Cathedral Ledge is one of the most iconic spots in the White Mountains for elopements and weddings, and for good reason. It’s unbelievably easy to access, and the views are stunning! When Elizabeth and Jordan said they wanted an easy-access sunrise spot, I immediately thought of a Cathedral Ledge Elopement. You can drive straight up and only have to walk a little way to some of the most incredible views in New Hampshire.
If you’re thinking about having a Cathedral Ledge elopement and are looking for an easy, accessible spot with incredible mountain views, stay tuned to find out if Cathedral Ledge might be the perfect fit for you!
Sunrise on Cathedral Ledge
One of the things that comes with easily accessible spots is crowds! Which makes complete sense, but there are still ways to have these places all to yourselves.
The best way to avoid the swarms of people at Cathedral Ledge is to get up before everyone else. Elizabeth and Jordan’s elopement was on a chilly May morning, and there wasn’t a single other person around. They had coffee, enjoyed the sunrise, and explored all around Cathedral Ledge as the day started to warm up.
If you’re planning a White Mountains elopement, sunrise is one of my favorite ways to experience popular locations without the crowds.
Private vows at Echo Lake
Once we’d seen every single cool view possible at Cathedral Ledge, we headed down to Echo Lake for their private vows. There was an incredibly cool layer of fog floating right on top of the water, and the sun was hitting Cathedral Ledge and Whitehorse Ledge so beautifully behind them. Yet again, there wasn’t a single person around. Perks of being there at 6 a.m.!
After they said their vows, we adventured around the lake and took some of my favorite early morning photos of all time.
Waterfalls of Pinkham Notch
Elizabeth and Jordan were certainly not done adventuring after our first two locations, so we headed up to not one, but TWO waterfalls in Pinkham Notch.
Our first waterfall is usually just a trickle, but with all the rain we’d had that spring, it was rushing! One of my absolute favorite parts of spring in the White Mountains is all of the waterfalls, so it was so fun getting to show these two some of my favorites.
Our second waterfall was the incredibly well-known Glen Ellis Falls. Glen Ellis has a 64-foot drop and is one of the most popular waterfalls in the White Mountains. Partially because of how cool it is, and partially because it’s a very short walk from the road with a large parking lot.
This is one of those spots that you can absolutely have to yourself if you’re willing to wake up early or visit during the off-season.
If a waterfall elopement in New Hampshire sounds like your kind of day, I’m currently booking May and June 2027 dates in the White Mountains. I’d love to help you plan an epic waterfall elopement!
An elopement ceremony with family
Elizabeth and Jordan had the perfect balance of time adventuring just the two of them and time with family. After running wild in the mountains all morning, we met up with their families for their ceremony in the most beautiful field in the Mount Washington Valley.
As their families arrived, the energy was incredible, and it only got better when we saw a young black bear run across the field. The bear stayed a safe distance away, so it was really awesome to watch it from afar! The kiddos wanted to go on a “bear hunt,” but that idea was quickly shut down by the parents.
Elizabeth and Jordan’s nephew “ficiated” with his bright pink karaoke microphone and had everyone cracking up with his jokes. Once he’d given his incredible speech, Elizabeth’s dad took over for the formalities.
One of the best ways to make your day feel incredibly intimate is to have a family member (or two!) officiate your ceremony.
Donuts and sparkling cider
The best way to cap off your elopement, in my opinion, is with donuts!
Elizabeth and Jordan stopped at an amazing donut shop and got the most incredible donuts I’ve ever seen. Some had cookies on top, others had cannoli, and everyone had the best time having a donut picnic.
I cannot recommend doing something that feels like you enough, instead of doing something just because it’s traditional.
The best of both worlds
Elizabeth and Jordan truly had the best of both worlds on their elopement day. They were able to adventure around and soak up the morning light just the two of them, then spend the rest of the day celebrating with family.
A lot of my couples want to include family but aren’t sure how when they also want time alone together. Doing both can seem tricky, but with some thoughtful timeline planning, it’s usually pretty easy to make it happen. And if you’re private people, saying your personal vows before your ceremony is one of the most intimate ways to do things.
A Cathedral Ledge elopement is especially great if you’re including family because it’s so accessible. But if you’re hoping to do a bigger hike, you could easily plan that earlier in the day before meeting everyone for your ceremony. There are endless ways to structure your day, and I’d love to help you plan one that feels like you.
Planning your own Cathedral Ledge elopement?
Whether you’re dreaming of a sunrise ceremony, private vows by the lake, chasing waterfalls, or celebrating with your favorite people afterward, I’d love to help you plan a day that feels true to you.
