A Styled Elopement in Arches National Park

Monique and Chris shared a perfect vow renewal at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Of course, when you visit Utah, there’s a lot more to see than just the Salt Flats. That’s why I invited Monique and Chris to Moab, Utah for a styled elopement in Arches National Park.

Established in 1929, Arches National Park in Moab, Utah is home to over 2000 naturally formed arches. Formed over millions of years and celebrated almost daily by hundreds of visitors, Arches National Park is the perfect place to elope or at least to host a styled elopement.

During the summer months, the National Park Services has created a ticketing system essentially capping the number of visitors to the park during the day time from 6:00AM to 5:00PM from April to October. However, there’s a trick. If you get into the park before 6AM you don’t need a reservation. So we were able to scoot into the park around 4:45AM to get to our first arches around 5:15AM. It was perfect and as we walked up to the first arches of the day, we were joined by dozens of others preparing for the break of dawn.

Even though the park gets crowded, the magic that it holds was still prevalent all throughout it and we we found some very perfect, cozy, and private spots for their styled elopement at Arches National Park.

An elopement at Arches National Park

In order to actually have an elopement in Arches National Park, you’ll need insurance, a permit from the National Parks Service, and a savvy photographer who knows his way around the park. You’ll also be limited to specific ceremony sites.

If you’re already married, however, there’s no need for a wedding permit so we were able to get around that mess since Monique and Chris have been happily married for 14 years. In fact, you can see their recent vow renewal at The Bonneville Salt Flats here!

Even though we had planned to visit another location within Arches National Park for their styled elopement, we didn’t end up going. We had already found the perfect spot and afterward, they were heading to Vegas to drop off their rental car and enjoy a few extra vacation days free of children and all cares.

I’m honored to have been a part of their beautiful vow renewal and elopement at Arches National Park. I’m also super excited to share it with you. Monique and Chris’ style is perfectly edgy, fun, and very glamorous in all the right ways. They make 14 years of marriage look easy and I’m so glad to have them as clients and now as true blue friends.

For anyone wanting to elope in Utah, you can check out our Utah elopement information here. And if you’re game and want to visit Moab along the way, I’m more than happy to make the trip from SLC to Moab for another gorgeous day of breathtaking portraits in Arches National Park.

A special thanks to Lulus for the gorgeous glam dress that everyone has been complimenting on social media!