The perfect place to elope and a photographer’s dream landscape, Denali National Park has a plethora of magnificent backdrops for anyone’s wedding. On a clear day, the tallest mountain in North America can be seen all the way from Anchorage. Denali’s snowy peak high amongst the Alaska Range is a breathtaking sight to behold, but the park also incorporates fabulous fall colors, crystal clear glacier waters, majestic lakes, and furry friends. This captivating terrain absolutely is one to consider for your elopement. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.

Famous for its turquoise lakes, inspiring mountains, and an array of breathtaking scenery and wildlife, Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful and unique places to elope. Canada’s first national park, Banff captivates the imagination with miles and miles of hiking trails, trees, and relaxing hot springs to create a stunning place to say I do. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park. 

Utah is a vastly beautiful state with so many different backdrops and charming places to consider for your elopement. It’s one of my favorite places to travel and vacation to—not to mention capture in a photo. Utah is a great place to elope or to renew vows. Here are my top five places to elope in Utah.

To start, Arches National Park is one of Utah’s most popular national parks and a stunning area to elope. Delicate Arch is the most famous feature, and looks spectacular during sunset. Located in southern Utah, Arches National Park isn’t far from the cute town of Moab, which has the hookups for hair, makeup, and floral arrangements for your elopement.

Bryce Canyon National Park provides a phenomenal backdrop for any elopement. From the captivating calcareous rock, to the famous Bryce Amphitheater, this National Park is a staple of Utah, and will definitely make your elopement seem right out of a fairytale. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.

To elope in Bryce Canyon National Park, a special use permit must be secured first.

The majestic landscape of Olympic National Park encompasses not only a breathtaking coastline, but a beautiful backdrop of trees and mountains as well. Beaches dotting the Pacific coastline make the most astonishing destination to make your wedding day even more magical. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.

To elope in Olympic National Park, a special use permit must be secured first. The permit itself is $50, and the application for the permit can be found here.

The other-worldly red rock playground that is Arches National Park has captivated millions of people around the world. The slickrock and gravity-defying arches make for a most beautiful backdrop, one that’s sure to make your wedding day even more stunning. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park.

To elope in Arches National Park, a special use permit must be secured first. The permit itself is $185, and the application for the permit can be found here.

There are some places in this world that are filled with jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring beauty. Here in the United States, we’re lucky enough to have thousands of beautiful landscapes to explore, some of them in our own backyards. But some of them steal our hearts and lure us back time and time again, always soothing our souls and quieting our minds. Zion National Park is one of these places.

The red canyon walls tower above the Virgin River and the charming town of Springdale, Utah. Zion is an outdoor Lover's Paradise, offering everything from hiking to Camping to rock climbing and more.

I believe that in life, almost everything happens for a reason. There have been so many beautiful things that have happened in this lifetime, and I enjoy looking back and seeing where it may have all started and how we got to where we are. I met Trevor and Allison in Zion National Park completely by chance. My dad and I were on a road trip that I had planned to scope out some great landscape photography opportunities for my second business, Wild Klementine. We had planned to camp for most of the time even though late fall can be very chilly in Colorado and Utah, but we spontaneously decided to spend one night at the Driftwood Lodge near Zion National Park.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a bit obsessed with trip planning, which is where part of the inspiration for my second business, Wild Klementine, came from. I’ve also become fond of bullet journaling to recap and remember our travels by. I wanted to share some of the road trip highlights (and downfalls) with you to either give you a bit of wanderlust, or to inspire your next Western adventure. This awesome road trip was the product of months of planning, and it had a surprise ending that was life-changing!

Ah, the classic all-American road trip. I love packing up the car and heading off to parts-unknown for a few days (or weeks). Road trips have become a part of my annual routine. Whether a long-weekend jaunt or a multi-week adventure, a road trip always leaves me inspired, refreshed, and in awe of this amazing planet and the people on it. With a fair amount of road trip experience under my belt (this year alone will have eight excursions!), I wanted to share my best tips with you: