You, the Mighty Two. Magical and sensuous, Utah’s five national parks hold our wonder and help us feel one with the universe. As red rock communes with scented sage and the dark sky becomes a canvas for the whirling cosmos, awe overwhelms any human.
Whether your opinion of marriage is esoteric or pragmatic, these public lands, dubbed “America’s Best Idea,” create the jaw-dropping backdrops for your wedding, elopement, or bridal portraits. You, the Mighty Two, belong in Utah’s Mighty Five national parks.
Arches National Park
Travellers the world over flock to Moab to gaze upon Delicate Arch before exploring only a fraction of the 2,000-plus known arches in the park—many of which are approved ceremony sites. With Moab close by, hosting your reception and booking your lodging is a breeze.
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park’s sprawling landscape boasts stately red rock formations—cliffs, massive domes and hidden arches at every turn. This otherworldly scenery is a perfect stage for an elopement.
Zion National Park/Kolob Canyons
Zion’s stunningly deep canyons make it one of the West’s most visited parks—and a fantastic place to get married, or course. From soaring 2,000-foot cliffs to delicate hanging gardens, it is a place of beauty so majestic that the earliest settlers named it the “dwelling place of God.”
Canyonlands/ Island in the Sky
For your Canyonlands ceremony, consider Grand View Point, which boasts, arguably, the best view in Island in the Sky (if not Southern Utah). You’ll literally be standing in the clouds. You can expect fewer crowds than in Arches, but still enjoy the amenities of nearby Moab.
Bryce Canyon National Park
From the cool climes at 8,000 feet on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, thick pine forests surround you as you stand together on the verge of awe-inspiring red rock cliffs, spires and Bryce’s famous hoodoos—and on the verge of your life together. Your “I do” will echo through Bryce Amphitheatre.
Utah’s Mighty 5 make for the most scenic wedding backdrops
Photographs and words by Austen Diamond
For planning and executing your Utah national park wedding, visit AustenDiamondPhotography.com.
