. I’m passionate about helping couples plan their dream days to show their love for each other & go on an epic adventure. If you have any questions about elopements, booking me, or just want to chat - I’m here to help.