I wouldn’t elope at the St. Louis Courthouse. Here is why.
There are several reasons I would not elope at the courthouse. It all comes down to one simple message.
You deserve more!
You might not realize your options as a couple moving away from large, performative weddings. Let me take your hand and say this: The sky is the limit, baby!
Eloping for one reason or another does not mean throwing your wedding dreams in the trash. Knowing how to elope the right way opens the door to the day you have always craved.
The courthouse just isn’t you
Since my husband and I started dating, we made yearly photos a priority. This was extremely special for us. For our first five years, we were in high school and long-distance. We often went six months without seeing each other, sharing only short weekends together.
Out of all our photos over the years, my favorites are the ones that felt most like us. Our early photos were extremely posed and predictable. Those never made it off my phone and onto my walls.
That is why I wouldn’t elope at the St. Louis courthouse. It is an okay option, just like those overly posed photos.
Eventually, we chose to focus less on taking photos and more on planning activities we enjoyed. We had our photographer capture us in our natural environment. Those photos made it onto my walls.
I look at them and do not think about having my picture taken. Instead, I think about playing chess in the park over a picnic of our favorite desserts.
The courthouse isn’t memorable
When you elope at the St. Louis courthouse, you elope with at least 25 other couples. Everyone arrives at the same time. All couples are given a number for their place in line. This reduces you to a number in a line, nothing more.
When you settle for the courthouse, you give up a lot of freedom and say over your day. You have no say in the date. They only offer ceremonies once a week.Additionally, you cannot write your own personal vows. You must go along with whatever the judge uses. All 25+ couples are seated in the room together. Any sense of privacy or intimacy is nonexistent.
There are so many better options for eloping couples. You might not even know they exist. Let me show you what your St. Louis elopement could truly look like without the courthouse.
How to plan an epic elopement in St. Louis
You probably try to be true to yourself. A big wedding or a courthouse just feels like ticking a box. It does not feel like the once-in-a-lifetime moment your relationship deserves.
Take a moment, close your eyes, and ask yourself a question. What does the perfect day look like with your partner?
St. Louis has so much to offer. You can keep your adventure in the city or break into nature. No St. Louis elopement is ever the same, nor should it be.
Whether you are local or traveling, I highly suggest finding a cute rental property. Start your day there to truly immerse yourself in the full experience.Take your time getting ready. Start the morning slow. Write your vows over coffee and make breakfast together. Just enjoy it!
Getting ready together is a beautiful thing to do. Help him with his tie and cufflinks. He can help zip your dress and fasten your shoes.
From there, it is time to hit the town!
What a STL elopement can look like
Start the day strong with an activity that feels like you. Forest Park is a great stop with many beautiful spots to explore.Begin with a morning stroll around Grand Basin and the Art Museum steps. From there, head to Big Muddy Adventures, conveniently located within the park. Rent a canoe or paddle boat to continue the adventure.
My approach with elopements is to prioritize your experience. This is in no way an eight-hour photoshoot. Having a camera stuck in your face all day is exhausting and not very memorable.While you enjoy your boat trip, I will document from dry land. This gives you space to enjoy the moment authentically. From there, we will head to a secluded, private location for your ceremony.
Missouri requires two witnesses to sign your marriage license. If you invite friends and family, they can sign. If you want the day to be just the two of you, ask bystanders to sign.You will also need an officiant, whom I will help you find. I am also ordained! After your ceremony, enjoy a packed dessert to celebrate.
Finally, keep the fun going into the evening. Head over to Up-Down STL for pizza, drinks, and arcade games! They features more than 60 arcade games from the ‘80s and ‘90s, pinball machines, four classic skee-ball alleys, Nintendo 64 console gaming, life-size Jenga and Connect Four. The perfect way end the night before heading back to your airbnb.
Timeline
9:30am get ready at airbnb
10:30am explore forest park
12:00pm canoe the lake
1:00pm leave for ceremony location
2:00pm small hike to location
2:30 ceremony & dessert
3:00pm couples portraits
4:30pm games at UP-DOWN STL
5:30pm coverage ends
