Post Summary: I took one of my favorite trips of all time recently – and can you take a wild guess at where I went? Jordan!! It quickly became one of the most incredible countries I’ve ever visited, and I realized how amazing of an elopement destination it is, as well. So I put together this in-depth guide to how to elope in Jordan, where I give you every tip & piece of info you could ever need to know if you’re planning a Jordan elopement. This guide includes the best places to elope in Jordan, how to get your Jordan marriage license, and so much more. Happy planning!

A Brief History of Jordan

Before we dive into all things Jordan elopements, I wanted to tell you a little about the fascinating history of Jordan! It’s actually a pretty young country, having gained independence only in 1946 – but it has a rich history dating wayyy back to ancient times. The capital, Amman, is a mix of old and new, with so many cool things to see & do. And if you’re interested in the country’s political structure, Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses, having gone through some serious political & economic changes in recent years.

Bedouin culture plays a huge part in the unique life of the Jordanian people, and the hospitality of locals is amazing! Jordan has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, lots of castles, and so many interesting archaeological sites that you can check out.

Where is Jordan?

How to travel to Jordan

The main airport in Jordan that you’ll fly into is the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), located in the country’s capital of Amman.

How to get around Jordan

There are a few different ways you can get around during your time in Jordan, but I recommend hiring a private driver! It’s a lot cheaper than you would think, and gives you way more freedom & flexibility than if you have to rely on public transportation. 

If you want to go a different route, you can rent a car (which is usually more expensive, and requires you to navigate obviously), take taxis, or use public transportation.

Why Elope in Jordan?

Jordan is a phenomenal option for couples looking to elope in the Middle East thanks to its rich history, culture, and natural beauty everywhere. Jordanians are known for their amazing hospitality, so you’ll definitely feel very welcome and appreciated as long as you’re respectful of their culture + home. It’s also a country steeped in fascinating history that dates back thousandsss of years, boasting incredible archaeological sites like the ancient city of Petra (one of the 7 Wonders of the World)! I’m not exaggerating when I say that Jordan is one of the most photogenic places in the world, with a variety of stunning landscapes from deserts to mountains to beaches – so you have a tonnn of options depending on what you want your elopement to look like.

To recap, here are the top reasons to elope in Jordan:

1. The rich culture + history
2. There’s natural beauty everywhere
3. It’s one of the most photogenic places in the world
4. There’s a variety of landscapes to choose from (mountains, beaches, deserts)
5. The archaeological sites are incredible to witness
6. The hospitality is amazing!

Convinced yet? I sure am – but I may be a little biased! 😉 

Is It Safe to Elope in Jordan?

There’s a huge misconception about Jordan, due to the country having a history with international conflict. Jordan is actually a super safe place and violent crime is really rare, so you don’t need to worry about safety any more than usual if you want to elope in Jordan! Even though it’s relatively safe, always use caution and be aware of your surroundings, just like you should in any place that’s new & unfamiliar to you.

7 Best Places to Elope in Jordan

Jordan has SO, so many spectacular places to explore, from the desert to the beaches to the crazy cool archaeological sites spread out across the country. This means you have endless amazing choices for your elopement – but if you’re having a hard time choosing, I narrowed down the top 7 best places to elope in Jordan based on my personal experiences! Each of these Jordan elopement locations has its own unique experiences to offer, and each one would be an incredible place to hold your elopement (or just visit during your time in the country).

1. Petra

Petra obviously has to be at the top of this list! One of the 7 Wonders of the World, Petra is an ancient city located in the southwestern desert of Jordan that dates way back to around 300 B.C. Getting to experience the ancient archaeological site built into rugged desert canyons & boasting the most beautiful natural orange + pink tones is something you will NEVER forget. I highly recommend spending some time learning about the history of Petra and the Arab kingdom it used to be the center of, as well as the tombs, temples, and carvings covering the sandstone cliffs before visiting!

2. Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum, also known as the “Valley of the Moon,” is a protected valley in the southeast region of Jordan, along the border of Saudi Arabia. It’s one of the most iconic desert regions in the country, filled with dramatic sandstone rock formations, deep valleys and colorful gorges, and sand dunes galore. Fun fact – Wadi Rum made appearances in The Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One! Wadi Rum has abundant opportunities for outdoor adventure, from riding camels to hiking to 4x4 tours through the sand dunes, as well as tons of unique places to stay.

3. Jerash

Located north of Jordan’s capital, Amman, Jerash is a city most known for the ruins of a Greco-Roman settlement just outside of it. The ancient city is packed with fascinating history, from the ruins to the Corinthian columns to the artifacts located in the Jerash Archaeological Museum! It’s a really cool place to go if you want to spend time learning about Jordan’s history and an ancient Roman city that has been super well-preserved over the years.

4. Aqaba

If you’d like to be close to the beach for your elopement, Aqaba is a great option! Aqaba is a port city in southern Jordan, located on the northeastern tip of the Red Sea. Surrounded by mountains and desert, this coastal city offers gorgeous beach resorts, awesome opportunities for water sports, scuba diving, and delicious seafood. And if you want to get into its history, Aqaba used to be a very important trading port in the area, ruled by the Romans, Mamluks, and Ottomans!

5. Wadi Musa

Wadi Musa is the town surrounding Petra, also known as the “Valley of Moses.” Located in southern Jordan, Wadi Musa has a variety of hotels and local restaurants to check out when you’re not exploring the ancient city of Petra!

6. Wadi al Mujib

Wadi Mujib is a river in Jordan that empties into the Dead Sea, and offers amazing views of dramatic canyons, rock formations, and plenty of opportunities for hiking, canoeing, or paddle boarding. Weaving your way through these canyons is an absolutely unforgettable experience!

7. Dead Sea

Last but obviously not least, the Dead Sea is a must for anyone eloping in Jordan. It’s the lowest freaking point on Earth, is 8% richer in oxygen than the air that most of us breathe, and boasts gorgeous scenery! But it’s biggest draw is the fact that it’s insanely salty – so salty that you can just sit back, relax, and float. And don’t forget to take advantage of the Dead Sea mud while you’re there (and bring some back home with you, if you can), because the properties of the mineral mud has incredible benefits for your skin. Keep in mind that there are no public beaches, so to access the Dead Sea you either have to enter one of the various resorts and pay a fee, or hunt down an unnamed beach.

7 Best Places to Stay in Jordan

I still haven’t gotten over the freaking EPIC places I stayed during my time in Jordan – I could’ve stayed forever!! So I wanted to share a few of the incredible places I stayed while on my trip, as well as a few more of the top-rated places to stay in Jordan for your elopement. Whether you’re looking for a luxury camp in the middle of an insane red valley that makes you feel like you’re on Mars, a luxury hotel in the middle of Petra where you literally stay in a bubble, or a 5-star resort right on the Dead Sea, every one of these places provide freaking amazing, one-of-a-kind ways to experience the beauty of Jordan.

1. Memories of Aicha Luxury Camp | Wadi Rum

2. Bubble Luxotel | Petra

3. Fairmont Amman | Amman

4. Kempinski Hotel Kempinski Hotel | Amman

5. Mövenpick Resort Petra

6. Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea | Amman

12 Unique Ideas for Your Jordan Elopement

1. Buy tickets to the Petra by Night event

If you want to experience the city of Petra in an even MORE incredible way than you already can during the day, you can get a ticket to the Petra Night Show, which allows you to explore the old city under the stars! It’s one of the most magical ways to explore an amazing part of Jordan, and runs every Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday.

2. Go reef diving in the Red Sea

The Red Sea offers some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, with amazing marine life, diverse diving sites, and even some crazy cool shipwrecks! If you and your partner love to dive then you HAVE to check “go diving in the Red Sea” off your bucket list together.

3. Ride camels in Wadi Rum 

Camel-riding is one of the most authentic ways to experience the Jordanian desert and will probably be one of the coolest experiences you’ll have in your life. The camels are known as “Ata Allah,” the “gifts of God,” and as “ships of the desert” – they’re an important part of the culture. Spend a few hours traveling through Wadi Rum via camel either during the day or at night, under the stars!

4. Smoke shisha in the caves of the desert

Smoking shisha (or “Mu’assel” in Arabic) is a super popular social activity in Jordan for both locals and tourists, and it’s actually allowed all over the country. It’s a lot more popular than drinking, which isn’t a big part of Jordanian culture. So why not take advantage and find a cool cave in the desert where you can participate in this popular part of the local culture while also experiencing gorgeous views?

5. Book a 4x4 tour

One of my personal favorite ways to experience a new place in an exciting, adventurous way is via 4x4! There are tons of opportunities to book off roading tours in the Wadi Rum Desert and all over Jordan – such a fun way to explore the desert and get a little bit of a thrill without doing anything crazy!

6. Take a hot air balloon ride

If you want to take it a step further and get one of the most unique views of the Jordanian desert possible – with a little bit of a thrilling element added in – Wadi Rum offers hot air balloon rides over the breathtaking landscapes that you absolutely CANNOT miss. This would be such a cool excursion to take your guests on, if any of your friends or family are traveling to Jordan with ya!

7. Spend the night in a Bedouin camp

Wadi Rum has an incredible Bedouin camp, where you stay in a large, Bedouin style tent and listen to Bedouin music, eat traditional cuisine, and enjoy the dramatic, beautiful landscapes around you! It’s a super cool way to spend a night out in the desert and experience the beautiful setting like the nomadic Bedouin peoples of the Middle East.

8. Sample the local food

Trying as much local food as physically possible is a MUST no matter where you go, and Jordan is no exception! The food here is incredible, and I highly recommend trying the traditional, signature dish of the country, Mansaf, as well as Makloubeh, Musakhan, & any other foods on this list.

9. Cycle through Jordan

Cycling is a fun, popular way to travel through the country, as there are tons of adventurous trails through the desert that both locals and visitors love to explore! The mountains, greenery, and wide-open desert landscapes all have incredible trails you can cycle through depending on what level of challenge you’re looking for. Check out some of the most unique cycling experiences in Jordan here!

10. Float in the Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea is a must for anyone visiting Jordan – I mean, if this isn’t on your international travel bucket list, I don’t know what is! The experience of just laying back & letting your body float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea is such a cool one that I’ll never forget.

11. Canoe/paddle board in Wadi al Mujib

Remember that river I mentioned earlier on, Wadi al Mujib? Not only is it an amazing place to elope for its gorgeous scenery – it’s also an awesome place to take a swim or go canoeing, paddle boarding, or waterfall-chasing!

12. Hike Dana Nature Reserve

Dana is the largest nature reserve in Jordan with incredible hiking opportunities, as well as a rich history & culture to learn about. If you’re looking for the best hikes in Jordan, the Dana Nature Reserve is one of the places you won’t want to miss!

How to Get Your Jordan Marriage License

If you want to get legally married in Jordan as U.S. citizens, you will only be able to do so if you’re both Muslim or are both Christian. Jordanian law doesn’t permit civil marriages or marriages of people with other faiths! So if you and your partner qualify and you do want to get legally married in Jordan, you can check out the U.S. Embassy website for info about the licensing process.

If you’re not both Muslim or Christian, or you’d rather just avoid the process of getting legally married in Jordan as foreigners, you can opt for a symbolic ceremony instead. This means you get married back home before your trip, and then have a symbolic vow exchange in Jordan instead of a legal ceremony! It’s JUST as meaningful, and takes away a lot of the hassle when planning your trip 🙂

What to Wear for Your Jordan Elopement

It’s important to know that Jordan is primarily a Muslim country, so you need to be respectful of the local Muslim culture when you’re visiting, no matter where you yourself are from. Be sure to pack scarves and layers you can use to cover up when visiting temples or other sacred sites that require more coverage!

As far as your elopement day goes: if you want to wear a dress, I’d suggest opting for something that covers your shoulders and falls below the knees, but is still breathable, lightweight, and flowy. Because Jordan can get so hot and the desert climate is pretty dry, it’s important to wear something that you can move around in without getting crazy sweaty! Avoid anything low-cut or anything that bares your shoulders.

For suits: I’d say to also find something as lightweight as possible, or even opt to wear a lightweight long sleeve shirt & dress pants in lieu of a full suit, if it’s too hot. Long sleeve shirts & long pants are normal for men in Jordan, and you should avoid shorts, tank tops, etc. Men cannot be topless in Jordan, so you’ll just have to bear with the heat as best you can in lightweight clothes!

My Top Jordan Travel Tips for Your Elopement

Planning travel logistics for a place you’ve never visited can be suuuper difficult – so to help you out, I’ve put together a list of my top travel tips for Jordan that I learned during my recent trip! Keeping these tips in mind when you’re planning your elopement & travel deets will make sure you’re familiar with the local culture and expectations, and aren’t hit with anything too unexpected 🙂

1. When you travel to Jordan, you’ll need to get a visa upon arrival. Getting this visa on its own will cost you about $56 USD, but I recommend getting the Jordan Pass instead! This is a pass that not only covers the cost of your tourist entry visa, but also grants you access to over 40 of Jordan’s most popular tourist attractions (including Petra, Wadi Rum, & more). The cost of the pass depends on the details of your trip, but it will save you a LOT of money – trust me!
2. Always bring a scarf with you just in case you need to cover up while visiting more conservative areas, such as sacred religious sites. I recommend packing a couple of pashmina scarves – not only are they easy to carry around, they also add a pretty touch to photos!
3. Only drink bottled water – no tap water. 
4. If you’re vegetarian, keep in mind that Jordanian food usually has a lot of meat. There are still other options but it’s something to be aware of when it comes to meals!
5. The official language of Jordan is modern Arabic, but English is widely-spoken, too.
6. Don’t travel to Jordan during Ramadan, because everything closes down!
7. The currency in Jordan is the Jordanian dinar (JOD), and the current exchange rate (as of April 2023) is 1 JOG to 1.41 USD.
8. Jordan is an expensive country to visit, so budget accordingly. It’s best to bring cash with you as there are no ATMs once you get further away from the cities, and keep in mind that tipping is not necessary but is welcomed!

Best Time of Year to Elope in Jordan

The best time of year to elope in Jordan totally depends on what type of weather you’re looking for, what types of activities you want to plan, and what you want your elopement to look like! Overall, I would say that the best months to elope in Jordan are April, May, October, and November.

Spring in Jordan (March-April) typically sees temperatures in the 45-75°F range, which is much cooler than the summer months and is ideal for couples who want to go hiking or participate in lots of outdoor activities. This is also the time of year when wildflowers are blooming, and you’ll find the fewest crowds at Petra!

Fall in Jordan (September-October) is also a high tourist season, seeing temperatures between 60-90°F just like the summer – however, temperatures start to fall in the mornings & evenings, making it a little bit more bearable to do activities during the day. Olive harvesting happens during these months, and it’s also a great time for diving if you want to spend some time in the water during your time in Jordan!

Winter in Jordan (November-February) can be pretty rainy, and the desert is obviously at its coldest this time of year. Temperatures in the winter usually stay between 30-65°F, and snow does fall on the mountains – so it’s not the best time to elope if you want to hike or plan activities at higher elevations.

One thing to note is that the desert can get surprisingly cold at night throughout the entire year, so pack accordingly – the way the temperature can drop so quickly once the sun goes down, even in the summer, is wild!

Jordan Elopement Photographer

I am TOTALLY in love with Jordan after my recent trip, and think it is such an incredible place for couples to elope. I’d freaking love to be your Jordan elopement photographer and show you all the spots I discovered during my trip, and explore new ones with you, too! If you’re ready to create the most magical Jordan elopement experience together and get even more tips for how to elope in Jordan, you can check out my website to learn more about me, and then take a look at my Jordan elopement packages + pricing below. Can’t wait to experience this amazing country with you!

---

PIN FOR LATER

Looking for more international elopement destinations to consider for your big day? Check out a few of my recent international elopement guides below!

How to Elope in Egypt in 2023

How to Elope in Bali in 2023

25 Best Places to Elope in Bali in 2023