Recently I had the pleasure of documenting my friend Kriztelle’s wonderful elopement to her now husband Paul on the island of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a dreamy, surreal, & frankly out of this world tropical paradise, & I am just obsessed with the experience we had here! That’s why today we’re going to be taking a look at everything you need to know if you’re looking to elope in Puerto Rico. From the logistics of getting here, to finding the perfect elopement location for you, let’s dive into this together so that if you’re looking to elope in this magical place you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips!
The Logistics
Getting to Puerto Rico
The very first step of your elopement in Puerto Rico is of course getting there! Puerto Rico is a Caribbean Island & a territory of the United States, meaning that you don’t actually need a passport to fly there. This keeps things incredibly simple, just like the flights to Puerto Rico themselves. There are three main airports of Puerto Rico in the cities of San Juan, Aguadilla, & Ponce. Depending on where you’re coming from, as well as the season you’re traveling, you’ll most likely be flying into the San Juan airport. This is the largest airport of Puerto Rico with the most connecting flights to the US. During the off-season of Puerto Rico, which we’ll cover later in the article, you can get cheaper flights to the Aguadilla & Ponce airports, though depending on where you’re staying it may just be simpler to fly into San Juan!
Deciding Where to Stay
Another piece of the puzzle when it comes to the logistics of your elopement in Puerto Rico is deciding where you’ll be staying. Thankfully due to the high levels of tourism Puerto Rico is known for there are plenty of options to choose from. Whether an all inclusive resort is your style, or you prefer something a bit more private like an Airbnb, there’s something that appeals to everyone throughout the island. The best part of this is that everything is relatively close on the island, especially by Midwest standards! You can get from one end of the island to the other in just a 3 hour drive, making any adventure you can imagine doable for a day trip!
Getting Around the Island
How you get around Puerto Rico largely depends on what you plan to do while you’re here! If you’re flying into San Juan, staying in San Juan, & eloping near San Juan then getting a rental car isn’t really worth it. The city of San Juan is about the only place you’ll find traffic on the island, & with options like Uber & other forms of public transit available, you can really get anywhere you need relatively hassle free.
If you do plan on including some adventures outside of San Juan into your plans while in Puerto Rico then you’ll likely want to get a rental car. This is thankfully very simple thanks to their accessibility at the San Juan airport. I do recommend booking your rental car ahead of time though so that you can minimize your time in the rental car agency & maximize your time in Puerto Rico, you’re here to elope after all!
The Legalities
There’s two ways to handle the legalities of your elopement in Puerto Rico. The first is by going through the standard marriage license process that Puerto Rico has in place, which to be fair is pretty simple. To do this you’ll:
- Bring Valid Forms of ID (Drivers License, Birth Certificate, or Passports)
- Get An Affidavit from a Lawyer in Puerto Rico Stating You’re Only Visiting
- Go to the Marriage License Office of the County You’re Eloping In
- Have a Licensed Minister Perform the Ceremony
- File Your Paperwork
While this process is pretty simple, there’s an even simpler way to go about it for some couples! If you live in a state where self solemnization is legal you can legally get married while still at home, & then travel to Puerto Rico for the rest of your elopement celebration. Is this cheating? Not really! It’s just a way to simplify things & allow you to spend less time planning & more time enjoying yourselves while in Puerto Rico!
Planning the Elopement Itself
Where to Elope on Puerto Rico
Alright, it’s time for the fun part, planning the elopement itself! The first step is deciding on the location or locations that you’ll be eloping at. This largely comes down to the setting you envision yourselves sharing this special moment in. Do you want to share your vows on the beach as the waves gently wash over your feet? Are you looking to share a special moment alone at a hidden waterfall in the rainforest? Maybe the town of Old San Juan really resonates with you & you want to take a majority of your portraits in the historic city? Whatever your vision might be for your elopement, I can assure you that Puerto Rico has you covered! From oceanside cliffs, to tropical mountains, & of course beachside sunsets, it’s ALL here!
As a destination elopement photographer one of my specialties & passions is finding locations that resonate with my couples. They’ll give me an idea & a vision they have for their elopement, & from there I’ll find a few locations that fit the image they have in their heads. Then we decide on our locations, the timeline for the day, & finally get ready to put the plan into action once we reach our destination. Using Kriztelle & Paul’s elopement as an example, we chose to have their elopement ceremony on some of the gorgeous oceanside cliffs of Puerto Rico. From there we made our way into the rainforest for some portraits amidst a hidden waterfall which was the perfect way to cap off our adventures!
When to Elope in Puerto Rico
I mentioned earlier in the article that there’s an off-season for Puerto Rico when travel arrangements are cheaper. This takes place from August to the start of October. You might be thinking this is due to it being peak rain season in Puerto Rico, & you’d be right, but it’s also the time when tropical storms & hurricanes are most likely. These vary in frequency & severity, so it could be worth it to plan your elopement around this season if you’re looking to put some of your budget elsewhere.
Looking at the months outside of this off-season, you can’t really pick a bad time to visit Puerto Rico. While the months from May through November are usually much rainier than December through April, the rain showers don’t actually last all that long. Rain showers at their worst usually last only a few hours, & while they can get pretty intense, the island goes right back to being a tropical oasis once they pass! The dry season can still see rain showers, though they are less severe & much shorter. If you’re looking to maximize your time outdoors while in Puerto Rico I recommend having your elopement during the dry season, but be aware that this is also one of the most popular times for tourism on the island!
What to Do Outside of Your Elopement
There are SO many things to do in Puerto Rico outside of your elopement that this could practically be its own article topic! Puerto Rico is an island paradise filled to the brim with activities to take part in, sights to see, & comforts to enjoy. Head to one of the hundreds of beaches, book an ATV tour, or explore one of the many epic hiking trails. If you’re wanting to really get some rest & relaxation keep things on the simpler side by enjoying guided tours, checking out the local bar & restaurant scene, or treating yourselves to a spa day! Puerto Rico is the embodiment of the term tropical paradise, & it’s yours to enjoy while you’re there!
Puerto Rico is unlike any other place on earth, & as such one of my new favorite places for couples to elope at. I had SO much fun with Kriztelle & Paul on their adventure, & I hope this article can inspire & guide more couples to celebrate their love in Puerto Rico! If you are planning to elope be sure to check out some of my other resources, like my planning checklist, or my guide on how to tell your family that you’re eloping. Finally, if you’re looking to book me to document your elopement be sure to send me an inquiry ASAP!
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