7 Best Elopement Dresses That Will Make You Say "I Do"

Whether you’re just thinking about eloping or already have a date and locale set up, checking out the best elopement dresses for your specific event and style can help with inspiration and planning. It can also get you thinking about your budget for eloping, and the overall aesthetic and vibe you want for the celebration.

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One of the best parts about eloping is that the day is all about you and your partner. Forget about other people’s expectations, or traditions that don’t resonate with you. With such an intimate event, you can make sure everything is just how YOU want it.

Especially your dress.

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What is an Elopement Dress?

Many brides-to-be aren’t sure how to approach picking a dress for eloping. Is it still a wedding dress? Or something else altogether?

The truth is, there is no clear-cut answer as to what an elopement dress is. Your outfit for eloping can be as formal or informal as you want. It can be short; it can be long. It can be romantic or simple and chic. It doesn’t have to come from a bridal shop. It doesn’t even have to be white. As Anabelle Syrione, a wedding stylist in Montclair, NJ, told me:

“When it comes to an elopement dress, anything goes! That’s the magic of eloping, right?”

With that said, there are some more common attributes that some (not all!) future brides opt for when picking the best elopement dress, like:

Non-traditional: Many elopies (yes, I made that up) take full advantage of a non-traditional wedding choice with a dress that’s also not traditional or expected.
Short: Short elopement dresses are popular. This ties into the “non-traditional” aspect, but there are reasons to go with a short dress, too. Some prefer the more playful or modern look of a short wedding dress. Others think they’re simply easier to wear and get around in- this can be especially important for ceremonies in certain locations, like beach or mountain elopements (more on that later).
White: While you can choose any color for your eloping dress, it’s undeniable that most US brides who are eloping still go with white. Call it tradition, but most ‘lopin ladies (lopes?) still want that classic bride feel of bright, airy white. But wedding dresses come in all colors- blush pink is a popular non-white option, and black wedding gowns are actually trending in 2025.

Importance of Choosing the Right Dress for Elopement

Eloping is no longer thought of as a last-minute impulse move. It’s pretty well understood now that elopements are often carried out with care. Couples often choose to elope because they want something different than the status quo. Elopements offer the chance for a celebration that’s authentic and truly enjoyable, unique to the passions and preferences of you and your partner. Whether it’s just the two of you, or a bigger event (some say the definition of an elopement is 20 people or less), the intimacy and smaller-scaled nature allows for a day that can truly be planned and executed to your wishes.

Choosing the right dress can be a key part of that. Even if you’re not that into fashion or dresses, getting an elopement outfit you love is important! It doesn’t have to be a dress (more on that later). But it should be something that you’re comfortable in. Actually? It should be something you feel AMAZING in. So find something you love to wear. Even if you just want to wear a simple jeans-and-tee ensemble -get new jeans you adore, or shoes that make you feel like the shining star you are 🙂

Here are our picks for the best elopement dress:

Top 7 Stunning Best Elopement Dresses

1. Boho Elopement Dress

Boho wedding dresses are a top choice of eloping brides. Makes sense, especially if you consider that by nature the boho dress checks a lot of the elopement dress boxes: comfortable, non-traditional, and non-stuffy.

Features of Boho Style

Boho style isn’t always easy to define- perhaps it’s not meant to be defined. But generally, boho style involves looser, flowy cuts and freedom-loving vibes. Think romantic detailing, lots of lace, and an airy feel. Embroidery, fringe, and eye-catching backs are also found in boho styles.

Celebrities known for their boho style include Sienna Miller, Nicole Richie, Kate Moss, Zoe Kravitz, and Ashley Olsen. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is also known for her boho style, and for breathing new life into the trend through her styling work in the mid 2000s. The Paris-based Boho Mood boutique has a cool and inspiring guide to the history of boho chic style.

You can also check out this YouTube video: the Ultimate Guide to Boho Chic Style

Ideal Locations for Boho Dresses

A beautiful boho gown can be the perfect choice for any elopement destination. The easy, feminine vibe is a romantic addition to most any aesthetic, and there’s such a wide range of bohemian styles that you’ll likely be able to find one that works in to your overall theme. Even if your ceremony is more on the traditional or conservative side, for example, you could go boho chic with a more classic (less flowy) silhouette featuring lace detailing or embroidery.

With that said: there ARE some elopement ceremonies that boho dresses just seem to be made for. They’re often associated with beach eloping ceremonies, for sure. Boho is also seen a lot in rustic-themed elopements and barn or backyard ceremonies- lace and cowboy boots make for great photos and fun times.

2. Short & Flirty Courthouse Wedding Dress

I think the term “courthouse wedding” has a slightly different vibe than elopement, even though a courthouse wedding is a type of elopement. Still, for me at least, the courthouse ceremony has an almost…rebellious vibe. It’s kind of punk rock. And when I think of courthouse ceremony dresses, I think of short, flippant dresses that are meant to go straight from the courtroom to a celebratory brunch in the city. Did I see this in a movie or something? Where did it come from?

Anyway, here’s a an elegant and wildly affordable courthouse wedding dress from Grace Kerin:

3. Mountain Elopement Dress

As a mountain person (*you are either a beach or a mountain person*), I think mountains are among the most magical and memorable elopement destinations. There’s something so special about declaring your love in the rarified air of a majestic mountain scene.

Of course, mountain eloping destinations deserve a dress that’s also extraordinary. And they require some thought as to the reality of, well, being in the mountains in a dress.

Fabrics That Suit Mountain Environments

No matter what the temperatures will be like for your ceremony, you’ll want to consider the breathability of your dress. Because moving around can make you sweaty, even when it’s chilly out. And you won’t want to feel restricted by tight-fitting or itchy (agh, nothing worse than itchy) materials as you enjoy your time. Chiffon and tulle are popular picks, as they move more freely than a stiffer material like crepe or satin.

Stylish and Practical Choices

First things first: a trailing veil is probably not the best choice for a mountain spot.

Beyond that, it comes to choosing a practical dress for your mountain elopement, it really comes down to planning. A tight-fitting or overly intricate dress might make it difficult to navigate to your mountain spot (especially if there’s any trail walking involved). But if you have your heart set on a particular non-mountain friendly dress, you can make plans to change into the dress for your ceremony.

Or you can really LEAN IN to the hiking vibe and go full sporty. This Lululemon Align dress is a super comfy number, and easily glammed up with a few jewelry pieces and accessories.

4. Vintage Elopement Dresses

If funky vintage style is your thing, or you love scoring a rare designer dress while thrifting, a vintage eloping dress might take your ceremony to the next fantasy level. Fortunately, there’s a TON of vintage wedding dresses in stores and online. From 70s glam to 80s rock ‘n roll, there’s sure to be a look to fall in love with.

Timeless Elegance

Choosing a vintage dress can add character and one-of-a-kind style to your bridal look, and help transport you out of everyday life and into the wonder of the day. When looking at vintage dresses, you’ll often be reminded of why these dresses are still around. Many are handmade and crafted with quality materials, and details that capture the style of the era.

Vintage Inspirations for Modern Brides

Looking for some vintage inspiration? It’s easy to think that the fashion of each decade fit neatly into a single category, but in truth there every time period had many overlapping style trends. With so much information available online, it’s easy to fall into a wedding fashion rabbit hole for every era. Here are some fun features to check out:

A Vogue article on Sophia Cohen and Harrison Waterstreet’s retro-inspired 1960’s glam wedding.
Elle’s feature “60 Photos That Prove the ’70s Was the Most Stylish Decade“
Sarah Jessica Parker narrates this Vogue video on 1980s fashion

Here are some vintage elopement dresses on Ebay right now:

60’s wedding dress

70s boho elopement dress

5. Affordable Elopement Dresses

Eloping is usually a more budget-friendly wedding option- especially when compared to elaborate events with huge guest lists. Many brides who are eloping are looking for dresses that are beautiful AND budget-friendly. Luckily, there’s a huge selection of affordable elopement dresses in just about every style you can think of. And again, since there are no rules when it comes to eloping, you also don’t have to necessarily go with a wedding dress, either. You can shop evening gowns, cocktail dresses, pantsuits… literally any look you feel like wearing for the occasion.

Where to Find Budget-Friendly BEST ELOPEMENT DRESSES

There are plenty of shops and sites to find a dress to elope in. And what’s considered “affordable” will really depend on your budget and idea of how much you want to spend. To some, a few hundred dollars would be considered a cheap wedding dress.

For a really affordable eloping dress- like under $100-200, Amazon would be one of my top recommendations. There’s just a ton of styles to choose from, many with reviews that will seriously spill the tea on everything you can think of: the fit, weird flaws to watch for, how it arrived. Many also have a good number of pictures in the reviews so you can really get a feel for how it looks on and even how it looks on different shapes and heights. Plus, most of the time returns are really easy on Amazon, so if you don’t love a dress it’s not too much of a hassle to send it back.

Here’s a gorgeous elopement dress under $100 on Amazon:

Tips for Shopping on a Budget

It’s all too easy to go over the top with just about every aspect of an elopement budget, and that 100% includes the dress! Here are some tips to stay on track:

Planning is everything! Organize your finances and have a clear idea of how much you want to spend. Set a hard limit but leave room for flexibility if possible- you might have a number you “want to spend” and a number you “absolutely will not spend more than”.
Be sure to factor in any additional purchases you’ll need: shoes, accessories, and the like should all be considerations when thinking about spending.
Consider alterations: If there’s a great budget dress that doesn’t fit quite perfectly, it may be worthwhile to get changes or alterations made rather than choose a different (and possibly more expensive) dress.
Find a dupe. If you fall in love with an overly expensive gown, take a moment to consider why you like it so much. What features do you find appealing? Is it the general style? Take a deeper dive to see if there’s a similar dress at a better price elsewhere.
Remember that the price tag doesn’t mean everything. Just because a dress is hundreds of dollars doesn’t mean it’s any better than a dress that’s cheaper. So many budget wedding dresses look and feel like a much more expensive gown. It’s often just a perception thing.

6. Elopement Outfit Ideas for Him

Ok, I’m not counting this as a best elopement dress, obviously. But your dude’s outfit might be a consideration- especially if you’re having any photography done, or any guests at your elopement. Or if, you know, you just want him to look presentable for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Coordinating with Your Elopement Dress

Ok, ok. So there are no rules in eloping. We’ve covered that. BUT..you’ll probably want to at least have some game plan when it comes to coordinating with your partner. Depending on the event you have planned, and the vibe you’re going for, you might want to work out the color scheme of his outfit. The level of formal you’re going for. Any locale considerations (will he need a sweater? will dress shoes work?). The overall theme (are his overalls too much of a contrast to your ballgown?).

Fun Accessories to Complement BEST ELOPEMENT DRESSES

Whether he’s going casual or full tuxedo, your soulmate can add some more personal style with accessories that include:

Cufflinks
Bolo ties
Chains
Pocket squares
Funky socks
Wedding watch
Tie pin

7. Best Elopement Dresses & Ideas for Different Seasons

Your elopement might feel like a fantastic fairy tale, but even for the most romantic of events, weather is a reality. Consider the climate of your locale when picking your dress. The last thing you want is to be be uncomfortable as you say your vows. If you’re getting eloped in a destination spot, do the research to see what you can expect. And wherever the ceremony is taking place, come prepared for whatever weather might come your way.

Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring Considerations

Summer: Obviously, the concern for summer weddings is it getting too hot. Consider how breathable your dress is, and if there’s any risk of discoloring due to sweating.

Fall: If you’re getting eloped in a 4-season location, be prepared for a unusually chilly day in the fall. Consider a pumpkin spice latte for you both.

Spring: Beware of spring showers and do not forget your umbrellas!

Winter: If you’re ceremony is in a locale with serious winters, you’ll want to think about a jacket or coat, even if it’s just for making your way from your car to the spot. You may also want to consider an elopement dress with sleeves.

8. Unique Elopement Outfit Ideas

Dresses not your thing? Not into the whole “white dress” situation?

You do not have to wear a wedding dress.

You can wear whatever you want. I’m a bit of a broken record at this point, but one more time:

There are no rules for elopement fashion.

Jumpsuits and Alternative Styles

Wedding jumpsuits are definitely having a moment. Kaley Cuoco and Amal Clooney both wore gorgeous jumpsuits as part of their wedding attire line-up, and the looks were next-level sophisticated and chic. (Here’s a Vogue Australia feature on Cuoco’s wedding style)

There are countless alternative styles that aren’t jumpsuits, too- from pajamas (Kurt Cobain forever 💗), to gothic black ensembles, to fun medieval costumes, to athleisure and…

Yes. Cozy onesies.

Conclusion

Just because you’re eloping doesn’t mean you can’t have the wedding day- or wedding dress- of your dreams. An elopement is all about freedom: you’re free to celebrate your way. Bring that same energy to choosing your dress. Don’t settle for a dress, or go with one because you think it’s the most appropriate choice for an elopement. Do you! This is your moment. Own it.

Final Tips for Selecting the Best Elopement Dresses

If possible, start early. This will give you the most time to find the perfect dress for eloping, and allow for changes like alterations or even returns.
Take photos in your dress before the ceremony, to give you an idea for best poses and any additions you want for accessories, etc.
You’ll likely want to pick where you’re getting eloped before finalizing your dress choice, in case you choose a locale that has conditions you may need to plan for (like a beach or outdoor venue).
Keep an open mind. You may have a dream dress you’re envisioning, which is great. But you never know what new, unexpected dress could come your way and shake up that vision in the best way.
Have fun and savor every special moment. These choices are romantic and you’ll remember them forever. Enjoy the process.