Vermont is a beautiful state, no need to go far from home for your perfect elopement
What is a Staycation Elopement Wedding?
A staycation elopement wedding is a mini vacation that combines the intimacy of an elopement with the ease and familiarity of a staycation. Here’s the breakdown:
- Elopement: A wedding with just the couple (and maybe a witness or two) instead of a large guest list.
- Staycation: A vacation spent at home or in your local area, exploring nearby attractions or indulging in local luxuries.
Why Couples Love Staycation Weddings:
It’s all about creating a memorable and intimate wedding experience that focuses on your love, without the stress and expense of a traditional wedding. A staycation elopement is essentially getting married in your own city, but with a special twist.
Hire local vendors: A photographer (Obviously, I hope you consider me!) to capture the moment, a florist for a beautiful bouquet or a musician to create a romantic atmosphere.
Home & Garden Vermont has amazing bouquets! They sell out fast, be sure to call ahead!
Courtney Reckord Jewelry lovely bespoke mountain and adventure themed pieces.
Plan a special celebratory dinner: A private chef experience, a tasting menu at a fancy restaurant, or a picnic in a scenic spot.
Inn with long tables
Picnic
Rent the room at Queen City Brewing or The Burlington Beer Company
Find a unique local venue or location: A rooftop garden, a historic building, or even a beautiful park can be the backdrop for your ceremony
Treat yourselves to a luxurious hotel stay: Think fancy suite, spa treatments, and room service.
VENUE IDEAS FOR YOUR STAYCATION ELOPEMENT
Burlington, Vermont offers a charming blend of urban energy and natural beauty, making it a perfect location for a staycation elopement. Here are some venue ideas close to Burlington that cater to different styles:
MAKE IT EASY
Here are a few venues with Elopement Packages close to Burlington, Vermont!!
Hotel Vermont: This luxurious hotel offers a curated elopement package that includes:
- In-house officiant to arrange the ceremony
- A small bouquet and boutonniere
- Chilled champagne
- A six-inch cake
- Whirlpool King bedroom
They also have a variety of other amenities you can add on, such as spa treatments, in-room dining, and a private chef experience.
The Essex Resort and Spa: While located just outside of Burlington, The Essex offers a variety of elopement packages that can be customized to your needs. These packages can include:
- Ceremony location (gazebo, pondside, or a sunlit room)
- Officiant services
- Flowers
- Music
- Photography
- Celebration dinner
- Spa treatments They also have beautiful on-site grounds for taking photos after your ceremony.
ELOPEMENT ACTIVITY IDEAS
The best part of eloping is that you get to do whatever you want on your wedding day! Vermont, with its stunning natural beauty and charming towns, offers a variety of elopement activity ideas for adventurous or relaxation-seeking couples. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Go on a Scenic Drive:Vermont has some of the most beautiful roads in New England. Take a scenic drive through the mountains, stopping at overlooks and cute towns along the way.
Visit a Covered Bridge:Vermont has more covered bridges than any other state in the US. These historic bridges make a unique and picturesque backdrop for your elopement ceremony. While there are no covered bridges in Burlington there are quite a few just outside the city.
Enjoy a Romantic Picnic: Pack a basket with your favorite foods and drinks, and find a scenic spot to have a picnic. Oakledge Park, with it’s great view of Burlington harbor, is one of my favorite spots for this!
Hike and Explore the Green Mountains:Vermont is famous for the Green Mountains, and there are trails for all skill levels. You could elope at a scenic overlook, or have a picnic lunch after your hike.
Go Stargazing:Vermont has some of the darkest skies in the Northeast, making it a great place for stargazing. Find a secluded spot away from light pollution and lie down to enjoy the view.
Go for a hike. Get in the lake. Adventure to the top of Vermont. Snowmobile to your family’s hunting cabin. Get Ice cream at your favorite childhood creemee stand. It’s your day. Go for it!
WHAT'S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR
TO PLAN AN ELOPEMENT?
It’s all the best time of year. The question should be, what’s your favorite time of year?.
Spring
The smell of lilacs, fields of polka dotted with yellow dandelions and that amazing spring green is one of the best parts about spring. The light is a little softer in the spring too. This is Mud Season here. So if you are hoping to venture to a mountain top, we’ll have to wait until late May for the trails to dry out a bit.
Summer
C’mon. Summer in Vermont is one of the best places to be. Sunsets in waterfront park are second to none. There are so many little hiking trails throughout the city and amazing food and drinks! The Discover Burlington Jazz Fest is the first week in June. It gets busy here! If you’re not big on crowds, pick a weekday to elope!
Winter
Do you love the snow? Nothing better than a bluebird day and a fresh blanket of snow to play in! If that’s your vision, February or or even March may be your best bet. It’s also Maple Season here in Vermont! Can’t go wrong with a sugar on snow party!
Autumn in Vermont
Autumn in Vermont is probably the most popular time of year. Why? You guessed it… those fancy leaves! Peak Foliage season in Vermont is usually around Indigenous Peoples Day. My favorite time is at the end of September when the gardens are at peak, some of the trees have started to turn, and it’s still campfire weather at night!
