HOW TO ELOPE IN UTAH

Planning to elope in Utah? Here’s your complete guide: from picking the perfect spot and setting a budget to handling all the legal details and making your dream day unforgettable! Eloping in Utah might feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make it much easier!

As a Utah native, I’m here to help you make this easy, meaningful and epic.

Whether we are wandering through towering red rock arches in Moab, hiking through a lush pine-covered canyon, driving a 4×4 road in the desert, driving out to the otherworldly salt flats, eloping in your backyard or going to the city hall- I’m here to guide every step of the way, all while making your day feel authentic, romantic, and uniquely ‘you.’

Planning an elopement can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with Utah, but I’m here to make it simple! This ultimate ‘How to Elope in Utah’ guide will cover everything you need: from understanding the legal requirements and practical details to recommendations I have for Utah elopement locations in my other blog posts here! So let’s get started!

First things first: pick your location

You’re probably here because:

• You’re drawn to the idea of an intimate, stress-free day focused entirely on the two of you.

• You’re craving an adventure that’s as meaningful as it is breathtaking.

• You value experiences and memories over traditions and expectations.

And not only that, but you’ve already picked to elope in the beautiful state of Utah! Lucky for you, Utah has 5 National Parks, 46 State parks, endless amounts of trails, campgrounds, alpine forests, red rock deserts, wetlands, and wildlife viewing areas…and so many gorgeous hidden spots and corners. Whether you’re drawn to one of the 5 state parks or the idea of eloping near a perfectly quiet alpine lake or something out of this world like the Salt Flats, once you’ve made your decision, here’s what you should consider next.

Second, marriage license logistics

In order to get married in any form, you need a marriage license that is legal within the state you’ll be getting married in. Fortunately, Utah does not have a waiting period, so you can marry immediately after receiving your license! Which makes eloping very possible and easy if you’re coming from out of state.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Where to Apply: Apply in any county, and the license is valid statewide.
• ID Requirements: Government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
• Fee: The cost varies by county (typically $40–$60).
• Full names, addresses and dates and places of birth of both applicants.
• Waiting Period: Utah does not have a waiting period, so you can marry immediately after receiving your license.

For more details, visit Utah Marriage License Information

​Keep in mind though that  the license is only valid for 32 days. If you do not have the marriage solemnized within that time, the license will expire. Because elopements in Utah do have regulations on certain locations, here is where knowing your ceremony location and requirements are important.

Third, Ceremony requirements

Here is what you need to know about how to make your elopement ceremony legit:

Fourth, know your Permits for Public Lands

If you’re planning to elope in a national park, state park, or other public land, you may need a special use permit to legally elope or you will get fined a hefty fee.

For Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce and Capitol Reef National Park, check out information about permits and reservations on the National Park Service website under the Utah section, here. From this page, select which National Park you want to elope in and then under the “Plan your Visit tab” find the “Basic Information” tab and then “Permits and Reservations”, then “weddings”. Here’s an example photo of where you can find wedding information under the National Parks.

Most National Parks will have certain designated ceremony spaces in which you can legally hold your ceremony, which will be included in the wedding section.

Once you’ve narrowed down which national park you’d like to elope in and in which ceremony location, then it is important to apply for your permit!

Fifth, obtain a special use permit

Most National Parks in Utah require a Special Use Permit for all weddings. Permits must be obtained in advance of your event (submitted no later than two weeks before the ceremony date). So although you can get your marriage license and get married right away, you will need to plan ahead if you’re eloping in a National Park and apply a special use permit.

There are two things you need to know about applying for a special use permit for your elopement.

• Permit Fee. Every National Park has a permit fee when you apply. It varies per National Park or state park, but the fees can average from $50-$200. For example:
  • Capitol Reef: The permit fee is $100. 
  • Canyonlands: The application fee is $185. 
  • Arches: The permit fee is $185, which includes a $55 non-refundable application fee and a $130 administrative and management fee. 
  • Dead Horse Point State Park: The permit fee is $60, which includes a $10 application fee and a $50 permit fee. There is also a $20 per vehicle fee on the day of the wedding, or $4 per person if attendees are bussed in. Ranger monitoring is $50 per hour if the park manager determines it’s necessary. 

all of the information for each state and national park are under the “marriage” sections that I discussed previously.

• Application process. There is an application process for which you can complete to obtain a special use permit, so allow yourself plenty of time to allow that process to finalize before your elopement date. This fee covers administrative and processing expenses associated with the permit application. However, please note this fee does not include the cost of park entry.

And that’s the final step to eloping in Utah! Once your application process is finalized, then is the time to plan and prepare! If you’re unsure what to do for your elopement, I would recommend checking out my blog that includes 50 elopement activities to make your elopement day special!

And if you feel that this blog guided you in the right direction, on how to elope in Utah, please consider tagging me along in your journey to document this once in a lifetime experience. Ready to start planning your elopement in Utah? LET’S DO IT!