Ultimate Cape Cod Elopement Guide | Updated for 2023
Whether Cape Cod is a place you grew up visiting with your family or its the place you met the love of your life, it is truly such a special place. It offers adorable towns and the most beautiful ocean views. There is so much to do and see making it an amazing location for an elopement! So I of course want to share with you all the information you need to plan your dreamy Cape Cod Elopement!
Table of Contents
- Cape Cod Elopement Checklist
- Where is Cape Cod?
- Why Elope in Cape Cod?
- Best Time of the Year to Elope in Cape Cod
- Best Places to Elope in Cape Cod
- Best Places to Stay in Cape Cod
- Best Elopement Activities in Cape Cod
- Where to Eat in Cape Cod
- Legalities of Getting Married in Cape Cod
- Meet Your Cape Cod Elopement Photographer
Cape Cod Elopement Planning Checklist
- Decide you want to elope in Cape Cod!
- Book your elopement photographer – click here to see if we might be a good fit!
- Sit down with your partner and discuss what you imagine your elopement day will look like. Do you imagine a romantic picnic on the beach or spending your day bar/restaurant hopping?
- Coordinate with your photographer on picking a date!
- Pick your Cape Cod elopement location!
- Book your flights and accommodations.
- Book your other elopement vendors. Ask your photographer for recommendations!
- Plan out your elopement day activities!
- Get your Massachusetts Marriage License.
- Keep in touch with your vendors leading up to your elopement!
- Have the best elopement day with the love of your life in Cape Cod!
Where is Cape Cod?
Cape Cod is located in a hook-shaped Peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean in Southeastern Massachusetts. This beautiful region of Massachusetts is most famously known for its white sandy beaches, marine wildlife, and abundant activities to enjoy in the summer months.
Why Elope in Cape Cod?
Obviously Cape Cod is a beautiful East Coast elopement location but here are a few reasons why it might be the perfect place for you and your partner to tie the knot:
- You grew up visiting Cape Cod on your summer vacations and it’s a place you hold a lot of special memories.
- You love the ocean and imagine yourself marrying the love of your life on a white sandy beach.
- You want some of the best seafood on your elopement day! You imagine a Seafood feast on the beach with your closest family and friends to celebrate.
- You want to charter a sailboat for your elopement and say your vows at sunset.
- You want to stay in a little cottage on the beach and enjoy a cup of coffee at sunrise together on your elopement day.
Best Time of the Year to Elope in Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a beautiful place to visit year-round but the busiest time of the year is definitely July and August. Cape Cod is super busy during the summer months as tons of people flock here for vacation and to enjoy the sandy beaches and warm ocean water. So, if you want nice weather without the big crowds, I would recommend eloping in May, June, September, or October. The prices of things also tend to be lower as this isn’t the busiest time of the year.
The winter in Cape Cod is also beautiful but it definitely gets a little chilly. The temperature highs fall around 39 degrees while the lows fall around 25 degrees. If you don’t mind the cold, then this is a great time to elope here because it is the off-season and there are little to no crowds. But some of the local shops and restaurants do close during this time of year so that is something to consider.
Best Places to Elope in Cape Cod
Nobska Lighthouse & Beach
When you think of Cape Cod, the white sandy beaches and the iconic lighthouses are what you probably picture. If you want that quintessential Cape Cod feel for your elopement, the Nobska lighthouse is a great location. This beautiful Cape Cod Lighthouse is surrounded by green grass on all sides and obviously overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. I recommend going to the top of the lighthouse as well if it is open for some portraits at the top! Then you can head down to Nobska Beach to enjoy the white sandy beach and ocean backdrop.
The Bass Hole Boardwalk & Gray’s Beach
Gray’s Beach is a super popular location in Cape Cod because of its long boardwalk over the marshland. The boardwalk is about 0.3 miles long leading to Gray’s Beach. I highly recommend taking tons of your elopement photos on the boardwalk as it provides a great backdrop!
The Chatham Lighthouse
The Chatham lighthouse is one of the most famous lighthouses in Cape Cod located on the “elbow.” This beautiful lighthouse sits 80 feet above sea level and provides an iconic backdrop for your elopement.
White Crest Beach
White Crest is a beautiful beach in Wellfleet that has massive towering dunes. This is the perfect beach elopement location to enjoy the sunset, watch the seals, and enjoy a romantic picnic. Then you can run around in the dunes for some fun and playful elopement photos.
Provincetown
If you want to elope in town, Provincetown is a great option. This colorful town has so much character and is such a fun and unique place to elope. You can enjoy the beautiful beaches, amazing restaurants, art galleries, boutique inns, and fun charming shops. This small town is chalked full of history and is actually the oldest continuous art colony in the country.
Aquinnah Cliffs Martha’s Vineyard
Aquinnah Cliffs at Martha’s Vineyard is one of the most beautiful spots in Cape Cod! This area features multicolored clay cliffs and some of the most picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean and coastline. You can explore the lower beach paths to see the cliffs up close or take a little hike up the trails to the top cliffs for the best views.
Nauset Beach
Nauset Beach is a beautiful coastal destination with the most perfect shoreline, rolling dunes, and big waves! This is a super popular beach in Cape Cod because of its untouched landscape and pristine condition. Because of its popularity, this is a location that might be better for a spring or fall elopement so that you don’t have to deal with big crowds.
Best Places to Stay in Cape Cod
Hotels
- Chatham Bars Inn
- Wequasset Resort and Golf Club
- Pelham House Resort
- Land’s End Inn
- Sea Crest Beach Hotel
- Awal Hotel
Airbnbs
- Little Boho Retreat by the Beach
- Red Sky Retreat! Sun-soaked 2-bedroom cottage!
- The Breeze Overlooking Minister’s Pond
- Sunlit Escape: 200 Yards from the Beach!
- Modern Beachfront Condo
- Cozy Cape Cod Cottage W/ Beach Access
- Romantic Cape Cod Beach Cottage in Town Neck
- Green Anchor Cottage – large outdoor deck!
- Oyster Isle-Steps from the Beach!
- Renovated Chatham Windmill! Walk to the Beach/Town!
Best Elopement Activities in Cape Cod
Cape Cod is an East Coast beach paradise with so much to see and explore while you are here. So, it’s only right that you add in some fun activities on your elopement day or at least on your trip. Here are a few ideas:
- Shop and Dine in downtown Provincetown
- Enjoy a romantic picnic on the beach!
- Make dinner together in your Airbnb
- Hire a catering company to make you a romantic dinner!
- Ride bikes along the beach
- Watch the sunset at the beach
- Admire glass art in Sandwich
- Enjoy the local seafood at one of the amazing restaurants
- Go Winetasting at Truro Vineyards
- Go whale watching
- Take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard
Where to Eat in Cape Cod
Casual
Fine Dining
Legalities of Getting Married in Massachusetts
The process of getting married in Massachusetts is pretty simple. Just head to the courthouse website for the county that you will be getting married in and apply!
Steps to Getting Your Massachusetts Marriage License
- Fill out a Notice of Intention of Marriage Form. You will both need to go in person to a local city or town clerk to fill out the form. You will need to provide:
- Proof of your age, such as a birth certificate or passport
- Your Social Security number
- Payment for fees, which vary by town
- The name you’ll use after the wedding if you’ve decided to change it
- Pick up Your Marriage License. You will need to wait three days before you can pick up your marriage license and it is valid for 60 days.
- Give Your License to the Person Conducting the Ceremony — After you’re married, your officiant must sign and return the license to the city or town clerk who issued it before the 60-day time period is up.
For more information on getting your Massachusetts marriage license, you can visit the website here.
Meet Your Cape Cod Elopement Photographer
Hey, It’s Morgan!
I’m a travel elopement photographer who is absolutely obsessed with capturing moments for people in love that will live on forever!
My goal is for your photos to be as real & authentic as humanly possible, so that every time you open up your gallery, it’s like you’re right back there again, feeling alllllll those same feels you felt the first time around. I value real-life moments, not fake shit.
Wanting me to capture your epic South Dakota elopement?
