Meet Me In St. Louis – A Guide to Eloping in St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, Missouri is a beautiful port city on the Mississippi River and is the United States’ 58^th largest city. Founded in 1764 named for King Louis IX, St. Louis had retained much of it’s French roots making it a romantic destination for couples intending to elope to St. Louis. The city is perhaps best known for the iconic Gateway Arch which holds the honor of being not only the tallest monument in the United States, but also Missouri’s tallest accessible building and the world’s tallest arch! We think it also makes the ideal backdrop for wedding photographs! Let’s talk about eloping in St Louis!

Where To Elope In St. Louis

If you are considering elope in to St. Louis, MO it is a good idea to think about where in the city you want to get married. If you are looking to preserve the idea of running away with your sweetheart to get married then you might want check out the Las Vegas style St Louis Wedding Chapel. The venue is conveniently situated just of Highway 270, close to both Jefferson Barracks Park and River City Casino and specializes in small and intimate weddings.

One of the nice things about the venue is that you can bring along your own officiant if you choose giving you the freedom to really personalize your ceremony exactly the way you want it. We can highly recommend our friends over at Elope in St. Louis who can offer a range of packages which include not only a wonderful officiant with years of experience in elopements, but also photography, a bridal bouquet and a groom’s boutonnière. Carolyn is happy to travel to most locations in St. Louis for your ceremony and can even recommend some hotels and inns which are suitable for use both as your accommodation and venue.

Some of the romantic elopement locations recommended by Elope in St. Louis include the quirky and modern Moonrise Hotel for those looking for a central location, the luxurious French Empire inspired Park Avenue Mansion bed and breakfast inn, and for those looking for a more rustic backdrop for their nuptials, the Lodge at Grant’s Trail.

If you are happy to venture across the river to Alton, Illinois then we would highly recommend Beall Mansion, one of the most elegant bed and breakfast inns that we have ever come across. This is the ideal setting for your dream wedding and will allow you to have a romantic elopement without blowing the budget. Depending on your requirements, Beall Mansion can offer elopement packages from just $349. Just keep in mind that although Alton is a suburb of St. Louis, you are crossing to Illinois and as a result will need to apply for your marriage license in Madison County, Illinois.

Why Elope To St. Louis

One of the main reasons why couples choose to elope to St. Louis and the state of Missouri in general is the hassle free marriage license requirements. It is necessary for both the bride and groom to present themselves at the clerk’s office to apply for the marriage license, but the application can be made anywhere is St. Louis. This means that even if you are planning to marry in St. Louis, you can get your marriage license in St. Charles County or anywhere else in Missouri.

The big advantage is that since August 2007, there has been no waiting period in Missouri, but the wedding must take place within 30 days. This is great for couples who are short on time since they can arrive in St. Louis on the Friday, marry on the Saturday and head home in time for work on Monday. It is wise to ensure that the Recorder of Deeds office is actually open if you are going to cut things that close!

Are you eloping St Louis? If so, did you find the marriage license application process simple? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments section below.

Gateway Arch image courtesy of www.sxc.hu”