Private Moments Worth the Time at Red Earth Venue Wedding
Choosing a Moab elopement is a decision that usually doesn’t come from nothing. For these two, it was deeply rooted in a love for adventure and the outdoors. Hiking 10 miles is actually their definition of relaxation! Landing on a Moab desert wedding was simply a no-brainer and The Red Earth Venue became a perfect fit for the day.
Two Geologists Get Married in the Moab Utah Desert
Katy and Matt are both geologists who met while studying the subject in college. During their senior course in geology, they spent eight weeks together which included camping and hiking on the West Coast. It was specifically during the Moab Utah camping portion of the trip where, as Katy put it, “Matt and I really started to bond and have eyes for each other.”
Even though they were dirty and stinky from camping without showers, that didn’t stop these college kids from engaging in some innocent crushes. Hiking the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park sealed the deal and this couple has been inseparable ever since.
Continuing to visit Moab many times over the years caused Moab desert adventures to continue to hold a special place in their hearts. Hailing from Florida with its limited geology, Katy and Matt admit to regularly having a conversation about when they will move to Moab, Utah!
It also means that any chance to see mountains, desert and amazing rock formations like those found in the red earth of Moab are very important to them. As Katy described, “you will find us vacationing in our tent alongside a mountain rather than an all inclusive resort.”
These were the reasons behind what led them to select The Red Earth Venue as their desert wedding location.
How The Red Earth Venue Makes the Moab Magic
Having been engaged for almost five years, the couple had known for a long time that their next step was just to choose a spot on the Moab, Utah map. But, they felt overwhelmed by the task of coordinating a BLM land elopement or other options within Moab.
As soon as they discovered The Red Earth Venue, it became clear that it was the perfect location to tie the knot. Seeing all that the venue includes with its ceremony and reception spots, and list of recommended Moab vendors, planning their day was no longer a daunting task.
After an initial conversation with Hannah, Red Earth’s General Manager and in-house wedding coordinator (also my wife!), they knew this was the right spot! Red Earth is the ultimate Moab wedding venue as well as the place I call home as Hannah and I have lived on-site with our dog Sophie since the venue’s first wedding!
Keeping with their Moab desert wedding theme, the couple kept their wedding colors simple. They stuck with creams and neutrals so all of the focus remained on the amazing landscapes that Moab has to offer! Their geologist hearts love red rock so much that the look of the Moab desert itself was really the vibe that they wanted.
See all that The Red Earth Venue has to offer in THIS location guide!
The Moment(s) to Remember
The love these two share is unmatched. We did their first look and private vows about a half mile away within the expanse of the venue property. I do my best to allow for privacy within these moments, but sometimes I can’t help but listen.
The first look was actually one of the moments that the couple most wanted to remember and it ended up being so much more emotional than they could have imagined. Both Hannah and I were discreetly wiping tears from our cheeks!
It was tough for the couple to choose between favorite moments with guests too. The narrowed down list was between witnessing the look on their faces as they approached the venue (most of them from Florida for their first Moab visit) and seeing all of their dearly loved people interacting with each other in the same room. The table settings also included a special gift for each guest with a personalized note per person in addition to the couple’s personalized beer can koozies.
While finally getting married was their first cause for excitement, according to Katy, what ended up standing out the most “was getting to show our guests the magic that Moab scenery has to offer as it’s somewhere I don’t think they would have visited on their own.”
A Bonus to Your Red Earth Venue Wedding Day
One offer I love couples taking me up on is adding a day-before or day-after Moab adventure session to their wedding photography package. Katy and Matt opted for a May 10th wedding (a prime season in Moab) with a couples adventure at Dead Horse Point State Park two days prior where they wore a different dress and suit.
Typically, I send a sneak peek gallery of the adventure shoot the morning of their wedding. But, in this situation, I decided to wait. As a special gift to them, I worked with the DJ who I knew was utilizing a flatscreen TV at his booth. I reached out and he agreed to display the photos throughout the reception as a slideshow. I brought Katy and Matt into Red Earth Venue’s reception space before guests arrived to reveal the surprise. They were just as thrilled as I was to share moments from such an amazing day.
Wedding Vendors
Venue + Rentals | The Red Earth Venue
Photographer | Matt Davidson Photography
Rentals (Table Tops) | Terra Vida Events – Tara
Catering + Staffing | Destination Kitchen
DJ / MC | Erick Miner
Transportation (Guests) | Moab Express
Coordination | Aloha Bridal Connections, Hannah
Bar | Sparkles – Moab Bar Trailers
PIN THIS
