Best Places to Elope in New Mexico
2024 Dates Still Available: Oct. 9,10,12,13
The Land of Enchantment is the perfect place to say “I do” in an authentic true-to-you manner, while also appreciating the best nature has to offer! Choose from the endless fields of gypsum sand at White Sands National Park, stand before the red rock formations & sage brush that make Ghost Ranch wildly inspiring, or hike into the aspen groves near Santa Fe or Taos for a truly colorful mountainous autumn elopement. New Mexico is a land of inspiration – where will you choose to elope?
Why You Should Plan a New Mexico Elopement
The landscape is wildly diverse!
Mountains, forests, rivers, sand dunes, alpine lakes & more—choose from some of the most desired elopement destination backdrops without the busy trails and crowds of places like Colorado, Utah, or the Pacific Northwest.
The history runs deep.
Santa Fe is the oldest city in the US, the Taos Pueblo is a World Heritage Site, the buildings in Chaco tell the history of human’s relationship with the sun, and White Sands is the site of dinosaur footprints fossilized in an ancient lake bed.
It’s an underrated destination—more privacy.
The southwest desert is becoming more and more popular as an elopement destination, which I LOVE! However, some of the most well-known sites are becoming nearly impossible to visit without crowds. New Mexico offers an opportunity to experience the southwest while enjoying the privacy of a well-kept secret.
World-class venues, vendors & unlimited creativity.
I lived in New Mexico full-time for three years. Now, I cherish every opportunity that brings me back to a place I’ll always consider a second home. I’ve maintained a network of florists, designers, hair & makeup artists, second shooters, venues, and videographers so you know you’re getting the best of the best!
Steps to a New Mexico Elopement
First, pick a date.
To start planning, first pick a date! I need a specific date so I can book you and reserve that date on my calendar. No need to have all the rest figured out yet, but start with a date. If you would like a suggestion about the best time of year to elope in New Mexico - just ask!
Then, pick a ceremony location.
Some locations are better in the spring, others are accessible in the summer, and others are most colorful in the fall. If you don’t have a set-in-stone date or location, let’s work together to find the time and place best suited to make your dream vision a reality.
Next, secure your permits and reservations.
Not many outdoor locations in New Mexico require permits, but if you choose one that does ensure you give yourself enough time to get the application approved. There are plenty of amazing unique rentals as well, so take the chance to find a gorgeous place to stay the night of your wedding!
Finally, have the best day ever!
You’ve done the leg work, properly prepared, settled all the details - now all that’s left to do is get hitched! Your wedding is going to be gorgeous in such a beautiful place - I can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Best Places to Elope in Northern New Mexico
Santa Fe
This city is known for its artists, artisans, and creative community. The old adobe-style buildings have so much history, and yet they stand beside modern homes and businesses to create a truly “best of both worlds” scenario. Santa Fe is a beautiful city with every imaginable opportunity to include southwest vibes into your wedding or elopement experience. Whether you want to enjoy the historical urban architecture, the vast rocky desert, or the colorful aspen-covered mountains, Santa Fe is the ideal place to go.
The mountains surrounding Santa Fe are the perfect place for a wildflower-covered forested elopement in the summer, a colorful aspen-gold autumn wedding, or a winter wonderland celebration when the trails are covered in snow! There are dozens of places I know well that make for perfect elopement destinations, but there are hundreds more to discover – the Santa Fe National Forest is a popular local recreation site, but with so many trails to choose from, it is easy to have a private elopement celebration. Especially if you’re open to hiking a little, or choosing a time/date that isn’t prime (avoid weekends in the summer), you’re almost certain to have a just-us elopement! Learn more about special events & weddings within the Santa Fe National Forest by clicking HERE.
My Favorite Wedding Venues & Places to Stay in Santa Fe
Pecos National Historic Park
The gorgeous old adobe buildings of the Pecos National Historic Park make the perfect backdrop for small weddings or elopements! The park has a well-planned wedding protocol, which makes permitting easier than in some recreation area less popular for weddings. You can bring in flowers, rugs, and decor to turn the place into a truly gorgeous setting – not that you need to add much to make this space more romantic! The deep red walls & floor have a truly southwestern look & feel that transports you back to the historic roots of this region.
Learn more about eloping at the old Mission Church at Pecos National Historic Park, plus all event regulations HERE.
Ghost Ranch
There’s a reason this was the home of artist Georgia O’Keefe for 40 years – Ghost Ranch truly has the best of the southwest landscape, filled with endless desert inspiration. Sage-covered mesas, red rock formations & striations in the cliff sides that have SO much history to disclose – you can choose from a more structured wedding ceremony location, or venture into the desert. Ghost Ranch is 21,000 acres of stunning landscape, perfect for a romantic southwest elopement in the heart of New Mexico!
Learn more about weddings at Ghost Ranch HERE, note that elopements have somewhat different regulations than big, traditional weddings. We can discuss those differences if this is the place you want to get married!
Taos
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
This is one of the most iconic places in Taos, and certainly one of the most accessible places to have engagement photos taken, or even elope with views of the mountains! From the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Rest Area there is ample parking and access to a flat trail that goes for 10 miles along the gorge. Go as far as you want, but after only a short walk you will find solitude and views like no other.
Taos Ski Valley
Access many of New Mexico’s most stunning vistas via the trailheads in the Taos Ski Valley – hike to the tallest peak in New Mexico (Wheeler) or relax on the shores of Williams Lake. Find pristine alpine meadows with mountainous backdrops and hike amongst the pines to find your perfect place to say, “I do.” The Taos Ski Valley ranges from about 8,500 to over 13,000 in elevation, which means the there’s really only a short window from July - October when you’re likely to avoid snow entirely. Even a late spring or early summer elopement here at higher elevations might mean snow in shaded areas, though it’s easy enough to find a place that is accessible year-round. If you want to get particularly adventurous & break out the snowshoes – the valley is the idea place for a winter wonderland elopement amongst the ladden pines & aspens.
Learn more about weddings in the Taos Ski Valley HERE, though there are many more locations to choose from than the ski area itself – Ski Taos is a B Corp & an incredible group of people, so if you want to get married with a larger group, there is no better place to go!
My Favorite Wedding Venues & Places to Stay in Taos:
Albuquerque
Whether you want to elope in the mountains, the desert, or in a hot air balloon – ABQ has it all! My favorite time of year to elope in Albuquerque is fall, or late spring—the weather is delightful and the mountains are accessible. Albuquerque is the biggest city in New Mexico, which means it’s the easiest place to fly in and out of. It’s about 3 hours from White Sands National Park, and 3 hours from the Taos Ski Valley. As a central location it is definitely the best place to stay if you want to “see it all!”
Best Places to Elope in Southern New Mexico
White Sands National Park
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that White Sands is my FAVORITE place to elope in New Mexico! The otherworldly landscape & distinctive gypsum sand dunes make this place something out a fairy tale – no matter how many times I visit, I’ll never stop being in awe of this beautiful landscape. If you’ve never been, White Sands operates a little differently than other national parks – distinctions you can read about in the link below – the hours are more like a historical park, which is a fair assessment considering how many dinosaur remains have been discovered here!
Something I love a lot about White Sands is how accessible it is – the permitting process is simple & easy, the rules aren’t restrictive, and you can get photos with the dunes from a drive-up picnic area if hiking isn’t your thing. The only time of year I’d recommend avoiding a midday ceremony is the height of summer, but White Sands is otherwise the perfect elopement destination year-round. If you DO want to hike – the 5-mile trek through the dunes will take you out into a world unlike any other on earth, with massive dunes and sparse plant life that make this a truly memorable place to get married!
Gila National Forest
This place is a playground for desert lovers! Discover waterways deep in red rock canyons, hike to witness the Gila Cliff Dwellings, or take in expansive vistas that truly define what it means to see an “endless” landscape. There’s a little bit of everything in this corner of New Mexico, & a lot of it is accessible year-round. The Gila NF is situated on the border of NM & Arizona, which means it get’s pretty hot in the summer. Winters in Gila can be lovely though, as the air cools a lot without most of the land actually seeing snow or freezing temperatures during the day. Even in January, you’ll get warm sunny morning’s once the sun has risen!
Learn more about Gila National Forest & permit requirements HERE.
Lincoln National Forest
Situated just to the east of White Sands is the Lincoln National Forest – here you’ll find sparsely forested hillsides, gorgeous mountain peak views (ideal for sunrise or sunset elopements) and many other accessible trails or landscapes. Hotter than the hills of northern New Mexico, the wildlife & plants are even more hardy down here. But despite its proximity to the sand dunes & vastness of the desert, Lincoln NF actually has quite a few gorgeous treed hillsides, shrub-covered landscapes, and even a ski area in the winter!
Learn more about the Lincoln NF & permit requirements HERE.
Chaco Culture National Historic Park
Did you know one of the oldest examples of humans telling time is right here in New Mexico? The ancient structures & roads of Chaco were build FOR the sun – to perfectly align with the noonday sun of solstice each year. You can watch "The Mystery of Chaco Canyon" if you want to know more. But I think on a personal level there is something truly beautiful about being able to witness first-hand a place built with so much intention!
Learn more about obtaining a special use permit for photography HERE, and read more about the significance of this incredible location. The indigenous history of Chaco Canyon is something that involves a lot of improper use by settlers, so if this is a location you’d want to elope we will discuss the importance of cultural & historical recognition to navigate this space with reverence & respect.
Ready to Plan Your New Mexico Elopement?
I say this about a lot of places but I really mean it with New Mexico—this is the BEST place to elope! From the sprawling desert landscapes, to the tree-covered mountains, there’s no other place like The Land of Enchantment. Come explore with me & get married in one of the most incredible places on earth!
