The Ultimate Guide to Elope in Utah

If you’re planning an adventurous Utah elopement, you’ve come to the right place. As an adventure elopement photographer, I’ve got all the tips for you! From deciding on what you want your elopement day to look like to choosing the perfect location, this guide will help you plan the adventurous Utah elopement of your dreams.

Where to Start

First thing’s first – you should talk with your partner and decide on an “elopement day vision.” One of the questions I ask on my contact form is what your favorite adventure together has been so far as a couple, and the answer might give you a great starting point for this! Think about if you two want to get ready together on the day of your elopement, if you want to go on a sunrise hike, etc. This will help determine the best locations for your adventurous Utah elopement.

PS – If you need help coming up with your vision, I’m always available to help my couples plan the elopement of their dreams!

Adventurous Utah Elopement Locations

Here’s where we’ll be briefly overviewing a few of my favorite adventurous Utah elopement locations. If you want a more in-depth guide on my favorite destination elopement locations, you can check out this blog.

MOAB DESERT
Moab is the only town in Utah located right on the Colorado River, but that’s not the only reason it’s one of my favorite locations. There are beautiful red rock cliffs surrounding the valley, combined with rugged, desert terrain. I honestly can’t think of a more perfect scene for an adventure elopement! Here in Moab, you can have a quaint Airbnb elopement or choose a more traditional venue. A few of my favorites are Whispering Oaks Ranch, Sorrel River Ranch, and The Red Earth Venue! 

Activities in Moab for your adventurous Utah elopement:

• There are countless beautiful hikes in Moab, so this would be a great spot if you plan on doing a sunset or sunrise hike with your partner on your elopement day! 
• You can visit Moab Desert Adventures for more structured activities like climbing, canyoneering, and more

BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS
The Utah Bonneville Salt Flats have been gaining in popularity for elopement destinations because of the uniqueness of the landscape. The flats are about 30,000 acres of salt that formed when the ancient Lake Bonneville dried up, leaving geometric salt deposits in the Great Basin. The soil is too salty for vegetation to grow, leaving it completely desolate. When the flats are wet, the water creates a near perfect mirror of the mountains surrounding the flats and the sky.

It is located about an hour and a half west of Salt Lake City, UT, and is BLM Land, which requires a Special Use Permit with a $50 fee: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-passes/special-recreation-permits/utah

LAKE POWELL
Lake Powell is home to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (which would also be a great elopement location) and is technically the country’s second largest reservoir. If you’ve ever seen Lake Powell in person, you know exactly why this location is on the list. It’s truly such an amazing sight, which is why I wanted to suggest it as an Utah elopement spot. If you want to get real adventurous, you can elope at one of Lake Powell’s many slot canyons. If that’s not really your vibe, no worries! Antelope Point Marina offers houseboat weddings & elopements (yeah, imagine that!) or lakeside beach ceremonies, depending on your preference.

Activities near Lake Powell for your adventurous Utah elopement:

• Even if you don’t elope at Antelope Point Marina, you can still rent a houseboat for you & your guests! Or if it’s just you and your boo and you don’t want to rent an entire houseboat, there are smaller boats available for a post-elopement ride on the lake.
• Want to experience Lake Powell in a way that you never have before? Check out Tower Butte for their amazing helicopter tours!

PINK LAKE
The Pink Lake in Utah is a section of the Great Salt Lake that was separated by a railway (and yes, it is really pink!) Its neighboring sections are blue, because they get a flow of freshwater from neighboring rivers. The Pink section, on the other hand, has about 10 times the salt concentration, making it home to salt-loving cells such as carotenoids (also found in carrots) that give the entire lake a glowing pink color.

It is located about 2 hours from Salt Lake City (you may even consider splitting up your Utah adventure elopement into two parts– a couple hours at Bonneville Salt Flats and a few at the Pink Lake to capture two super unique locations!)

Utah’s “Mighty 5” National Park Elopement Locations

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Arches National Park is located just north of Moab, and is bordered by the Colorado River. It encompasses over 2,000 acres of breathtaking sandstone arches that would make a beautiful backdrop for your adventure elopement. There are 9 different locations within the park that you can hold your ceremony at, ranging from a guest count limit of 10-80. If you choose to elope here, keep in mind that you will have to obtain a special use permit. The total cost of the permit fees are about $185. For more information on Arches weddings, follow this link: https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/weddings.htm

Activities at or around Arches National Park for your adventurous Utah elopement:

• Taking the Arches Scenic Drive
• Hike Park Avenue or Delicate Arch Trail
• Sunrise visit to La Sal Mountains, where you can get 360 views of the park

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK
Capitol Reef National Park is another gorgeous red rock desert view, famous for its Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile geological “wrinkle” in Earth’s surface.  As an alternative to exploring on foot, horseback riding tours are provided by the park!

The Wedding Permit at Capitol Reef is a $50 fee, and more information can be found here: ​​https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/wedding-permits.htm

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Bryce Canyon is most well known for its large concentration of Hoodoos, a unique column-like natural rock formation. (It actually holds the most concentrated amount of Hoodoos anywhere on Earth!) You can drive across the plateau rim, or explore down into the rock forest through their hiking trails.

The closest town is the small town of Bryce, Utah, only about 2 miles down the road from the park entrance. In order to elope in the park, a Bryce Canyon Special Use Permit will cost $100. More information about Bryce Canyon Permits can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/married.htm

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
On the Southwest side of Moab, Canyonlands National Park also features beautiful sights of red rock desert. It is significantly larger than arches, covering over 337,000 acres of mesas, canyons, spires and more. The extensive park lands provide a vast range of trail options, from easily accessible views to longer hikes and ATV tours.

A Special Use Permit is required to elope in the park, including a fee of $185. You can find more information on Canyonland elopement rules here: https://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/weddings.htm

ZION NATIONAL PARK
Last but certainly not least on the list of elopement locations in Utah, we have Zion National Park. Located in southwest Utah, Zion is home to an beautiful, expansive canyon averaging about 2,000 feet deep. This is a seriously breathtaking national park, and it would be a perfect spot for all my adventurers. There are 6 pre-approved ceremony locations within the park where you can have your elopement at Zion National Park. If you want more variety, there are multiple areas & venues right outside or around the park.

You can absolutely elope at a venue, and then go explore the park afterwards as an activity itself! Although there are only 6 ceremony sites in Zion, you can take photos anywhere within the park in your wedding clothes. If you do decide to elope within the park, a special use permit will be required, and that fee is $100. More information is here: https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/weddings-in-zion-national-park.htm

When to Elope in Utah

When planning out your Utah elopement date, there are a few seasonal things to keep in mind. First, the national parks will all have a lot of visitors during the summer. Shoulder seasons (fall and spring) can give you a little bit more seclusion in the popular park locations. If you decide to go ahead with a summer elopement, make sure you are prepared for hot desert temperatures: bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and food for nourishment! Winter can get cold, and even the deserts of southern Utah may get some snow. (If you want to brave the cold, the white snow can make the red rock really pop!)

How to Elope in Utah

If you’re eloping in Utah, you definitely want to know what the legal requirements are well beforehand. First off, you must obtain a marriage license and have it solemnized by an authorized officiant. You can get this license at any Country Clerk’s office (the county you’ll be getting married in), but you both have to appear in person to fill out the application. The fee can range anywhere from $20-$50 depending on the county. 

In Utah, there is no waiting period once the license is issued, but you should still try and obtain it 2-3 days before your elopement to avoid any hiccups. You have 32 days before the license expires and have to reapply for a new one. 

When you go to the County Clerk to obtain your license, here are the things you should bring:

• Social Security Card
• Valid form of identification
• Birth certificate
• The names & birth places of both parents of both applicants

Utah Elopement Packages

All of my elopement packages have one thing in common: unlimited support from me, your adventure elopement photographer. From the moment we jump on the phone and you start sharing your love story, I’m invested. That means that I will be there for you, helping you to create your dream wedding, and cheering you on for the biggest day of your life. 

Along with unlimited support, you’ll receive a 100+ page wedding guide, a custom list of location suggestions once I learn your vision, a customized timeline to ensure your day runs smoothly, full day elopement coverage, and more. To read up on the details of my elopement packages, you can click here.