A Wedding Ceremony Overlooking the Zion Cliffs


Julia and Thomas came all the way from the East Coast to get married in Utah. They were a dream couple for me because of their love for adventure! After securing work-from-home jobs, they took off on a multi-month nomadic lifestyle throughout the USA! By staying in Airbnbs for several weeks at a time, they were able to fully explore multiple states, with the end goal of getting married in the Utah desert. They had originally inquired about getting married in Zion National Park, but as a local elopement photographer, I knew that Zion National Park may look like the place you want to get married, but you do not actually want to get married in the park limits. That is why I presented them with a handful of alternative options that gave them Zion Cliff views while allowing for a less restrictive and much more private wedding. Plus, I knew that these areas would be extremely unique and unlike other elopements in the area... and it turned out to be just that!


This area overlooks Zion, and has red rocks, cliff faces, and that classic Southern Utah look! I am choosing to keep the exact location private to protect the landscape, but if you love these photos and are seriously interested in getting married here yourself, you can reach out to ask about the specifics. You can drive right up to it and it is accessible by vehicles with high coverage and four-wheel drive. In the nearby area we had one family camping and some mountain bikers, but other than that, it was completely private! As we stood out in the ceremony location, you could feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. You could hear the desert vegetation rustling in the cool air and the birds. It was truly magical.

A wedding ceremony takes place on a scenic overlook with red rock canyons and mountains in the background.
A group of visitors views the desert landscape at a scenic overlook in what appears to be the American Southwest.

Half-Day Elopement Timeline


Julia and Thomas booked me for my Half-Day package. As of 2025, I offer a couple of different types of packages for elopements and the half-day option gave them four hours of coverage. This is how they chose to use it:


3:00 pm - Arrive and First Look


3:30 pm - Ceremony with Family


4:00 pm-Champagne toast with family


4:15 pm - First dance


4:45 pm - Family Photos


5:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Private Vows and Epic Bridals


6:30 pm - 7:00 pm - Picnic set up (with beer and pizza)

Two people embrace on a desert mountain summit at sunset with rocky terrain and mountains in the distance.
A couple stands together in the desert during golden hour with mountains and desert brush in the background.

Finding a Photographer for your Utah Elopement


Elopement photographers, like myself, know that we could get an inquiry for an elopement at any time. I have had couples reach out and book an elopement with me that had as little notice as three weeks. Meaning that they reached out to me, planned their wedding, booked their wedding, and flew out here to Utah to get married, all within three weeks. It happens and it is always fun. The only downside is that I may be unavailable, so it is always best practice to reach out to your desired photographer as soon as you know when you want to elope. Most couples who elope can be flexible with their date, and if you can do that, then I am likely to be able to fit you in regardless of when you reach out.


In Julia and Thomas's case, they reached out to me in late spring to inquire with me in October. The fall months are typically my most busy months so I was honest with her and told her that A) My Octobers fill up super quickly and B) told her the dates I had booked and the dates that I had other couples currently inquiring about. This gave them the opportunity to think over all of their options, but also they knew that if they wanted to work with me in October then we had to get their day reserved.


Deciding to elope and then following through with it quickly is a thrilling experience! It is memorable, fun, adventurous, and makes for one awesome story! It is especially easy to do this if you choose to get married in a place that I am familiar with. I keep track of what we need to be prepared for and it will not take me much time to do some Google searches to see if any of the rules have changed for the area. If you want to elope in a location that I am not familiar with, I may need time to research the rules so that I can make sure to provide you with a legal and solid wedding plan. Always make sure to do your own research and know what type of land you are getting married on and what the legalities are for that county. It may not take a lot of time for us to be fully prepared with the knowledge we need for your wedding, but it is a crucial step to make sure the wedding turns out perfectly with no hiccups!

An intimate black and white wedding photograph shows a tender moment with a bridal bouquet of roses and flowers.
Two people sit together on a rocky ledge overlooking the majestic red cliffs of Zion National Park at sunset.
A silhouetted couple embrace in romantic sunset light on rocky terrain while wearing formal wedding attire.

An Elopement Ending with Beer and Pizza


At the very end of the evening, as the sun was setting and the clouds were turning pink, Julia and Thomas ran to their car to get chilled beer and cold pizza. We set up a blanket on the same rock that they had just hours before said, "I do" and they began to eat. They immediately realized that even though this cheap, cold pizza was not actually that tasty, they were still starving! But the point of this was not taste, it was to show who they are as a couple!


I always encourage couples to include an activity in your elopement. Being a part of the wedding industry, we are working hard to re-define what it means to elope. Couples who book with me get so much more than just wedding ceremony photos. I encourage them to fully dress up, get the hair and the makeup professionally done, have flowers made, and include all of those details that you love from big weddings. The only difference is that there is no worries about all of the guests and who to invite and who not to invite. We cut out the judgmenet and the idea of throwing a party for other people. When that part is gone, we can sit down and brainstorm what would scream, "THIS IS THOMAS AND JULIA!". The answer to that question was simple. They invited their closest family and friends, and explored part of the country they haven't been to yet. They got all dressed up and celebrated with champagne, beer, pizza, a first dance, and professional photos in the Utah desert with and epic sunset.

Wedding couple shares a picnic while enjoying the stunning red rock vistas of Utah's desert landscape at sunset.
Two people in wedding attire toast with canned beverages while smiling during a celebration.
A couple in wedding attire sits on a blanket overlooking the dramatic red rock landscapes of the desert at sunset.

Zion National Park Elopement Vendors


Julia loved all of the vendors that she worked with. Here is a list of us all!


Photography - Hearts and Horizons Media

Hair and Makeup - By Makall

Florist - By Bloomers

Dress - David's Bridal

Suit - Bonobos

A wedding couple stands on a desert trail with towering red rock cliffs of Zion National Park in the background.
A desert wedding scene with mountains in the background and desert brush along a dirt path.
A couple shares a first-look moment on their wedding day against a backdrop of majestic red rock mountains in the desert.
Wedding couple shares a special moment on a desert trail with red rock mountains in the background.
Wedding invitation cards in burgundy and white displayed with peach roses and white dahlias on lace fabric.
A couple walks arm in arm along a desert trail with mountains in the background on a cloudy day.
Two people smiling together in formal attire against a desert mountain landscape with cloudy skies.
A small intimate wedding ceremony takes place outdoors against a backdrop of rugged red rock mountains under cloudy skies.
A wedding ceremony takes place on a rocky overlook with dramatic mountain peaks in the background.
Couple exchanges vows during outdoor wedding ceremony with scenic red rock mountains of Utah in background.
A couple shares an emotional moment during their wedding ceremony against a backdrop of red desert mountains and cloudy skies.
A romantic wedding couple share an intimate moment under a veil against stunning red rock mountains in the background.
Champagne being poured into a glass held by a hand wearing a wedding ring and navy suit sleeve.
A wedding couple shares a tender moment on a desert overlook with guests and red rock formations in the background.
Wedding party stands together for photo on desert mountain overlook with dramatic cloudy sky and mountain range backdrop.