Elopement Ireland/scotland

Coming from the US you need a valid passport to enter the UK or Ireland. You only need a valid driver's license if you plan on renting a vehicle over there - your passport can be your ID (though I suggest having a secondary government ID like a license as a safety). You don't need a visa to travel from the US to the UK or Ireland for vacation.

For elopements, check out Gretna Green: https://www.gretnagreen.com/wedding-faqs-a773

It's a very famous village in Scotland that is known for being where people would run off to elope. They have a section specifically for overseas couples: https://www.gretnagreen.com/overseas-couples-a802

I have a friend who did this right as the pandemic was about to hit at the beginning of March 2020. Her and her fiancé eloped to Gretna Green and she would legit not change a thing.

If you go to Scotland, its British pounds, Ireland uses the Euro.

I've never been to Ireland, though my parents have gone several times and adore it. Both Scotland and Ireland have tons of cool castles and cliffs that you can visit, and all of their sites most likely have info on if you can get married there. Gretna Green is really cool and super historical - which is extra fun. Plus you get married at a Blacksmith!

Scotland has pretty relaxed laws about being resident there for a certain length of time before getting married there - a lot of places you have to be there for a specific time beforehand, Scotland you don’t. Gretna Green, as Orianna said, is most famous - it’s the first village across the border on the main north-south road so if people wanted to elope that’s where they went (also popular because in Scotland you can marry at 16 without parental permission, in England you have to be 18!). My best friend got married there - another friend and I were their witnesses and it was super lovely. My husband and I visited on our honeymoon as well (although we didn’t get married there) and actually got asked if we would witness a marriage for a couple who only had their two kids with them - so we did, in our jeans and hoodies!

This page: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/family/living-together-marriage-and-civil-partnership-s/getting-married-s/ has useful info about the legalities you have to go through too.