How to Get Married at the Utah Salt Flats

The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah is an incredible place to get married. A vast land of glittery salt is like nothing else in the world. It is even more beautiful at sunrise or sunset when the flats are flooded; Less than an inch of water covers the flats for miles and reflects the sky.  Salt flats weddings are totally gorgeous and unique! A blank canvas for your special day.

Utah Marriage License

Some couples choose to get married at their local county clerk before traveling out to the salt flats. It can save some stress!

You can obtain a Utah Marriage license from any county clerk office in Utah. There is no waiting time but you only have 30 days to get married after getting your license. Here is what you need to get the license:

• Apply online (Salt Lake City, Tooele, Wendover)
• Most are available by appointment only due to Covid
• Valid picture ID such as a passport, birth certificate, driver license, or state ID card, social security numbers and contact info.

You must also have the proper officiant and 2 witnesses over 18 years old to sign the document. I’m an officiant if you need one! I just say the few sentences to legally marry you, sign your license, then we find 2 witnesses to sign. They could be strangers at the salt flats or other vendors if you are eloping with just the two of you. I’m not taking photos at that time but do record it on a GoPro video.

The neat thing about getting married at the salt flats is that you can choose to do the paperwork before or after exchanging vows to make it easy. 2025 Update: everything is online now! Your witnesses can sign a digital version of your marriage license!

Getting to the Utah Salt Flats

You can type in “Bonneville Salt Flats Westbound Rest Stop” into your GPS. From Salt Lake City, you will head West on the I-80 for 1.5 hours. 5 minutes before Wendover you will see the rest stop. Be sure to fill up your gas tank, get snacks and water before leaving since there are no stops along the way!

There is a small parking lot and port-a-potties at the rest stop. The restrooms have been “under construction” for a couple years now there. The rest stop is privately owned. There is no way to drive onto the salt flats from the rest stop as barriers have been put in place. There are picnic tables and it is super close to walk onto the flats.

Another option is going to the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway. You’ll exit the I-80 at the gas station and follow the paved road to the speedway. This is a good option if you are planning on staying in Wendover since it is the closest exit heading East. You will also be able to drive onto the salt flats here! This is where the world’s speed records are held! Do not drive on the salt flats in the winter, when they are flooded or slushy as you will most likely get stuck.

Get Married at the Utah Salt Flats with a Special Use Permit

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a vast space in North West Utah, just 5 minutes from Wendover, Nevada. The land is managed by the federal government so to get married at the salt flats you can get the special use permit here or here is the contact information

Bonneville Salt Flats/West Desert

BLM: Salt Lake Field Office (Website)

Caleb Robitaille – (801) 977-4394 – crobitaille@blm.gov

A wedding permit is required if you’re actually getting married there. If you’re just wanting to take photos there, then no permit is required as of October 2021. Always check with the land manager for the latest rules.

There are signs now by the Westbound rest stop that say private land, but no contact information is available. The rest stop is owned privately but since there is no contact, I take it as they want to reduce liability if anyone gets hurt there.

When to get Married at the Utah Salt Flats

The Utah Salt Flats have a flooded, “wet” season and a “dry” season. Either is absolutely gorgeous! When flooded, the thin layer of water creates a surreal reflection. The glittery white salt lines in the summer are beautiful too!

They are typically dry for the summer and Fall, then flooded the rest of the year. You can check out this LIVE webcam to see what they look like currently http://home.chpc.utah.edu/~u0553130/Camera_Display/bflat.html

Temperatures are usually close to the Salt Lake weather though the flats usually have more wind and no snow or ice! If you want the water it will usually be colder, but the warm weather is perfect June-August.

2025 Bonneville Salt Flats Events

Avoid events happening there. The Bonneville Salt Flats Speedway is where the world land speed records are held. Be sure to check the latest events on Google.

Salt Flats Endurance Runs May 2-3
2025 USFRA event dates Test & tune June 27, 28, 29
Speed Week August 2nd-8th
Dusk to Dawn Relay August 29th-30th
World of Speed September 5-8

Tips for Getting Married at the Utah Salt Flats

When you get married at the Utah Salt Flats, be prepared for a magical experience as well as getting salt everywhere! You can where whatever shoes you want basically because the salt is rock hard when dry. When it is flooded, it is only about an inch deep so you can wear rain boots or I have rubber boots for my couples if you need some. You can go barefoot, but your feet will get intensely exfoliated. I would rather you be comfortable!

Salt may get onto your clothes, but can easily be washed out or dry cleaned. 

Sunrise on a weekday is the best time to get married if you want to be alone. But sunset is also gorgeous! The salt flats are so vast it is easy to get away from any other visitors.

*Please note* I’m a leave-no-trace photographer and part of what I document on your wedding day are the everchanging landscapes we are experiencing. The island the above photo was taken on is now covered in dirt :/ alas, there are other little islands that can be available depending on the weather. There are also many locations that can provide a similar style such as Badwater Basin Salt Flats in Death Valley, white sand beaches that are found in Tulum or Tahiti or the Bahamas. I’m well traveled and can help you find the best spot for your wedding day!

Making Your Wedding at the Utah Salt Flats Special

Exchanging your marriage vows is usually pretty quick, maybe 15-30 minutes. But you don’t get married every day so let’s make this the best day ever! You can start your day in downtown Salt Lake City or Park City, getting ready and hanging out with your friends.

Then drive out to your wedding. You can exchange vows, do a unity ceremony, take epic wedding photos at the Utah Salt Flats. Make sure to take time to just enjoy the beautiful view with each other.

You can take a small plane tour over the salt flats, my husband is a pilot so this is special to our heart!

Afterward, you can have a catered dinner, have fun in Wendover or camp in the desert with dinner and s’mores over a campfire. Stargazing is a great option there since there is little light pollution. Typically in the late summer, you’ll be able to see the milky way.

*Special note about the viral kayaking salt flats photo…
There was a viral photo taken in one of the canals near the salt flats of people kayaking (and swimming ew) in the contaminated water. Not only is this trespassing but dangerous to your health. Those canals are chemical run off from the mine behind the salt flats. They are private property. Most have been filled in with dirt now for safety but please don’t try to kayak there…there are so many better places you could go.

Two Day Wedding Day Timeline Example

I customize wedding day timelines to fit the needs of my couples, ranging from 4 hours of coverage to multiple days of coverage. Here is an example of a two day elopement timeline from a couple I photographed there in 2021:

Day 1: 4 hours of Photography Coverage at the Salt Flats

2:00pm : Meet at the Bonneville Salt Flats – change into wedding attire
2:30pm: First Look
3:00pm: Ceremony
3:30pm: Celebrate with champagne
3:45pm: Dog Photos
4:00pm: Change locations for husband and wife photos
5:32pm: Sunset – drone photos
6:00pm: End photography coverage for Day One

Day 2: 8 hours of Photography Coverage in Park City
12:00pm: Meet at Park City cabin – photograph details
1:00pm: Ring ceremony with immediate family
1:30pm: Family photos
2:00pm: Zoom with family and friends that couldn’t attend
3:00pm: Cocktails and games
5:15pm: Sunset – Blue hour photos
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm: Snow photos with flash and astrophotography
8:00pm: Hot tub in the snow photos
9:00pm: End photography coverage for Day Two

Are you Ready to Get Married at the Utah Salt Flats?

Please contact me as soon as you can so I can help you plan your awesome wedding 🙂 Just fill out this form real quick at https://kacilou.com/contact for more info!

I’m a Utah Salt Flats Elopement Photographer that would love to make your wedding extra special! I offer a Salt Flats Elopement Package where I can take your photos and marry you as an officiant if needed!

I would love to what you think about getting married at the Utah Salt Flats and any tips you have to add in the comments below!