Your Guide to Eloping in Utah
Have a Utah Elopement
Why Elope in Utah?
Utah is an incredible state. I love exploring new places in this state, and I know that it is a rad place for your adventurous elopement. Utah has stunning snow capped mountains, incredible canyon overlooks, and sandstone arches and slot canyons. There are 5 National Parks and a handful of State Parks to explore. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to eloping in Utah. Every place is full of adventure, beauty, and memories ready to be made.
Let’s Talk About Landscape
Utah is a diverse state. In Northern Utah you find beautiful places such as the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Wasatch Mountains stretches towards the south, and the adventures to be found among those peaks are endless. Southern Utah is a desert paradise with an incredible amount of places to experience. Choosing a location comes down to when you want to elope, where you want to explore, and what place feels right for you and your love.
Time of Year to Elope in Utah
Utah has intense and beautiful seasons. Summers are real hot, while winters are down right cold. You can find the best snow on Earth in Utah, and the wildflowers and fall foliage is hard to beat. The weeks around Spring break and the Summer months can leave wild places packed with tourists. Early Spring, Fall, and Winter are great times to elope and avoid the crowds.
Best Places to Elope in Utah
Moab
Moab is full of red rocks, red dirt, and endless adventures! With two National Parks, rock climbing, canyoneering and off-roading there are a bunch of adventures to have. You can hike through slot canyons, under arches, in river carved canyons, and even get mountain views. Moab is a beautiful slice of desert wonderland in Southern Utah. It even has its own airport for easier travel for you!
Zion National Park
Zion is Utah’s first national park for good reason. From inspiring canyons, to a raging river, petroglyphs, daring hikes, to colors beyond belief, Zion is a beautiful place to elope in.
The Wasatch Mountains
The Wasatch stretches from the Utah-Idaho border to Central Utah. They offer alpine lakes, jagged peaks, rivers, canyons, and some of the greatest hiking, climbing, and backpacking in Utah. These mountains are a great place to beat the heat or shred some pow! They don’t call it the Greatest Snow on Earth for no reason!
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon is the neatest place! Hoodoos are such wild sculptures that reflect the sun in beautiful ways. You can hike down into Bryce Amphitheater to get a unique view of these sandstone structures. I recommend watching the sunrise in Bryce as the hoodoos transform from pink to orange.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef is Utah’s most underrated National Park. There are a ton of awesome spots to explore like Cassidy Arch or Temple of the Sun and Moon. You may even be able to get some home made pie with fruit from the park’s orchard! This place is super unique and worth the adventure.
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park is an incredible place to experience Utah’s iconic red rock. The hoodoos that cover the landscape have been nicknamed “goblins.” They give the park a unique look and provide an experience that you will never forget. You can run around on sandstone and see unique goblins at every turn.
Kanab
One of the more unexplored areas in Utah, Kanab offers a ton of off grid adventures. If you want to be in a less touristy area with plenty of slot canyons, off-roading, and hiking then Kanab is your place.
How to Get Your Utah Marriage License
Getting your Utah marriage license is a fairly easy process. The licenses are good for 30 days and you can get your license the same day as your elopement!
To Get Your License:
- Both you and your partner must be present, have legal ID, and know your socials at the time of application
- You need to know your full names, your dates and places of birth, your addresses, parents names, and parents places of birth for the application
- You must pay fees that range from $30-50 that may be cash only
- Your elopement needs an officiant to be legal
- Two witnesses must sign your license
Permits (aka booking the venue)
Another great reason to elope in nature is that it can save you money. Instead of paying the average $12,000 on a venue in Utah, you apply for a ceremony or special use permit (which range from just $50-$400), rent a campground, or reserve a ceremony location.
Permit prices vary by the location, but know that your dollars are going to a good cause. Paying for a permit is like donating to a wild space. That money helps fund projects that keeps public lands clean and open, and allows us to continue on our adventures in these sic places.
Make Your Elopement Adventurous!
There are so many incredible adventures that you can have in Utah. From beautiful lakes, to snowy slopes, to the sprawling desert, the adventures are endless. Here are a few types of adventure that you can look forward to!
- Canyoneering
- Hiking
- Jeeping
- Mountain biking
- River rafting
- Paddle boarding
- Climbing
- Backpacking
- Skiing + snowboarding
- Helicopter touring
- Sand boarding
Ready to Elope in Utah?
I can’t wait to help you plan your adventurous wedding day. Let’s take your love on a wild adventure!
