As someone who was raised in San Diego, I never imagined that I could love a place as much as there. But after living in the Boston area for nearly 4 years, this city has quickly found a special place in my heart.
Boston is such a beautiful, special city, and I think there's something really wonderful about choosing to get married here.
It almost feels like this city was built for elopements! Between the historic architecture, beautiful parks, charming neighborhoods, and so many incredible places to celebrate afterward, there's really no shortage of ways to make your day special.
And as someone who's had the opportunity to photograph quite a few of these days, I truly believe that there's some magic in all of them.
Your Elopement, Your Way
One of my absolute favorite things about elopements is that there really isn't a right or wrong way to do them.
Maybe you're dreaming of a simple City Hall ceremony with just the two of you, bringing along 15 of your favorite people, renting a gorgeous space for a private ceremony, or saying your vows in the morning and meeting everyone for dinner later. Honestly, there's no wrong way to do it!
I've photographed elopements all around Greater Boston, from City Hall ceremonies right in the heart of the city to intimate celebrations in Cambridge, Quincy, and even Salem. And one of my favorite things about them is that no two have ever looked the same.
Some couples have chosen to keep things incredibly intimate, with just the two of them (and me!), while others have brought along their closest friends and family or turned their elopement into a bigger celebration later in the day.
And I think that's what makes eloping so special. You really do get to make the day whatever you want it to be!
So, I wanted to put together a little guide to share some of my favorite ideas, locations, and things I've learned from photographing elopements around Boston. Hopefully, it'll give you a little inspiration for what your own day could look like!
Getting Married at Boston City Hall
Boston City Hall might not look like the most romantic building from the outside (I'm sorry, City Hall!), but I genuinely love photographing weddings here.
The whole process is pretty straightforward. From heading in for your civil ceremony to walking back out the doors married, I’d generally plan for around 20–45 minutes. The actual ceremony itself is usually much shorter — often around 5–10 minutes, depending on whether you decide to exchange personal vows.
Personally, I always vote yes on vows because it means for even more photos! Not only does it make the ceremony feel more like your own, but it gives you a few extra minutes to actually slow down, look at each other, and take in what’s happening.
Anyway, City Hall is a gorgeous choice whether it's downstairs in the 2nd floor or in a registry office upstairs! I think there's gorgeous space through both options.
See a full guide on the Boston City Hall experience for civil ceremonies here!
Other Places to Elope in Boston
City Hall definitely isn't your only option.
The Boston Public Library can be a beautiful option if you want something more private and architectural. You can also look into a ceremony in the Public Garden, renting a private studio or event space, or finding somewhere that's already meaningful to the two of you.
And don't be afraid to look outside Boston proper! I've photographed intimate ceremonies in Cambridge, Quincy, Somerville, and Salem, including some absolutely beautiful spaces around the House of the Seven Gables and Ropes Mansion & Garden.
The location doesn't need to be traditionally “wedding-y.” It just needs to work for the day you actually want.
Where to Take Elopement Photos in Boston after your ceremony
One of the nice things about having a smaller wedding day is that we can actually move around the city rather than staying at one venue.
Depending on your timeline, we can usually explore a couple of different areas. Some of my favorites are:
For classic Boston: Public Garden, North End, or Beacon Hill
For greenery: Public Garden, Emerald Necklace, The Esplanade
For architecture: Copley Square, Beacon Hill, Seaport, South End
For waterfront + city views: Seaport, North End or East Boston
For somewhere quieter: Piers Park in East Boston or parts of the South End
For something unmistakably Boston: Beacon Hill + Public Garden is hard to beat.
One route I often use around a City Hall ceremony is Public Garden → City Hall → North End. It gives you greenery and classic Boston architecture before the ceremony, then a completely different city feel afterward.
Don't Spend Your Whole Elopement Traveling
Yes, we can fit multiple neighborhoods into a session. But that doesn't mean we need to collect Boston locations like Pokémon.
I'd rather spend 30 minutes letting you actually enjoy yourselves somewhere than spend those 30 minutes sitting in an Uber because we wanted one photo in five different neighborhoods.
For a two-hour elopement, I generally think 2–3 areas is plenty, picking neighborhoods that follow the same route. For instance, it definitely makes sense to go to Chinatown and Seaport, rather than Chinatown + Beacon Hill + South End. Exactly what makes sense will depend on where your ceremony is and how much of the day you want photographed.
What About Family & Friends?
Bring them!
An elopement doesn't have to mean secretly getting married with nobody else there. I've photographed City Hall ceremonies with just the couple and one guest, as well as intimate ceremonies with around 15 people.
That said, I really recommend building some time into the day that's just for the two of you.
We can take family photos immediately after the ceremony and then send everyone off while we explore the city. Or, one of my favorite options is meeting up before your ceremony so we have some time together first.
Your guests can grab coffee, head back to their hotel, or explore Faneuil Hall while we're taking photos. There is no shortage of things to do in Boston for an hour!
And then you all get to meet back up and celebrate.
Want More Than Two Hours?
You can absolutely have more coverage if you want more of your day documented!
With four hours, we have a lot more room to let the day breathe. We could photograph getting ready or a first look, your ceremony, family photos, wander through a couple of neighborhoods, and then join everyone for the beginning of your celebration afterward.
You could even split the coverage — ceremony and portraits in the morning, then meet back up later for dinner or drinks.
And my longer elopement coverage also includes an engagement session, so we get another opportunity to photograph the two of you without trying to squeeze everything into your wedding day
A Sample 2-Hour Boston City Hall Elopement Timeline
Here's one example of what a shorter City Hall day could look like:
10:45 AM — Meet at the Public Garden
We'll wander around, take portraits and give you two some time together before everything begins.
11:10 AM — Head toward City Hall
11:30 AM — City Hall ceremony
We'll photograph the waiting, ceremony, congratulations and a few family photos.
12:15 PM — Head toward the North End
Finish with a taking photos with your loved ones at North End or Post Office Park.
I also recommend arriving about 15 minutes earlier than you think you need to. I'll generally do the same. Starting an elopement by sprinting down the street because Google Maps betrayed you is not the vibe!
What to Do After Your Ceremony & Photos
This is honestly one of my favorite parts of the day to help plan! Just because you're eloping doesn't mean the celebration has to end once we're done taking photos.
Some of my couples have grabbed cannoli and coffee at Café Vittoria, checked into The Liberty for the night, headed over to East Boston for skyline views, or met up with everyone later for a bigger celebration. One of my favorites was a couple who took their whole crew out for pizza and bowling in Somerville after their ceremony!
Pop some champagne, make a dinner reservation somewhere you love, hop on a ferry, pick up a cake, or invite everyone back to your apartment. It doesn't have to be elaborate - just choose something that feels like the two of you.
Your day doesn't need a full reception timeline to deserve a little celebration. :)
Planning Your Own Boston Elopement?
You don't need to have everything figured out before you reach out!
Whether you're planning something with just the two of you, bringing your closest 10 people to City Hall, getting married at the Boston Public Library, or planning a slightly bigger intimate celebration, I'm always happy to talk through what you're envisioning.
I can help with locations, how much time makes sense for photography, building a timeline that doesn't feel rushed, and figuring out where we should wander afterward.
Mostly, though, I want you to have enough space in your day to actually experience it.
I'd love to help plan your day with you, reach out here to connect!
"Danielle was an amazing photographer for our wedding! She has a great eye for detail and took a great array of photos across the day, capturing the full range of emotions for us and our families. She has a calm and confident presence and we are so glad she was there to document the day for us."
Maya & Guha
