My History With Moab
I will never forget the first time I went to Moab. I was visiting with another one of my photographer friends. We went into Arches National Park in the middle of the night and took pictures of the stars framed in the rocks.
It was 2021. I’d been living in Southern Utah for about 6 months by that point.
And I’d just discovered my favorite place. Ever.
I’ve been back to Moab more times than I can count in the years since and I never get sick of the views, the hikes, and the feeling I get when I’m there. Moab is a very special place to me.
It’s a place that ignites my creativity. My photography approach is greatly influenced by the steep cliff sides, grand arches, and vast landscapes. That’s why Moab one of my favorite places to photograph weddings and elopements. I love using the shapes and textures of the Earth to compose my images, and Moab is the perfect place for that.
Moab and the surrounding area is home to some of the most incredible State Parks and National Parks in the country. And each of these places are perfect for jaw-dropping desert wedding photos. There’s Canyonlands, Arches, and Goblin Valley to name a few.
Get Married in Arches National Park
Arches National Park is my favorite National Park. I even have a tattoo of the Delicate Arch because that’s how much this place means to me.
Arches National Park is an incredible location for your destination elopement. The hikes are unlike anything you will find anywhere else in the world. And there are lots of accessible locations that you don’t even have to hike to. The park entrance is only 10 minutes from downtown Moab and 12 minutes to The Red Earth Venue (my favorite wedding venue in Moab).
Some of my favorite spots for photos in Arches National Park are the Windows Section (where you’ll find the Double Arch, Elephant Arch, Turret Arch, and North and South Windows) and the Sand Dune Arch.
If you want to get married in Arches National Park, you can find wedding permit information here. Arches National Park also requires a timed entry pass to enter the park. You can reserve your pass here.
Get Married at the Corona Arch
Another notable location outside of Arches (but with similar vibes) is the Corona Arch. Located only 18 minutes from the Arches National Park entrance, you’ll take one of the most scenic drives of your life along the Colorado River to get to the trailhead. The trail is about 3 miles round trip and is considered to be a moderately strenuous hike with no shade. But there are 3 arches you will encounter: the Pinto Arch, Bowtie Arch, and Corona Arch. The trail includes ladders and cables to assist you in scaling particularly steep rock faces.
The Corona Arch is one of my favorite arches in all of Moab. This are will be much less crowded than Arches, and there’s no entrance fee or timed entry pass. You may need to get a wedding permit from the Bureau of Land Management, depending on the size and impact of your wedding here. Click here for special recreation permit contact information.
Get Married in Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is one of the most underrated National Parks in Utah. It’s not visited as much as Arches, but the views are just as breathtaking. Canyonlands is split into four districts, but the main district where you will likely be spending your time is called the Island in the Sky. At the Island in the Sky, you can get married at Schafer Canyon Overlook, Green River Overlook, or Grand View Point. There is also a district called the Needles where you can get married at Pothole Point or the Needles Group Campsites. You can find more information for getting married in Canyonlands here.
The entrance to the Island in the Sky district is also only 20 minutes from The Red Earth Venue, so I highly recommend pairing the two together.
Get Married at Dead Horse Point State Park
Another notable park right outside of Canyonlands is Dead Horse Point. Dead Horse Point State Park is only 10 minutes from Canyonlands and offers many of the same views. This is one of my favorite locations for sessions and elopements in Moab. Click here for a guide to getting married at Dead Horse Point State Park.
Get Married in Castle Valley
And finally, the last location that I recommend for Moab elopements and weddings is Castle Valley. Castle Valley is an area just outside of Moab with incredible red rock towers. This is one of my favorite areas of Moab and is much more private than the parks. And, you can have horses here! If you want to get married in Castle Valley, you will need to obtain a permit or letter of authorization from the BLM. Check out Sorrel River Ranch Resort as a place to stay, host your wedding, or rent their horses. They are great to work with, located close to Castle Valley, and are perfect for a western wedding in Moab.
Best Wedding Venues in Moab
I’ve already mentioned the Red Earth Venue and Sorrel River Ranch Resort, but a few others that you should consider are the Ulum Resorts, Under Canvas Moab, Red Cliffs Lodge Moab, and Archway Inn.
Many of my couples will choose to have their wedding celebrations at a venue in Moab, and then venture to one of the National or State Parks nearby for their formal portraits. Sometimes they do this adventure session as part of the wedding day, or they’ll book a day-after adventure session with me and we’ll go into the park then. I offer various wedding photography packages so you can pick what best fits your needs. Reach out here for Moab photography pricing. I would love to adventure around Moab with you and be a part of your wedding experience.
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