So, you’re thinking about eloping in Northern Virginia? YAY! This area is packed with incredible spots that let you celebrate your marriage in a way that feels totally you. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate ceremony in a historic town or something a bit more adventurous with jaw-dropping views, there really are endless ways to make your elopement day unique and authentic to you!
In this blog, I’ll break down some Northern Virginia elopement ideas and locations and give you some sample itineraries to help you start picturing your perfect day. Because, honestly? Your wedding day deserves to be just as extraordinary and epic as the love you’re celebrating!
Why Elope in Northern Virginia?
The beauty of eloping is that it’s all about what you want. It’s not about rules or traditions! It’s about creating a day that’s meaningful and fun for the two of you (and maybe a few close loved ones). Northern Virginia makes that super easy with its mix of charming towns AND natural beauty. It’s also packed with incredible food and activities to make your elopement more than just a ceremony!
So here are some of my favorite Northern Virginia elopement locations and ideas for a truly amazing day.
Old Town Vibes
If you’re after a timeless, elegant, and even slightly vintage feel to your elopement, check out one of Northern Virginia’s historic towns.
Alexandria Elopement Sample Itinerary & Ideas
Alexandria = all the romantic vibes. Cobblestone streets, waterfront views, and colorful rowhouses? Yes, please.
Getting Ready
Stay at The Alexandrian, a boutique hotel with historic charm in Old Town Alexandria. The elegant suites make for perfect getting-ready photos. You can enjoy a slow morning together, grab breakfast, and get ready together, soaking up all the time with each other.
First Look and/or Photos
Head over to Captains Row, a cobblestone street lined with historic homes, for a cozy session. Then stroll along the waterfront at Founders Park for even more timeless photos featuring the Potomac River and colorful townhouses.
So, depending on whether you were getting ready together or not, this is where you can include doing a first look. Whether you do it or not is completely up to you! This will be a beautiful photo spot, even without doing the first look. All of these locations so far are a brief walk away from one another!
Ceremony Spot
For your ceremony, consider staying at Founders Park, OR you could go on a quick 10-minute drive to Jones Point Park and exchange your vows under the historic lighthouse.
Post-Ceremony Celebrations
Enjoy a meal at Virtue Feed & Grain, a modern American tavern offering cozy vibes and delicious food. But there are so many great meal options in Alexandria, so just check out some ideas here!
And after your meal, you could take a private boat tour along the Potomac River!
A Casual Stroll & Late Dinner
If you’d like to extend your day, you could continue wandering the streets of Old Town, especially along King Street and the marina. And then maybe grab a late dinner and a cocktail somewhere nice!
Leesburg Elopement Sample Itinerary & Ideas
If I had to sum up Leesburg for you, I’d say it’s wine country meets art meets historic charm. It’s an excellent place for art lovers, cozy vibes, and, of course, wine.
Getting Ready
Stay at Lansdowne Resort, which offers luxury suites and stunning views of the Potomac River Valley. Enjoy a peaceful, spa-like morning as you prepare for the big day. Another beautiful option is staying at the Oatlands, which is a gorgeous historic inn.
First Look and/or Photos
Depending on whether you were getting ready together or not, this is again the part of the day when you can include a first look. If you choose to stay at the resort, it is in a convenient location for you to reach wineries, vineyards, breweries, cute towns, and hiking trails—basically wherever you’d like to go on your big day.
If you choose to stay at The Oatlands, The Oatlands Historic House and Gardens is a stunning location for your first look and elopement photos. (You can also drive from the Resort to here in about 20 minutes, but I often find it better to explore only a couple of locations in depth versus trying to get in too many spots at once)
Ceremony Spot
Hop in the car and head over to Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park for a secluded and romantic elopement ceremony surrounded by nature! It’s about 20 minutes away from the Oatlands. If you’re up for a bit of hiking on your day, the park has 67 acres of hiking trails and some of the best views in NOVA!
Post-Ceremony Celebrations
You can pack a celebratory picnic to enjoy somewhere with a view in the Park or head somewhere else. You could go to Leesburg’s historic downtown for some more candid photos, stopping by charming boutiques and vintage brick alleys.
And if you’re looking for somewhere nice to enjoy a final celebratory meal or a drink after all the excitement of the day, I recommend checking out the King Street Oyster Bar.
Winchester Elopement Sample Itinerary & Ideas
Winchester is the type of city you’d see in some of those cozy small-town TV shows. And if you’d like to enjoy nature that’s also super easy to access without long drives or extensive hiking, the city is home to over 270 acres of parkland!
Getting Ready
Stay at The George Washington Hotel, a historic gem in downtown Winchester with sophisticated rooms, and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the 1920s. Order room service as you get ready together for your big day!
First Look and/or Photos
After getting ready, head to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. If you’re outdoorsy, there are miles and miles of trails for you to explore as you also check out some outdoor art installations. It will definitely make for some really unique photo ops for your elopement day! Of course, you can do as much walking and exploring as you’d like.
Ceremony Spot
You can elope or have a small wedding at the Museum! OR we could also head over to the iconic Jim Barnett Park. The Park is only about a 15-minute drive away from the Museum. There’s this beautiful pondside location surrounded by nature, which could be the perfect place for you to exchange your vows.
Post-Ceremony Celebrations
After your ceremony and some more candid photos around the park, you could head over to Violino Ristorante Italiano to enjoy a celebratory meal. It’s some of the best Italian food in the area.
Following the meal and relaxation at the restaurant, you can continue the day by exploring the quaint streets of Old Town Winchester. The colorful storefronts and historic vibe of the city make for beautiful backdrops for your elopement photos!
Manassas Elopement Sample Itinerary & Ideas
Manassas is where rolling hills and open spaces meet sweet small-town charm. The Downtown area is particularly cute and has many great options for a cozy celebration.
Getting Ready
Book a room at the charming Victorian-era style B&B – Manassas Junction Bed & Breakfast. The B&B is only about 10-20 minutes away from many iconic Manassas historic sites!
First Look and/or Photos
After getting ready at the B&B, head on over to Manassas National Battlefield Park. The scenery here is beautiful for your first look, ceremony, and photos! Making your way to the Stone Bridge will give you some of the most stunning backdrops!
Ceremony Spot
You could stay at Battlefield Park for your ceremony OR head over to The Winery at Bull Run and exchange your vows surrounded by the lush vineyards! This is another scenic location for photos, and you can celebrate after with a delicious wine tasting and light snacks.
Post-Ceremony Celebrations
If you’d like to extend your celebrations, you could head back into the Old Town Manassas for charming street photography and stop by the iconic Harris Pavilion. The Pavilion is extra lovely in the winter when it converts to an ice rink!
And while you’re out and about, you might get a bit thirsty and want to conclude your day with a drink at Sinistral Brewing Company, which is just a few minutes walk away from the Pavilion.
Fredericksburg Elopement Sample Itinerary & Ideas
Fredericksburg, with all that charm and so many pretty spots, is the ultimate storybook town. Between the riverside views, the historic district, and cute little streets to wander, it’s got all the romance you could want for your day.
Getting Ready
Get ready at The Richard Johnston Inn, an upscale 18th-century Inn. Your stay includes breakfast, allowing you to have breakfast together and fuel up ahead of your day!
First Look, the Ceremony and Photos
After getting ready, head over to Chatham Manor. The gardens and river views will be absolutely amazing backdrops for your elopement day. This is a beautiful place to wander around, and we’ll definitely find a nice spot for your ceremony!
Post-Ceremony Celebrations
Stroll downtown for more photos along Caroline Street, stopping by antique shops and quaint alleys. And after your stroll and pictures, enjoy a seasonal meal at Foode.
A Casual Adventure Elopement at Harpers Ferry
For couples who want a mix of cute-town charm and some outdoorsy fun, Harpers Ferry is the spot. It’s the kind of place where you can exchange vows with a river view, wander through cobblestone streets, and maybe even add in a little adventure.
Getting Ready
Stay at The Town’s Inn, a cozy, historic inn right in the heart of Harpers Ferry. Its rustic rooms and views of the Potomac River create a perfect, romantic start to your day.
First Look, Ceremony, and Photos
All of these beautiful spots I’ll mention are within a rather short walking distance, so we can easily visit many of Harper Ferry’s iconic locations and get a variety of backdrops for your elopement day. Jefferson Rock is a short, scenic hike that offers stunning views of the river and rolling hills. Then, you could head over to the Harpers Ferry Ruins and enjoy their unique stone walls and historic ambiance.
You could exchange vows at The Point, where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers meet. This truly iconic Northern Virginia spot really has some of the most breathtaking views!
Celebration and Adventure Ideas
For an adventurous twist, rent kayaks or paddle boards to explore the Potomac River together, or take a guided zipline tour through the nearby Adventure Park at Harpers Ferry. In this case, I really recommend packing some snacks or a picnic with yourselves! You could also enjoy a sunset walk along the Appalachian Trail, which runs right through Harpers Ferry, for golden-hour photos with incredible views.
And after all of those adventures, you could end your day with dinner at The Rabbit Hole, a cozy, rustic spot known for its hearty dishes and craft beer.
Are You Getting Ready to Celebrate Your Northern Virginia Elopement?
The best thing about eloping? The sky’s the limit! You can get ready together or separately and have a first look or get ready together, soaking in your day together from the start. Maybe you want to wake up in a cozy cabin and catch the sunrise at a mountain overlook. Or maybe you’d rather exchange vows in the afternoon and celebrate with dinner at a cozy cafe? You can celebrate just the two of you or bring your loved ones. Your day can be as laid-back or adventurous as you’d like it to be!
If you have any questions about how to plan your Northern Virginia elopement, don’t hesitate to reach out! I seriously have a mile-long list of gorgeous locations for elopements that are not even mentioned in the blog that I share with all my couples during the planning process. Interested in hearing more? Fill out my contact form here. I’d love to talk with you about how to make all your elopement dreams come true!
And if you’re reading this blog, you may also like:
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