Getting married in Moab, Utah? Any adventure elopement or adventure wedding at Arches National Park is iconic. Seriously, as a Moab elopement photographer, it’s one of my favorite places to visit. Outstretched red stone arches, towering rock formations, and miles of desert provide the perfect backdrop for memories and photos you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.
Located near Moab in southeastern Utah, Arches National Park is a famous destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The over 2,000 natural stone arches, including the Delicate Arch, are instantly recognizable, and the landscape is even more surreal during fiery sunsets and sparkling night skies.
With me as your Moab elopement photographer, you can spend more time loving and adventuring and less time planning your Moab wedding.
Where can you have a wedding ceremony in Arches National Park?
these are the Arches National Park “venues.” These locations are pre-approved by the National Park Service. Keep in mind these are only for the ceremony – afterward, you can take photos in other locations in the park.
Double Arch
Guest capacity: 15
An easy hike welcomes you to a pair of arches that reach out and embrace each other. Double Arch is one of the top places to elope in Arches National Park and isn’t difficult to reach.
Windows Section
Guest capacity: 25
Providing a natural frame for your wedding, the Windows Section has a range of easily accessible arches.
Panorama Point
Guest capacity: 50
With views of Fiery Furnace and Devils Garden, this location offers picnic tables, and is easily accessible. Great for large groups, and also a perfect spot for stargazing after the sun has gone down.
Park Avenue
Guest capacity: 15
Offering impressive sandstone towers as a backdrop, Park Avenue is perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony.
La Sal Mountains Viewpoint
Guest capacity: 50
Overlooking the red rock scenery of the park, La Sal Mountains Viewpoint is easily accessible on a sidewalk from the parking lot. You’ll see the Courthouse Towers, Balanced Rock, and The Windows Section on the horizon as you say your vows. This is also one of my favorite spots in the park for sunset.
Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater
Guest capacity: 80
Devils Garden Campground Amphitheater is the only ceremony location in Arches National Park that offers seating for your guests. It’s also the location allowing the most guest, up to 80, perfect for large wedding ceremonies.
Moab Elopement Packages
How To Plan Your Arches National Park Wedding
Don’t worry! I’m here to help you every step of the way.
1. Understand the Utah Marriage Requirements
Before you embark on your Arches National Park wedding, you’ll need to know the legal requirements:
First you’ll need to get your marriage license. There is a clerk and recorders office in the town of Moab, making it really easy to get your marriage license once you’re in town. You and your partner must apply together with your ID and pay the $50 fee. There’s no waiting period between applying and receiving the license (yay! makes it easy). When applying for your marriage license, they will ask you who your officiant is and will need to provide their information. So you’ll want to make sure your chosen officiant is authorized to perform marriages in Utah before you apply for the license. Ministers, public officials, and online-ordained family and friends can be officiants. And guess what?! I’m an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church, and would be happy to sign your marriage license for you! 😊 The office where you’ll want to get your marriage license is located at 125 E. Center St. Moab, UT 84532. They’re open between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and you should call ahead of time to make sure they’re open on the day you’re planning to go. Here is the Moab Clerk and Recorders Office’s website to double check that all of the information I provided here is still up to date: https://www.grandcountyutah.net/586/Marriage-Licenses
2. Plan Your Ceremony
Do you want a simple elopement with only the two of you, your officiant, and the elopement photographer? Or do you want to include a few close family and friends (only the ones who make the cut, of course)? Your ceremony location will depend on how many guests you’re inviting. Scroll back up to review all of the Arches National Park designated ceremony locations and their guest capacities.
3. Think Of The Weather and Seasons When Choosing Your Wedding Date
Adventure elopements in Arches National Park are at the mercy of the unpredictable elements. Consider the time of year. Summer can be scorching hot, and winters can be colder and even snowy, so spring and fall are the most popular times to get married at Arches National Park. Even during the generally milder months, weather can change quickly, so be prepared for sudden temperature changes.
4. Apply for Your Arches National Park Elopement Wedding Ceremony Permit
You’ll need to apply for your Arches National Park wedding ceremony permit yourself, but don’t stress, it’s super simple and i’m here to help you! Before you apply, we’ll need to make the decision of what date you want to hold your ceremony on, your chosen ceremony location, and what time you want to hold your ceremony because you need this information when filling out the application. They’ll also ask you for back up date and time incase your top choices are already booked. Here is a link to the application you need to fill out. After filling out the application, you then will pay the application fee payment through Pay.gov. The application fee for a wedding permit is $185. Once your application is filled out to it’s entirety, and you made your payment through Pay.gov, email your application and payment confirmation to SEUG_CommercialServices@nps.gov. You should hear back within 2 weeks weather the permit is approved or not.
5. Get Timed Entry Tickets
During busy seasons, you’re required to get a timed entry ticket. Good news is you don’t need a timed entry ticket if you have a Special Use Permit, but any of your guests will need timed entry tickets. Don’t hold off on getting timed entry tickets, these can go fast! You can find all of the rules, and get timed entry tickets here: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10088426/ticket/10088427
6. Make your day special with personal touches, or hiring vendors
If you want jaw dropping pictures of your Arches National Park Wedding or Elopement, hire me as your photographer. I’d love to help you and capture your day beautifully. I love in Grand Junction (just an hour and a half away from Arches!), and i’m always stoked to go to Arches for weddings!
Other vendors to think about are professional hair and makeup, florals, maybe a cake, maybe a nice picnic, and of course your officiant. When you book me as your photographer, i’ll provide a list of vendors I recommend for the Moab area (so you can stop googling now).
Think about any traditions or personal touches you want to incorporate into your wedding day — FYI, the park service has rules about what you can do and bring for your wedding. As with any outdoor activity, leaving no trace is crucial to preserve the park’s environment and maintain its pristine condition.
Rules For Arches National Park Weddings
Because you’re celebrating your wedding at a protected site, the National Park Service has specific rules. Some of the most important are:
For a complete list, please see the official government page:
- Pets are not allowed in the park except for parking lots
- Decorations are prohibited
- Music/audio systems must not exceed normal speaking volumes
- Catering/food service is prohibited but picnics are allowed
Feeling Overwhelmed About A Moab Wedding?
i can help!
That was a lot of information, so I get it. As a Arches National Park Wedding and elopement photographer, I scout locations (within the parks or outside of!), recommend vendors, and create a detailed timeline for your wedding day. I take damn good photos, too. Want to learn more? Read more about me!
