Mount Magazine Elopement Planning Guide
Mount Magazine is one of the most scenic spots in Arkansas for an elopement. At 2,753ft, it’s the tallest mountain in Arkansas! From the top, you can quickly travel from the park’s lodge and cabins to breathtaking overlooks to exchange your vows and watch the sunset. If you’re dreaming of a Mount Magazine elopement, you’ll want to read through this detailed guide to get you started on planning!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Special Use Permits
- Best Spots at Mt. Magazine
- Where to Stay + Eat
- What to do Here
- When to Elope Here
- Getting Your Marriage License
- Mt. Magazine Vendors
Mount Magazine Special Use Permits & Leave No Trace
Many outdoor areas implement special use permits you apply for with a small fee, and have rules you are required to follow when you elope within their park boundaries. These rules generally follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, which are guidelines you are expected to uphold as an explorer to ensure our lands stay healthy and enjoyable to all park visitors.
Permits
Eloping at Mount Magazine is free and does not require a permit – but I do always recommend calling them ahead of elopement day to double-check in case things change at any point of time. If you exceed a certain headcount or need seating for guests, such as with micro weddings, you’ll likely fall under their requirements to rent a space for your ceremony. The rentable spaces are very affordable (<~$200). To find out the most up to date info, call the park’s lodge.
Mt. Magazine Contact: (877) 665-6343
Leave No Trace
It’s important to note that there are several rules to follow when you elope on lands that belong to park services. Failure to follow rules can sometimes result in fines. These rules essentially follow the 7 Leave No Trace principles. You can learn more about LNT here. The most commonly seen rules are:
- You cannot set up chairs, an altar, or floral arrangements (unless you rented the space and got permission to do so).
- You can only have -X- amount of people occupying the area. (# varies by location)
- Clean up any messes you make.
- Do not cause damage to the land.
Best Spots for Your Elopement at Mount Magazine
The most popular area of the mountain for elopements and micro weddings is Cameron Bluff, a loop road with multiple stopping points for scenic views. Some other areas nearby are:
- Cove Lake
- Big Shoal Cascades
- The trails on the mountain
- Blue Mountain Lake
- Nearby secret waterfalls and swimming holes!
Where to Stay + Eat
Lodging: It’s best to stay at the Mount Magazine Lodge or rent one of their available cabins. I always recommend reserving your lodging here as quickly as you can so you don’t end up in a bind having to make a far drive to and from the mountain, if they were to have nothing available. The lodge rooms are all on the second floor so that you get a scenic view of Blue Mountain Lake! There’s also RV and tent camping available. You may also find options on Airbnb and VRBO nearby, around 20 minutes or so from the top of the mountain.
Eats: There’s not a lot of options nearby for eating out after your elopement since this park is in a rural area. The lodge has the Skycrest Restaurant with a cozy vibe and nice views. There’s some small casual eats ~30 minutes or so from the mountain. There’s also Out of Towne Bistro in the Paris area about 40 minutes from the mountain.
What to do Here
- Explore the overlooks at Cameron Bluff
- Hike one of the trails
- Visit Cove Lake nearby
- Visit one of the nearby waterfalls
- Put a lock on the bridge nearby in Paris, AR
- Visit Blue Mountain Lake nearby
- Check out one of the nearby swimming holes
Best Time to Elope at Mount Magazine
Generally the spring and fall are the most popular choices to elope at Mount Magazine, however the park is open year-round so any time is optional. When it comes to picking your elopement month, I recommend first deciding if you want those vibrant spring/summer greens, or fall colors, or even a more wintry look (though winter in Arkansas generally just means warm neutral/brown colors and not snowy winter wonderland). Alternatively, if you want a specific date with sentimental value, you can refer to the seasonal breakdown below to have an idea of what you can expect.
Spring (March-May)
March: Early March it’s likely to still be mildly chilly outside with temps in the 50s °F, and the trees will probably still be bare most if not all the month. We see warmer temps around the 70s °F and foliage slowly growing back usually by mid to late March.
April: It’s averaging in the upper 70s °F almost daily, and the greenery has fully grown back usually by mid-April if not sooner. Hotter temps in the 80s and 90s °F may occasionally happen, especially as the month progresses.
May: It’s likely to already be hitting 100°F with intense humidity a few times in the month, but the average is generally in the 80s °F. Either way this can be a rough month if you have any health conditions that make the heat difficult for you, or if you’re prone to sweating. Sunrise elopements are a great alternative to the usual sunset timelines so you can still have fun and beat the heat!
Summer (June-August)
*Be Advised: Summers in Arkansas get very hot and humid. Extreme weather conditions are unsafe to be outdoors in for long periods of time. If you choose to elope in the summer, I recommend doing it at sunrise in efforts to beat the worst of that mid-day/afternoon heat.
June: It’s going to be mildly less hot than the rest of the summer, with better potential of frequent days happening that will be under 90°F. Some years, most if not all of June feels fantastic. June usually brings lots of storms, so inclement weather risk can be increased.
July & August: Temps are going to start averaging 90-115°. It’s a very dry time of year with little rain. If you elope in this timeframe, it’s recommended to have frequent water breaks inside a building or car with A/C. Sunrise elopements are strongly recommended.
Fall (September-October):
September: It’s still going to be pretty hot in September usually, with days averaging around 80-100 °F with humidity. This is still a popular time for couples to opt for sunrise elopements to avoid those hotter days.
October: Early October can still be around 80°F. By mid to late October we start to see temps drop to around the 70s °F. Late October is when we most often see color change in the trees.
November: In early November fall colors are still usually lasting in the trees, but by mid-month they are normally gone or just about to be. Temps generally average in the 60s °F in November, until the late month where it will drop into the 50s/60s °F.
Winter (December-February):
December: It’ usually only mildly chilly in Arkansas, with temps averaging in the 50s/60s °F and gradually dropping to maybe the upper 40s °F by the end of the month. Inclement road conditions almost never happen in December – even by the very end of the month it’s unlikely.
January: Temps average around the 50s and 40s °F, but sometimes we get cold snaps that bring ice storms or snow. Temps can drop close to 0°F during these snaps. We normally get one of these winter storms once every year or two. This can be a slightly risky month to plan because of the potential of winter storms.
February: This can be a very back and forth month with temps dropping in the 30s then rising into the 70s a few days later. This is a finnicky month to track, but we usually don’t get those ice storms like in January, especially the later into February we get.
Getting Your Marriage License
Obtaining a marriage license in Arkansas is fairly quick and simple:
- Licenses are issued at any county courthouse in Arkansas Monday-Friday from 8:00am-5:00pm (closed on major holidays)
- You can leave the courthouse with your license the same day you apply.
- You can obtain your license at any conveniently located courthouse in Arkansas and use it anywhere within the state, just return it to the same courthouse you got it from within 60 days.
- The fee for your license is $60 (cash or card only)
- Both you and your partner must be present to apply for the license, and must be 18 years or older.
- You both must provide identification, such as drivers license or passport.
The nearest county courthouse to Mount Magazine State Park is Logan County Courthouse, located in Paris about 30 minutes from the park.
*Requirements for obtaining your marriage license might vary by courthouse. Call the courthouse you plan to use to ensure you are prepared. Some may want you to also provide your birth certificate, and/or social security card, and some might be cash only.
Mount Magazine Elopement Photographer + Officiant + Planning Assistant
Mount Magazine is an incredible place for an elopement in Arkansas. If you’re ready to start planning your dream day here, I’d love to chat! I’ve been photographing elopements on the mountain for the last several years and know many great spots on the mountain and nearby to explore. I offer a multi-service experience that includes photos + planning assistance + officiant services, so I’ve got you covered on all the big things to let you sit back and enjoy your day.
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