Elope in Georgia: Discovering the Magic of the South

If you’ve been wondering if you should elope in Georgia, look no further! This complete guide has everything you need to know before you jump into your planning. Learn why Georgia could be for you, how to legally elope in Georgia, the best places, and all of my protips from a Georgia native and professional adventurer & elopement photographer. Join me as I delve into the practicalities, legalities, and romantic possibilities of saying “I do” in the Peach State.

Why Elope in Georgia?

Wondering why someone would want to elope in Georgia? Georgia is such a wonderful elopement spot for couples who desire something memorable, intimate, and the most stunning photographs. From the breathtaking natural land space, the affordable adventure options, and its wonderful southern hospitality, Georgia is a great option.

From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the serene coastal regions, your vow backdrop could be whatever fits YOUR vibe. Whether drawn to the historic charm of cities like Savannah, the vibrant culture of Atlanta, or the tranquility of the countryside, or the rolling beauty of the mountains, Georgia offers diverse settings to suit every couple’s unique vision for their special day.

Another one of my favorite things about Georgia is it’s location! There are so many different vibrant spots you can get to within a quick trip.

This is great if you’re not local to Georgia but a proud member of the south, or if you want to have a quick way to get to a honeymoon adventure. This image shows you a circumference around Atlanta

How to Elope in Georgia – Legal Stuff

Marriage License

Georgia makes it pretty simple to legally get married! We love it when things are easy, especially when it comes to adventure planning!

The most crucial legal necessity to elope in Georgia is your marriage license.

All you need to do is walk into the probate court, bring your valid ID, $56 to pay, and your social security numbers, and within 30 minutes you’ll have your license! You can even do walk-in appointments.

If you aren’t from Georgia, you will need your marriage license from the county in which your elopement ceremony will take place.

You can receive your marriage license the same day that you apply. But if you want to do a full day of adventuring, you should get your license a day or two before your wedding experience.

PRO TIP: You can get $40 off of your marriage license fee if you show up to your appointment with a Premarital Education Program certificate. (In full transparency, the course is $17.97, so your total savings will be $22.03)

Another perk to eloping in Georgia:

You Do Not Need Witnesses!

Not need any extra people that you don’t want. You do need someone to officiate, but that could be me! So if you want to get married solo, this is really great for you. I can officiate and photograph, but we don’t need anyone else.

Georgia’s Seasons – Things to Consider

When you think of the South, you likely think about hot summers and muggy air. I’ll be honest, that does happen in the Southern summers. But the seasons all have positives (and negatives).

The Springs offer a lot of variety in weather but the flowers are poppin’ and the vibrant green leaves create an attitude of hope.

The Summers are lush and sunshiney, but they are hot and humid.

The fall brings trees full of color and crispy air. But, the beautiful colors bring tons of visitors, especially in the Appalachian region.

Georgia Regions

It’s super important to know where you’re going, especially if you’re not from Georgia! As I mentioned above, there are so many places you can get to quickly within the state, but if you’re eloping in Georgia you want to consider the region you’re picking.

Below is a map that lays out the different regions of Georgia. Unlike some other spots, I wouldn’t say that you can’t go to multiple of the regions. BUT, you want to be mindful of the distance because you don’t want to spend your adventure traveling the whole time. (Atlanta and our surrounds ARE notorious for the terrible traffic jams, lol!)

10 Locations to Elope in Georgia that I love (and one important warning!)

1. Tallulah Gorge State Park
2. Tybee Island
3. Sweetwater Creek State Park
4. Jekyll Island
5. Cumberland Island
6. Cloudland Canyon
7. Blood Mountain Summit
8. Amicalola Falls State Park
9. Vogel State Park
10. Minnehaha Falls
11. Atlanta!

**I wanted to mention Toccoa Falls. Despite Toccoa Falls being a beautiful waterfall thats on literally every “top locations to elope” list you’ll find from other photographers, it is located on a religious college campus and is anti-LGBTQIA+. With a direct call to Toccoa Falls, their stance of not allowing same-sex couples to use the location was reconfirmed in June of 2024.

Because of this, if you are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, I would love to help you pick a better choice for a waterfall experience. 

Want to explore even more Georgia locations? Check out another list I’ve compiled here.

Georgia Secrets:

To pull one of those “I have secrets” moments that we see from online influencers, I have secret elopement spots! 😉

As an adventure photographer and wandering heart, you know I have endless secret elopement spots all over the country. And as a Georgia local for the last 16+ years, I can’t help but explore my state to find intimate ceremony spots.

This commitment to finding gorgeous nooks and crannies for ceremonies, lodging, and adventures is one of my favorite services I provide to my clients. 🙂

So, I’m thrilled to offer my clients exclusive access to hidden gem locations for every elopement & micro-wedding vibe that will make your wedding experience truly unforgettable. Want custom inspiration for YOUR elopement? Reach out to introduce yourself and let’s chat!

The Cost of Eloping in Georgia

Cost is something that a lot of couples carry worries about heavily. I completely understand.

I stand firm about how important it is to not put an emphasis on price because I genuinely believe a beautiful and fun elopement can be planned no matter the budget. Instead, you should put an emphasis on the things that are most important to you and your partner. Here is a blog that shares what I mean.

If you want to know more about a Georgia elopement cost, check this out.

Picking your Georgia Elopement Vendor Partners

Picking your vendors is NOT something you should do with cost as your main factor. I am confident that the very best vendors are the ones that join your team to accomplish your overall desired adventure. Especially when you’re eloping! When you elope, you inevitably have fewer vendors as part of your wedding experience. Which means, they need to be the best of the best for you.

This is why I take my job seriously and I give my everything to my couples.

Here is a post that couples have shared helped them assess their options: 7 questions to ask to help you pick your elopement photographer.

This post will give you all the nuanced details you should think about and a place for you to learn all my thoughts & answers.

Curating the Elopement YOU Dream of

As you embark on your journey to elope, armed with this comprehensive Georgia guide, remember that your love story is as unique as the landscape you’ll choose as your backdrop.

Whether you’re drawn to the historic charm of Savannah’s cobblestone streets, the breathtaking vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, or the quaint allure of Georgia’s countryside, the Peach State offers endless possibilities for a magical elopement experience.

I would be honored to be a part of your “I Do!” You can check out more of my work here. Follow me on Instagram here. And shoot me a message here!

Happy Eloping!