One of the best parts of a wedding day is the fact that it’s meant to both celebrate your relationship and bring together your closest family and friends. For many, that list of family members also includes their pets! No matter the size or the formality level of your wedding or elopement, making your pet family members a part of it is always an option. Here’s my guide to planning a wedding with your dog in Moab, Utah!
Adding your beloved pets to your day is an amazing option whether it’s a large wedding with guests, an intimate wedding with a small inner circle or a zero-guest elopement. Many of my elopement couples will opt for a wedding with their dog in place of other guests to keep the day simple but still personalized and meaningful.
As a dog lover myself, I understand that my girl Sophie is family. She adds so much love to our home that I can’t imagine life without her. When you plan your own destination wedding to a location like the Moab desert, it’s only natural that these plans involve your furry family members.
Planning a destination wedding for the Moab, Utah desert naturally lends itself to being a more pet-friendly environment. There are various limitations based on the location, but in general, Moab is dog friendly!
It’s very important to consider the time of year when planning to bring your dogs into Moab. In the summer, the temperatures can rise above 105°F which, I promise, is not fun or fair for them. Here’s all you need to know in order to plan a wedding with your dog!
While dogs are not welcome in the national parks (Arches or Canyonlands) they are allowed at Dead Horse Point State Park and all of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land permit sites! Pets must be leashed at all times no matter your elopement destination.
This falls under Moab’s adherence to the Leave No Trace policies. Dogs can potentially disrupt the natural environment, including stepping on the Cryptobiotic Soil Crusts. The crust plays a vital role in Moab’s ecosystem and it can be destroyed by a single footprint (or paw print). This is why it’s advised to never veer from the trails!
Most Moab wedding venues in the area allow for dogs but with varying policies. For example, The Red Earth Venue includes one dog with a standard venue rental. Each additional pup is $50 and up to three are allowed. They must be on a leash or under control at all times and are not allowed to dig holes.
Tracy and Carl had their wedding at The Red Earth Venue with their dog Chili who was a big part of the day. A family member later took him back to the hotel before things got crazy.
As you consider where to stay in Moab, be sure to pick a dog-friendly hotel or Airbnb in the area. There are over 200 dog-friendly Airbnbs in Moab while a lot of the major hotels are not including the Hoodoo Moab. These are some pet-friendly places to stay in Moab Utah:
Just like you’ve poured over your wedding day timeline for months, it’s important that your dog is also assigned a schedule. Not all of the day’s events are available for your pup to participate in, so it’s important to schedule where they will be and who is looking after them.
When you host a wedding with a larger guest list, ensure that your dog is driven back to the hotel before the partying begins. Otherwise, the poor pup ends up stuck in a corner terrified with loud music and tons of drunk people trying to touch them all night. I have witnessed too many times when couples don’t consider this and it’s so hard to watch. Please protect your pet from this scenario!
There are some exceptions like Robin and Todd’s dog Freya who is a two-year-old Golden Retriever. She was a big part of the day and when I warned them about the loud music they said that she loves those types of environments. Freya ended up staying all night and partied harder than anyone else!
I highly recommend hiring a wedding day pet sitter to care for your furry friend during the festivities. Designating someone from outside of your guest list relieves any pressure on family and friends. It allows them to still fully engage with the wedding festivities.
If you’re having a Moab, Utah elopement, plan on a quick photo session with the dogs following wedding photos with family. Have a family member return them to your lodging, allowing the two of you to have a wedding portrait session without the stress of watching the dogs.
If there are no guests at your elopement, this can be difficult. When possible, still have a friend come pick up the dogs after the ceremony. If this isn’t an option, it’s best to stick to a safer location without cliffs like Dead Horse Point. Then none of us need to stress about the safety of the dogs.
Lauren and Drew were already married so we did an adventure bridal photography session at Dead Horse Point. Lauren’s mom joined us to take the dogs once we had captured their photos. We then had an hour to shoot just the two of them.
Hannah and Dillon specifically selected Castle Valley (BLM land) so their dogs could join. The two stayed for the ceremony and family photos. The mother of the bride then took them back to the hotel so we could take sunset portraits.
Whichever path you choose for wedding guests, adding your dogs to the list is what I will always recommend. Fortunately, having them present at a wedding in Moab is completely possible!