If you’re thinking about eloping in Utah, I want to walk you through exactly what that day could look like for you two. I’ve lived here for most of my life, I know this state really well, and I genuinely believe Utah has something for just about every couple. Red rock desert, alpine mountains, salt flats that look like another planet. Most places give you one landscape. Utah gives you several, and they’re all completely different from each other.

But knowing Utah has a lot to offer is the easy part. Actually figuring out the right location, the right season, and how to build a day that feels like yours? That’s where most couples get stuck. And that’s exactly where I come in. Here’s how I’d walk you through it.

Start with how you want the day to feel

This is the decision that makes everything else easier, and it’s the one I see couples skip most often. They land on a location first, usually because they saw it somewhere online, and then try to fit the rest of the day around that choice. Sometimes it works out great. More often, we get on a call and I realize the day they’ve been imagining doesn’t quite match what that location can actually give them.

Before you start researching specific spots, sit with this question: what do you actually want your day to feel like? Do you want to start at sunrise somewhere quiet? Hike into your ceremony spot? Swim? Wander a town and find somewhere great to eat after? Do you want the day to feel like a real adventure, or something slower and more relaxed?

There’s no wrong answer. Utah has room for all of it. But knowing what you want from the day makes every other decision a lot easier.

Where in Utah?

Once you know the feeling you’re after, the region question gets much simpler. Here’s my honest take on the three I get asked about most.

Moab

Moab comes up first in almost every conversation, and the landscape genuinely earns that. The real question isn’t whether it’s beautiful. It’s where specifically, and that depends entirely on what you two are after.

BLM land outside the national parks draws from the same red rock scenery with a lot more flexibility. No entry fees, fewer crowds, and you’re not locked into designated ceremony spots or time windows. For a lot of couples, that freedom is exactly what they need.

That said, if you have your heart set on somewhere like Arches, I want you to know that’s absolutely workable. It does add some layers. There are permit requirements, specific rules around where ceremonies can happen inside the park, and it takes more planning to get it right. But if Arches is where you two feel called to be, there’s a way to make it happen and I’d love to help you figure that out.

Park City and Northern Utah

Honestly, this region is underrated, and I’ll say that pretty confidently. Most couples default to the desert and don’t even consider the mountains, which is a shame because Guardsman Pass alone is one of the most stunning locations I’ve photographed in this state. Add in the fact that Park City has genuinely nice amenities, great restaurants, fun activities, and comfortable places to stay, and you’ve got a full day that feels luxurious and beautiful without having to sacrifice one for the other. If you want scenery AND a day that actually feels celebratory from start to finish, Northern Utah is worth a real look.

The Bonneville Salt Flats

There’s nothing else in Utah that looks like this. It feels ethereal, like you’ve landed on another planet, and for couples who want something truly one of a kind, that’s exactly the point. It does require some planning to get right. The timing matters, the conditions matter, and there’s a real art to knowing how to make a day out there work beautifully. But that’s where I come in, and when it does come together, the photos are unlike anything I can make anywhere else.

Build a real day, not just a ceremony

I always recommend a full day elopement. Every time. The couples who look back on their day feeling completely satisfied are almost always the ones who gave themselves room to actually be in it, not rushing from ceremony to photos to done.

What that looks like is different for everyone. Maybe it’s a morning hike to a quiet overlook, a ceremony, and a great dinner after. Maybe it’s ATVing on the salt flats after your vows and celebrating in Wendover that night. Maybe it’s slow and easy with nowhere to be.

Think about how you’d celebrate any other big day in your relationship and start there. The elopement should feel like an extension of who you are, not a checklist you got through.

The planning side

Here’s something worth knowing: there are rules and regulations for most areas, even the ones that don’t require a formal permit. BLM land typically doesn’t require a permit for an elopement, but there are still guidelines around what you can set up and how. National parks have their own permitting process and more structure around where ceremonies can happen. It’s not complicated once you know what you’re working with, but it does matter, and it’s not something you should have to sort out alone.

As for seasons, here’s my honest take: any season can be incredible if it’s planned right. That’s not me being diplomatic. I’ve photographed Utah elopements in the middle of winter and in July and both have been absolutely stunning. The key is knowing what each season actually requires and building your day around it instead of pretending the conditions don’t exist. That’s something I help you figure out from the very first call.

You don’t have to do any of this alone

This is probably the thing I most want couples to hear: you don’t have to come to me with a plan. You just have to reach out.

From our first consult call all the way through to delivering your photos, I’m with you on everything. I have full resource guides, detailed location guides for every region I work in, and an interactive map I share with couples to help them actually see and compare locations side by side. You don’t have to spend hours on Google trying to piece it together yourself. Figuring this out together is the whole point of working with me.

I’m not just your photographer. I’m your guide. And I genuinely love this part of the job.

Ready to start planning?

If you’re ready to start thinking through what your day could actually look like, I’d love to get on a call. We’ll talk through what matters most to you two, figure out which part of Utah fits that, and start building something real. You don’t need to have any of it figured out before we talk. That’s what the call is for.

Reach out and let’s get started!!