As a recent newlywed and long time member of the wedding community both as an officiant and as wedding photographer, I have quite a few years of experience and lots of tips and tricks when it comes to making a wedding personal. All that experience has left me with quite a few insights when it comes to the wedding planning process.

Can you tell me, how do I elope in chicago?

This is a really great question and one that I am asked just about every day as couples inquire about eloping in Chicago via phone call or email.

Photograph of mid-summer Chicago elopement at Olive Park thanks to the leading expert on Chicago elopements, Becky Brown Photography and Elope to Chicago

Necessary steps for eloping in chicago

Eloping in Chicago can be a simple and romantic way to get married without the stress and expense of a traditional wedding. When it comes to ease, Cook County is one of the easiest places to make an elopement happen. However, there are still legal requirements that must be followed to ensure your marriage is valid.

Here are the steps you need to take to elope in Chicago:

Obtain a marriage license: You and your partner must obtain a marriage license from the Cook County Clerk's office. You can apply for the license in person or online, but both parties must be present to pick up the license.
- Applicants who have divorced must provide the date the divorce was finalized upon applying for a marriage license. Applicants who have divorced within the last six months must provide a certified copy of their divorce decree.
Provide identification: Both you and your partner will need to provide valid identification such as a driver's license, passport, or state ID.
Pay the fee: The fee for a marriage license in Cook County is $60. You can pay with cash or credit card.
Wait for the waiting period to pass: After you obtain your marriage license, there is a 24-hour waiting period before you can get married. If you want to get married sooner, you can apply for a waiver of the waiting period for an additional fee.
Find a wedding officiant: You will need someone to officiate your wedding ceremony. This can be a judge, a religious leader, or a licensed wedding officiant.
- This is where I come in! As an ordained non-denomination wedding minister I am able to officiate your wedding anywhere within Cook County.
Choose a location: You can get married anywhere in Chicago as long as the location is accessible to your officiant and witnesses. Some popular locations for elopements include the Olive Park, Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park, North Avenue Beach, Ping Tom Park, Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory
Witnesses are not required for Chicago or suburban Cook County elopements, this means it can be just you, your partner, me- your officiant, and hopefully a photographer to capture the momentous occasion.
- If you need photographer recommendations I am more than happy to help! I’m lucky to have a network of amazing photographers I work with regularly.
File the marriage license: After the ceremony, you and your officiant must sign the marriage license. You will then need to file the license with the Cook County Clerk's office within 10 days of the wedding.