Complete Upper Peninsula Elopement Guide: How to Elope in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is hugely underrated when it comes to the amount of attention it gets for how beautiful it is. It’s not uncommon even for Michiganders from the lower peninsula to have never been to Michigan’s other half! There’s so much to explore – beautiful rocky shorelines, dunes, waterfalls (SO many waterfalls), and even mountains. If you’re looking for a unique place to elope, I truly think visiting the UP is one of the best options out there! I’ve pulled together all of my favorite insights in this upper peninsula elopement guide that I’ve learned in my years of shooting elopements to help you plan an amazing wedding experience.

Why Should I Elope in the Upper Peninsula?

The amount of variety alone makes the Upper Peninsula an incredible place to elope. You have so many different options for locations, scenery, activities, and adventures to include on your wedding day! Having access to so much variety just gives you an amazing ability to think outside the box when it comes to your day, and make your day exactly what you want it to be. You could visit a waterfall, go for a swim, enjoy a long hike, visit local breweries, the opportunities are truly endless. And, because the Upper Peninsula is also less visited than a lot of other elopement destinations, it’ll be easier to find privacy and enjoy more solitude in beautiful areas! All in all, eloping in the UP will provide you with endless options for beautiful, unique places to visit.

Best Upper Peninsula Elopement Locations

The upper peninsula has so many beautiful areas to explore, it’s hard to narrow down on where! I gathered up a few of my absolute favorites in the park to add to this Pictured Rocks Elopement guide. I included a little bit of detail on each location, so you would know what to expect from an elopement there as well as a little accessibility information! These spots will be a great kickoff point to get your brainstorming flowing, and get you thinking about what your ideal upper peninsula elopement could look like!

Marquette

Marquette is one of my FAVORITE places for elopements in the upper peninsula. You have so much beauty and variety all in one area, all while being very close to multiple locations and a very charming town! Marquette is basically the central hub of the UP, where it’s easy to find amazing food, drinks, and plenty of UP culture hahah. Within a 15 minute drive of the city you can find incredible beaches, rocks, waterfalls, and even mountains to climb! So much variety and access to a downtown makes it a really easy and beautiful place to elope to. If you want to see a couple of Marquette elopements, click here and here!

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

One of my favorites. I have entire guide dedicated to planning a Pictured Rocks Elopement that you can see here! This is one of the most iconic areas within the upper peninsula, and is known for its beautiful, colorful cliffs. Within the park you can find beautiful beaches, incredible rock formations, gorgeous trails, waterfalls, and more. And whether you want something more adventurous with a longer hike or a short hike to somewhere beautiful and accessible, Pictured Rocks has it!

Porcupine Mountains

Located on the far west side of the Upper Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains are a small group of mountains that feature an old growth forest, beautiful overlooks, Lake Superior shoreline, waterfalls, and amazing trails. There are some gorgeous and iconic spots here including the Lake of the Clouds Overlook, and has so many incredible spots to explore on your elopement day! There’s hikes of various distances, which can lead you to all different kinds of scenery depending on what you’re looking for. The waterfalls here are some of my favorites!

Isle Royale

This is one of the coolest locations in Michigan, so I had to include it in this Upper Peninsula elopement guide! If you’re looking for a big adventure on your wedding day, this location is for you. Isle Royale is an island located northwest of Copper Harbor, and is only accessible by ferry and seaplane. It’s a very remote island with hundreds of other small islands nestled around it, and this is a spot where you are truly one with nature. If you’re thinking about staying on the island, you can stay on the island at a lodge or do some backpacking! As far as things to see, there is no shortage of breathtaking scenery and wildlife. 1000/10 recommend.

Tahquamenon Falls

Tahquamenon Falls is a giant waterfall located near Newberry in the UP, and because of its size it’s a very popular spot to visit! Because of this it’s worth being careful with timing to avoid crowds, but that doesn’t make it a less beautiful spot to elope. There are upper and lower falls, both with amazing scenery and trails. There are even spots where you can get in and walk around the waterfalls! It would be such a beautiful spot for a sunrise elopement!

Copper Harbor

At the very tip of the northernmost point in the Upper Peninsula is the tiny town of Copper Harbor, that packs a GORGEOUS punch. Because of the remoteness of this destination it’s easy to find beautiful secluded areas, and there are a lot of them. You can find beautiful old growth forests with ancient pine trees, beautiful cliffs, unique rocky shorelines, waterfalls, and beautiful overlooks. This is one of my favorite areas to recommend for elopements because of how beautiful and secluded it is. It’s an amazing location for anyone seeking adventure and being immersed in nature.

Drummond Island

This is another hidden gem of the UP! This island is located at the far east end of the peninsula. It’s a big island where you can even bring your car over, with super unique shorelines and very cute places to stay! If you’re imagining a cute up north cabin vibe, this would be an amazing spot. There’s so many beautiful areas to explore here!

When to Elope in the Upper Peninsula

There’s seriously so much to do here throughout the entire year, and things to enjoy every season!! I’ll give you a glimpse into what to expect to experience in each season, although different locations also have their own seasonal quirks and things to be aware of – so just make sure you’re knowledgable on your area or have a photographer like me who can help guide you to what will work best with your vision!

Spring

Spring is one of the best times to plan your elopement in the UP! You can find beautiful wildflowers, the waterfalls are all flowing because of the snowmelt, and of course – less tourists haha. Since most kids are still in school, it’s one of the more private times to be able to visit popular spots without as many crowds! The weather is definitely still pretty mild this time of year too. Not super warm, but not super cold. The best part about spring is that you get to avoid that summer bug season. It only hits for a couple of weeks, but it’s still great to avoid if possible because it can get bad!

Summer

One of my favorite parts about summertime upper peninsula elopements is that it gets warm up there but is rarely HOT. Down in the lower peninsula we frequently battle 90 degree weather or hotter, but up there it typically doesn’t get quite that hot. Which is great!! Especially if you’re planning on wearing a suit haha! If you love the idea of incorporating activities like swimming, boating, paddleboarding, or kayaking, then summer is the perfect time to elope. Some of the more popular spots will have crowds during the summer, especially on weekends, so I recommend being flexible for weekdays and sunrise/sunset times for popular destinations! Also don’t forget to pack bug spray and sunscreen!

Fall

Fall is one of the most BEAUTIFUL times of the year to visit the Upper Peninsula (and Michigan in general). The colors get so vibrant and there are so many incredible overlooks where you can view a sea of vibrant leaves. It’s unreal. The crowds in the fall are still something to be aware of because the colors bring in people from all over, but it’s generally not as busy as the summertime depending on where you are! It does start to get a little chillier too, and can even snow sometimes haha, so definitely be prepared to bring a jacket or something to keep you warm.

Winter

I know winter is cold, but it’s really such a beautiful time of year I couldn’t leave it out of this Upper Peninsula elopement guide! They typically get a ton of snow up there so it’s a gorgeous, winter wonderland. One of the most incredible things i’ve ever witnessed you can only get in the winter, and that is the amazing ice caves along Lake Superior. They are some of the most gorgeous, unique formations I’ve ever seen and Im completely obsessed with them. There are also ski resorts around the UP, so if you’re envisioning hitting the slopes on your wedding day then there are spots for you!

Activities to Incorporate

Eloping means you can have your wedding day 100% your way! So if you want to add a little adventure – have at it!! Different areas each come with their own possible activities, so I’m just going to list some generic ones here that might help you narrow down on a location! I’m a huge proponent of making your day one of your best days ever, and I encourage you to have fun with it. It’s your wedding day and you deserve you have some incredible experiences on it!

• Plan a Picnic
• Get ready together over coffee
• Rent a Private Pontoon
• Visit to multiple locations
• Take a swim in Lake Superior
• Visit Waterfalls
• Pop champagne
• Paddleboard or Kayak
• Visit a brewery
• Stop by a cute food joint
• Have a nice dinner catered
• Go cliff jumping
• Go for a bike ride
• Ride a motorcycle
• Get a campsite and have a bonfire
• Cozy up for some steamy hot tub photos
• Stay up late and take photos under the stars

Where to Stay

There are so many different places to stay depending on where you want to elope! My favorite recommendation is generally some sort of VRBO or AirBnB. That just allows you to have a variety of places to stay, and provides more privacy and amenities than most typical hotels. But no matter what your vibe is, there’s a spot for you. You can find rental homes, hotels, motels, and campgrounds pretty much all over the upper peninsula! Since this Upper Peninsula elopement guide is for more than just one area, I’m just going to link you to a few favorites from all over!

Best Upper Peninsula Campgrounds

Tahquamenon Falls State Park / Newberry, MI

Munising Tourist Park / Munising, MI

Marquette Tourist Park / Marquette, MI

Presque Isle Campground / Ironwood, MI

Best Upper Peninsula Rental Properties

There are so many cool and unique places to rent all over the Upper Peninsula depending on what you’re looking for! I’ll list a few of my favorites here. If you want to see more AirBnbs, check out these resources here and here!

Random Point Tree House / Marquette, MI

True North Cabin / Copper Harbor, MI

Moon Mountain Cabin / Marquette, MI

Beach Haven House / Au Train, MI

Best Upper Peninsula Hotels

The Landmark / Marquette, MI

The Vault Hotel / Houghton, MI

Terrace Bay Hotel / Escanaba, MI

Permit Information

This goes for most areas, but depending on where you are you may need a permit to get married there! Different areas have different rules, but a good rule of thumb is that if you’re at a national park, state park, county park, or city park – you’ll need a permit. If you’re thinking of bringing any sort of arbor, chairs, or decor, I recommend inquiring about that with your permit applications. Most permits require you to apply at least a month before your wedding date, and some have an application fee. I stress following this no matter where you are, but within parks especially there are also strict Leave No Trace policies! If you have questions about permits, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Or your photographer may be offer to help you with permit acquisition, like I do!

Can I Bring My Pet?

If you’re hoping to bring your pet, there are a lot of areas that are pet friendly – but not everywhere! Be sure to look into local rules depending on your location. There are many spots within National Parks or wildlife areas that don’t allow pets, and places like Isle Royale don’t allow them at all! Even some local parks such as Presque Isle in Marquette don’t allow pets. There are plenty of ways to incorporate your pet into your elopement even if you can’t bring them though, such as bringing a photo, or having a charm of them on your bouquet!

Other Tips

• Some areas of the Upper Peninsula are very remote and have no cell service, so make sure you coordinate times and destinations ahead of time!
• Always pack plenty of water, bug spray, sunscreen, and snacks if you are hiking.
• Always remember to Leave No Trace. We respect Mama Earth! Learn more here.
• If you’re planning on hiking, wear trail-appropriate shoes. Some trails can be uneven, it’s not worth breaking an ankle to wear heels!

Upper Peninsula Elopement Vendors

Florists

Samara Floral Co

Munising Flower Shop

Lutey’s

St. Ignace In Bloom

Protea Floral Design

Officiants

Chad Mager

Caterers

The Delft

Hair / Makeup Artists

Fresh Coast Beauty

Upper Peninsula Elopement Photographer

You’ve officially got all of the tools you need to plan your Upper Peninsula elopement! Now all you need is an Upper Peninsula elopement photographer to capture every moment. I work with you to create an experience focusing on authenticity and intention, where we get photos that capture the real you. So if that sounds like you, get in touch with me!! I’d be so excited to help guide you to creating a 100% unique elopement experience and capturing all of your beautiful moments. Whatever your vision may look like, or if you need help figuring it out, I’m here to help make it happen! Get in touch with me and let’s get started!