In our humble opinion eloping in Utah is about as good as it gets; if you love red rocks, red earth, big views, beautiful geology, and of course the desert. Getting there can be difficult depending on where you live and where you are trying to go. If flying to Utah we highly recommend renting a car, or better yet something with clearance, AWD, or 4WD. Narrowing the list down was extremely difficult because of how many beautiful places there are, but this list will give you a great taste of the options available. Let’s get down to business.

Let’s start with the Moab area. Generally, when people consider eloping in Moab they immediately tend to think of Arches. While we like Arches, we prefer Canyonlands. It’s directly across the highway and is much easier to have to yourself. Canyonlands is composed of three sections: Island in the Sky, The Maze, and The Needles District. Island in the Sky is Arches’ neighbor (it’s about forty five minutes to drive from the Arches Visitor Center to Island in the Sky, or an hour from Moab (no off-road vehicle needed). Keep in mind you will need a permit to elope within any of the national parks in Utah.

On your way to Island in the Sky you’ll drive past Dead Horse State Park. No Utah elopement photographer would dare keep this place off of their favorites list. It’s sandwiched between Arches and Canyonlands and you won’t be disappointed by the views; many of which you can literally drive to. You will be amazed where the main road in Dead Horse ends up taking you, we promise. What else would you expect from the place between two national parks?

Also worth mention, and about five minutes on the same road (Utah Highway 313) that takes you to Dead Horse and Island in the Sky is The Red Earth Venue. This rather new wedding venue has stunning views of the surrounding sandstone cliffs and desert flora, and is perfect for intimate weddings, receptions, and larger weddings.

No list of Utah locations would be complete without Zion National Park. Many Utah elopement packages are tailored for elopements here. Most visitors would typically fly to St. George (an hour drive from the park) or Las Vegas (2-hours away) and rent a car to get here. Zion’s geology is absolutely stunning and although the park is very popular it’s surprisingly easy to get away from the crowds if you are willing to hike a little bit. For the truly adventurous, canyoneering elopements are about as good as it gets here. Want help planning your Utah desert elopement? Reach out to us HERE

Arches deserves to be on the list, but it also requires the most strict planning. Permits are necessary, timing is very important, and avoiding the crowds can be a challenge; however, the geology and scenery is incredible. If your Utah adventure elopement dreams involve vows under a giant rock arch, Arches is probably the easiest place to bring that vision to life.

Now we dive into the more remote regions of Utah: North Lake Powell and the surrounding area are stunning. Out here you are unlikely to run into a single other soul and you really get the sense of having the landscape to yourself. Adventures out here can be rugged or roadside, but if you are looking for an epic desert elopement experience you can’t go wrong. Backpacking to Rainbow Bridge, 4-wheeling above Cataract Canyon, or rappelling through an arch in the North Wash in your wedding dress are all options out here.

The Salt Flats West of Salt Lake City, Utah, should also not be underestimated. The landscape is otherworldly and is the easiest spot to access from this whole list. It’s easy to have the place to yourself, within an hour of SLC, and requires no special permits, hiking, or 4-wheel drive. Although they seem mundane, they are quite beautiful and make spectacular photos.

Finally, our favorite places in Utah are off the radar. They don’t have crowds, don’t require permits, offer unique landscapes for inspiring photos, and make for epic, original elopements. These places tend to be in the BLM lands and are less regulated than the national parks. Utah has a vast network of backcountry roads and the possibilities are truly endless. Contact us to bring your ideas to life and we’ll find you the perfect place for your desert elopement! Check out our gallery for more inspiration. For more information about Utah elopements feel free to check out our Eloping in Utah webpage.