When considering where you want to elope, here are some questions I would keep in mind —

Do you want to hike?
How far are you willing to travel?
Is complete seclusion important to you?
How much space do you need?
Do you want a beautiful view?
Someplace meaningful to you guys as a couple?
Does it need to be functional for your family members or officiant?

A location can be all of those things! Just make sure you are doing your research and being thoughtful about the place you choose. Hopefully this guide helps you narrow things down.

Utah is a beautiful state with many great places to get married. Some popular places to get married in Utah include national parks, like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, as well as scenic outdoor venues like Red Butte Garden and Arches National Park. There are also many beautiful chapels and temples in Utah, including the Salt Lake Temple, which is a popular place for weddings among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ultimately, the best place to get married in Utah will depend on your personal preferences and style.

46 sq. miles of pure salt & two hours from Salt Lake City. Eloping at the Salt Flats might be one of the easiest and most accessible places in Utah that you could choose. There are no access fees or really any regulations to worry about. You can literally drive directly onto the salt, which makes getting there so simple. The whiteness of the place essentially makes it a blank canvas that any dress, flower or wedding decoration can easily match to.

Things to note about the flats:
- after a rain storm there is usually about an inch of water leftover on the salt for at least a day or two. 
- it's not recommended to drive on them when they are wet. 
- sunsets + sunrises there are unreal.

It's red and beautiful and secluded and the perfect place to go get lost with the one you love. This place includes sooo much. Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Colorado + Green River, BLM land and so so much more, you really can't go wrong when choosing this location.

There are several options for where you can hold the ceremony. Arches and Goblin Valley are two big unique spaces that come to mind. You can hold the ceremony at one of the park's scenic overlooks, such as the Delicate Arch or the Balanced Rock. I do suggest digging a little deeper and finding some less visited spots, but you will find a lot less people at those popular locations at sunrise on a weekday if you have your heart set on it.

Capitol Reef National Park is located in south-central Utah, near the town of Torrey. It's got some of the most colorful sandstone formations I've ever seen! Some of my favorite spots in the park include the Waterpocket Fold; (a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth's crust), Goosenecks Overlook and the Panorama Point Overlook. You can also hold the ceremony at one of the park's campgrounds or at the park's visitor center. If you want to have a more private ceremony, you can also apply for a special use permit to hold the ceremony at a location not normally open to the public. 

The park also has a ton historic buildings, such as the Gifford House and the Fruita Rural Historic District; a bunch of historic farm buildings and orchards. Any of those historic spots would be a beautiful and unique space to celebrate your marriage.

In order to elope in Capitol Reef National Park, you need to get a marriage license from the local county clerks office. You'll just need your ID and payment for a small fee. Once you get the the marriage license, you can hold the ceremony at any location within the park!

Most spots here require a bit of hiking, but are well worth it for the view. The most popular overlooks would be Angels Landing & Canyon Overlook Trail. Some lesser known busy spots for photos would be the Court of the Patriarchs or the Temple of Sinawava, Timber Creek Overlook Trail, Emerald Pools (such a pretty waterfall spot), Horse Ranch Mountain, Pa'rus Trail, and Kolob Canyon Viewpoint.

You can also hold the ceremony at the park's visitor center or at one of the park's campgrounds. If you want to have a more private ceremony, you can also apply for a special use permit to hold the ceremony at a location not normally open to the public. If you want to learn more about getting married at Zion National Park or how to obtain a special use permit, you can contact the park's visitor center or visit the park's website.

There are so many beautiful BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands in Utah, and it is really hard to say which one is the prettiest. Some popular BLM lands in Utah include the San Rafael Swell, the Escalante Canyons, and the Moab area, all of which offer stunning views of the state's red rock landscape. Other popular BLM lands in Utah include the Dixie National Forest and the Bears Ears National Monument, both of which offer a variety of outdoor recreational activities and scenic views. There's so much variety, so it kinda depends on personal preference and the type of scenery you want for your big day. There's a ton of info on the Bureau of Land Management's website.

Antelope Island is the largest of ten islands located in the Great Salt Lake in northern Utah. The island is known for its amazing views of the lake and the Wasatch Mountains, as well as a crazy amount of wildlife, including bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and over 260 species of birds. The island is also home to the Fielding Garr Ranch, a historic ranch, established in 1848 and is now a museum. There's a ton to do on Antelope Island, like hiking, biking, and boating. Beaches, Trees, giant open fields, tall rock formations, amazing sunsets. Antelope Island is truly such a special place and amazing spot to elope.

Some of the most places to get married on Antelope Island include the island's scenic overlooks, such as the White Rock Bay Overlook or the Buffalo Point Overlook. You can also hold the ceremony at the island's campground or at the Fielding Garr Ranch. If you want to have a more private ceremony, you should go explore the island and pick a more secluded spot.

In my opinion, Utah is the best of the best. The places I have listed above are just barely scratching the surface. There is so much here and so many elopement worthy spots. So many places to explore and experience and celebrate at.

If you would like to learn more about eloping in Utah, please reach out and I can help you photograph and plan your DREAM elopement day. I will share with you all my secret spots & I promise if you pick this state, you won't be disappointed.

bonneville salt flats —

utah elopement locations

— Zion National Park

Moab — 

Public BLM Land — 

Antelope Island — 

Capitol Reef —