Where to Elope in Indy!

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A Wedding Officiants incomplete guide to where you can have a simple wedding.
These are suggestions.  We take no responsibility for the place where you choose to get married.  We VERY STRONGLY recommend you visit the location before deciding to get married there.  Pictures are not always an accurate representation of what your experience may be.  

Eagle Creek Park

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There are many great options for simple weddings or elopements in Eagle Creek State Park on Indy's west side.  You can rent a park Shelter on Lilly Lake or take a walk from the Ornithology Center - with or without your dog! This picture was taken on a dock inside the park.  There were people fishing when we got there and they were kind enough to leave for this couple to elope and take pictures. 

eaglecreekpark.org/

My fee to marry you at Eagle Creek State Park is $150 - cost of admission. 

Eagle Creek Park
7840 W 56th St
Indianapolis, IN 46254

Elope at the ARTSPARK

The Indianapolis Arts Center in Broad Ripple is home of the ARTSPARK.  The ARTSPARK is a beautiful, interactive arts and nature exhibit open to the public to enjoy from dawn till dusk.  You can get all the details about the location by clicking here.

If you are looking for simple place to exchange vows, just the two of you, or with a photographer,  this is a great option!  I have had several couples tell me this is a place they went for their first date or someplace they like to walk regularly.  The Crooked House is always a memorable spot!

The ARTSPARK is free to use, but I always recommend making sure there is nothing else happening at the same time you want to elope.  The park is used for concerts, festivals, summer camps, and, of course, art classes!  If you are planning a formal wedding, you can also rent the Arts Center as a formal wedding venue. Click HERE for their event planning information. 
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The famous Crooked House!

Jeff and Jenn recently chose a beautiful Saturday evening to elope and local Indy Photography Larry Gindhart was there to capture it all.  Please check out Larry's website here:  ​https://www.gindhartphoto.com/www.gindhartphoto.com.
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The Stone Garden makes a great backdrop for a wedding!

I always say you can take get married anywhere and then take pictures everywhere.  Some backdrops are better for ceremony pictures than others. Larry chose this location because it's a great neutral backdrop for the ceremony and provided a flat space to make the signing of the marriage license pretty.   ​
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I love being able to provide suggestions for elopement locations.  It's  a popular question!  Where can we elope!   My disclaimer is:  I am giving you suggestions.  You still need to do your own research and check with the location to make sure it's available to the public that day with no conflicts.  Most of my suggestions are free to use and outdoors.  If it rains, I strongly suggest having a back up plan. ​​
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My fee to officiate your elopement ceremony is $150.  You need to obtain your own marriage license from your county clerk. ​
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Elope On Monument Circle!

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Photo By Logan at Inside the Frame Photography.

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 Monument Circle is hands down my favorite place for an elopement.  It's an iconic monument in the center of not only Indianapolis but Indiana itself.  If you want to elope in the middle of it all, Monument Circle is where you want to be!  I'm always excited to officiate weddings on the circle!  

Monument Circle is an easy walk to and from many downtown Indy hotels and restaurants.  Often, couples will elope on Monument Circle and then head to dinner.  Ruth's Chris and Buca Di Beppo seem to be the most popular restaurants. I think dinner at The Eagles Nest - a revolving restaurant atop the Hyatt Regency - is another iconic way to celebrate your marriage.  You can dine with  a fabulous view of downtown Indianapolis.  

You can elope on Monument Circle as the sun sets on a summer night or under the Christmas lights during the Circle of Lights each Holiday Season.  You can also elope on your lunch break if that's what works for you.

Do You Need a Permit To Elope On Monument Circle?

An elopement is a short and sweet wedding ceremony.  We just gather around in a chosen spot and perform a short and sweet wedding ceremony.  There is not permit required to do that.  On any given weekend you will see entire formal wedding parties arrive and take photos. You'll see couples having their engagement pictures taken, and every now and then, you might see a proposal!

Monument Circle is a huge tourist destination and the center of the city.  It can be a busy place.  You will not be alone while you elope - and that's part of the fun!  ​
Monument Circle is a public place. You can't block traffic, set up chairs, blast loud music or disturb the peace.  I'm telling you this as a wedding officiant hoping to sell you my wedding officiant services. I don't have any affiliation with Soldier and Sailors Monument.

Always check the online calendars to make sure there is nothing else happening on Monument Circle the day you want to elope.  

Here is a link to the online calendar for events happening in Indy.  Always google "Monument Circle and the date" to see if there are any specific events happening at the time you want to elope.  Often, half of the circle is blocked off for an event. We can use the other half of the circle but it might be loud.  Occasionally, the entire circle will be closed for an event. There are food festivals and other events happening on Monument Circle every summer.  If you want to elope in the middle of the festival, just let me know.  I'm up for anything!  It's part of the fun of eloping in the middle of it all!
Our fee to marry you on Monument Circle is $150.  You can book a Formal Elopement/ Small wedding by following the link below.
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The Indiana War Memorial

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The Indiana War Memorial has an incredible view.  The north side of the memorial overlooks veterans plaza all the way to the Indianapolis Public Library.  This is an amazing spot at sunset!  You can usually elope outside with no problem but you will want to contact them ahead of time to be sure nothing else is going on that day, as they rent out the building for formal weddings and events. You can also ask them about eloping inside.  If you are an active service member or veteran, let them know!

You can contact them here:  https://www.in.gov/iwm/

This is NOT the spot to choose to elope if you cannot climb steps.  There are a LOT of them!  There is no shade here either so it can get hot.

My fee to marry you at the Indiana War Memorial  is $150.

Indiana War Memorial and Museum
​55 E Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
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White River State Park and Celebration Plaza

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White River State Park is a great place to elope outside if you are going to have more then just a few people with you.  A large park gives you plenty of room.  

Always make sure to check the online calendars to know what is going on in the park at the time you want to get married.  This is a popular location for outdoor concerts and festivals throughout the spring and summer. Check the Indians schedule too.  If there is a baseball game the cost or parking will more than double!  Click here for the online calendar:  https://www.whiteriverstatepark.org/events/

The easiest way to access Celebration Plaza is through White River State Park and parking under the Indiana State Museum.  If you put it into your GPS as Celebration Plaza it will take you to the other side of the park by IUPUI.   You can still access the area from there but parking may be more difficult.  
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The Willow Trees at White River State Park are beautiful at sunset! There is a beautiful view of the river from here.

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This is in the corner of celebration plaza right by The White River. McCormick's Rock is above the waterfall.

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Celebration Plaza Amphitheater at White River State Park

White River State Park
801 W Washington St,
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Friendship Garden Park

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Friendship Garden Park is perfect for small (or big) weddings up to 75 guests.  It's actually big enough to have chairs under the gazebo in case of rain.  The gazebo is available for rent.  The cost is $105 for Plainfield residents and $210 for everyone else.  It has electricity and bathrooms nearby.

There is also a pretty water feature under a nice shady area to make it a perfect place for a small elopement on a hot day. 

My fee to marry you in Plainfield is $180

Here is a link to their website with their contact information:  https://www.townofplainfield.com/facilities/facility/details/friendshipgardenspark-9

Friendship Garden Park
 900-932 E County Road 750 East
​Plainfield, IN 46168
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The water feature makes a very romantic backdrop for elopement pictures!

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A great place to elope with your dogs!

Your Earth Centered Elopement

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Larry Gindhart. Ph.D. Photo by Carol Tharp-Perrin

The process of getting legally married is the same for everyone.  Obtain a marriage license from the county clerk, sign the license with a wedding officiant, and return the license. It's paperwork.  People do it every day.  

The sacred act of marrying is completely different and unique to each individual couple.  There is a change that is made in the hearts of two people when they fall in love, another when they decide to marry, and another when they actually marry. 

Many couples feel they are already married in their hearts and nothing else is really necessary.  There is no ceremony or party that could enhance the experience they are having.

Some couples choose to have a spiritual experience on their wedding day. It may be in a church with their religious leader surrounded by their church family, or a spiritual celebration surrounded by like-minded individuals. 

To these couples, the love between two people is a sacred gift from their creator and the ceremonial act of marriage is an important part of how they take their place in their community in a new way. ​
Now you have lit a fire and that fire should not go out. The two of you now have a fire that represents love, understanding and a philosophy of life. It will give you heat, food, warmth, and happiness. This new fire represents a new beginning – a new life and a new family. The fire should keep burning; you should stay together. You have lit the fire for life, until old age separates you.   

​Navajo Wedding Blessing.  ​

How you choose to ceremonially commit to one another is completely up to you.  As a wedding officiant, I want to support you in your choices and help you make your vision a reality.

You may choose a traditional ceremony, giving deeper meaning to the ritual of marriage, or you may choose your own perfect words to express how you feel.  

There is nothing more satisfying in the work I do than helping a couple marry each other.  As a wedding officiant, I facilitate your interaction.  It's the two of you and the love between you that makes the sacred magic happen. 

The words, the scent of the flowers, the rings you exchange the, the location, the weather, the music, it all works together to make your wedding.  
As I walk, as I walk
The universe is walking with me
In beauty it walks before me
In beauty it walks behind me
In beauty it walks below me
In beauty it walks above me
Beauty is on every side
As I walk, I walk with Beauty.

Traditional Navajo Prayer
​The right music can set the tone of any wedding.  It might be the song you were singing along to during a joyride or road trip when you looked at each other and knew you were in love. 

It may be the first song you danced to, or the song you were both talking about on your first date when you thought, "Wow!  I thought I was the only person that listened to that band!"

Perhaps, the two of you simply enjoy being together without talking, listening to relaxing or uplifting music in the background. 
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Photo by Lorraine Nathuk.

Local artist, Larry Gindhart, offers his Native American flute playing to those who would like to set the tone of their wedding ceremony in connection to their spiritual selves with the help of music.

Larry has a PhD in psychology and a diploma in sound healing.  He offers musical performances for meditation, comfort, and peace.

You can book Larry to play at your wedding ceremony, elopement, or any celebration of love.  

You can read all about Larry and view a full list of the services he offers with prices on his website larrygindhartmusic.com.
Now you will feel no rain,
for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness,
for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons,
but there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both in the
journey ahead and through all the years,
May happiness be your companion and
your days together be good and long upon the earth.
Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and
remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness,
gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves.
When frustration, difficulties and fear assail your relationship,
as they threaten all relationships at one time or another,
remember to focus on what is right between you,
not only the part which seems wrong.
In this way, you can ride out the storms when
clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives - remembering that
even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there.
And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your
life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.

Apache Blessing
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I am available to help you create your wedding ceremony script and officiate your wedding ceremony.  

For those that walk a spiritual path, you may have another person you are connected to that would be a more suitable choice to participate in your joining ceremony.  I very much respect that. 

I offer my services and information for the legal part of your marriage here. 

Here is a link to a modified multi-faith handfasting ceremony you might like.

Lincoln Park Gazebo

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Zionsville is an adorable little town!  It's very popular for engagement photos and elopements.  All the bricks and older buildings are absolutely charming!  The gazebo in Lincoln Park is for rent.  You can't rent the whole park, but you can reserve the gazebo to make sure it's available for you to use.  I've officiated weddings here in all 4 seasons.  
http://www.zionsville-in.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Lincoln-Park-5

​My Fee to marry you in Zionsville is $150.

Elope In Ritchey Woods in Fishers

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Photo by Summerly Photography

Ritchey Woods is a beautiful, simple nature preserve in Fishers.  More than one couple has chosen to elope here simply because of the pictures Summer from Summerly Photography has taken here!  

My Fee to marry you in Ritchey Woods is $150.

Ritchey Wood Nature Preserve
10410 Hague Rd
​Fishers, IN 46038
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Photo by Summerly Photography.