How to Elope in Moab | Moab Wedding Photographer
Are you thinking about how to elope in Moab? Check out this guide I made to help you plan your dream elopement in Moab, Utah. To see What to Expect When Eloping in Utah, check out this other post I made 🙂
Why Elope in Moab?
Moab is one of my favorite places in the world. There are incredible red desert views, vistas, rocks, arches, canyons, buttes, mesas, and some of the tallest mountains in Utah all in Moab! Moab feels remote, but still has all of the necessities you need. You can have an elopement you hike to, one you can drive straight to, or one you can drive a 4×4 to. Basically what I’m saying is that you have lots of variety! Pretty much whatever outdoor activity you can think of, Moab has it to offer 🙂
Where to Elope in Moab?
There are some pretty amazing places to elope in Moab and it just depends on what you’re looking for. Here are some of my favorite places with some pros and cons for each location.
Arches National Park has hundreds of beautiful arches made of sandstone. There are 10 different locations that you are allowed to get married at within the park. Most of the locations allow 10 to 25 guests, however, the Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater allows 80. If you are interested in eloping in Arches National Park, I can recommend my favorite authorized locations for you!
To legally get married in Arches National Park, you will need a special use permit, which costs $185 (so much more affordable than a wedding venue!!!!) It is pretty easy to obtain the permit you need and you can schedule your date between 4 weeks and 1 year in advance. When scheduling your date to elope in the park, weekdays are generally best because the park can become very busy on weekends and holidays. You will also need to pay the entrance fees to get into the park.
Canyonlands National Park has similar rules and regulations that Arches does. If you have never explored Canyonlands, there are so many amazing places to see. When I picture the desert, I think of this amazing national park and its incredible vastness. There are 6 locations that you can get married in 2 different sections of the park, Island in the Sky and The Needles. The Needles is more remote and takes longer to get to whereas Island in the Sky is more accessible.
To legally get married here, you will also need the special use permit, which is $185 plus the entrance fee. You’ll also need to fill out the permit form 4 weeks to 1 year before your wedding date. Canyonlands isn’t as busy as Arches, but I still recommend choosing a weekday date to avoid the crowds.
Dead Horse Point State Park is one of the most underrated locations in Moab to elope! It rivals the beauty of the Grand Canyon and is an amazing place to have a sunrise or sunset elopement with beautiful views of Canyonlands National Park. You will need to apply for your permit at least 30 days prior to the date
To get married in the state park, you also need a special use permit, which costs between $60 and $100 depending on the number of guests you will have. There are 5 locations to get married in the park, however, I think that the Cliff Side site is my favorite for a sunset ceremony! They allow weddings all year round.
There is a plethora of BLM land in Moab. For those who do not know, BLM land is land intended for public use that is governed by the Bureau of Land Management. I’m originally from the east coast and had never heard of BLM land until I moved out to Utah. It really is one of the best perks of living here! There is so much land to explore in Moab – mountains, desert landscape, rivers, etc.
You are allowed to get married on BLM land in Moab with a special use permit. Your wedding vendors will have to apply for the special use permit. It is only available June 1st and December 1st. I am happy to help you navigate this sometimes tricky process 🙂
When to Elope in Moab
My two favorite seasons in Moab are spring and fall. The summer months are pretty extremely hot with temperatures reaching the 110s and winters can be cold with temps plummeting below freezing. So spring and fall have pretty ideal temps! Spring is around early to mid March through mid May and fall is late September through mid November.
Your Moab Elopement and Wedding Photographer
If you’re planning an elopement in the beautiful desert of Moab, reach out today! I am happy to give more suggestions and help you plan your dream elopement 🙂
