Utah Wedding Planning: a Step by Step Guide to Your Moab Elopement
More than likely, you’ve never done anything like this before. No matter the size, planning a wedding is always an undertaking. Even though elopements require significantly less planning, there are still steps you must take to make the big day happen. Fortunately, once your elopement photographer is on board, together we bring your elopement vision to reality. This is the step-by-step Utah wedding planning process that I use to guide my couples!
Options for Splitting Roles in the Utah Wedding Planning Process
Most of the time, the hardest part of taking on elopement planning is knowing where to start. Here’s the secret: you don’t have to know. The procedure can be entirely catered to the two of you and the best way to do that is to first choose your Utah elopement photographer.
Though I could never replace a Utah wedding planner, it’s my job as your Moab elopement photographer to help with all location selection as well as provide vendor recommendations. All other logistics such as coordinating with other vendors will be up to either the two of you or your day-of wedding coordinator in Utah if you choose to go that route.
We can make your elopement day timeline happen as a team without requiring a planner if the plans are simple enough. The following are the steps I’ll walk you through as I support your entire Utah wedding planning process!
Step by Step Utah Wedding Planning Guide
For all of these steps, I will either point you in the right direction such as my preferred vendor list, or take care of an entire step pulling from my own Moab elopement plan expertise. While I am speaking primarily to Moab elopement preparations, most all of these steps are also applicable to getting married at any Utah wedding locations.
- Hire your Utah wedding photographer.
- Choose your desert wedding locations.
- Apply for your photography permit.
- Hire any other wedding vendors.
- I will build your elopement timeline about 60 days out and submit it for approval.
- Apply for your Utah wedding license (within 30 days of your date).
- We’ll schedule a phone call for 30 days before the date to discuss the day and answer any questions.
- Take a few deep breaths and GET MARRIED!
Steps #1-4: What Happens After Your Book Your Moab Elopement Photographer
Your Utah wedding planning begins with our first phone call. During this chat we will go over your vision for the day and I follow this up with your contract and invoice (includes the retainer to secure your date). We will then discuss my recommendations for the most romantic elopement destinations in Moab. Sometimes, we’re able to narrow down these Utah elopement locations as we go through the list on a call.
Our follow-up to these initial steps is to solidify your elopement destination so the permit application can be started. While I handle permits for a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Land permit, for state and national parks you will proceed with the application within the required deadline. I provide you with all of the related information, including guidance on the time of day to apply for according to the best lighting.
I’ll follow-up next with my preferred wedding vendor list according to your selected spot. These are vendors whose work I love and whom I hold a good personal relationship with. On this list you will also find coordinators who specialize in elopements should you need one.
Steps #5-6: Fine-Tuning the Details of Your Wedding Ceremony Timeline
Once we reach about 60 days from the wedding date I will create your wedding timeline and send it along for approval. For an elopement, the ceremony is the key wedding event of the timeline.
I’m happy to help facilitate the ceremony to the best of my ability, but this can interfere with my primary objective of capturing your elopement photography! What I can offer is guidance on the best spot to stand for lighting, guest placement, and an ideal rundown for a ceremony in any given location including the processional, recessional, etc.
Prior to the ceremony, I ask other park visitors to clear the area since we have a wedding permit for that location. Some couples will pull from wedding ceremony unity ideas like a unity candle or readings (when guests are present). I can help decide at which point that will fit best and give pointers on what to do immediately after the first kiss. Serving as a resource for these little decisions in your Utah wedding planning ensures zero worries for how your ceremony will look!
Within 30 days of your date, you are responsible for applying for your Utah wedding license. Grand County, Utah requires an officiant and two witnesses to legally get married. I can be one of those witnesses, and if it’s a zero-guest elopement, we just need to find a willing hiker to sign as the second. You may even end up being witnesses for another couple like these two did!
Utah Wedding Planning PRO TIP
Another wedding ceremony option that I photograph often is a commitment ceremony. According to BRIDES, commitment and traditional ceremonies are almost the same apart from one key component: “It is not legally binding. During this ritual, two people declare their love for one another and vow to spend the rest of their lives together. Sometimes the ceremony includes traditions from weddings; other times couples get completely creative with their ceremony and just speak directly to one another with no frills.”
Often my couples are already married and want an adventure elopement experience on top of their wedding day so a legally-binding ceremony isn’t necessary. They will do personal vows or simply enjoy the views from their epic Moab elopement spot!
Steps #7-8: What Happens When Your Moab Utah Elopement Finally Happens
We’ll schedule a phone call for 30 days before the date to discuss the day and answer any questions you may have. I’m also available at any point throughout your Utah wedding planning process to chat and provide assistance!
As a reminder, your elopement doesn’t need to be a production, or even all about the details and the epic location. The purpose of this event is to make a promise to each other for forever in front of a few witnesses. It’s an event showcasing your commitment to the long-haul and a celebration of your love. It doesn’t need to be anything more than that!
Ready to start planning your elopement? I’m ready to help!
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