You’ve made the choice to elope, now the question is when the heck do we do it?! You don’t have the restrictions of a few open dates from a venue, you can get married just about anywhere you want, whenever you want. 

When it was mine and my partner’s turn to choose when we wanted to get married, we knew straight away it had to be in the fall. October is our favorite month, so why not make it even better with our anniversary every year? 

To get a better feel for how you want your day to unfold, grab your partner,  and think about these simple, yet sometimes quite tough, questions; think of it as a mini planning date!

What is your favorite time of year? 

A classic icebreaker, almost everyone has an answer right away. It could be the holidays that occur in a specific season, the scenery that you associate with it, or certain activities. Pick one, talk it over, and keep reading!

Do you want your wedding date to be the same as your date- aversary?

Some couples prefer to make dates easier on themselves, and elope on the day or even week they started dating. It’s already a significant day, why not make it even more treasured? Make the festivities a week or a month long!

What do you want the weather to be like on your day?

Probably the most important question I could ask you. Do you love the snow? The rain? The sun, warm on your skin? Do you love a perfect April 25th, because it’s not too hot, not too cold, and you only need a light jacket? 

Jokes aside, the weather affects more than you’d think, from waterfalls, to crowds, and even what activities are open. Not to mention the landscapes change drastically depending on the weather. 

What type of scenery do you want to be surrounded by?

Going hand in hand with the weather, what you want your backdrop to look like depends heavily on the season. 

So, when do you want to elope in Pennsylvania? Below are the seasons, specifically in PA, ranked from my favorite to least favorite, as well as some things to think about within each season.

1. Fall

Fall/autumn is the busiest time of year for many Pennsylvanians. The leaves are changing, all the seasonal activities are taking place, and a lot of people are getting married. And for good reason! 

Pros:

• Gorgeous landscapes as the leaves change colors
• Cooler, crisp temps
• Some late season flowers blooming

Cons:

• Less magnificent waterfalls
• Shorter days
• Heavy crowds on weekends
• Vendors book out quicker

2. Spring

Mother Nature is waking up, flowers are beginning to bloom again, and the world feels alive! 

Pros:

• Snowmelt = epic waterfalls
• Spring flowers blooming (rhododendrons in the Poconos/Appalachia are stunning!)
• Cool temps, but not too cold
• Less busy season for vendors

Cons:

• Rain can happen multiple days in a row
• Some snow leftover depending on elevation/location
• Crowds start to come back as temperatures rise

3. Summer

The days are long, the weather is gorgeous, everything is open! There’s so many things to do in this season, yet it’s still number 3 on the list. I’d honestly say Spring and Summer are tied for me. There’s no clear boundary between the two, but later in mid summer, it’s almost too hot to enjoy it, which is why it’s in third place. 

Pros:

• Everything is open
• Mother nature is fully alive again
• Beautiful scenery from the clouds/storms (hello rainbows!)
• LONG days

Cons:

• Extreme heat
• Pop up thunderstorms
• Lots of crowds
• More expensive due to higher traffic volumes

4. Winter

I truly wish winter in Pennsylvania was snowy-er! All the snow in the last year (25-26) was magical. I know most people hated it but, honestly? I loved it! We were due for a snowy winter. The way it blankets the Earth, makes everything brighter, yet so quiet, is so peaceful and beautiful to me. The cold, however, makes me love the heat of summer sometimes. 

Pros:

• Snowy landscapes
• Little to no crowds
• More opportunity for beautiful indoor locations

Cons: 

• Many places are closed for the season or inaccessible 
• trees/flowers are all dormant
• Near freezing – freezing temperatures

 Focus on what matters most to you, be it the weather, what you are surrounded by, or simply a memorable date on the calendar. There is no perfect date, only the perfect surroundings to witness your love for one another. After some thoughtful planning and focusing on what matters – the two of you and your story – your day will be one to remember. 

Ready to start planning your elopement? Reach out below to start the process and have memories to look back on forever!