The Top 4 Best Places to Plan Your Moab Elopement Adventure

Moab is so much more than an epic landscape. It’s my home, my muse, and where the magic of your love story inspires every photo I take. Your elopement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t happen in an ordinary location. The high desert of Moab offers incredible overlooks and intimate spots worthy of your day. These are my top four location picks for your Moab elopement!

Where to Begin with a Moab Elopement: The Seasons

You’ve decided to elope in Utah, but you’re not sure where to begin. The next step is usually selecting a Moab elopement photographer (that’s me!) and moving forward with planning the details of your Moab elopement.  

Since you’re going for an outdoor adventure, the most important deciding factor is the season and the weather. The seasons and the related temperatures dictate what’s possible and how crowded popular sites will be. Overall, the busiest seasons in Moab, Utah are spring, summer and fall (March-October) when parks may even close early after reaching capacity. Here’s what to expect according to each season in Moab:

SUMMER

This is the time of year I recommend avoiding completely due to high tourism and scorching heat. I generally take off as an Utah elopement photographer during the months of July and August due to the extreme temperatures.

FALL

Fall is when the temperature begins to cool and the intensity of tourist crowds also starts to dissipate. Keep in mind that this is the Moab desert rainy season which can mean an occasional thunderstorm. Wedding photos in the rain are gorgeous and the showers are generally safe as long as you keep your distance from flash flood warning areas.

WINTER

Due to an intense drop in temperature, I generally recommend avoiding the winter months. The Moab, Utah desert can get surprisingly cold from December through February with the temperature dropping to below freezing. If you choose a winter wedding in Moab, prepare with the proper clothing and limit your portraits to a short session in a single area.

BONUS LOCATION: The Red Earth Venue

During the winter or other restrictive seasons, consider holding the ceremony and reception at a Moab wedding venue with indoor and outdoor options. The Red Earth Venue offers a mid-week elopement package perfect for pairing with portraits in an area park. The Utah wedding venue is an ideal place to feel like you’re in the outdoors but also have the shelter of their beautiful glass-walled space! 

SPRING

Spring is my favorite time of year to capture a Moab elopement particularly in the month of May. The natural flora and vegetation is in full bloom adding life to the red rock desert landscape. The weather is also completely on point with temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. These more balanced temperatures open the door to a variety of Moab desert adventures and elopement activities.

PRO TIP: SUNRISE & SUNSET

A way to avoid crowds when visiting a more popular park or capturing your Moab elopement during the busier seasons is shooting during sunrise or sunset. It is true of every location that if you do your ceremony or portraits at sunrise or at a less popular time of year that it will be less crowded. Even going for sunset can allow for photos without anyone else around when you go to a lesser-known spot.

Where to Go for a Moab Elopement: The Setting

Moab is a city located in Eastern Utah that simply speaks for itself. It’s positioned south of the Colorado River and houses two of Utah’s five national parks: Canyonlands and Arches. I love it when my couples already have a vision of where they want to elope. But, I also love it when a couple puts their trust in me to choose! These four spots are where I point couples to first!

Moab Elopement at Arches National Park

Located just outside of Moab, Arches National Park, Utah is the icon of Moab with its red rocks and 2,000 towering natural sandstone arches. There are so many arches to choose from and walk through including one that I call the “all-seeing eye of Moab.” It is understandably the most popular Moab, Utah national park.

TIPS & REQUIREMENTS

• Permit required, ceremony no longer than 10 minutes and a park ranger may be present.
• [2024 Update] Arches National Park timed entry: April 1 through October 31 entries a reservation. A wedding permit does not require it, but if you are just going there for portraits, you will need to reserve a time slot.
• Sunrise is best for the busy season (spring) while also being prepared with a backup location. It’s possible to be denied park entry (even with a permit) for hours at a time due to a high influx of crowds.

You can take photos anywhere in the park but these are the designated ceremony spots (with guest capacities):

• Park Avenue (15)
• La Sal Mountains Viewpoint (50)
• Double Arch (25)
• The Windows (25)
• Panorama Point (50)
• Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater (80)

Moab Elopement at Canyonlands National Park

Arches may be the most popular park for a Moab elopement, but one look at the Canyonlands National Park map shows that it is actually the largest national park in Utah. Located over an hour from the west side of Moab, it has views of the Manti-La Sal Mountains on the horizon.

The park is divided by the Colorado and Green Rivers into three districts: Islands in the Sky (most popular, closest to Moab), The Needles (next closest), and The Maze. I took one couple to this lesser-known spot that I love taking couples to in the Island in the Sky district.

The park features red rock, canyons with rivers, buttes, arches (Mesa Arch-one of the most popular spots), intersecting rock formations and spires. The park is less crowded than Arches, and great for a day trip.

TIPS & REQUIREMENTS

• Permit required, ceremony no longer than 10 minutes and a park ranger may be present.
• You can take photos anywhere in the park but these are the designated ceremony spots with guest capacities:
• Islands in the Sky: Green River Overlook (25), Grand View Point (25) and Shafer Canyon Overlook (25)
• The Needles: Pothole Point (15), Needles Group Campsites (15-50 depending on campsite)

Moab Elopement at Dead Horse Point State Park

Dead Horse Point State Park is located 45 minutes from the center of Moab. It features a dramatic panoramic overlook of the Colorado River basin and of Canyonlands. It boasts eight different overlooks with many cliff lines facing west making it a perfect place for sunset bridal portraits.

Being a state park, Dead Horse is a lesser known Moab elopement spot that is way less crowded and has arguably some of the best views in Moab. When entrusted with the selection of your Moab elopement location, it opens up so many possibilities. Sometimes, I will go scouting for a new spot and find a gem like I did for this elopement! It was a more tucked away spot with a 10-15 minute walk to the site but these two were up for it!

I can also find the perfect spot (they used the West Bench Site) based on your accessibility needs when including guests like this couple who had their 98-year old grandpa officiate!

TIPS & REQUIREMENTS

• Permit required, but easier to acquire. 
• Leashed dogs are allowed on trails including the East Rim Trail, West Rim Trail, & Bighorn Overlook Trail. 
• Complete wedding and elopement guidelines.

Moab Elopement at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees public land independently run outside of state and national parks. There is so much to explore on a more off-the-beaten-path adventure, with hikes, overlooks with red rocks, monuments and arches throughout the trails.

TIPS & REQUIREMENTS

• Your Utah wedding photographer and any other vendors must have a permit placing them on an approved list and then apply for a pre-approved ceremony location:
• Corona Arch Trail (where this couple went!)
• Fisher Towers Trail
• Parriott Mesa Trail
• Castleton Tower

Ready to plan your own Moab elopement? Let’s talk through your options.

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