Getting Married in Zion National Park is a dream come true

Here are a few things to think about as you prepare to work on your vows.

In my experience all personal vows come in three basic forms but are usually a combination of two or three of these:

Love Letter= How much, what, and why I love you;

Story of a Journey= The physical and emotional journey you have been on both personally and as a couple;

Your national park elopement is the place for you each to open your hearts and be vulnerable. Your words carry even more meaning during a private elopement. Personal vows are more timeless if you have hired a professional photographer and even more so if you have hired a professional videographer.

2 Ways to Find the Perfect Location

The location scout/location coordinator will need to have vast knowledge of all National and State Parks, Forest Service lands, Bureau of Land Management, as well as private and other local public lands. Your professional will need to be versed in the application process for all locations.  Some photographers include this as part of their services. Make sure you ask your photographer what services they provide. The cheapest option is not always the least expensive after you factor in all services provided or not provided. Outland Officiant has a very affordable package that includes location scouting.

Getting married in Zion National Park

One of the most popular National Park to get married in is Zion National Park. It has iconic views that can not be beat. Because it is so popular, and they have had consistent record-breaking number of visitors some extra planning will be needed. Check the park’s website, www.nps.gov/zion/ when planning but also check it several times leading up to your wedding. Between rockslides, COVID 19 protocols, and the park shutting the front gate due to crowds, you will want to know the current situation.

Another great way to stay up on what is going on in the park is to follow the park’s Instagram account, @zionnps. In addition to up-to-date information, you will see great photos and interesting facts about Zion National Parks plants, animals, and history. Cannot recommend it enough.

Who gets the marriage license? Where do they get a marriage license? Do we need one if we are eloping in Zion National Park?

Yes, you will need a marriage license to get married in Utah. This is how.

Marriages licenses are applied for by the couple. This should be done one to four weeks before the wedding. Couples will apply for them at a County Clerk’s Office. A license from any county in Utah can be used anywhere in Utah.

Getting married in Zion National Park is one of the best ideas a couple could have, but it is not as easy as getting married in your local city park. The National Parks Service allows each national park to manage weddings and special use permits for weddings. Getting married in Zion National Park will take a little more planning, but it is well worth it.

In addition to the normal elopement planning steps, you will need to pick your spot (making sure the location allows weddings), apply for your special use permit (this must be done well in advance), plan transportation (sometimes shuttles are the only way to get to your location), and make sure you have an officiant ready and able to get to your location (most will not hike or drive on a dirt road). This blog will cover some of the basics for you. If you need more help, you can hire me as an Adventure Elopement Coordinator, and I can directly assist you and make sure you are all set. You can also hire a professional local photographer that offers elopement coordination.

One of Utah’s National Parks to consider for your elopement is Bryce Canyon National Park. The park’s unique geology gives it equally unique formation. The iron rich soil and rocks give it a vibrant orange hue. The textures of the landscape give it a pleasant contrast to a formal wedding gown.

BLM has now announced that they will no longer allow weddings at the Lambs Knoll location.  This is a loss for everyone. This is not an isolated situation. If we do not all do our part, we will lose more and more locations.

Snow Canyon State Park Now Approving Wedding Permits!

Great news for all the love the beauty of the red rock desert, Snow Canyon State Park is accepting applications for special use permits to have weddings in the park again.  The Snow Canyon State Park had stopped allowing weddings because of COVID-19. 

Timber Creek Overlook is a beautiful place. It is one of the five locations in Zion National Park that you can have a wedding.  You will need a Special Use Permit (SUP) from the park (see my post on how to get a SUP if you want to learn more).

When getting married in Zion National Park you need a Utah marriage license. Here is how to get your marriage license.

Every marriage starts with a wedding and every wedding requires a marriage license. It is what allows your marriage to be recorded in the county and state, making the ceremony legally binding. If you have never been married you may not know how or where to get a marriage license. If you are one of the many that come to Utah for your elopement, you may not know Utah laws on marriage licenses. So I figured it is a good place to start.

The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is very true in the world of adventure weddings. A minor injury that prevents movement back to civilization can lead to dehydration and even death. If you are coming to Zion National Park or any of the surrounding area you need to make sure that you are prepared. Prevention is the best first aid.