Where to Elope in Utah

I am originally from Ohio, but have been in Utah on and off for the last 5 years. Because I didn’t grow up in Utah, I became obsessed with exploring the great outdoors that is all around me. So I know all of the best places if you’re not sure where to elope in Utah!

A lot of my friends who grew up here have said that I know Utah better than they do! And that I have seen more of Utah than they have haha. Which always surprises me. But I also made a conscious decision to take advantage of this beautiful place and not take it for granted. 

Because of this, I have been able to find beautiful locations to take future clients! And now, I’m going to share a few of them with you!

Utah is literally one of the most beautiful places in the world, and offers SO many different backdrops! Between the red rocks, salt flats, lakes, and forests up in the mountains, you can’t go wrong with eloping in Utah!

1. BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON

When thinking about where to elope in Utah, maybe the mountains come to mind. Big Cottonwood Canyon will forever have my heart. This is where I hiked for the first time and where I learned how to climb. Some of my favorite camping spots are up BCC.

There are a couple spots within this canyon that are perfect for photos or a ceremony!

1. Jordan Pines Campground
This is a very popular area but for good reason! As seen in the photo above, you get a perfect mix of the pine trees and snow capped mountains. Even with this being a popular spot, I have always been able to find a secluded spot. This would definitely be a better option during the week and in the morning though. As it gets busier in the evenings and on the weekends!

2. Storm Mountain
This area is a popular area for rock climbers, as there are vast rock formations in this area. Within this area, there is a stream that runs through, a beautiful field that has little wildflowers in the summer, and an amphitheater as well. If you or any of your guests park in the parking lot for Storm Mountain, there is a small fee. Otherwise, they can park on the side of the main road and walk over.

2.  Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef is easily one of the most slept on National Parks in the country! When people visit Utah, they often skip right by this park or don’t even know it exists. But Capitol Reef and the surrounding BLM land nearby are probably some of the most otherworldly places I’ve ever been to.

This park is also the closest to Salt Lake, which is why it surprises me that its not as visited as some of the other parks. If you are looking for that iconic Utah desert feel with the red rocks, but want to avoid crowd or paying the steep permit fees down in Moab, then you’ll definitely want to consider Capitol Reef for your elopement! They are also way more relaxed about where you can elope in the park, as long as it is in the front country.

3. MOAB

I would argue that when many people are thinking of where to elope in Utah, they probably think of the iconic red rocks and arches. Moab is truly other worldly and unlike any other place I have ever been. Not only do you get the red rocks, you’ll also get the La Sal Mountains in the background! And if you go to Canyonlands, you get vast canyon landscapes that go on for miles. Plus there are two National Parks and Dead Horse Point State Park right in Moab! You get so many diverse scenes in this one location! 

If you and your significant other love hiking, camping, climbing, four wheeling, or want to see some of the most brilliant stars out there, Moab is the place for you!

You can also travel about an hour outside of Moab and go up into the La Sal Mountains. The La Sal Mountains are beautiful and much different than the red rocks you’ll see in Moab!

4. THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS

If it’s not the red rocks, the other big one people think of when deciding where to elope in Utah, is the Bonneville Salt Flats. This is another location that will make you feel like you’re on another planet! This is a perfect spot to say your vows and to hold a small reception afterwards! The Salt Flats have been even been featured in a few movies, like Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and Independence Day! The Salt Flats are about 2 hours West of Salt Lake City. Once you get there, you can drive out onto the flats and find a spot you love.

There is nothing to shade you from the sun out there, and is truly a desert location. So I highly suggest planning for a sunset ceremony, or one of the cooler months of the year.

And during certain times of the year, you can go out there and find a lake sitting on top of the salt! These make for some insanely cool photos, as they create a mirror like effect for photos.

When visiting, you can also hop on over to Wendover, Nevada and do some gambling if that’s your thing! It’s only about 10 minutes away, and there are resorts and Airbnb’s if you and your guests would like to stay out there.

And because it’s so far away from any major city, the stars are also insane here. You’re definitely in for a show if it’s a clear night!

5. ZION NATIONAL PARK

Zion is another amazing gem that Utah has to offer. It was Utah’s first national park (we are home to 5 national parks!!), and offers vast sandstone walls of reds, oranges, and pinks that tower up to the sky. While there’s only a few places within the park where you can legally have a ceremony, we can hike and do portraits around the park and get these jaw dropping views as your backdrop!

There are also many activities available in the area, like camping/glamping, many incredible hikes, off roading, and star gazing (Zion just became an International Dark Sky Park!), just to name a few.

I know I keep mentioning the stars haha, but they’re just so dang cool and amazing here!! Plus I just got into astrophotography on my latest trip to Moab, so I’m slightly obsessed haha. Maybe I’ll share those photos in another blog post one of these days!

Utah is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world, and offers an array of different landscapes and beautiful backdrops for your wedding day. There is no need to stress over figuring out the perfect place to elope in Utah.

The locations I’ve shared today are only a few of my favorites, but I have a whole location guide specific to Utah, that I offer my clients at booking if they are not super set on one specific place. I promise you that we will find your dream location for your dream elopement or intimate wedding!

Feel free to contact me to get started with planning your own day!