Eloping in St. George, Utah | Epic and Snowy Zion National Park Adventure Session
Are you thinking about Eloping in St. George, Utah?
Be prepared! This Epic and Snowy Zion National Park Adventure Session will probably convince you that Utah is one of the best places on the planet to elope!
Zion National Park & Snow Canyon State Park
Utah is home to 5 (yes FIVE!) national parks and over 40 state parks so the possibilities for places to elope truly seem endless. From mountains to canyons and salt flats to meadows of wildflowers, every type of scenery is possible here. It truly is a choose your own adventure type of scenario!
Two amazing parks that exist within the St. George area are Snow Canyon State Park and Zion National park. I’m going to be sharing lots of tips and tricks for getting married and eloping in Utah in just a second but first, I have to share about the amazing day I spent with Charity and Johann exploring these two parks!
Adventuring with Johann & Charity
Two days before our scheduled adventure session, a huge snowfall ended up blanketing parts of southern Utah. Since Johann and Charity were driving up from Flagstaff, AZ, we worried they might not be able to cross a mountainous section to make it. If they made it, I knew we’d be able to experience an Epic and Snowy Zion National Park Adventure Session…
Off they traveled into the night, hoping to make it with two puppies in the back seat. When Charity texted me that evening that they had arrived, I breathed a big sigh of relief because although we were going to need to change up our plans due to the snow and pups, I knew we could make it work.
Since Snow Canyon is at a lower elevation, the snow ended up turning into rain but we watched the weather enough to plan to be there when the rain was the lightest. Although it rained for the first 30 minutes, it soon stopped and the misty clouds just added a magical feel to the place.
After exploring the petrified sand dunes, we headed outside the park to a beautiful dirt path and overlook. Their pups were happy to finally be allowed outside and the husky took off running with Johann in tow (Zion and Snow Canyon has a no pet policy except on specific trails.)
Soon we headed the hour drive into Zion, left the pups with a sitter, and headed into the park. I had been hoping to bring a couple to an iconic overlook for a while and being able to hike with Charity and Johann, as we all experienced this spot in person for the first time, definitely felt surreal. Despite a 20 lb wedding dress, Charity hiked the entire way in her dress and only changed so we could make better time on our way back to the car.
Zion dazzled us, and I’m definitely thinking about when I’ll be able to go back!
Alright! Time to get back into this guide all about Eloping in St. George, Utah!
How to Leally Get Married in UT
Getting a marriage license in Utah is easy there is no waiting period so once you apply for it in person, you’re good to go! Although each county is different, many licenses are around $30 or less. Be sure to bring your photo IDs and social security cards to the county clerk's office. A licensed officiant (online ordination counts so you can have your best friend marry you) and two witnesses are needed to sign the marriage license. Find more information by visiting the Utah Courts website.
The Best Time for Eloping in St. George, Utah
Due to high temperatures in the summer, the best time to elope in southern Utah is from Fall to Spring. Winter elopements are 100% possible around St. George and considering that’s the off-season for many of the parks, the possibility of snow makes it even more appealing. Don’t let the thought of getting married in a desert fool you, though. Packing warm clothes and snow equipment (lots of layers, hiking or snow boots, shoe spikes if climbing around in snow and ice, etc.) to make sure you stay safe and warm during your elopement.
Northern Utah locations can be great for the warmer summer months so even if you are planning a summer elopement, Utah can still stay on your list!
Other Places to Elope in Utah
As Epic and Snowy as Zion National Park can be for Adventure Sessions and Elopements, there are countless other amazing locations that deserve recognition, too! And believe it or not, this is just the start! If you’re wanting to find a truly unique elopement location, use these locations as a starting point but don’t be afraid to expand your search. It can be as much of an adventure in finding your location as it will be when you actually elope (the fun is in the process after all!)
Church of Dirt - A no-cost city park where hundreds of couples plan to get married each year. Dates and times can overlap so planning a wedding during off-season and “reserving” your spot months ahead of time (signing the planner document on site and leaving a waterproof note of when you’re planning your elopement.)
The Moab Desert - There’s no doubt that Moab, Utah is famous for the incredible parks that surround it. There are many amazing spots within the national parks and state parks nearby that make for incredible sunrise and sunset elopements.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park - Epic sand dunes, red rocks, slot canyons and more exist in this beautiful state park! There honestly is so much there it almost feels like it should be a national park. Please note that a special use permit is needed to hold your elopement at this park.
Capitol Reef National Park - Considers a less popular park than Moab, so much beauty can be found within this park.
Amangiri - If you want to enjoy luxury, this resort located near Lake Powell makes for the perfect mix of outdoors adventure and relaxation.
Bonneville Salt Flats - If a minimalistic view is what you’re after, salt flats can be the perfect backdrop. Although the Bonneville Salt Flats are the most well known, other salt flats can be found around Utah if you’re looking for a less popular destination!
Bryce Canyon National Park - Climbing down into the canyons and hoodoos (irregular columns of rocks) would make for an incredible adventurous elopement.
Are You Ready to Elope in St. George Utah?
Are you convinced that Eloping in St. George, Utah is perfect for you? Do you want to experience an Epic and Snowy Zion National Park Adventure Session or elopement?
I’d love to photograph you for your elopement in Utah, so if you’re looking for someone who will match your excitement and cheer you on at every stage in the wedding process, shoot me a message and let’s start talking about the amazing adventure you have ahead of you!
