The Best Places to Elope in Utah
The Best Places to Elope in Utah
The best places to elope in Utah are listed below! The top 10 places are based on the epic views, how private it is, if they allow dogs (because yes, bringing your pup on your wedding day is a must), and how you can get a permit to get married there.
Seasonality and tourism are also crucial in deciding if you should actually elope there! Northern Utah gets a lot more snow, for a lot longer than Southern Utah. Weekdays during sunrise will always be less crowed than a Saturday at sunset.
Utah has 5 national parks, a few national monuments, and tons of state parks, there is something for everyone! Utah really is the best place to Elope! Check out my top 10 picks and a BONUS at the end: the best places to elope in Utah by landscape. You can save this image to Pinterest so you can come back to the list later!
Onto the best 10 places to elope right here in Utah!
1. Moab – Arches
Moab is my top pick for best place to elope in Utah! Red rocks everywhere with amazing formations and canyons, you can spend the week exploring all the coolest spots here. My top spots for your Moab Elopement are:
Arches National Park
Arches National Park: Pretty popular park, your pup can come on a leash but there are restricted areas, get your permit here.
The amazing natural arches you find here, make the perfect wedding arch for your elopement!
Dead Horse Point State Park
Dead Horse Point State Park: Popular place, but so vast, you have lots of great options to catch a great view of the giant canyon. Pups are allowed on a leash everywhere but not allowed on the Intrepid Trail. Use this link to get your wedding permit for Dead Horse Point.
Under Canvas Moab
Under Canvas Moab: Glamping at it’s finest! I absolutely love staying with them! A great way to see the outdoors in luxury. You do get a private tent in a little camp of people, you can bring your pup, book your room and adventure here. This place makes it easy to elope then come back to a base camp to celebrate with your closest friends and family!
2. Bonneville Salt Flats
The Salt Flats located in Northwestern Utah, 5 minutes from Wendover, NV, most people drive past this vast empty space without a second thought. If only they stopped to watch the sunset there, then they would know why it comes in as the #2 best place to elope in Utah!
The Salt Flats are incredible because you can totally bring your doggo and they are so vast, you have an easy time finding a spot to call your own away from the tourists. The coolest part though, is that the Salt Flats have a wet season and a dry season! Typically dry in the summer and wet the rest of the year, you can check to see if they have water or not on this live webcam.
When they are flooded, it is just a thin layer of still water that reflects the sky so it looks like you are walking on clouds. When they are dry, it is a vast desert of glittery white salt crunching beneath your toes. The Salt Flats are out of this world; it’s actually used for movie sets like Star Wars and Pirates of the Carribean!
You can get your salt flats wedding permit at this site and I also wrote a blog post with the best tips for getting married there here.
3. Zion National Park
Couples travel from all over the world to elope in Zion National Park. Beautiful trails of lined with wavy red rocks are a sight to see. You can bring your pet in public areas, but not on most trails. You can get your Zion National Park Permit here. The most popular spots are Temple of Sinawava and the Canyon Overlook. They do have spots that can accommodate up to 100 guests as well!
Under Canvas Zion
Under Canvas also has a camp near Zions with beautiful views!
4. The Church of Dirt, Park City
The Church of Dirt is a Park City mountain top wedding venue, is a hidden gem built for the people. Almost like a secret society, to book, you leave a laminated paper amongst the seats letting others know the day and time you are going to be using the chairs and arch as well as your contact info in case there is a conflict in scheduling.
For couples looking for the amazing Utah Mountain Views, this place is it, at the very top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Right by Empire pass and Guardsman Pass in Park City. Pets are not allowed, but you are going to have this spot all to yourself (as long as you reserved it right).
To claim this spot, you actually have to go there, but someone did setup a Facebook page so you can share photos.
5. Lake Powell
Lake Powell is one of the best places to elope in Utah because it has so much to offer in the area – on the border of Arizona you are also right next to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. Whether you want to be ontop of the canyon walls overlooking the lake or you want to raft down the river, the views are stunning! Vast amount of options and totally dog-friendly, get your wedding permit here
6. Monument Valley
Monument Valley is on the border of Utah and Arizona as well, but is actually on Navajo tribal land. I included this in the best places to elope in Utah because the red towers and buttes are an incredible view! Plus you dog is welcome on a leash! If you are just eloping with your fiance, an officiant, and photographer on the main road you don’t need a permit. But if you want to venture out onto the land you can get a permit here.
7. Antelope Island
Utah’s very own private island, the closest thing you will find to a beach without leaving the state. Antelope island is one of the best places to elope in Utah because it is so private and tucked away from the city. You can venture across the island to find the herd of wild bison, explore the old ranch, or relax on the sandy beaches. The best time to elope here is in the Spring before the bugs come out. This place has a serious gnat and mosquito problem by the end of the summer! Dogs are not allowed (probably not a good mix with all the bison!) Get your wedding permit here
8. Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Dreaming of a sandy desert wedding? The Coral Pink Sand Dunes are such a cool place to elope here in Utah! Dogs are allowed and there is plenty of space to explore! Get more info a wedding permit by contacting the State Parks Department here.
9. Cecret Lake
One of the most beautiful lakes in Utah, Cecret Lake makes the list for best places to elope here! You have to hike from the Albion Basin campground to get to the lake and it is so worth it. Albion Basin is filled with beautiful wildflowers in the summer and is usually packed for that reason, but you can start the application process and reserve your campground spot ahead of time by contacting the state parks department here.
10. Utah State Capitol
The Utah State Capitol is one of the most popular spots to elope since the building is open to the public during the day. With beautiful marble walls and classical paintings inside, the capitol building is stunning! Not to mention the grounds are impeccable and have cherry blossoms in the Spring. You have a beautiful view of the city and the mountains, or you can even go up the road to ensign peak just behind the capitol. Dogs are allowed on the grounds but faux-pa (see my pun there?) indoors.
The capitol has tons of options for places to get married in, from small rooms to renting out the entire space for up to 1500 guests, as well as chairs, tables, dance floors, etc. They have everything you need to accomodate your dream wedding. Get more info here.
Best Places to Elope in Utah by Landscape
Looking for a certain kind of scenery for your Utah Elopement? It is so important to keep in mind the season – most lakes and waterfalls will be frozen over in the winter. The mountains will have 10 feet of snow (which usually melts by June). Here are the top places to elope in Utah by landscape:
Mountains
Mountain & Ski Resorts
Sundance Mountain Resort, Park City
Campgrounds and Cabins
Canyons
Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument
Lakes
Wild Flowers (seasonal, some only lasting a couple of weeks)
Box Elder Campground Red Poppies
Sand Dunes & Desert
Waterfalls
Bridal Veil Falls, Upper Falls and Second Falls
Hot Springs
That completes the list for the best places to elope in Utah!
Let me know in the comments where your favorite Utah elopement spots are and if you have any to add to the list 🙂
If you need help deciding on your perfect Utah elopement location or an elopement photographer – I would love to help you! Click here to contact me!
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Kaci Lou
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The Best Places to Elope in Utah
