Eloping Isn’t Settling: Modern Elopements in the Shenandoah Valley at The Undergrowth
A different way to get married, in the woods of the Shenandoah Valley
Say the word "elope" to a few people and you'll get a few different pictures. Some think of a courthouse on a Tuesday lunch break. Some think of a couple sneaking out a window with a ladder and a packed suitcase heading to Las Vegas. Some still hear it as the wedding you have when you couldn't have the "real" one. That last idea is the one we'd like to retire.
A modern elopement is a solid wedding. It has vows, a ceremony, a meal with (a few guests if you want), a professional photographer, and memorable day that wasn’t anything close to being “under the radar”. What it leaves out is the stuff many couples were never excited about in the first place: the 150-person guest list negotiated with three sets of relatives, the seating chart, the hours spent working a room of your parents’ friends instead of being with the person you just married.
What a modern elopement actually looks like
Today's elopements rarely involve secrecy. Plenty of couples tell everyone. Some bring their parents, a best friend, a sibling, or a handful of the people who matter most to them. Others keep it to just the two of them and an officiant, then celebrate with family later. There's no rulebook, and that's much of the appeal.
What modern elopements share is intention. Instead of planning a day around hosting, couples plan it around their own personal experience. That might mean a slow morning getting ready together, vows spoken beneath the trees, a long dinner outside in a meadow, and waking up the next day with nowhere to be.
That's the kind of day The Undergrowth was made for.
Why elope in the Shenandoah Valley at The Undergrowth
The Undergrowth is a private forest retreat in Luray, Virginia, tucked into the
Shenandoah Valley with woods, water and pockets of both open meadow and wooded forest all around. We built it for couples who want something intimate and unhurried.
When you elope with us, the property is yours. You aren't one ceremony on a busy calendar. You have the forest, the ceremony spaces and the fire pit pavilion to yourselves, along with the time to actually enjoy them.
A few things couples will love:
• Privacy. Exclusive use of the property means the only people around are the ones you chose.
• More than one place to say "I do." Choose the ceremony setting in the meadow or forest area that feels most like you.
• Time. Staying on site lets your wedding unfold over a couple of days rather than rushing through an afternoon.
• A setting that doesn't need dressing up. The forest, the creek, and the light through the canopy do most of the decorating.
All-inclusive elopement packages in Virginia
One of the biggest surprises for couples planning even a small wedding is how
many moving parts are still involved. You may only have two guests, but you still need an officiant, photographer, meal, place to stay, and someone keeping an eye on the timeline. Coordinating five vendors for a ceremony of two can feel like a lot.
Our all-inclusive packages bring those pieces together in one place, so you can spend your energy on each other instead of on logistics.
Packages include:
• Exclusive overnight use of the property
• A forest ceremony with indoor and outdoor reception spaces
• An officiant and florals for your ceremony
• Catering for your celebration meal
• A covered fire pit pavilion
• A professional photographer
• Tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware and setup
From there, you can shape the weekend around what matters to you. Add-ons include extra catered meals, live acoustic music, floral design, and yoga and wellness sessions. Ask us about additional activities and excursions too. Luray and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley have plenty to explore if you want to turn your elopement into an extended adventure.
Planning your elopement, step by step
An elopement takes less planning than a large wedding, but it still deserves some thought. Here's how we suggest approaching it.
1. Decide who's there
Start with the guest list, even if the list is "just us." Will you invite parents, a few close friends, a witness? Knowing your number early shapes everything else. Our property is designed for intimate gatherings, so whether it's two people or a small circle, you won't feel lost in the space.
2. Talk with us about your vision
Tell us what you're picturing, even if it's only a feeling. We'll help you choose a ceremony setting, sketch out the weekend, and decide which add-ons, if any, fit your day. This is where an all-inclusive approach really helps: one conversation covers what would otherwise be a dozen vendor emails.
3. Handle the paperwork
An elopement is a legal marriage, so you'll need a Virginia marriage license. Licenses come from the clerk's office of a Virginia circuit court, and you can get one in any county or city in the state. Check the current requirements and how long the license is valid before you go, and bring it with you on the day. Our officiant takes care of the ceremony side.
4. Plan how you'll share the news
If family and friends aren't with you, think ahead about how and when you'll tell them. Some couples let everyone know in advance, or they may call parents and friends right after the ceremony from the fire pit. Others send an announcement with a favorite photo, or host a relaxed party back home later.
Not a lesser wedding, just a different one
We hear it from couples all the time: "We're just eloping." There's no "just" about it.
An elopement at The Undergrowth carries the same weight as any wedding. You'll make the same promises and you'll be just as married. You'll have a ceremony in a beautiful place with a celebratory meal, photos, and the people you chose.
Couples who elope often say they remember more of their wedding, not less. They remember more of the details and little moments rather than the whirlwind and how tired they were at the end of the day. When you aren't spread thin across a room full of guests, you get to be fully present for the moment you're there for.
“Choosing to elope isn't choosing less. It's choosing what matters most to you, and letting the rest go.”
Ready to elope?
If an intimate, all-inclusive wedding in the forest sounds like your kind of day, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch to check dates, ask about our packages and current pricing, and start planning a weekend that's entirely yours.
Gather differently. We'll see you in the woods.
Photo credits:
@fredericksphotoandfilms
@carpersweddings
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