3 Best Places to Elope

Las Vegas isn’t the only option for stealing away for an intimate ceremony. Consider these favorite alternatives chosen by wedding planner Alison Hotchkiss-Rinderknecht of Alison Events.

By Alison Events

April 17, 2015

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California

On the West Coast, a beautiful hotel I absolutely love is Post Ranch Inn. Post Ranch is known for its impeccable service, and the comfort and luxury of its guest accommodations in its 39 rooms. Located high above the crashing waves of the ocean below, the getaway sits privately on the cliffs overlooking the sea and the picturesque coastline. The property offers customized elopement packages and can even perform a ceremony on the balcony of one of its guest suites.

Babington House, Somerset, England

Across the pond,Babington House, an early-Georgian-style country mansion with its famous Cowshed spa, is a private, members-only club. The estate, actually part of the Soho House Collection, sits on 17 acres. Those who are not members can plan weddings and elopements here as guests. Marriages can be arranged to take place in the Orangery, which overlooks the Babington's beautiful grounds, or the St. Margaret's Church just down the road. Elopements and weddings are handled by the in-house planner.

A happy couple swimming with their family in the Galapagos waters near the Pikaia Lodge.

Pikaia Lodge, Galapagos Islands

If you and your soon-to-be spouse prefer something more remote, there are many options around the world to suit your fancy. The Pikaia Lodge in the Galapagos Islands may speak to your inner naturalist. The hotel sits high atop an extinct volcano and resembles something akin to a ship's lookout point. Rooms, as a result, have ocean views on three sides. Vents in the roof allow for constant circulation of air without air-conditioning, and conservation of water and energy, created with wind turbines, makes this one of the world's smallest environmental footprints. The hotel, located on the edge of Santa Cruz Island, is a lush habitat for local wildlife and plants. If you and your betrothed adore all things nature, this is a romantic, exploratory adventure of a lifetime.