As the second biggest and the second most populated continent in the world, Africa is one of those places that’s impossible to reduce down to one experience or even one type of scenery. Even after having visited every continent, I still look forward to going to Africa every time I get to go back. I’ve photographed some of my favorite elopements of all time here, and I can’t recommend it enough!
When it comes to Morocco, one of my favorite spots for eloping couples is Marrakech. Excursions depart from here regularly into the Sahara on 4X4s and camels, and you’ll be totally surrounded by art and architecture from over a thousand years ago. It’s equal parts romantic and adventurous.
But the beauty of this country isn’t contained to just this city by any means! Read on for more of my picks from this beautiful landscape, including sand dunes, mountains, and striking stone arches over the sea.
If you’re looking for answers more tailored to your day, click here to go to my searchable location database! This interactive map has filters specific to your wants and more than 600 spots to choose from.
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
If you’re after high drama on your elopement day, this is it. The Atlas Mountains cut straight through Morocco and pack in everything from snow-dusted peaks to red rock canyons and lush valleys. Mount Toubkal is the tallest in North Africa, and yes, it takes a couple of days and a guide to summit, but the bragging rights make the blisters more than worth it. For the mountain vibes without the climb, head straight to the Ourika Valley instead, where you’ll be greeted with rolling hills, waterfalls, and wildflowers popping off in spring.
Best for: Wildflowers, Desert and Mountains
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Marrakech, Morocco
Known for being a thriving city full of bustling marketplaces, beautiful red stone architecture, and luxury resorts, Marrakech is a tourist destination for travelers all over the world. Staying on the ground here will always put you in proximity to great places for both activity and relaxation, but taking to the skies will show you even more. Hop into the basket of a hot air balloon here for the best views of the city from above! Some tours even offer in-flight meals for an elopement day breakfast at sunrise that you will never forget.
Best for: Mountains, Desert and City
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Hot Air Balloon
The Sahara Desert, Morocco
If you want to elope in the desert, you should consider eloping in THE desert. The Sahara Desert is super famous for a reason, including being the world’s largest hot desert (as in, not polar). This desert is almost the size of the *entire* continental United States, so it’s best to have an idea of what area you want to stay in. I like Morocco because, despite the small size of the country, it’s about half desert. Which makes it easily accessible and gives you a lot of variety! Visit in the spring or fall to avoid temperatures that are either freezing or soaring.
Best for: Desert, Sand Dunes
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Stargazing, Camel riding, Hiking, Jeep/4×4
Chefchaouen, Morocco
This is definitely the go-to for taking world-class elopement photos in Morocco, for very good reason. Welcome to the Blue City – where even the walls look like they’ve been dipped in a paint can! Tucked in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is made for dreamy, low-key elopements with serious style. You’ve got winding alleyways in 50 shades of blue, rooftop views over terracotta hills, and an easy-going pace that makes it feel like time stopped somewhere in the 1960s. Bonus: it’s a super photogenic town without the crowds of bigger cities, so you’ll have space to roam (and pose – with my help, promise!) without interruption.
Best for: City
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting married on a movie set without the Hollywood price tag, this ancient ksar delivers. Ait Ben Haddou has starred in everything from Gladiator to Game of Thrones, but its earthen walls and maze-like alleys are even more impressive in person. A ceremony here feels timeless – like you’re adding your own story to a place that’s held thousands. Stay nearby in a riad with rooftop views, and time your vows for golden hour when the whole town glows. There’s nothing quite like it!
Best for: Ksar and Desert
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Rif Mountains, Morocco
Less famous than the Atlas range but no less gorgeous, the Rif Mountains offer a softer, greener side of Morocco, with rolling hills blanketed in olive groves, remote villages tucked into the hillsides, and that hazy mountain light that makes every photo look next-level. This region is also home to Chefchaouen, so you can base yourself in the blue city and escape into the mountains for your ceremony, or vice versa! This lovely slice of Morocco is peaceful and perfect for a couple who wants to feel like the only two people in the world for a little while.
Best for: Mountains
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Oualidia, Morocco
If you want a true taste of vacation life in Morocco, you have to holiday where the locals go. Oualidia is for you if you’re looking for unbeatable seafood (if you love oysters, there’s no better spot), a natural salty lagoon set back from the ocean, pure nature, and lots of water birds, like flamingos. You can stay in the luxury hotel here for a perfect blend of nature outside and nurture inside, with seaside views and private hot tubs. Visit in the spring for great weather and low crowds.
Best for: Beach, Coast and Seafood
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and bird watching
Dades Valley, Morocco
The Dades Valley is like Morocco’s best-kept secret – winding roads through candy-colored rock formations, hidden oases, and little villages clinging to the cliffs. It’s ridiculously scenic without feeling staged, which makes it perfect for a quiet, wildly beautiful elopement that feels like a true getaway. Road tripping through the region is one of the best ways to explore, and by hiking one of its many trails, you’ll find that there are endless places to pause, take a breath, and say your vows surrounded by sheer rock walls and rust-red peaks.
Best for: Desert, Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Jeep/4×4
Meknes, Morocco
If you like the idea of Morocco but want to skip the chaos of Marrakech or Fes, Meknes is a solid option calling your name. Oh, and did I mention it’s UNESCO World Heritage listed? This imperial city brings all the historic energy, full of ancient gates, underground prisons, sprawling courtyards, but without the tourist circus and vendors bothering you ever three seconds. You can wander through quiet medinas, elope in front of grand arches, and then celebrate with mint tea in a hidden riad garden. It’s got the architecture and culture, minus the overwhelm.
Best for: Desert, City
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Iriqui National Park, Morocco
Iriqui National Park is one of Morocco’s least-visited gems, which makes it an absolute dream for couples who want total solitude. This is where the Sahara starts to sprawl, with dry lakebeds cracked like pottery, golden dunes rolling into the distance, and barely another soul in sight. There are no crowds, no selfie sticks, and no noise: just you, the desert, and the wide open sky. You’ll need a 4×4 to reach the park, but that’s half the fun! Pack a picnic, time your vows for golden hour, and let the stillness of the dunes turn your elopement into something quietly unforgettable.
Best for: Desert, Sand Dunes
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing, Jeep/4×4, Camel riding
Ouarzazate, Morocco
This desert city is all drama, in the best possible way. Ouarzazate sits right on the edge of the Sahara, backed by the Atlas Mountains and filled with old kasbahs, sprawling deserts, and sun-baked streets. It’s been the backdrop for blockbuster films, and once you’re here, you’ll get why. It feels larger than life! If you’re after an elopement that leans into epic, cinematic energy, this is your spot. The light is golden, the landscapes are oh-so-Moroccan, and the memories you’ll make here are unforgettable. As a bonus, it’s the perfect base for exploring Ait Ben Haddou or heading off on a post-ceremony camel trek.
Best for: Mountains, Desert, City
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Jeep/4×4, Hiking and Stargazing
Erg Chebbi Dunes, Morocco
Whatever you picture when you think of the Sahara Desert, Erg Chebbi is going to be a great place to find it. With high red dunes that glow during golden hour, this is a sea of sand that you won’t find anything like anywhere else in the world. Unlike some of the more remote parts of the Sahara, though, it is also easy to access, and you can drive a car or 4X4 right up to it. Once you’re there, enjoy the dunes however you want! Hike up to their peaks, ride 4X4’s over them, saddle up on a horse or camel’s back, or sandboard down them. You can even stay in a desert camp at night for a view of the stars overhead.
Best for: Desert and Sand Dunes
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camel Riding, Camping, Stargazing and Jeep/4×4
Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira is breezy in every sense of the word. This laid-back coastal town is Morocco’s surfing capital, all about whitewashed buildings, crashing waves, and seagulls doing fly-bys over the medina. It’s way less intense than Marrakech and has a salty charm that makes it perfect for beachy elopements with more boho vibes than your wildest barefoot elopement dreams. Walk the ramparts, snack on fresh seafood, or watch the windsurfers dance across the waves. No pressure, no fuss – just sunshine, wind, and a little magic in the air.
Best for: Beach, Coast, Seafood and City
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Surfing
Todra Gorge, Morocco
With 1,000-foot limestone cliffs towering on either side, Todra Gorge feels like the Earth split in two just to create your ceremony backdrop. It’s popular with climbers, but even if you’re not into scaling rocks, the base of the gorge is a magical place to say “I do.” There’s a small river running through, a few palm trees swaying at the edges, and cool shade even on the hottest days. It’s one of those places that looks like it was snatched straight from a Wes Anderson movie, so of course, your elopement photos will look epic!
Best for: River and Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and Rock Climbing
Ouzoud Falls, Morocco
Tucked away in the Atlas foothills, Ouzoud Falls crashes down through red rock into a lush green canyon, and yes, it’s as dramatic as it sounds. If you’re after a ceremony spot with serious wow factor, this one’s a contender. You can hike around the falls, watch rainbows flicker in the mist, and maybe even spot a few cheeky Barbary macaques. The nearby villages make for a peaceful overnight stay, and a boat ride under the falls is the kind of just-married memory that sticks.
Best for: Rivers, Waterfalls and Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Ifrane, Morocco
Nicknamed the “Switzerland of Morocco”, Ifrane has alpine-style chalets, manicured parks, and red-roofed buildings that feel like they’ve been plucked from the Alps – without the price tag or crowds. Sitting at over 5,000 feet, this mountain town offers cool air, cedar forests, and even the occasional snowfall in winter. It’s a total curveball in the middle of Morocco! This makes it perfect for couples looking for something unexpected, where you can stroll along cobbled streets, enjoy a picnic by a mountain lake, and soak up the calm and pristine surroundings that are hard to find elsewhere in Morocco.
Best for: Lake, City and Mountains (and snow!)
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Ourika Valley, Morocco
Easily day-trippable from Marrakech but a total change of pace, the Ourika Valley is where you go when you want wildflowers, waterfalls, and zero stress. It’s lush and green in spring, cool in summer, and always dotted with small Berber villages where time moves more slowly. You can hike up to Setti Fatma’s waterfalls for a ceremony with views, or keep things simple down in the valley near the river. The laid-back beauty here makes you want to kick your shoes off and stay awhile – so why resist?
Best for: Rivers, Wildflowers, Waterfalls and Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Legzira Beach, Morocco
This one’s for the sunset chasers. Legzira is famous for its red sea cliffs and massive rock arches that glow orange in the afternoon light. It’s the kind of place that turns golden hour into a full-blown show, perfect for capturing some of the most gasp-worthy elopement photos out there. You’ll find this town along the Atlantic coast, a little off the beaten path, which means fewer tourists and plenty of space to spread out. Say your vows barefoot in the sand with the sound of crashing waves and a fiery sky behind you.
Best for: Beach, Coast, Rock Arches
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Morocco is full of so many different kinds of scenery, exciting excursions, and ways to make your elopement stand out from your every day. But if you want to see what else is out there or do some further research on anything that’s caught your eye from this list, I have a searchable map with your name on it! This interactive database has more than 600 locations in it and lets you filter by activities, scenery types, and seasonality so you only get what’s best for you. Click here to go to it!
And if you’re ready for your epic elopement in Morocco (or in any other country!), I would love to hear from you! When you elope with me, you’re getting so much more than incredible photos for the rest of your life—you’re also getting a stress-free planning process that takes all the guesswork out. I give my couples hand-crafted location and activity suggestions, an expert travel planner on call for help with permits and vendors, specifically designed itineraries for your day, and more to make your elopement enjoyable from the very start.
Click here to be taken to my contact form! I’d love to hear from you and learn more about what you want out of your elopement day & how I can design an experience for you that exceeds your wildest dreams.
