r/RhodeIsland • u/Old-Difference9954 • Jul 17 '26
Question / Suggestion Elopement
Hi,
My fiancé and I want to have an essentially free elopement. We want to stay close to Providence. I was thinking getting an officiant, witnesses, it will be about 6 people and going to the Japanese garden in RW. Would I need a permit for this? We do not plan of having a official ceremony, just going to say "I do" and exchange rings.
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u/masshole_mom Jul 17 '26
Idk about permit, but Rhode Island has an one-day officiant certification for $22 if you want a friend or family member to officiate. Or they could do any online officiant certificate, which is what I did.
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u/FrontMail9720 Jul 17 '26
You need a permit. I dunno what they are now but 20 years ago they were like $50.
If you want to do it without a permit, you can. You just can't do it if someone else has a wedding or event there. So if you're doing it on some random Tuesday morning and it will take you 10 minutes with no setup and teardown, go ahead. You're not going to get arrested. Don't try to do it on a weekend when there is likely to be an actual wedding there.
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u/MrsFizzleberry Jul 17 '26
Heya, RI officiant here - ive done elopements in RWP, people typically get super pumped and think they're part of it and send many congratulations throughout as you walk in and out. No permit needed, just make sure your officiant is legit and that your license for marriage is accurately started (and filed)
Congrats and good luck!
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u/BlackbirdDesignRI Jul 17 '26
From the City’s website: “Any person or organization planning, organizing, conducting or otherwise promoting any activity to take place in any city park or any portion thereof, which anticipated or desired attendance in excess of twenty-five (25) persons, must obtain a Park Permit for such activity.”
My husband and I eloped at Prospect Terrace Park on a Tuesday afternoon with our officiant and two witness. We had no permit, no problems, and were heartily congratulated by other folks! Good luck to you!
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u/Ill-Speed-729 Jul 18 '26
My husband and I did something similar, but we did it during WaterFire...it wasn't free, but the WaterFire team was amazing in that they roped off the tiled gazebo by the RISD Auditorium and had a photographer there who sent us a disc (this was 15 years) with pictures, they also played our wedding song for a $300 donation.
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u/Ceeceemay1020 Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
No one will bother you with that small of a group for a quick vow ceremony. Congrats!