Ever since 2020, there has been a rise in intimate weddings and elopements across the world. This guide on how to elope in Wisconsin will be great for any couples who are looking to escape tradition and do things their own way!

Let’s be honest, eloping can be whatever you want it to be!

I’ve seen elopements in national parks, on glaciers in Alaska, on a beach in Hawaii and right here in Madison at a venue that was just as decked out as it would have been for a full wedding. You can do whatever you want for your elopement! That’s the beauty of eloping!

As someone who eloped herself, I can guarantee that our day did not mean anything less than a full sized wedding with 200 guests. The most important people surrounded us as we said our vows and exchanged our rings. Our dear friend officiated our ceremony. By eloping, we were able to do what we wanted, not what was expected of us.

There was nothing that I regretted at our wedding because at the end of the day, we were married. And that is the only thing that mattered to us!

Weddings have as much meaning as you give them. Your wedding should be a symbol of uniting your love for one another. It should be a symbol of your relationship and the rest of your lives. It doesn’t matter how many people are in those chairs or pews. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you two are starting the next chapter of your lives together.

Step 1: Hire a photographer for your intimate Wisconsin Elopement

As a Wisconsin Elopement Photographer with over 9 years of experience, I help my couples choose locations, pick a date, secure additional vendors, plan their timeline, make sure all permits are acquired prior to their elopement day, and MORE!

Reach out today to make sure your dream elopement is captured by me!!

See some of my favorite elopements on the blog!

Step 2: Pick a location for your Wisconsin Elopement

Where are you going to elope? Choosing your location is the second-most important factor for your wedding day. You want to make sure your location can accommodate your guests as well as fit your budget. Most state and county parks require a special use permit so be sure to check with their offices before committing to a location!

Here’s a guide to my top elopement locations in Madison and here’s my guide to top elopement locations in Wisconsin!

Step 3: Pick an elopement day

The best thing about eloping is you can be flexible with a lot of things including your wedding day! Why not get married on a Tuesday at 2pm? Why not make it a weekend celebration with your closest people? By eloping, you have the luxury of getting married whenever you want, which means you can pick an off-season time of year or a weekday with less crowds.

Choosing a day will also help determine many additional factors for your elopement such as booking other vendors and planning for your guests.

Step 4: Find an officiant for your elopement day

As a wedding photographer, the most emotional moments are when couples choose to include their closest people. I always recommend asking a friend or family member to officiate your ceremony. It’s honestly, super easy for them to become ordained through the Universal Life Church and scripts are readily available online.

If you’re hoping to have a private ceremony, I can officiate for you!

Step 5: Secure additional vendors for your Wisconsin Elopement

Each couple who books with me has access to my exclusive Wisconsin Wedding Guide, where I share my favorite vendors including florists, caterers and private chefs, lodging help and travel advice. Once you’ve booked Anya Kubilus Photography for your day, everything else will fall into place, I promise!

Step 6: Apply for your marriage license

When you are 60 days away from your wedding date and you have selected a date, location and time for your ceremony, you must schedule an appointment to apply for a marriage license on the dane county’s website here.

Marriage license appointments are held via Zoom and are online only. You must have your photo ID and Social Security number, a document with your current physical address, and a certified copy of your birth certificate. There are a few other stipulations that are outlined on the Dane County Clerk’s website here. The total fee for your license will be $120 and is due at the time of your application.

After applying, there is a three day waiting period before your marriage license is issued. You may apply for a waiver for an additional $25 fee.

Note: These rules can change anytime so be sure to double check before applying to make sure that you have the proper documents and requirements.

Step 6: GET MARRIED!!!!!

Once your day is here, you’ll be totally ready because you’ve found a great photographer, picked an incredible location to say your vows, picked a date that was meaningful to you, found an officiant, hired vendors to craft the perfect day, and got your license! You’re officially ready to get married and start the rest of forever with your favorite person!

Looking to elope? Let’s do this. Contact me and we will plan the perfect day for your Wisconsin elopement.