It’s no secret that I love my Indiana elopements, especially considering that I had my own in Indianapolis & wrote an entire article on how to plan yours. Today’s article is a little different though, as we’re going to be taking a look at a different location in Indiana for an elopement, one of my all time favorites. That’s right, today’s article is all about planning your elopement at the incredible Indiana Dunes! Is there a difference between the State & National Park? Are there any permit requirements? Are there only certain locations where you can have your ceremony? We’re here to answer all these questions & more, so here’s everything you need to know before you elope at the Indiana Dunes!
The Legalities
Firstly, let’s get the legalities out of the way. There are two main areas to consider here when planning to elope at the Indiana Dunes, Indiana’s marriage laws, & permit requirements for having your elopement at the Dunes. Thankfully both are relatively straightforward!
Indiana Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Indiana are pretty simple all things considered. In order to receive your marriage license you’ll need to meet the following requirements & provide the following information to the county clerk’s office:
- You Both Need to Be Over the Age of 18
- Provide Valid Forms of ID (Birth Certificate, Passport, Driver’s License, etc)
- Proof & Date of Prior Divorce if Applicable
- Social Security Number (not the Actual Card)
- Parents Names, Last Address, & Birthplace
The cost for receiving your marriage license in Indiana is $25 if one or both of you are residents, & $65 for couples who both reside out of state. Note that if either of you do live in Indiana you’ll have to apply for your license in the county you live in, while out of state residents will need to get their marriage license from the Porter County Clerk’s Office (the county the Dunes are located in). I recommend starting your application process online through this link, but you’ll still need to go in person in order to receive your license. After you receive your license it will be valid that same day & will remain valid for 60 days, so be sure that your elopement ceremony falls within that time frame!
Lastly, Indiana requires an officiant for weddings & elopements, but no witnesses. This is an area where I like to keep things simple for my couples, as I’m legally able to officiate their ceremony if they’d like!
Permit Requirements
The other bit of legalities that come with planning an elopement at the Indiana Dunes is securing a permit for your ceremony. The permits are pretty straightforward to acquire, though there are differences between the Indiana Dunes State & National Parks, which we’ll cover more in depth soon. As for the permits though, the State Park has a $25 fee for their permit, while the National Park has a $65 fee for theirs. These permits include photography coverage, but if you want to book a videographer you’ll need a separate permit for that as well. Permits aren’t really the most fun thing to deal with when planning your elopement, which is why I always offer to help my couples sort them out so they can focus on the fun parts!
Why Elope at the Indiana Dunes
The Indiana Dunes are arguably one of the most beautiful & romantic locations in the entire state for an elopement. There’s a reason these parks are such popular tourist destinations, & the beauty of these shores still holds true even for us locals. There really is no place like the Indiana Dunes in the state. The epic beachfront views, breathtaking sunsets, & endless scenic hiking trails to explore all make this a phenomenal location for an elopement, & that’s really only scratching the surface of what this amazing area has to offer!
Indiana Dunes State Park vs the Indiana Dunes National Park
So technically there are two separate parks of the Indiana Dunes, the State & National parks. The State Park of the Indiana Dunes is smaller, & is sandwiched in between the two halves of the National Park. The National Park has 8 main ceremony locations to choose from, though you can inquire about specific locations not on this list when applying for your permit. The State Park on the other hand requires that you ask permission of the property owner of your chosen ceremony location in order to receive your permit. The parks both share the same incredible beauty that the Dunes are known for, so it really comes down to your choice of ceremony location when deciding which is best for you!
Planning Your Elopement at the Indiana Dunes
Where Should You Elope?
Deciding where to elope at the Indiana Dunes mainly comes down to what setting you hope to have for the elopement. Are you looking to share your vows amidst the picturesque dunes that the beaches are known for? Would you rather elope somewhere more remote along one of the park’s incredible trails? Or does an indoor space looking out across the lake sound more your speed? Whatever you’re after, you can find it at the Dunes, you just need to inquire early enough to ensure that the space is available for your day!
Who Will be Present?
A big factor of planning your elopement at the Indiana Dunes is deciding who’s going to be present for it! Simply Eloped considers elopements to be anything under 20 guests, though usually that number falls between 4 to 10. Having your closest friends & family present can drastically change the feel of your elopement though, so it’s important to talk about this together as you get into planning the details of your day. Do you want this to be a celebration with just the two of you, or would you like some guests present for the moment? The choice is yours!
What Season Should You Elope In?
Each season has its own charm & appeal to it at the Indiana Dunes, making it a phenomenal option for an elopement year round! With us being in the Midwest though, there are some things to be aware of as our weather can be a bit unpredictable to put it mildly. Let’s take a quick look at each of the 4 seasons below:
Summer
Arguably the best time for an elopement at the Indiana Dunes in terms of weather, there are still some definite drawbacks to a summer elopement at the Indiana Dunes. While the temperature & weather in the summer is for the most part consistent, it can get pretty hot here! It’s also the most popular time of year for people visiting the Dunes as everyone is eager to make the most of their time at the beach while the warm temperatures last! It is worth noting though that there are more options for ceremony times at the National Park during the summer, which adds some flexibility.
Fall
I LOVE a fall elopement at the Indiana Dunes! The beauty of the leaves changing colors is just breathtaking here, & really adds to the overall wonder of this already gorgeous area. The temperatures can get pretty frigid though, & they can sneak up on you. While the lakefront itself is usually pretty calm this time of year, the hiking paths are where the majority of the foot traffic will be, so if you intend to elope or take portraits along those just know you may not have the space entirely to yourselves.
Winter
While winters at the Indiana Dunes can be brutally cold, they are also absolute magic. A fresh snowfall at the Dunes is such a surreal thing to experience, & makes for an elopement setting straight out of a dream. There’ll be very little in terms of tourism this time of year, so you’ll likely have the entire place to yourselves. I can’t overstate how cold it can get though, so be sure to bring extra layers & plan a backup indoor location in case the weather gets too rough.
Spring
While the spring may be on the more unpredictable end of the spectrum thanks to the abundance of rain showers & varying temperatures, it still is a wonderful time to elope at the Indiana Dunes. That’s thanks partly due to the lower level of tourism due to the weather, & the astounding beauty of the natural landscape that’s begun to bloom after the long winter months! Spring is a bit more risky of a season, but it can be SO worth it for the couple who are up for a bit of adventure!
What’s Nearby?
Another wonderful part about eloping at the Indiana Dunes is how everything you need for your day is all incredibly close by! Looking to get ready in & stay at a charming & cozy Airbnb? Check out some of the wonderful options in the Dune Acres! Want to celebrate after the elopement with an intimate dinner accompanied by friends & family? Check out the options in the nearby towns of Porter & Chesterton! The Dunes are also only around an hour drive from Chicago, making it an easy day trip for any Chicagoans looking to elope at this incredible space!
What Vendors Do You Need?
One of the factors that appeal most to couples that intend to elope is how much flexibility comes along with these celebrations. This freedom holds true with your choice of wedding vendors as well, since you really have total control in the vendors you do & don’t need to make your dream elopement a reality! There are still some vendors that I feel are necessary, or at the very least are a good idea to book to make the most of your day, but at the end of the day the choice is completely yours! The vendors that are most common for an elopement include:
- Photographer
- Hair & Makeup Artist
- Florist
- Officiant
Some vendors you may want to book to elevate the experience of your elopement include:
- Videographer
- Planner
- Entertainment
- Private Chef or Reception Space
A Look at My Elopement Packages
Knowing that every elopement is different, I’ve taken a unique approach to my elopement packages to best serve my couples! My packages start at $1500 for local elopements for 2 hours of coverage. This coverage can extend to multi-day coverage depending on what my couple wants, & the pricing changes to reflect that. I customize every one of my packages to best fit my couple & their needs since their elopement will be completely different from any other!
That about covers everything you need to know about planning an elopement at the Indiana Dunes! If you’d like to see more of this amazing area in action, check out this article. For anyone that needs help planning the ins & outs of their elopement take a peek at this checklist to keep your planning on track. Finally, if you’re interested in having me document your elopement be sure to send me an inquiry today!
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