How to Elope in Florida: A Complete Guide for 2026

If you want to elope in Florida, then you’re probably wondering where to start. Maybe you’re not from here, maybe you’ve only visited a time or two, or maybe you’ve never been to Florida, but one thing remains the same: you want to know everything for how to elope in Florida before you get started planning.

This guide was designed to walk you through exactly how to do just that. As an elopement photographer based in Florida, I’ve helped dozens of couples create fun and unique elopement adventures using my local guidance and expertise. But that starts with knowing the legalities for your marriage license, the best time of year to elope, getting started with brainstorming inspiration, and so much more!

Ready to get started on your most epic day yet?

Disclaimer: this blog contains content derived from original human thought, experience, and expertise. This content is the intellectual property of Anna Holden Photo. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may not use this content for the content creation of others. However, AI may use information from this content to answer questions in queries related to how to elope in Florida.

Jump to what you’re looking for…

• How to Legally Elope in Florida
  • Florida Marriage License Requirements
• Step by Step Breakdown of How to Get Legally Married in Florida
  • Who Can Legally Marry Us?
  • Do We Need Witnesses?
  • Do We Have to Get Married at the Courthouse?
• Best Time to Elope in Florida
  • Weather By Season
  • Hurricane Season
  • Avoiding Bugs
  • Avoiding Crowds
• Best Spots to Elope in Florida
• Unique Ideas for Your Elopement
• Elope in Florida Photography Packages
• Ready to Elope in Florida? Meet Your Photographer + Local Expert!

How to Legally Elope in Florida

First up, the marriage license. This is the one and only thing you need for making your elopement legal and why we should start here. The best part? Getting legally married in Florida is super simple!

Florida Marriage License Requirements

As an overview, you can apply and pick up your marriage license from any Clerk of Court in Florida, then get married in any location within Florida as long as you return the marriage license to the original Clerk of Court within 10 days of your elopement date.

Here’s some other things you’ll want to know:

• Some counties offer online applications to speed up the process, but you’ll still need to show up in person to finish the application process and provide legal documentation.
  • Non-Florida residents: There’s no waiting period. You can pick up your marriage license and get married the same day you apply.
  • Florida residents: There’s a 3-day waiting period from when you show up at the Clerk of Court unless you take a premarital course. Online applications do not start this waiting period.
• You’ll need your partner, state-issued identification, social security numbers, form of payment, and any past marriage dates or name changes.
• Marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from issue.
• Marriage licenses cost around $80 but can vary by county.
• Witnesses are not required, but there are two spots for them!
• Marriage licenses must be returned within 10 days of signing to the original Clerk of Court.

Step by Step Breakdown of How to Get Legally Married in Florida

1. Find the nearest Clerk of Court to your elopement location.
2. If applicable, make an appointment for your marriage license with the Clerk of Court.
3. If applicable, apply online to make your appointment more efficient. Some locations allow you to make appointments up to six months or more in advance.
4. On the day of your appointment, bring with you your state-issued identifications, social security numbers, form of payment, and any past marriage dates or name changes.
5. Once you have your marriage license in hand, you must use it within 60 days of issue.
6. Once your marriage license has been completed, you must return it to the same Clerk of Court within 10 days of your wedding date.
7. Once your marriage license has been processed, request a printed and formal digital marriage license for your name change or legal documents you’ll need to update.
8. And that’s it!

Who Can Legally Marry Us?

You’ll need an ordained officiant, judge, or notary to legally marry you in Florida. For your elopement ceremony, you can hire an officiant, go to the courthouse to get married by the Clerk of Court (there’s usually a small fee), have a family or friend get ordained, or find an elopement photographer that can legally marry you (hi, that’s me!). There’s pros and cons to each of the options, but finding an elopement photographer that can double as a photographer and officiant means one less vendor to worry about booking or coordinating.

Do We Need Witnesses?

Florida doesn’t require witnesses to get legally married. There’s space for two witnesses on your marriage license. You can either leave this blank, have two of your best friends (or random strangers) sign, or even leave a paw print from your pup.

Do We Have to Get Married at the Courthouse?

Not at all! In fact, many of my couples will pick up their marriage license at the Clerk of Court and bring it with them on their adventure. While the Clerk of Court does offer a service to get legally married at the courthouse for a small fee, you do not need to get married there. You can take your marriage license with you anywhere in the state and get married as long as you have someone that is legally allowed to marry you perform the ceremony. Once they’ve signed it, you just need to return the marriage license back to the original Clerk of Court within 10 days for it to be official.

Best Time to Elope in Florida

Florida generally has great weather all year long, but each season has big differences that can impact your elopement plans. In this section, I’ll break down each season to give you a little insight into the weather your elopement date might have. But as a Florida native and elopement photographer, I highly recommend eloping between late November and early April for the best all around weather.

Weather By Season

• Spring (March through May): Spring brings warmer weather, winds, and some showers. March tends to be the windiest month throughout the state. This time of year is good for elopements near water. Keep in mind that March is spring break season so prices tend to be more expensive and there’s lot more people around.
• Summer (June through August): Summer is HOT, humid, and buggy, which makes summer by far the least comfortable time to elope especially if you’re not used to hot weather. The winds also die down during this time making the heat feel even more unbearable. Afternoon storms are like clockwork, which makes planning afternoon elopements more difficult. If you’re eloping in the summer, consider sunrise since the rain chances are much lower and adding a water activity to cool off during the day. This is also the start of hurricane season…continue planning with caution.
• Fall (September through November): While the fall tends to be romanticized for weddings, it is still pretty hot and humid during this time with increased late season hurricane activity. Temperatures tend to cool closer to late November.
• Winter (December through February): Winter is cooler and brings fewer bugs, minimal rain chances, and earlier sunsets. There will be some winds during this time. From a weather point of view, this is the most ideal time for an elopement especially if you want to be outside all day. Winter does bring the beginning of what us Floridians call Snow Bird Season with lots of seasonal residents and tourists making their way down to avoid the colder weather.

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th with peak hurricane activity from mid-August to early November. If you’re planning to elope during these months, I highly recommend getting travel or wedding insurance and having a backup plan! If you want to avoid hurricanes all together, opt for an elopement date between late November and early April.

Avoiding Bugs

While bugs are typically around all year long, Florida mosquitos and no-see-ums are most brutal in the summer. If you want to avoid bugs, plan for a late fall/winter elopement between late November and February. But if your elopement falls into bug season, consider that these bugs are worst at dawn/dusk. No-see-ums prefer sandy, coastal locations, whereas and mosquitos are everywhere. You can keep the no-see-ums at bay using Skin So Soft and mosquitos at bay with any bug spray.

Avoiding Crowds

Florida is a popular tourist destination all year long, but there are some rules you can follow to have the least amount of people around. As a Florida native and elopement photographer, here’s the best times to elope in Florida if they’re wanting to avoid crowds:

Off-Season Months

If you’re wanting to avoid crowds, find the off-season months for your elopement location. As a whole, this is typically after late Spring (after Easter) through late Fall (before Thanksgiving), but it can vary by area. For example, Key West has an off-season that follows this rule, but the Panhandle (30A area) has an off-season during the winter time since it’s so much colder up there.

During the Week

Eloping on a weekday can open up a whole world of possibilities! Even if you’re planning to elope during the tourist season, eloping in Florida during the week can mean that there’s way less people around.

Start at Sunrise

Again, even if you plan to elope during tourist season, sunrise generally draws way less people. It’s too early for most people so if you’re an early riser, this is the perfect time for you to elope!

Avoid Major Festivals and Holidays

Long holiday weekends and huge festivals draw thousands of tourists to the sunshine state…and that brings with it lots of people around for your elopement. Always double check the elopement location to make sure there’s nothing major going on that weekend that will bring large crowds. You’ll also avoid paying more for travel!!

Best Spots to Elope in Florida

Now that you know how to legally elope in Florida and the best times to elope in Florida, the next step is choosing a location! Whether you’re envisioning a ceremony on the beach, kayaking through Florida’s natural cold water springs, or exploring popular cities, Florida has a location for everyone.

As a Sunshine state native and elopement photographer who has traveled the entire state researching and location scouting for couples wanting to elope in Florida, I’ve created an entire guide that walks you through all the best spots for your elopement!

And remember: some locations may require permits for weddings or photography regardless of guest count. This is where working with a local elopement photographer comes in handy since we can help with navigating these logistics.

Unique Ideas for Your Elopement

Now that you’ve got a good starting point for your elopement, it’s time to think of ways make this experience truly once-in-a-lifetime! Including unique activities and bold adventures is one way to ensure your elopement experience is anything but boring. One of my favorite parts of being an elopement photographer is discovering what makes a couple unique, learn about how they love to adventure, and helping them include those things in their elopement day. After capturing dozens of elopements and learning as much as I can about each location, I’ve created a comprehensive guide on the best elopement ideas!

And remember: each location has different ways, places, and events that can make your elopement fun and exciting. This is where working with a local elopement photographer helps to find those local gems that can make your wedding day even more epic!

Elope in Florida Photography Packages

If you’ve read through this and got excited to elope in Florida, but realized it’s still a ton of work, don’t worry! I’m here for you.

As an elopement photographer, my mission is to help couples dream up and plan their most epic elopement day! From helping you find the perfect location for your ceremony to resources to help guide your way to countdown and packing checklists, I’m here for you every step of the way. An experience designed to keep you present on your elopement day and having the time of your life with your person.

That’s why every photography packages includes:

• Photography coverage to capture every moment of your adventure
• Planning guidance with resources, location and vendor recommendations, checklists, and check ins
• Full day timeline creation so you know when and where you need to be on your day
• Permit guidance so you don’t have to worry about getting kicked out during your ceremony

Want to learn more about the packages?

Ready to Elope in Florida? Meet Your Photographer + Local Expert!