Where To Elope In Indy!
As a wedding officiant, I'm often faced with the question: Where can I get married?
I have a few very honest responses.
The first is:
I'm a wedding officiant. You tell me where you are getting married and then I come and marry you there. That's not an answer, I know. But I get a lot of calls from people who want someone to do everything for them and that's not what I do. I am happy to make suggestions, but you need to decide where you want to get married and make all the arrangements. Sometimes, you just need a few ideas and then they take on a life on their own and soon you will have a wedding planned!
The second is:
I do have a place for you to elope! I have an office right on Monument Circle! I offer civil ceremonies with room for up to 8 guests! I'm super excited about it. I have a great view and I'm centrally located! Alas, it's not for everyone, but here's a link for more info!
Here is my list of suggestions. I take no responsibility for any of the information presented because things change. You need to research and reserve locations yourself.
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I have a few very honest responses.
The first is:
I'm a wedding officiant. You tell me where you are getting married and then I come and marry you there. That's not an answer, I know. But I get a lot of calls from people who want someone to do everything for them and that's not what I do. I am happy to make suggestions, but you need to decide where you want to get married and make all the arrangements. Sometimes, you just need a few ideas and then they take on a life on their own and soon you will have a wedding planned!
The second is:
I do have a place for you to elope! I have an office right on Monument Circle! I offer civil ceremonies with room for up to 8 guests! I'm super excited about it. I have a great view and I'm centrally located! Alas, it's not for everyone, but here's a link for more info!
Here is my list of suggestions. I take no responsibility for any of the information presented because things change. You need to research and reserve locations yourself.
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Where you can Elope or have a small wedding
Get Married at Home
This is usually my first suggestion. You have more control in your own home than anywhere else. I always say that any investment you make in getting married at home is a lasting investment. If you purchase things, you get to keep them. If you cook, you get to keep the leftovers. You already pay to live in your home so it's like a free venue.
Many couples really want too get married at home. They spent their money buying property to develop, houses to renovate, land to farm. It may be family property where their grandparents started. I LOVE driving to rural property to marry couples for that!
Goats, chickens, cats, dogs, and talking birds are welcome atyour wedding!
Some couples just have me come to their home to sign their marriage license and that's it. It might start that way and by the time I get there, 25 people heard about and are there too!
BBQ's, picnic's, parties, at home. If not your home, maybe the home of a friend or family member. It's not for everyone, but is a great option! I married one couple that was so happy to learn that they could get married in their parents back yard. They were happy to be able to save so much money. They bought a house instead of a wedding and had a keg party in their back yard to celebrate with friends.
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This is usually my first suggestion. You have more control in your own home than anywhere else. I always say that any investment you make in getting married at home is a lasting investment. If you purchase things, you get to keep them. If you cook, you get to keep the leftovers. You already pay to live in your home so it's like a free venue.
Many couples really want too get married at home. They spent their money buying property to develop, houses to renovate, land to farm. It may be family property where their grandparents started. I LOVE driving to rural property to marry couples for that!
Goats, chickens, cats, dogs, and talking birds are welcome atyour wedding!
Some couples just have me come to their home to sign their marriage license and that's it. It might start that way and by the time I get there, 25 people heard about and are there too!
BBQ's, picnic's, parties, at home. If not your home, maybe the home of a friend or family member. It's not for everyone, but is a great option! I married one couple that was so happy to learn that they could get married in their parents back yard. They were happy to be able to save so much money. They bought a house instead of a wedding and had a keg party in their back yard to celebrate with friends.
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Rent a Community Room
Your apartment complex or neighborhood may have a community room you can reserve for free or for a small fee. Your city, town or township may also have community rooms available for a nominal fee. Many come with small kitchens and/or BBQ grills.
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Your apartment complex or neighborhood may have a community room you can reserve for free or for a small fee. Your city, town or township may also have community rooms available for a nominal fee. Many come with small kitchens and/or BBQ grills.
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Reserve a shelter in your local park
Depending on the time of year, you might not need to reserve a shelter, but when the weather is nice you will want to make sure you reserve your spot.
Lily Lake in Eagle Creek Park is super-popular so is Fort Benjamin Harrison. There are pretty parks all over the Indianapolis area. Couples elope in parks all the time - with their dogs!
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Depending on the time of year, you might not need to reserve a shelter, but when the weather is nice you will want to make sure you reserve your spot.
Lily Lake in Eagle Creek Park is super-popular so is Fort Benjamin Harrison. There are pretty parks all over the Indianapolis area. Couples elope in parks all the time - with their dogs!
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Get Married by one of Indy's monuments or on the Indy Canal Walk
Here is a link to my guide on Indy Canal Walk Locations.
Here is a link to Eloping on Monument Circle
How about in front of the Indiana War Memorial? The view from the steps is amazing! The DePew Fountain in University Park on the south side off the War Memorial is lovely.
I've had veterans reserve the Rotunda inside the War Memorial for elopements. Other spaces inside the War Memorial are also available for a small fee.
You an complete the day with a romantic carriage ride or gondola down the canal.
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Here is a link to my guide on Indy Canal Walk Locations.
Here is a link to Eloping on Monument Circle
How about in front of the Indiana War Memorial? The view from the steps is amazing! The DePew Fountain in University Park on the south side off the War Memorial is lovely.
I've had veterans reserve the Rotunda inside the War Memorial for elopements. Other spaces inside the War Memorial are also available for a small fee.
You an complete the day with a romantic carriage ride or gondola down the canal.
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Lincoln Park Gazebo in Zionsville
This is a great little spot you can rent in Zionsville. The area is gorgeous for engagement, family, or wedding photographs! There is a small fee to reserve the gazebo itself. It's large. You add chairs and one couple added heaters!
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This is a great little spot you can rent in Zionsville. The area is gorgeous for engagement, family, or wedding photographs! There is a small fee to reserve the gazebo itself. It's large. You add chairs and one couple added heaters!
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Kawachinagano Japanese Gardens
Carmel Gazebo
The gardens are a great location next to Carmel City Hall next to the Monon Trail. There has been a lot of construction going on in the area but it was beautiful when I was there in the fall.
Carmel Gazebo requires a fee to reserve. Carmel resident get the fee back after the event.
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Carmel Gazebo
The gardens are a great location next to Carmel City Hall next to the Monon Trail. There has been a lot of construction going on in the area but it was beautiful when I was there in the fall.
Carmel Gazebo requires a fee to reserve. Carmel resident get the fee back after the event.
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Coxhall Gardens
Coxhall Gardens in Carmel has been extremely popular in the past several years to elope. The Centerpiece is iconic but the surrounding gardens also have lovely spots for a quick elopements with endless photo possibilities.
Call them to make sure the Centerpiece isn't already rented for a large event. You can pay a fee to rent it for a small even too. Most of the time, we just share the area with all the other park goers. If you are having a lot of people join you, pay the fee and formally reserve it. It's worth it. The Centerpiece is a good backup for rain - unless it's raining sideways.
The willow trees by the lake are perfect at sunset!
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Coxhall Gardens in Carmel has been extremely popular in the past several years to elope. The Centerpiece is iconic but the surrounding gardens also have lovely spots for a quick elopements with endless photo possibilities.
Call them to make sure the Centerpiece isn't already rented for a large event. You can pay a fee to rent it for a small even too. Most of the time, we just share the area with all the other park goers. If you are having a lot of people join you, pay the fee and formally reserve it. It's worth it. The Centerpiece is a good backup for rain - unless it's raining sideways.
The willow trees by the lake are perfect at sunset!
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Potters Bride
Potters Bride is on the White River in Noblesville is a beautiful spot for photographs. It's also a great backup plan in case of rain.
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Potters Bride is on the White River in Noblesville is a beautiful spot for photographs. It's also a great backup plan in case of rain.
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The Indiana State House
I have pictures all over my website taken at elopements in the Indiana State House. You can a elope with a small group there during regular business hours - for free! But you need to contact them to make sure the building will be open and it's OK to elope. They will let you know if certain times of day are better than other.
They also rent areas in the State House for small and large weddings.
Here is a link to more information about eloping at the Indiana State House.
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I have pictures all over my website taken at elopements in the Indiana State House. You can a elope with a small group there during regular business hours - for free! But you need to contact them to make sure the building will be open and it's OK to elope. They will let you know if certain times of day are better than other.
They also rent areas in the State House for small and large weddings.
Here is a link to more information about eloping at the Indiana State House.
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Get Married in Your Favorite Restaurant
Restaurants often have banquet rooms or private dining rooms. If you are going to go out to dinner after you get married, this may be an option. From formal restaurants downtown to mexican restaurants on the north side, Italian restaurants in downtown Carmel, Maggiano's and Harry and Izzy's. I married a couple at Mashcraft in Greenwood last weekend with a casua group of friends. It was perfect for them! A lot of couples also elope in my office and then have dinner at a downtown restaurant.
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Restaurants often have banquet rooms or private dining rooms. If you are going to go out to dinner after you get married, this may be an option. From formal restaurants downtown to mexican restaurants on the north side, Italian restaurants in downtown Carmel, Maggiano's and Harry and Izzy's. I married a couple at Mashcraft in Greenwood last weekend with a casua group of friends. It was perfect for them! A lot of couples also elope in my office and then have dinner at a downtown restaurant.
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Rent a Small Banquet Room in a Hotel or Inn
Bottle Works and Ironworks are both very trendy hotels right now. They both have small banquet rooms that a great for small weddings. Couples often book a suite and I marry them in their room. Couples have found hotels with gazebo's and gathering areas for small weddings outside too.
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Bottle Works and Ironworks are both very trendy hotels right now. They both have small banquet rooms that a great for small weddings. Couples often book a suite and I marry them in their room. Couples have found hotels with gazebo's and gathering areas for small weddings outside too.
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Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
Unfortunately, they are not currently renting the conservatory for elopements. You can contact them to confirm, but it's no longer on their website. There is an arch outside in the Sunken Gardens that they do rent with a photography pass included. It's a beautiful area to get married on Indy's south-side. Couples also utilize other areas in the park including the pergola area.
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Unfortunately, they are not currently renting the conservatory for elopements. You can contact them to confirm, but it's no longer on their website. There is an arch outside in the Sunken Gardens that they do rent with a photography pass included. It's a beautiful area to get married on Indy's south-side. Couples also utilize other areas in the park including the pergola area.
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Rent a Gazebo
Gazebo's are a great option in case of rain - or extreme heat and sun. Many of these need to be reserved and paid for. Be very careful - you don't want to have your wedding ruined with a person threatening to call the police if you don't pay up. (True story - told me, I didn't experience it)
Fort Benjamin Harrison Gazebo
This is a very cute gazebo in Lawrence right outside the park. You can rent it through the Inn.
Friendship Gardens, Plainfield
It's a large 3 gazebo's in one area. That one is for rent, there is a also a small, older gazebo in the same area.
Falls Park, Pendleton
I think this one one of my favorite gazebos. It's for rent (There is also a community room in the park for rent - with a kitchen). I've married couples on the river as well.
Ellis Park, Danville
There is huge gazebo in the shade here.
Washington Township Park, Avon
There is a gazebo near the playground. It's rustic but a great shady spot in the summer with a light display during the holidays.
Gazebo's are a great option in case of rain - or extreme heat and sun. Many of these need to be reserved and paid for. Be very careful - you don't want to have your wedding ruined with a person threatening to call the police if you don't pay up. (True story - told me, I didn't experience it)
Fort Benjamin Harrison Gazebo
This is a very cute gazebo in Lawrence right outside the park. You can rent it through the Inn.
Friendship Gardens, Plainfield
It's a large 3 gazebo's in one area. That one is for rent, there is a also a small, older gazebo in the same area.
Falls Park, Pendleton
I think this one one of my favorite gazebos. It's for rent (There is also a community room in the park for rent - with a kitchen). I've married couples on the river as well.
Ellis Park, Danville
There is huge gazebo in the shade here.
Washington Township Park, Avon
There is a gazebo near the playground. It's rustic but a great shady spot in the summer with a light display during the holidays.
