How to Plan Your Moab Elopement
You can find me photographing elopements and wedding in and around Moab from January – May, and November. Inquire now to get on the travel schedule, so we can start planning your most incredible day ✨
Table of Contents:
- Meet Your Moab Elopement Photographer
- Top 3 Best Places to Elope in Moab
- How to Legally Get Married in Moab
- Best Time of Year to Get Married in Moab
- 12 Epic Things to Do in Moab for Your Elopement
- 5 Incredible Places to Stay in Moab
- Moab Elopement Packages
Welcome to my brand new Moab elopement guide, a guide that’s going to help you plan your perfect Moab adventure elopement in this spectacular desert dreamland! I’ve absolutely fallen in love with everything about Moab as an elopement photographer, and I really cannot recommend it enough for couples who adore vast desert landscapes, exploring the outdoors through epic activities with their loved ones, and want a dreamy elopement in an otherworldly location. Get ready to pick your jaw up off the floor after learning about the magic of Moab & everything it has to offer!
Meet Your Moab Elopement Photographer
Real quick – I wanted to let you know that I myself am a Moab elopement photographer who loves nothing more than documenting couples experiencing this breathtaking landscape together! I travel to Utah & the Moab area in the fall and spring, so if you’re thinking of eloping in Moab during one of those seasons, I would absolutely love to tag along and not only capture your magical adventure for you, but come alongside you to help you plan your dream Moab elopement experience. Be sure to keep an eye on my travel schedule, and I’d love to connect with you if you think we would be a good fit for your special day!
Top 3 Best Places to Elope in Moab
Let’s begin with a few of my absolute favorite Moab elopement locations to get your ideas flowing!
1. Dead Horse State Park
Dead Horse State Park is an absolutely phenomenal state park about 30 miles southwest of Moab, featuring a breathtaking high desert landscape with an abundance of hiking trails & vast scenery everywhere you look. The vistas overlooking the winding Colorado River are pretty hard to beat, boasting panoramic views of the buttes & pinnacles of the Moab desert. If you’d like to have your ceremony in front of spectacular desert backdrops, with plenty of options for hiking & camping close by, Dead Horse State Park might be the perfect choice for you! Bonus: the park allows weddings all year round and at all times of day, so you won’t be limited by anything but your personal weather + seasonal preferences.
Permit needed: Special Use Permit
2. Canyonlands National Park
What if I told you that just a 15-minute drive from Dead Horse State Park, lies another epic desert location for your Moab elopement? That’s right – one of my favorite things about Moab is the sheer amount of incredible landscapes so close to each other, and the ability to visit multiple amazing parks (state & national) during your time in the area. Canyonlands National Park is one of Moab’s two national parks, known of course for its spectacular desert landscapes peering over the Colorado River & flat-topped mesa as far as the eye can see. The park is divided into four districts: Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the Green & Colorado Rivers that divide them. Each is magical in its own way, but it’s important to note that weddings are only allowed at a few designated locations at Island in the Sky and The Needles!
Permit needed: Special Use Permit
3. Arches National Park
Onto the second (and possibly the most iconic) of the two Moab national parks: Arches National Park! I’d just about guarantee that even if you’ve never been to Moab, you’ve most likely seen photos of Arches National Park on a postcard, as the backdrop of one of those default Macbook screensavers, or somewhere deep in your Instagram “Explore” feed. This is the park with the iconic natural stone arches, soaring pinnacles, and massive rocks that blend into the most phenomenal, picturesque desert landscape. Arches NP is one of those places you visit that as soon as you drive up to the entrance, you feel like you’ve been transported to another planet, and one that boasts the most dramatically beautiful, deep, red rocks & textures galore. I simply cannot recommend Arches NP enough, whether you’d like to hold your vow exchange/official ceremony in the park or visit at sunset for some casual elopement portraits.
Permit needed: Special Use Permit
How to Legally Get Married in Moab
It’s not the most fun part of the elopement planning process, but it’s an important one: researching the legalities of getting married in Moab – getting the appropriate permits, obtaining your Utah marriage license, & more. Here’s how to do it all!
Moab Elopement Permits
Moab State Park Elopement Permits:
To have your legal ceremony within a Utah state park, you’ll need to get a park-specific Special Use Permit. You can visit this website to find the specific state park where you’d like to get married, and find the permit details of that park via stateparks.utah.gov.
The details of the Special Use Permits vary slightly by park, so we’ll use Dead Horse State Park as an example!
The Dead Horse State Park Special Use Permit costs between $60–$100+, depending onthe size of your group, and there’s an additional cost of $20 per vehicle on the day of the wedding.
This permit allows weddings at one of the following sites listed in the park’s wedding brochure. Keep in mind that each one can accommodate a different size group, so be sure to pick one that fits the amount of people you’d like to have at your ceremony, as well as what level of accessibility you & your guests will need!
- La Sal Site
- Cliff Side Site
- West Bench Site
- Point Bench Site
- Shade Shelter Site
Moab National Park Elopement Permits:
If you want to hold your official Moab elopement ceremony inside of a Moab National Park (Arches or Canyonlands), you’ll need a park-specific Special Use Permit.
The Canyonlands National Park Special Use Permit costs $385, and can be submitted between 4 weeks & 1 year in advance of your desired elopement date. This permit allows wedding ceremonies at the following locations, with group size limits varying between 10-25 depending on the location:
- Locations at Island in the Sky:
- Locations at The Needles:
- Pothole Point
- Needles Group Campsites (The Needles Group Site, Wooden Shoe Group Site, Split Top Group Site)
The Arches National Park Special Use Permit also costs $385, can be submitted between 4 weeks & 1 year in advance of your desired date, and permits wedding ceremonies at the following locations in the park (group size limits range from 15-80):
- La Sal Mountains Viewpoint
- The Windows Section (North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, or Double Arch)
- Sand Dune Arch
- Pine Tree Arch
- Park Avenue
- Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater
- Panorama Point
Moab Marriage Licenses + Laws
To get legally married in Moab, you’ll need to obtain a marriage license through the state of Utah!
Here are the basic Utah marriage laws you need to know:
- Cost: Varies by county
- Witnesses required: 2 over the age of 18
- Required waiting period: None
- Length of license validity: 30 days
- Blood test required? No
- Utah residency required? No
To get a Utah marriage license for your Moab elopement, you’ll need to visit a Utah County Clerk’s office in-person. Both of you must be present, and you’ll need to bring your social security numbers as well as a valid picture ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Moab is located in Grand County, Utah, so you can visit the Grand County Clerk/Auditor’s office to get a license for your Moab elopement!
There’s a non-refundable $40 fee for a certified copy of your marriage license in Grand County, and you’ll have 30 days to hold your legal ceremony (no waiting period required!) before the license expires.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Moab
Moab is one of those places that’s actually pretty beautiful all-year-round, which makes it an amazing location to elope. There’s no one season that’s best or worst, so instead of looking at the seasons like that, I’d recommend figuring out what types of activities you’d like to do during your Moab elopement, and what type of temps + climate you’re most comfortable with. Then pick out the season that best fits everything you’re looking for!
Here are the average high temps of each season in Moab:
Spring (March–May): 64–83°F
Summer (June–August): 95-100°F
Fall (September–November): 58-88°F
Winter (December–February): 44-52°F
And below are the best seasons to visit Moab depending on what you’re looking for + your ideal elopement environment!
When to visit Moab for warm weather: Summer (June–August)
When to visit Moab for desert wildflowers: Spring (March–May)
When to visit Moab for stargazing: Summer (June–August)
When to visit Moab for comfortable temperatures: Fall (September–November)
When to visit Moab for hiking + outdoor activities: Spring (March–May), Fall (September–November)
When to visit Moab for fewer crowds: Winter (December–February)
12 Epic Things to Do in Moab for Your Elopement
There’s a reason so many people travel to Moab from different parts of the country – it’s one of the most incredible locations in the midwest for outdoor adventure! With an abundance of hiking trails, breathtaking desert landscapes to explore, and plenty of space for everyone to enjoy, I highly recommend setting aside some time during your trip to Moab for fun activities + adventures, whether just the two of you or with your guests, or whether you want to seek some serious thrills or keep it a little more chill.
There are SO many activities I would love to inspire you to do during your Moab elopement. Here are just 12 of the best things to do in Moab to make sure you take full advantage of your time in this spectacular desert dreamland!
- Rock climbing (my personal favorite!)
- ATV/UTV riding
- Horseback riding
- Canyoneering
- Exploring slot canyons
- Hiking
- Stargazing
- Helicopter tours
- Hot air balloon rides
- Hot tubbing
- Seeing the petroglyphs
- White water rafting
5 Incredible Places to Stay in Moab
Moab has no shortage of beautiful & unique places to stay, from cozy, private Airbnbs in the middle of the desert to upscale, outdoor glamping, to luxury resorts with some of the best views in the midwest. There’s truly something for everyone, so I’ve narrowed down a list of 5 of the most amazing places to stay in Moab, below, depending on what type of accommodations you’re looking for!
Best Moab glamping: Ulum Moab by Under Canvas
Best Moab resort: Sage Creek at Moab
Best Moab Airbnb: Upscale Townhome
Best Moab campground: Devils Garden Campground, Arches National Park
Best Moab ranch: Sorrel River Ranch & Spa
Moab Elopement Packages
Now that I’m sure you understand why Moab is one of my favorite places on Earth, I’d love to invite you to browse through my Moab elopement packages – you’ll want to look specifically at the “US Adventure Elopements” package to get an idea of what your special day could look like with yours truly as your Moab elopement photographer!
I’d love to join you for your Moab elopement, so go ahead and reach out if you’d like to get the ball rolling! In the meantime, here are a few more of my favorite elopement days to share with you.
North Cascades Hiking Elopement
Joshua Tree Desert Elopement
Pin this article for your elopement planning! 👇🏼
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