DIY elopement STARTING AT $2,500

Elopement Packages in Dallas, Without the Courthouse Line

The Penrose House is a private, gated 5-acre estate in Princeton, Texas, about 45 minutes from downtown Dallas and DFW Airport, 20 minutes from McKinney and 35 minutes from Plano and Frisco. For couples searching for elopement packages in Dallas, it offers something a courthouse or a rented chapel can't: a whole estate to yourselves, a ceremony spot you choose, and a suite to wake up in the next morning. No other events share your day.

What's Included in the DIY Elopement

Our DIY elopement gives you the setting and the stay; you bring the people and the details that matter to you.

• Private ceremony space on the estate, from the Penrose Garden to the Firepit Pavilion, poolside deck, covered deck or the indoor Living Room.
• An overnight suite for the two of you, with room for a small number of your closest guests.
• Resort amenities: the year-round heated pool with swim-up karaoke bar, hot tub, the Plus One Lounge with pool table and arcade machines, private pickleball court, 9-hole mini-golf and the sunken fire pit.
• A Bridal Get Ready Room with 10 vanity stations, so hair and makeup have real light and real space.
• A dedicated on-site venue manager for property needs, plus a complimentary coffee and tea bar.

Popular add-ons include extended event hours and professional photography and videography from photographers who already know the property. If you'd rather have every vendor handled, our all-inclusive micro wedding adds a coordinator, photographer, florals, cake and a licensed officiant. Current rates are on our pricing page.

A Sample Elopement Day Timeline

Every elopement is shaped around your light, your vows and your pace. Your arrival and departure times are set in your booking agreement; this is simply how a relaxed day often flows.

1. Early afternoon: arrive and settle in. Drop your bags in your suite, pour a coffee and walk the grounds.
2. Getting ready. Spread out in the Bridal Get Ready Room while your partner gets ready in the Plus One Lounge.
3. First look. A quiet moment in the garden or on the covered deck before the ceremony.
4. Golden-hour ceremony. Exchange vows in the Penrose Garden or under the Firepit Pavilion, with your officiant and whoever you've invited.
5. Portraits around the estate. Use the last of the light by the pool and on the lawns.
6. Dinner by the pool. Bring a licensed caterer, choose one of our preferred catering partners, or keep it simple in the catering-ready kitchen. If you're serving alcohol, a TABC-certified bartender and licensed security are required.
7. The evening. S'mores at the fire pit, karaoke at the swim-up bar or a movie night. Outdoor amplified music ends at 11 PM; indoor music in the Plus One Lounge can continue later.
8. The morning after. Sleep in, then coffee and tea before checkout.

Officiant Options for Your Elopement

You have three easy paths:

• Bring your own officiant. We offer complete vendor freedom, so the pastor, rabbi or judge you already know is welcome.
• Use our recommendations. We share a preferred vendor list after booking, and you can ask us for officiant suggestions at any time.
• Go all-inclusive. A licensed officiant is part of the all-inclusive package.

Under Texas Family Code Section 2.202, a marriage ceremony may be conducted by a licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest, a Jewish rabbi, an officer of a religious organization authorized by that organization, or a current, former or retired federal or state judge. If a friend plans to officiate, confirm they meet these requirements before the day.

Photo Spots on the Estate

Five private acres means you are never short of backdrops, and no strangers wander into the frame.

• The Penrose Garden for open-sky vows and sunset portraits.
• The Firepit Pavilion for evening vows and night portraits under the lights.
• The poolside deck and swim-up bar for playful, resort-style shots.
• The covered deck for soft, shaded light on bright Texas days.
• The Living Room with its double-height fireplace, our favorite indoor spot.
• The Bridal Get Ready Room for getting-ready details at the vanities.

The Overnight Stay

The best part of eloping at a private estate is that the celebration doesn't end with a drive back to a hotel. Your overnight suite is steps from where you said your vows. The heated pool and hot tub are open year-round, the fire pit is ready for a late-night toast, and the morning starts slowly with coffee on the deck. If your plans grow, the full house has 7 designer bedrooms that sleep 28 guests, and a micro wedding welcomes up to 50.

Texas Marriage License Basics

Here is what the Texas Family Code says about getting legally married in Texas. Requirements can change, so always confirm with the county clerk before your date.

• Where to apply: a license can come from the county clerk of any Texas county. Both applicants generally appear in person with proof of identity and age, such as a driver's license or passport (Family Code Sections 2.001, 2.002 and 2.005). Limited exceptions exist for an absent applicant.
• 72-hour waiting period: the ceremony may not take place during the 72 hours after the license is issued. The wait does not apply to active-duty military, Department of Defense employees and contractors, couples with a judge's written waiver, or applicants who completed a qualifying premarital education course within the past year (Section 2.204).
• 90-day window: if the ceremony isn't conducted before the 90th day after issuance, the license expires (Section 2.201).
• After the ceremony: your officiant records the details, signs the license and returns it to the issuing clerk within 30 days (Section 2.206).

The nearest clerk is the Collin County Clerk in McKinney, about 20 minutes from the estate. Collin County asks both parties to be present with a valid government-issued photo ID that matches the name on the application. Sources: Texas Family Code, Chapter 2 and Collin County Clerk, Marriage Licenses.

This is general information, not legal advice.

Still Choosing Where to Elope?

Compare parks, gardens and private estates in our guide to where to elope in Dallas, take the estate tour, or browse the full FAQ. When you're ready, contact us to check your date.

Elopement FAQs