The Complete Guide to a Salt Lake City Elopement
Looking to have your elopement in and around the incredible Salt Lake City, Utah? Here's everything you need to know!
So you’ve decided to have your elopement in the incredible Salt Lake City Utah. Honestly you couldn’t have chosen a better place to elope as there are SO many jaw dropping and gorgeous locations to say “I Do” with the one you care about the most. And while yes, elopements are smaller than traditional weddings they still require a lot of planning, especially for a destination elopement such as Salt Lake City. That’s why I chose to put this guide together so you’ll have everything you need in one place to plan out and create the elopement you’ve been dreaming of. Let’s get into it!
When to Elope in Salt Lake City, Utah
The weather of Salt Lake City, and Utah in general, varies quite drastically throughout the year. From some truly hot summers to snow filled winters and everything in between. So when planning your elopement in and around Salt Lake City it’s important that you plan ahead and know what you’re getting into:
Summer
The summer’s in Utah are usually very hot and very dry. They’re also some of the most popular times in terms of tourism with families traveling for summer vacation. Even so, an elopement in Salt Lake City in the peak of summer is still very much doable! Some of the more arid locations we’ll definitely need a ton of water and need to keep our adventuring on the shorter side of things. The mountain ranges near Salt Lake City remain cool year round however, so if you’re down for some hiking in the mountains for your elopement we’ll likely see some snow!
Fall
An elopement in the Fall can be a great experience in Salt Lake City. The temperatures are on average a bit cooler while the area still keeps its drier climate. The leaves also begin to change in the fall which can make for some absolutely breathtaking scenery for your elopement. The only thing to be aware of for the fall really is that there is a chance for an early snowfall during the season. If that’s something you’re into though, even better!
Winter
For those looking to elope in a winter wonderland this is your time and place to shine! Winters in Salt Lake City are snowy and definitely on the colder side, but with some extra layers to wear between photos and locations it is so worth it! Most of the snow will be in the mountains, but the desert can see snow from year to year on those colder days which is an amazing sight to see and a one of a kind setting for your elopement!
Spring
Springtime in Salt Lake City can be a wonderful time for your elopement, as long as you’re ready for the possibility of rain. This is usually the wettest time of the year and the most unpredictable. The Bonneville Salt Flats especially have been known to flood around this time. During flood season we’ll be unable to truly explore the flats which is why I recommend avoiding this season if the salt flats are your elopement location of choice. Otherwise we’d be stuck on the edge of the salt flats for your photos and ceremony which can still be beautiful, but not nearly as jaw dropping as if we had access to the entirety of them.
All in all there really isn’t a “best” time of year for an elopement in Salt Lake City, as everyone will have different preferences to the look, feel, and experience of their day. Again I recommend avoiding the flood season of early spring especially if you plan to elope in the salt flats. No matter what you can have a wonderful elopement experience at any time of year though which is why Salt Lake City is one of my favorite destinations for an elopement!
The Legalities
There’s more to eloping than just planning out when and where you want to do it though. One thing that is a must to take care of prior to your elopement are the legalities of your marriage.
The Marriage License
In order to get your marriage license for your elopement in Salt Lake City you’ll have to get an appointment with one of the state’s county clerk’s offices. You’ll both need to appear in person at the appointment. Then you'll fill out information for both of you including full legal names, your address(es), places and date of birth, both of your SSNs, and your parents names and place of birth including your mother’s maiden name. You’ll also have to present a valid form of ID for each party involved and pay the $50 fee for your marriage license. Once this is all complete you’ll receive your marriage license which has no waiting period and is valid for the next 32 days.
Marriage Laws
For your elopement in Salt Lake City you’ll need an officiant for your ceremony. You can either hire an officiant as one of your elopement vendors, or to make things more personal have a family member or friend perform the ceremony! They’ll need to become ordained to do so through the Universal Life Church which is a pretty straightforward process. After your ceremony your officiant will send your completed marriage license back to the County Clerk’s Office, this step has to be completed within that 32 day timeframe. Lastly the state of Utah requires 2 witnesses be present for your elopement ceremony to be recognized by the state.
One final option I’d like to mention is that if you want to have your elopement ceremony in Salt Lake City be just the two of you with me as your photographer we can still make that happen. The legalities of your marriage are something that can be taken care of prior to your elopement if you’d like. You can take care of the legalities and be legally married prior to us heading out on the elopement which leaves the full focus of the adventure on you and your love for one another!
5 Stunning Salt Lake City Elopement Locations
First up on our list of elopement locations in Salt Lake City is Red Butte Garden and Arboretum! The garden and arboretum is a beautiful space with a gorgeous view of the nearby mountains. Elopement ceremonies at Red Butte Garden do require a reservation which you can apply for through the garden’s site linked above. Even though Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is on the north end of Salt Lake City, you’ll feel fully immersed in the natural beauty of Utah.
Just to the north-west of Salt Lake City you’ll find our next elopement location, Antelope Island State Park. The park is located on a peninsula that extends into the Great Salt Lake and has multiple spots throughout where the lake and mountains extend out as far as the eye can see. There is an application that you’ll need to fill out in order to have your elopement in the state park, which you can find here. Once filled out, if the state determines that a special use permit is required you’ll also have to fill that out and pay the $60 base fee.
Next we have Big Cottonwood Canyon which is just east of Salt Lake City and is home to so many incredible spaces for an elopement. The scenic canyon has an abundance of hiking trails, each with their own unique beauty making them perfect backdrops for an elopement ceremony. You will need to complete a special use permit in order to have your elopement here though so plan ahead for that!
Just south of Big Cottonwood Canyon is the stellar Cecret Lake Trail. The moderate trail is the perfect hike for a couple looking to get some adventure in their elopement, and the lake at the end of the trail is THE perfect spot for your elopement ceremony. Surrounded by the mountains and breathtaking wilderness of Utah it’s a location that’s beauty speaks for itself! Like Big Cottonwood Canyon you will need to complete a special use permit in order to have your elopement here.
Last but DEFINITELY not least on the list we have my all time favorite elopement location near Salt Lake City, the Bonneville Salt Flats. I just recently put out a blog covering an elopement here if you’d like to catch a glimpse at just how beautiful an elopement here can look. A permit is required through the Bureau of Land Management whose contact info can be found here. It’s important to note that while yes the Salt Flats are close to Salt Lake City in the grand scheme of things, it is still an hour and a half drive from one to the other. We’ll talk about that more in the next section!
Travel
Getting to Salt Lake City for your elopement is fairly straightforward thanks to Salt Lake City International airport. Once there though there are a ton of options to make your stay for your elopement as pleasant as possible. You’ll more than likely want to rent a car, especially if eloping in the Salt Flats, unless you plan to use Uber or Lyft to get around. There are plenty of hotel options in the city, but for a more intimate experience renting an Airbnb or Vrbo is a fantastic option as well.
Less Can Be More
You may have noticed that when talking about elopement locations in and near Salt Lake City I didn’t mention decorating for your ceremony. The reason for this is the natural beauty of Utah is something that you really don’t want to tamper with. Of course some light touches like your bouquet and other florals are totally fine, but past that you can really let the beauty of the landscape do the heavy lifting! It’s important to treat the environment with care and respect. There’s no need for unnecessary décor, especially in locations as beautiful as these.
Things to Think About
If you are planning to hike to your elopement location, or elope in an outdoor space in Salt Lake City, you will want to make sure to wear shoes that will not sink into the ground. Hiking boots are a great option and you can change out of them if you’d like when we arrive at the ceremony space. Adventurous elopements come with the obvious adventure, as long as weather conditions aren’t dangerous we will go on with your elopement. The show goes on as long as the weather is safe, so pack accordingly and keep your eyes peeled on the weather the week leading up to your elopement!
That was a lot of info, but now you should be feeling pretty confident as you start planning your Salt Lake City elopement! As you get deeper into planning and it comes time to find a photographer for your date I’d love to hear from you. Head to my contact page to send me an inquiry so we can iron out the details of your Utah elopement and get the party started.
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