HOW TO GET MARRIED
IN A NATIONAL PARK.
FROM A TO ZION
When planning a wedding or elopement in a national park there are several things you must take into account. This page will help you know what you absolutely “Need” in order to get married in a national park in Utah, such as a SUP, (Special Use Permit). And, how to apply for and be issued your permit.
I also cover many things you “Should Have”, “Will Want to Have”, as well as some “Do Not Do’s” for each park.
All of the national parks are managed by the National Parks Service. This means there will be many similarities, such as required permits. Additionally, each park is run by its own administrative office. This means there will be many differences, such as rules governing where elopements are allowed.
This resource is for informational purposes and is not designed to be a completely exhaustive list. If you have questions, reach out on our Contact page. If I do not know the answer I will probably know the direction to point you. It is always a good idea to reach out to the park for more information.
HOW TO GET MARRIED IN A
NATIONAL PARK IN UTAH
WHAT YOU NEED TO GET MARRIED IN A NATIONAL PARK.
Utah Marriage License, 5 to 29 days before wedding day
Authorised Location for Wedding, before submitting SUP application
Special Use Permit, apply 90 to 350 days before wedding day
Wedding Officiant licensed in Utah, as soon as wedding date is pick
All weddings in and around Zion National Park require a Utah marriage license. Instructions on how to get your Utah marriage license are on our “How to Get Married in Utah” page. You will also learn all other requirements to get married in Utah.
Utah Marriage Licenses.
Special Use Permit (SUP).
Every wedding in every National Park requires a SUP.
Q. Why Do I Need a Permit?
A. In short, it protects your wedding, the wild life, and is required by law.
Part of the SUP processing is to make sure no other bride shows up on your elopement day with all of her wedding party and guests. Likewise to make sure you do not show up to your wedding location with your wedding party only to see the area is occupied by another wedding and you are forced to wait hours standing around.
Another way the SUP protects you and your wedding is through safety. The SUP ensures elopements do not take place where there are serious safety issues. Over the years people have been injured or even killed in Zion National Park. The tragic cost of these lives have been used to determine where a bride and her group can have a wedding safely.
Authorized Location.
Each park has rules that govern where you can have your elopement/wedding. Details for each park are listed in each park’s section of this page. Continue reading to learn more. For now, just know you will need to find an authorised location before you can apply for a wedding permit.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN A NATIONAL PARK.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE NEED-TO-HAVE ITEMS THESE ARE THINGS YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE/DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Know the Weather
Know the Hikes and Locations
Understand the Shuttle
Avoid Search and Rescue Visits
WATER! Drink The Day Before and Bring With You
Know the Weather
Know the weather forecast and the weather history. Forecasts are educated guesses. They are usually a great help, but if you are planning an elopement in a few months they do not help much. Make sure you know the average highs and lows so you can find a place that is going to match the feel and vibe you want. But, when it comes to packing for your trip and hike plan for the record high and the record low. If you know the record highs and lows you can pack with confidence you will be ok in any situation.
Know the Hikes and Locations
Understand the Shuttle
Avoid Search and Rescue Visits
WATER! Drink The Day Before and Bring With You
WHAT YOU WILL WANT WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN A NATIONAL PARK.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE NEED-TO-HAVE ITEMS THESE ARE THINGS YOU REALLY SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Make a Plan Early
Have Flowers to be Delivered
Have Elopement Cake Delivered
Have a Photographer and Videographer
Have a Parking Plan
Coordinate Bouquets and Boutonnieres
Whether you're exchanging vows in a wedding gown or hiking attire, a bouquet of flowers adds a touch of bridal elegance and provides ample opportunities for stunning photos with your photographer. Even for those opting for a more casual affair amidst nature, a bouquet effortlessly elevates the occasion to feel and look like a wedding.
When selecting your wedding flowers, several factors merit consideration:
Seasonal blooms are ideal, as they withstand outdoor conditions and hiking adventures better than specialty flowers. Inform your florist about your outdoor elopement location to ensure suitability. Embrace the natural surroundings by opting for local flowers that complement the environment.
Opting for locally sourced flowers also aids in preserving the ecological balance by preventing the spread of invasive species. Sunflowers, when in season and locally sourced, exude timeless beauty.
Avoid pampas grass due to its invasive nature and tendency to spread seeds, particularly unsuitable for national park weddings where floral displays are prohibited. Its presence can disrupt makeup and attire, especially in windy conditions.
To streamline your experience, consider having your flowers delivered to your hotel or designated location. Choose a reputable florist specializing in elopements to ensure reliability and timely delivery, allowing you to maximize your time with your partner without unnecessary hassle.
For those unfamiliar with local flower availability and trustworthy vendors in Southern Utah, entrusting Outland Adventures to arrange your flowers ensures access to the finest florists and seamless delivery, saving you both time and effort.
Organize Local Bakery for Elopement Cake
Indulge in an elopement cake, perfect for capturing the classic cake-cutting moment and adding a sweet touch to your celebration. Elopement cakes typically range from 5 to 8 inches in diameter and feature 2 to 3 layers, offering a delightful treat for you and your beloved.
When selecting a bakery and cake, consider the following:
Prioritize reliability when choosing a bakery to avoid any last-minute mishaps. Opt for bakeries experienced in crafting both wedding and elopement cakes to ensure satisfaction.
Select a cake suited to the location and season, taking into account factors like temperature. Fondant is preferable for warmer climates, ensuring the cake remains pristine despite the heat.
Similar to flower arrangements, entrust Outland Adventures to coordinate your elopement cake, ensuring seamless delivery and impeccable quality, regardless of your chosen location.
By entrusting these details to professionals, you can focus on cherishing each moment of your special day without any worries or complication.
Do NOT Feed Animals
Do NOT Leave the Paths
Do NOT Leave Trash
Do NOT use speakers
DO NOT DO IN A NATIONAL PARK.
SOME THINGS NO ONE SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Do NOT Feed Animals
Do NOT Leave the Paths
Do NOT Leave Trash
Do NOT use speakers
HOW TO GET MARRIED IN
ZION NATIONAL PARK
WHAT YOU NEED TO GET MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK.
Utah Marriage License, 5 to 29 days before wedding day
Authorised Location for Wedding, before submitting SUP application
Special Use Permit, apply 90 to 350 days before wedding day
Wedding Officiant licensed in Utah, as soon as wedding date is pick
All weddings in and around Zion National Park require a Utah marriage license. Instructions on how to get your Utah marriage license are on our “How to Get Married in Utah” page. You will also learn all other requirements to get married in Utah.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
Before you apply you will need to know what location you will be applying to use. In order to select the best spot for your elopement consider and decide on a few logistical items.
Numbers-
Application requires a firm count of people and vehicles in your group. Have this before you apply. If needed you may want to round up on your numbers to make sure you will be able to still use your permit if additional people decide to join you.
Needs-
It is important to know what needs members of your group have as well as any limitations. Some locations require walking on soft sand and some locations are wheelchair accessible. Some locations have restrooms but other locations do not. Take the time to talk with your group to make sure you apply for a location that will work best for you and your group.
Date and time of year-
Consider the look and feel you want to have on your wedding day.
Temperatures range a lot from summer to winter in the park. Some locations are lower in elevation than others. Summer is a good time to choose locations higher and winter is a good time to consider lower elevations.
Some times of the year the park is much more busy than other times.
Some dates, such as holidays are blocked out and no permits will be issued for these dates.
Location-
With all of that in mind you are ready to pick a location for your wedding. There are six locations that permits can be issued for.
Timber Creek Overlook
South Campground Amphitheater
Nature Center North Lawn
Zion Lodge Lawn
Menu Falls
Temple of Sinawava
You can learn more about these locations on our locations page.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for your Special Use Permit you will:
Form-
Fill out a NPS Form 10-930 “Application For Special Use Permit”. Link to application.
Fee-
Pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 - Payments must be submitted electronically through pay.gov by visiting: https://pay.gov/public/form/start/77183452. This fee is for the application processing and not for the permit. If your request is denied you do not receive a refund. If you wish to apply for a different date or location you will have to pay the application fee again.
File-
Your completed application needs to be sent to zion_commercialservices@nps.gov.
WHEN TO APPLY
Applications must be submitted at least three weeks in advance of your wedding day. This gives the commercial services folks at the park time to review, consider, make determination on approval, and send out notice of approval or disapproval. It is highly recommended that you apply for your permit as soon as possible. This allows you time to adjust your plans in the event your application is denied.
AFTER YOU APPLY
You will receive email notification of your application’s approval or disapproval. Monitor your email for updates from the park. On some occasions additional information may be needed.
IF YOU ARE APPROVED- Bring a copy of your permit with you to the location on the day of your wedding.
IF YOU ARE NOT APPROVED- There are a couple of options for you if your application is disapproved:
Apply again- If time allows you can apply again for a different date or different location.
Locations out of the park- There are many beautiful locations just outside the park that offer similar views and more seclusion. It is important that you work with a local vendor if you plan to find a location outside the park. Do not rely on navigation apps or social media to give your accurate information! If you need help visit outlandadventures.net/locations or contact us at info@outlandadventures.net.
Watch Your Step, The Soil is Alive! Cryptobiotic Coil Crusts
DO NOT LEAVE THE PATH, Step Responsibly.
It may look like dirt but it is alive and it is a huge part of our desert ecosystem.
Cryptobiotic crust is a biological soil-a living soil that creates a crust over the landscape. In many places, soil crust comprises over 70 percent of all living ground cover. The knobby, black crust here includes lichen, mosses, green algae, microfungi, and bacteria, but is dominated by cyanobacteria.
Soil crust helps control erosion by keeping soil stuck together in one continuous crust. Sediment doesn’t wash away in the rain or blow away in the wind. This is why the Colorado Plateau’s high desert isn’t covered in loose sandy dunes.
Soil crust also holds and retains water. Plant roots tap into this spongy crust to survive dryer and hotter conditions. It also promotes plant life by taking nitrogen from the air and changing it to a kind of nitrogen plants need.
Utah Marriage Licenses.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE NEED-TO-HAVE ITEMS THESE ARE THINGS YOU REALLY SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Know the Weather
Know the Hikes and Locations
Understand the Shuttle
Avoid Search and Rescue Visits
WATER! Drink The Day Before and Bring With You
WHAT YOU WILL WANT WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE NEED-TO-HAVE ITEMS THESE ARE THINGS YOU REALLY SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Make a Plan Early
Have Flowers to be Delivered
Have Elopement Cake Delivered
Have a Photographer and Videographer
Have a Parking Plan
DO NOT DO IN ZION NATIONAL PARK.
SOME THINGS NO ONE SHOULD DO WHEN GETTING MARRIED IN ZION NATIONAL PARK:
Do NOT Feed Animals
Do NOT Leave the Paths
Do NOT Leave Trash
Special Use Permit (SUP) For Weddings
Every wedding in Zion National Park requires a SUP.
Q. Why Do I Need a Permit?
A. In short, it protects your wedding, the wild life, and is required by law.
Part of the SUP processing is to make sure no other bride shows up on your elopement day with all of her wedding party and guests. Likewise to make sure you do not show up to your wedding location with your wedding party only to see the area is occupied by another wedding and you are forced to wait hours standing around.
Another way the SUP protects you and your wedding is through safety. The SUP ensures elopements do not take place where there are serious safety issues. Over the years people have been injured or even killed in Zion National Park. The tragic cost of these lives have been used to determine where a bride and her group can have a wedding safely.
Know the Weather
Know the weather forecast and the weather history. Forecasts are educated guesses. They are usually a great help, but if you are planning an elopement in a few months they do not help much. Make sure you know the average highs and lows so you can find a place that is going to match the feel and vibe you want. But, when it comes to packing for your trip and hike plan for the record high and the record low. If you know the record highs and lows you can pack with confidence you will be ok in any situation.
Know the Hikes and Locations
Understand the Shuttle
Avoid Search and Rescue Visits
WATER! Drink The Day Before and Bring With You
Authorized Location
It is very important to understand that Zion National Park restricts where in the park any wedding (including elopements) can take place.
Five locations in Zion National Park are authorized:
Temple of Sinawava,
Menu Falls,
Zion Lodge Lawn,
North Lawn of the Nature Center,
South Campground Amphitheater, and
Timber Creek Overlook.
Each of these locations have advantages and disadvantages. When deciding on the right spot for your elopement you will want to consider both the location and your group.
Each has unique views, accessibility, maximum number of guests, and logistics to consider. Accessibility and logistics change during different times of the year as well.
Learn more about each location and see a full photo gallery on our Locations page.
News from the Parks.
Zion National Park Visitor Information.
Zion Visitor Information.
For a Zion National Park wedding or elopement, this visitor information video is a must. Perfect place to start planning your trip to Zion National Park, from trails, shuttles, restrooms, and park rules.
To book a Zion National Park elopement officiant click here to check my availability.
COVID-19 Response.
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local public health authorities, park operations continue to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining public access, particularly outdoor spaces. Before visiting a park, please check the park website to determine its operating status. Updates about the overall NPS response to COVID-19, including safety information, are posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please recreate responsibly.
Zion National Park “We the Keepers”
We The Keepers.
Zion National Park elopements and weddings are very special. Part of what makes them so special is the rich history and meaning the canyon has. This short 22 minute video show case of the Zion National Park. This beautiful park has a deep history and links to the Piute people.
Bryce Canyon Current Operations
photo by Bryce Canyon National Park
What will the weather be?
Park of planning your Bryce Canyon National Park wedding or elopement is knowing what the weather will be. Know before you go.
