Elopement Package
for the Lehigh Valley & eastern Pennsylvania
What does it mean to elope?
To elope is to craft a deliberately small and intimate wedding day. Couples have many reasons they may opt for a private ceremony. And all of them are valid!
But choosing a small wedding doesn’t make it less important. Just the opposite! When you cut out the fluff, what remains are the truly important things. No matter the size of your wedding, this is a big moment in your life. Let me help you celebrate this milestone in a way that feels right for the two of you.
My Elopement Package is a perfect fit if you…
Lehigh Valley Elopement
I live in Allentown and officiate weddings throughout eastern Pennsylvania. There are so many great spots to elope in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton! The base pricing for my Elopement Package is optimized for those who plan to elope in Allentown or around the Lehigh Valley.
I’m also happy to travel to your chosen elopement venue in the Poconos or the greater Philadelphia area. If you’re eloping outside of Allentown, I can offer an accurate travel fee ahead of our discovery call.
Elopement FAQ
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To get married in Pennsylvania, all you need is a valid marriage license and an officiant to take care of the legalities for you.
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Yes, in many counties, you can handle your marriage license application entirely online. Visit the website of the county courthouse for details or ask me which ones make it easiest!
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Fees for a Pennsylvania marriage license vary by county from about $50 to $125. In some counties you will pay an additional fee to receive a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
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You should be able to find a local officiant offering an elopement ceremony for $500 or slightly less.
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The first step to get married quickly in PA is to apply for your marriage license at your county courthouse. Once it is issued you must wait three days for it to become valid. Use that time to book an officiant for an elopement or license signing service.
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Neither a ceremony nor witnesses are required to get married in Pennsylvania - just a valid marriage license. A simple license signing service can be handled wherever you arrange with your officiant.
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Yes, can skip the ceremony entirely and still be legally married in Pennsylvania. So long as you have a valid marriage license, a professional officiant can take care of the legal requirements in very little time.
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You cannot decide to get married on the spur of the moment in Pennsylvania, unless you already have a valid marriage license. Marriage licenses take 3 days to “mature” after they’re issued in Pennsylvania. You will also need an officiant to sign and file the license for you, which will be challenging on such short notice. If you’re in a hurry, reach out to an officiant as soon as you apply for the license, if not earlier. You’re more likely to find someone available 3 or more days out than the same day.
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There are plenty of free outdoor wedding options in Allentown, from the Rose Garden, to the ArtsWalk, to the front of some historic buildings with beautiful architecture. Your officiant will be able to make recommendations.
Photo: Moon Honey Photography
Need more information?
I get it! Even for small weddings, there’s a lot to consider. That’s why I wrote an Ultimate Guide to Eloping in eastern Pennsylvania. All the details are there, including dozens of venues that specifically cater to small and intimate weddings.
Check out the how, when, and where of elopements in eastern Pennsylvania, especially if you’re traveling here to elope and have not yet chosen your location or date!
“We wanted a very brief outdoor wedding, and we really gravitated to Katherine because of her knowledge, professionalism, attitude and flexibility. She was the perfect fit for our wedding and I’m extremely confident that she will be for yours as well.” - Paul & Juanita, Photo: Rob Lettieri Photography
Minimize & Maximize
A large gathering isn’t your style. You want to truly keep things simple, minimize the planning and the guests, and just focus on the two of you with a short, sweet, and heartfelt ceremony. I get it!
If a tiny ceremony is what you have in mind, I’m all in and I want to make it easy for you. Together we’ll eliminate much of the planning and maximize the celebration!
LET’S CHAT!
Just need to make it legal?
Photo: Aaron Morris Photography
Even quicker than an elopement, a license signing is a simple satisfaction of the legal requirements for your marriage license to be properly handled and filed with the courthouse. This service does not include a ceremony, and is not intended for guests.
I can meet you in one of the Lehigh Valley’s public parks where you might want to take a few pictures to remember the moment.
You must apply for and obtain your marriage license at least three business days before we meet. And bring it along with you! I can provide information on how to do this. No witnesses are required in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The fee for this service begins at $175 for a signing performed within ten minutes’ drive of my home (just west of Allentown, PA). I can travel to your preferred location for an additional travel fee.