Have you ever thought about eloping at the Hennepin County Government Center on a weekday evening? Because if you want to get married without too much fuss, it might be the ideal wedding plan for you.
(keep scrolling past all this if you just want to see the photos)
Planning your Minneapolis Elopement
The two keys to making your elopement memorable are to have a professional officiant who’s fun to work with, and a photographer to capture it all. Because when it’s just the two of you, the ceremony and portraits is it!
When I went to Minneapolis to photograph Dan & Sophia’s ceremony they used a judge from Hennepin County. You can find instructions for scheduling your marriage ceremony at the Hennepin County District Court here: https://www.mncourts.gov/find-courts/hennepin/marriage-ceremonies.aspx
You can elope with a judge at a courthouse in many Minnesota counties, but downtown Minneapolis is a gorgeous place to have a quick ceremony. On weekday evenings crowds are light and parking is easily accessible. I highly recommend it.
Why a Minneapolis Elopement?
A wedding is the start of your marriage, and the two of you should start your marriage how you want to start it. Not everyone wants a big wedding that lasts all day, or even a smaller one that involves a lot of reception time.
Your wedding is for the two of you, and I want to empower you to plan what you want. This is why I offer photography for elopements on weekdays in addition to other wedding options.
Daniel & Sophia chose to get married and go to dinner. They wanted a few beautiful portraits and pictures of their ceremony. Simple and meaningful.
After we left downtown we did a few quick pictures with their corgi (I insisted we include him, because pets are family too). Afterward, the couple went out for dinner together. They chose not to have this dinner photographed, because sometimes you need to unplug after your wedding.
Best Places to Elope in Minneapolis St. Paul Area
Here’s a list of more Twin Cities locations besides the courthouse to consider for your elopement:
Minneapolis Parks: Info on Low-Impact wedding permits for elopements here
Some of my favorite Minneapolis parks are:
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
- Peace Garden
- Pergola Garden at Minnehaha Falls
City of St. Paul: info on weddings here
Favorite St. Paul elopement locations:
- Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
- Harriet Island Regional Park
- Como Lakeside Pavilion
- Downtown & Small Park Rentals
Other outdoor elopement locations within 1 hour of the Twin Cities:
North Shore Elopements & Weddings: Read about locations and get ideas here.
Minneapolis Elopement Photography
Here are a few of my favorites from Dan & Sophia’s Minneapolis elopement on a sunny Monday afternoon in late summer.
We stayed true to their vision of a simple elopement by doing pictures at the spot they were married. I’m glad to make suggestions for how photography will go after your ceremony is done. Whether that be hitting up all the best Minneapolis wedding photography spots, or just sticking with the area near your ceremony site.
There’s so many ways to have an awesome elopement. As a photographer I want to support you in getting married the way you want to.
If you’re thinking of skipping all the extras in favor of a short ceremony focused on your vows, I’d love to help you figure out a personalized Minneapolis elopement photography plan or other elopement plan. Contact me for photography options.
