Frequently asked questions

What happens at an Elope to Savannah elopement — what is the process and what to expect?

First of all, congrats on your upcoming wedding and thank you for choosing us! Our goal is to make your wedding day as stress free and easy as possible.

After you book — where you get to pick your package, date, time, location, and flowers (if applicable) — all you have to do is show up with your marriage license.

We will send you instructions on where to meet us in a confirmation email (that you need to respond to so we know you're ready and excited about your wedding!) that we send out the Monday before your wedding. Just meet us at the location specified (preferably early!) and we'll chat a bit to introduce ourselves and get to know you. We will also give you the flowers included in your package (if you selected that). Then we'll move into a good spot for your ceremony (if your package includes that) and that's when photos start and then soon you're married! Photos continue for the remainder of the time you booked and that's it. That's really it! No fuss!

Do I need a permit to have my wedding in a park, square, or the beach?

Since our packages are so small, a permit isn't required. However, a large wedding, festival, etc., might have reserved your area. We can either relocate, or in the case of Forsyth Park, move to any other area of the park for your wedding. We don't get advance notice of private events, but we do keep on top of the city's schedules for big festivals and other events.

Do you do ceremonies for same-sex couples?

Absolutely! We are here for everyone and so glad that we can marry anyone who comes to us!

Also, we are so sorry that you even have to worry about that in this day and age. We are a safe space, you are more than welcome with us!

How many guests can I have at my elopement?

We can accommodate up to five guests who are listed in your contract as your children (of any age, biological or adopted), max (not including the couple). Our elopements are designed as an intimate couples-only experience, but we understand that some couples want to share their day with a few of their children to blend a family.

What happens if I have more than five guests?

If additional guests who are your children are present, they will cost $100 each to attend your wedding. We allow only two additional guests — a max of seven guests, total . This includes any person of any age who are present, regardless of whether they are in your photos or not. Anyone who is in attendance at your wedding. Thank you for understanding.

If all guest fees are not paid, we will not release your photos, as per the contract that is signed when you book.

What happens if I am late to my ceremony?

Because we may have other events scheduled on your wedding day, if you have not shown up to your ceremony 20 minutes after the scheduled start time, we may not be able to perform your ceremony. In this event, we may reschedule or consult on what will happen. We are readily available by phone or text to make arrangements. If you booked with us after June 2023, we also have a new policy to collect the remaining balance if there is no communication if you fail to show up at all. It's in the contract and you can read about that there.

How do I get my marriage license?

You must have a marriage license from a county in Georgia. If you are from out of state, you must go to the Chatham County Courthouse and obtain your license. If you reside in another county in Georgia, you may get your license there and bring it with you. There is no waiting period. You can find all the information you need to know on the Chatham County website.

Can I have my dog(s) in my wedding?

You can bring your dog to any of the downtown locations, however dogs are not allowed on Tybee Island Beach.

What color roses can I have?

Natural rose colors: red, white, ivory, pink (light or dark), yellow, and orange are typically available. You may have a combination of two colors.

If you want a specific color outside not mentioned, an extra fee may be applied.

What if I don't like roses and want another type of flower for my bouquet and boutonniere?

We offer mixed seasonal flower bouquets. You choose up to three colors and greenery is also used in these bouquets. The types of flowers will be our choice due to what is fresh and available at market when we go shopping for your beautiful bouquet. We always avoid lilies and typically don't use carnations and baby's breath. If you happen to love carnations and baby's breath (we do!), let us know! It's hard to say exactly what your bouquet will be like but take a look at all the photos on our website. 95% of the bouquets our couples have are ones that we made, so they'll be like those in size, shape, and style.

What happens if it rains?

Many summer storms last only a few minutes. In the event of rain or other bad weather, there are a couple of options. If your wedding is scheduled downtown, there is a band shell in Forsyth Park that can be used if available. If you are staying downtown, many lodging locations will allow you to marry in their parlors or lobbies, especially in bed and breakfasts.

On Tybee Island, we usually go under the pier. Trust us, it's really awesome!

Rescheduling is an option as well.

Sometimes it is impossible to determine whether it will rain until moments before the ceremony. We are watching the weather and will advise you what to do. Try not to panic and we can handle all the details.

Do I get to choose my officiant?

No. Doug is our full-time officiant. If he is unavailable, one of our team members will perform your ceremony. Everyone who works with us is a great person who will provide you with a touching, romantic, and heartfelt ceremony. We can't accommodate requests based on gender or faith.

Do I get to choose my photographer?

No. Elizabeth, the owner of Elope to Savannah, is the primary photographer and has been a professional photographer since 2001. She shoots most of the ceremonies, but if she has scheduling conflicts, another professional photographer will take her place. All photographers are contracted through Elope to Savannah. ALL of the photos on our website were taken by Elizabeth. There are photos on our facebook gallery and Instagram page that were taken by some of our associate photographers, but they are marked as such.

Can you arrange for me to have a larger event?

No. We provide intimate elopement weddings with five guests who are your children maximum.

Can I write my own ceremony and vows?

No need to design your own ceremony. We have that taken care of. You can certainly write your own vows though!

Can I have a sand ceremony or other type of union ceremony added to my wedding?

Yes. Please let us know in advance. Though please be advised that glass containers are not allowed on the beach under any circumstances. Also please consider that we will have to carry the filled sand container around with us (and not spill it!!) for the entire duration of our photo session.

You must obtain your own supplies for these ceremonies. We have some suggestions here.

We also love jumping the broom and handfasting ceremonies!

What time of day should I have my wedding?

The later in the afternoon, the better, especially on the beach. I encourage weddings one to three hours before sunset during the summer. The sun is very harsh during the middle of the day which makes it hard to keep eyes open for photos, and it can be extremely hot in the summer.

What should we wear?

You can wear whatever you like. You can dress as casual or as formal as you want.

We do stress comfortable shoes though as there can be a lot of walking and on non-paved surfaces. We really want you to be comfortable. The less comfortable in clothing and shoes you are, the less happy the photo time is!

The wind can be very strong on the beach and we advise that you consider wearing tie clips and to avoid wearing veils as they blow off almost immediately. Of course, it is your choice; we just know how it usually is.

How long does it take to get my photos?

It takes approximately two weeks to get the photos. During our busy season, it may take a little longer. Your photographer will give you an estimate of time delivery at the end of your shoot.

Will the photos be edited?

Of course! Some photographers only give a few edited images, but we think that is silly! All of our photographers will give you a full set of color balanced/light balanced photos that are in print ready condition in an online gallery that you may download the files from. You have rights to do whatever you wish with the photos.

Will the photos be taken before or after the ceremony?

We start everything with the ceremony (if you're having one) after we meet and photos begin with photos of that. Then the officiant will bid their farewells and we will continue on with your photos. If you booked a 30 minute package at 5 p.m., the time officially starts at 5 — and would continue until 5:30, so that we are not late for other couples who may have a wedding at 6 or 6:30. If you happen to be late, the time would still end at 5:30, which is why it is important to be early or on time. Sometimes if there is nothing else on the schedule, we can be a little more flexible, but this isn't guaranteed.

How long will the ceremony be?

The ceremony lasts between four to six minutes (I've timed it!) depending on which officiant you get. If you add you own vows to say to each other, obviously this will make that last longer but it's short, sweet, and very powerful!

Will the ceremony area be closed off to the general public or do you select a more private/secluded area for the ceremony?

We are only required to get a permit from the city if there are more than 100 people (never going to happen!) or if you want the area blocked off, but even then, it's not truly private. It's also a huge waste of resources to rent the park or square for the amount of time the ceremony takes. It costs $300+ to reserve a downtown park or square for three hours, and only in a small area. The beach is never blocked off or private.

In those instances we will chose a place that we know is less busy and more private for you within the area.

If you follow our advice on what time of day to book, you will get the times with the least amount of people around.

The only TRULY private ceremonies are in Bonaventure Cemetery after hours when we are the ONLY people in the whole place.

Please follow our advice as best you can for what times and locations to book. Festivals and other celebrations are other things that can make things more crowded and we try our best to let everyone know about those.

Can we bring champagne to open afterwards?

Technically no, unfortunately! In downtown locations (Forsyth Park or the squares) it is technically illegal to have alcohol in marked bottles out in the open and you MUST use plastic glasses. While Savannah has a liberal open container law, you are not supposed to have any alcohol outside unless it's in a plastic or aluminum cup. Will they bust us for it? Probably not … so the risk taking is up to you.

On Tybee Island, there is no glass allowed on the beach at all, so we will not allow that to happen because if we get caught allowing it to happen, we could lose our rights to do weddings on the beach. Again, plastic is allowed though.

The only place alcohol is absolutely forbidden is Bonaventure Cemetery. It's on their signs posted with their rules. Could we get away with it after hours, probably, but it's a risk we prefer not to take.

We also get questions about wedding cakes or cupcakes. You may certainly bring something with you (though the beach it is not a good idea due to blowing sand) but please keep in mind that most likely, your photographer will have to carry that around for you for the duration of your shoot.

Can we have a last minute wedding?

In most cases yes. If you want to have a same day wedding, please give us a call at 912.217.4570 As long as an officiant and a photographer (if desired) is available, we can do it.

In order to have a same day wedding you MUST have a GEORGIA marriage license. If you do not have one or the appointment to get one that day, we cannot do a legal wedding for you.

What options for music do I have?

Most couples generally opt for a bluetooth speaker, honestly. The ceremony is brief and there really isn't much time to really absorb music or warrant the very high cost of a live musician for about 5-10 minutes of playing.

Can you help us arrange for our lodging while staying in Savannah or Tybee?

No. There are many amazing local and national hotels, inns, and B&B's in Savannah. I would suggest looking at yelp.com or tripadvisor.com for reviews.

We have a list of awesome places we love listed here for you to check out!