Couples who elope in Atlanta have a lot to choose from: historic courthouses, garden conservatories, a landmark theater and charming inns, all within a short drive of each other. We have photographed elopements, courthouse ceremonies and micro weddings around the city since 2008, and this guide shares what we tell every couple who asks where to start. Pick a place with an indoor option, sort out your Georgia marriage license early, plan your time of day around the light, and look at weekdays first.
Why Couples Choose to Elope in Atlanta
An elopement keeps the day centered on the two of you. For some couples that means a short courthouse ceremony with an officiant and a witness. For others it means a quiet vow exchange in a garden or a historic building with a few people they love. Atlanta makes either one easy, and an elopement here can be every bit as meaningful and memorable as a large wedding.
Planning to bring parents, siblings or a few close friends? Our guide to including family in your elopement covers guest lists, who can officiate in Georgia and family photos.
Not sure whether you are planning an elopement or a micro wedding? Our courthouse wedding vs. elopement vs. micro wedding guide compares all three.
Plan Around the Weather: Choose a Place With an Indoor Option
Georgia weather can change quickly, and a picnic pavilion offers little cover from blowing rain, summer heat or a cold snap. Choosing a place with an indoor space means your day can go ahead as planned, whatever the forecast. Every place we suggest below has one, or a team you can talk with about one.
Every elopement should have an indoor backup plan, and weekend elopements (Friday through Sunday) go ahead rain or shine. Weekdays (Monday through Thursday) offer a little more flexibility: if the forecast turns for an outdoor elopement, contact us at least 24 hours before your coverage starts and we’ll work with you on the best option. Our inclement weather policy for elopements has the details. Venues and other vendors set their own policies, so ask each one what happens if it rains.
The one time we would plan a purely outdoor elopement is a last-minute one, when you can already see the forecast before you book.
Places to Elope in Atlanta
These are the Atlanta elopement locations we recommend most often. Each one photographs beautifully and gives you somewhere to go if the weather turns.
Historic DeKalb Courthouse
The Historic DeKalb Courthouse sits on the square in downtown Decatur and is a beautiful setting indoors and outdoors. Tall arched windows and marble halls give you soft, even light inside, and the front steps and columns make a classic backdrop outside. It works well for an elopement or a small micro wedding. See more in our Historic DeKalb Courthouse wedding and elopement guide.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
The Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown is full of color in every season, from winding garden paths to the tropical plants inside its conservatory. The Garden also has indoor spaces, so ask their events team which ones fit your date and group size when you book. Take a look at wedding photos from the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see how the different areas photograph.
The Fox Theatre
The Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s most recognizable landmarks, with ornate architecture and a warm, dramatic glow that photographs beautifully. To show those details at their best, choose a photographer who is skilled with professional lighting. We bring supplemental lighting to every event, so the theater’s details and your expressions both come through beautifully. See our weddings at the Fox Theatre. Ask the Fox’s events team what size of ceremony they can host and whether you can reserve a space on a weekday. It also makes a stunning spot for portraits after a courthouse ceremony, as long as you reserve the space with the Fox ahead of time.
Stonehurst Place
Stonehurst Place is a historic bed and breakfast in Midtown that offers small wedding and elopement packages. We have photographed there, and it is a lovely fit for an elopement with just a few guests, or none at all.
Courthouses and Probate Courts
A courthouse ceremony is one of the simplest ways to elope in Atlanta, and every courthouse has an indoor option built in. Each county sets its own ceremony schedule and rules, so start with our guide to courthouse weddings in Georgia, then see a downtown Atlanta courthouse ceremony we photographed.
Elope in Downtown or Midtown Atlanta
If you love the energy of the city, downtown and Midtown Atlanta fit courthouses, historic landmarks and skyline views into just a few miles. A downtown elopement can be as simple as a courthouse ceremony followed by portraits around the city, or a small ceremony at a Midtown landmark with dinner nearby.
A downtown courthouse ceremony. The Magistrate Court of Fulton County performs wedding ceremonies by appointment at 185 Central Ave. SW, in the heart of downtown. To have your photographer with you in the courtroom, the court asks you to submit a Rule 11 form so a judge can review and sign it, so send it in as soon as your date is set. Our Fulton County courthouse wedding guide walks through each step, and you can see more in our Atlanta City Hall wedding guide.
Midtown landmarks with room to move indoors. Midtown is home to the Fox Theatre, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Stonehurst Place, all above, plus two historic houses we love. Rhodes Hall, the 1904 stone “Castle on Peachtree,” has a grand staircase lit by stained glass. The Wimbish House is a chateau-style home with rooms full of old-world character. Both photograph beautifully inside and out, so ask each one about small-wedding and weekday dates.
Rooftops with a skyline view. For city views, the SkyLounge at the Glenn Hotel sits above downtown with an indoor lounge and an open-air terrace, and The Roof at Ponce City Market, on the BeltLine in the Old Fourth Ward, offers ceremony packages for groups of up to 15 guests. Rooftops are outdoors, so ask each venue which indoor space you can use if it rains. Our guide to Atlanta rooftop weddings has more tips on timing and light.
Give yourself time downtown. Courthouse security, parking and the drive between locations all take time, and courthouse schedules can run behind. That’s why our courthouse coverage starts at 2 hours: it leaves room for check-in, the ceremony and relaxed portraits nearby. Our elopement timeline guide has sample schedules to help you plan.
Indoor and Rain-Proof Places to Elope in Atlanta
Atlanta weather can change quickly in any season, and summer brings heat, humidity and afternoon storms. If you want your day to go ahead exactly as planned, choose a place that is fully indoors, or one with an indoor room you can move into. These are the indoor elopement locations we suggest most often:
- Courtrooms and historic courthouses. Every courthouse ceremony takes place indoors. The courtroom at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse has marble walls, terrazzo floors and tall arched windows, and the square outside is ready for portraits when the sun comes out.
- The Fox Theatre. The Egyptian Ballroom is lit entirely by its own fixtures and our lighting, so it looks just as rich at noon as it does at night, whatever the weather.
- Historic homes and inns. Rhodes Hall, the Wimbish House and Stonehurst Place all have grand staircases and character-filled rooms that make a beautiful indoor ceremony and portrait setting.
- Atlanta History Center. Its elopement ceremonies take place in the Swan House Gardens or Olguita’s Garden for up to 20 guests, with an indoor room available as a backup. Ask their events team which one fits your date.
- Chapels. A chapel gives you a ceremony space that is ready in any weather. Our guide to wedding chapels in Atlanta covers chapel venues and churches around the city.
- An Airbnb or rental home. A rental home with a pretty living room, staircase or covered porch keeps your whole day in one place. Before you book, confirm with the host that a small ceremony and photography are welcome.
- Small venues. Many of our favorite small wedding venues in Atlanta have indoor ceremony rooms made for elopements and micro weddings.
Bright, natural-looking indoor photos. Courtrooms and historic buildings can be dim, especially on a cloudy day. We bring supplemental lighting to every elopement and use window light wherever we can, so your skin tones stay soft and natural and the room’s details still show.
Keep an outdoor moment flexible. Plan your ceremony indoors and leave room in your timeline to step outside for a few portraits if the rain clears. Covered porches and doorways are lovely options too. For weekday outdoor elopements, our inclement weather policy for elopements explains how we work with you if the forecast turns. For more indoor portrait spots, see our indoor portrait locations in Atlanta and our list of 101 indoor photo location ideas.
How to Elope in Georgia: Getting Your Marriage License
Every elopement starts with a Georgia marriage license from a county probate court. According to Georgia.gov:
- If at least one of you lives in Georgia, you can apply at the probate court in any county.
- If neither of you lives in Georgia, apply in the county where your ceremony will take place.
- You both need to be there in person to get the license.
- After the ceremony, the signed license goes back to the probate court within 30 days.
Hours, fees and required documents vary by county, so check your probate court’s website before you go.
Planning on short notice? Georgia has no waiting period once your license is issued, and our guide to a last-minute elopement in Atlanta walks through how to get married this month.
The Best Time of Day and Year for Elopement Photos
For outdoor photos, the prettiest light comes close to sunrise or sunset. The sun sits lower in the sky, skin tones look warm and soft, and everyone can relax their eyes. Midday light, when the sun is highest, is the hardest natural light to work with. If midday fits your plans best, we bring a lighting assistant to balance the sun so your skin tones stay soft and flattering.
Season matters just as much. Atlanta summers bring heat and humidity that are hard on everyone, so for summer dates we recommend indoor spaces only. For an outdoor elopement, choose spring, fall or winter. Our Atlanta summer elopement tips go into more detail.
Why We Suggest a Weekday Elopement
Whenever your schedule allows, we suggest looking at weekdays first. From Monday through Thursday, while most of the city is at work, gardens, historic buildings and other popular spots tend to be quieter, so you have more room to take your time. Many venues also have more dates open during the week, which gives you more choices as you plan. Weekdays can also give you a little more flexibility if the weather turns. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the most requested dates in the event industry and are priced to reflect that demand. You can compare our weekday and weekend elopement collections to see how each one works.
Elope in Atlanta FAQ
Where Can I Elope in Atlanta?
Popular places to elope in Atlanta include the Historic DeKalb Courthouse, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Fox Theatre, Stonehurst Place, Rhodes Hall, rooftops with skyline views and county courthouses, including the Fulton County courts downtown. Whichever you choose, make sure it has an indoor space you can use if the weather changes.
Can I Get Married at a Courthouse in Fulton County?
Yes. The Magistrate Court of Fulton County performs ceremonies by appointment at 185 Central Ave. SW in downtown Atlanta. To have a photographer with you in the courtroom, submit the court’s Rule 11 form early so a judge has time to sign it. Our Fulton County courthouse wedding guide covers each step.
Where Can We Elope Indoors in Atlanta?
Courthouses, the Fox Theatre, historic homes like Rhodes Hall and the Wimbish House, Stonehurst Place, chapels and rental homes all work well for an indoor elopement. Choose one that fits your guest count, and ask how much time you will have in the space for portraits.
Can We Get Our Marriage License in Any Georgia County?
If at least one of you lives in Georgia, yes, any county probate court can issue it. If neither of you lives in Georgia, apply in the county where the ceremony will happen.
Do We Both Need to Be There to Get the License?
Yes. Georgia requires both people to be present to get a marriage license.
Can We Elope Outdoors in Atlanta?
Yes. Plan it for spring, fall or winter, schedule it close to sunrise or sunset, and choose a place with an indoor space nearby in case of rain.
What Is the Best Day of the Week to Elope?
We recommend a weekday, Monday through Thursday. Gardens, courthouses and other popular spots tend to be quieter while most people are at work, and many venues have more dates open during the week, so it’s easier to plan the day around what matters most to you.
How Much Photography Coverage Do We Need for an Elopement?
For most elopements, 2 hours covers the ceremony, a few family photos and relaxed portraits. Our elopement timeline guide shows sample 1-, 2- and 4-hour schedules, and you can compare our elopement collections and coverage options to choose what fits. For the full budget picture, see how much it costs to elope in Atlanta.
Start Planning Your Atlanta Elopement
When you are ready to elope in Atlanta, the right plan makes the day feel calm and personal. Choose a place with an indoor option, get your license early, and pick a time of day with good light. If you would like a team that knows these locations well, meet your Atlanta elopement photographer, or tell us about your plans and we will help you put them together.
For a small outdoor ceremony by a fountain, see our First Baptist Atlanta wedding guide, and for a courthouse ceremony outside the city, our Gwinnett Historic Courthouse wedding guide.
Planning a small wedding with a few more guests? See our favorite small wedding venues in Atlanta for micro weddings and intimate celebrations.
