Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Shared by Maria Grace Photographer, as Guest Blogger.

Updated April 12, 2022

There is something extremely special about elopements and the intimacy they bring when only a handful of people (or just one another) present as a couple says I do.

Say I do at First Landing State Park- Photo credit: Maria Grace Photo https://mariagracephoto.com/

Say I do at First Landing State Park (Photo credit: Maria Grace Photo)

Weddings are beautiful, and I will photograph them as long as I am able, but intimate ceremonies that capture the love between a bride and her groom with no other frills and additions are memorable in their own way.

One huge advantage of eloping is the reduced cost of a typical wedding day. According to TheKnot.com, the average wedding costs $27,000. Much of this is attributed to venue rental and catering, two big elements that can be reduced or eliminated when a couple chooses to elope. Thankfully, there are so many options for elopement venues all over the state of Virginia that cost next to nothing: the Virginia State Park system.

State parks in Virginia are so varied and beautiful that any couple can find the perfect location for their intimate ceremony. From Smith Mountain Lake State Park, which boasts miles of waterfront views, to First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, which features a more wooded scene, the system of parks stretches from one end to the other with almost limitless options in between. (Click here for a map of the available state parks).

While many Virginia State Parks host full weddings and receptions, the cost of an elopement is simply the cost of parking for the couple and any guests who may come. After accounting for a wedding dress, bouquet, officiant, and – one of the most essential parts – a photographer, eloping in style only has to cost a fraction of what a full wedding normally would.

Beyond a lowered cost, the special atmosphere surrounding an elopement is in stark contrast to the timed events of a wedding day. Couples who prefer to spend their ceremony alone, with only an officiant and a photographer to document the day, can enjoy the results of a wedding – their marriage – without much of the added stress.

At the end of the day, the most important element is that the couple is finally married. No matter how you choose to elope, the result is the same. I am a firm believer that you should hire a photographer to document your marriage so you can show any friends and family who were not able to be there and so you can remember it forever. Make your elopement your own, and you will be able to look back on your day with only the best of memories as you became husband and wife.


Bio

Maria Grace is a photographer based in Hampton Roads, Virginia, who travels the country capturing elegant weddings and elopements for joyful couples. She loves running, reading, and writing, in that order. She and her husband Nathan have been married for six wonderful years. This year they welcomed home their first child, Willow, through adoption. The three of them – plus their cockapoo Lilo! – love gluten-free food, traveling, and spending time together.

Maria Grace Photo

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Editor's Note: This is another reason we love Virginia State Parks. If you are interested in eloping at a park, as the couple did above at First Landing State Park, you can call the park ahead to determine any requirements, like if you hope to use a special place like a gazebo or picnic shelter. Or, if you prefer a larger affair, go ahead and click here to learn more or call 800-933-7275

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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