When to Elope in Utah

Utah has everything from snow capped mountains to scenic desert vistas to sparkly city views to isolated trails, and there is a perfect combination for your elopement somewhere in Utah year round. Here is my guide to when to elope in Utah, and where the best options are for each season.

First and foremost - Utah has many popular tourist areas, so I always recommend considering a weekday for your elopement. We can beat crowds and have popular spaces to ourselves much easier during the week!

April, May, September, and October are the most popular for elopements in Utah and bring the most crowds to National Parks, so March and November are two of my favorite months for elopements in those areas. June, July, and August are perfect for hiking and mountain elopements.

WINTER

Utah is famous for its winters - after all Utah is known for having “the greatest snow on Earth!” Ski Resorts and mountain towns will be the busiest during winter, but desert areas and National or State Parks have less visitors in the colder months. Winter elopements are perfect for skiers & snowboarders who want to incorporate their favorite sport into their wedding, or perfect for those who don’t mind braving the cold and who want less crowds in desert areas! Here’s everything you need to know about eloping in Utah in the winter.

Winter Elopement Activities: Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Ice Skating, Winter Hiking, Distillery & Brewery Tours

What to Avoid in Winter: There are a lot of mountain roads that aren’t maintained in the winter, so some trail access is limited.

Best Places to Elope: Winter is a perfect time to elope in National Parks & State Parks in Southern Utah! Ski Resorts & mountain towns like Alta and Park City are beautiful starting places for adventure elopements. The Bonneville Salt Flats will be covered in snow during winter, but in between storms the snow will melt and flood the flats, creating a stunning mirrored effect.

DECEMBER

December is an exciting time in Utah - ski resorts start to open, mountain towns are bustling, and snow starts to fall. Mountain roads that aren’t maintained for winter are generally closed by December, so trail access in Northern Utah starts to be a little bit more limited. Southern Utah is empty, and National and State Parks are colder, but still generally snow free at this time.

JANUARY

January is the coldest month of the year in Utah, but still a perfect time for a ski resort/mountain town elopement! Sundance Film Festival takes place in Park City the last two weeks of January, which does cause a significant spike in prices and crowds in Salt Lake City and Park City. Most National Parks and most of Southern Utah will have snow off and on during January as well, but red rock and white snow is such a stunning backdrop for those looking to take advantage of slightly warmer weather and significantly less crowds.

FEBRUARY

Winter is still in full swing in February, but days are starting to get longer and the sun is out more often. Canyons will be completely snow packed, and ski resorts will be in the middle of the season. Southern Utah is still in the off season, and will still see some snow storms and smaller crowds.

SPRING

Spring in Utah initially doesn’t look any different than Winter - snow storms generally continue at least through April, and snowpack doesn’t fully melt until summer. But spring ends with blossoming flowers, green mountains, and lots and lots of life. Ski Resorts are generally open at least through April, and spring ski days are sunny and warm, perfect if you’re wanting a Ski Elopement and want to be a little bit warmer. Southern Utah and desert areas start to warm up, and the weather is beautiful and moderate through spring.

Spring Elopement Activities: Skiing, Snowboarding, Hiking (southern Utah)

What to Avoid in Spring: Mountain roads are still closed in Northern Utah, and a lot of trails are still inaccessible. When the snow does melt the canyons are muddy and dead, and I highly recommend avoiding the mountains until at least early summer.

Best Places to Elope: SOUTHERN UTAH 100%. March & April see much warmer weather in the National Park areas, and crowds are still minimal in the spring. The Bonneville Salt Flats are also stunning during spring and flooded most of the time.

MARCH

Ski season is still in full swing, and valleys are starting to melt and get muddy. There is no green anywhere in Northern Utah during March. March is perfect for Southern Utah Elopements.

APRIL

April brings blossoms and spring flowers to the Salt Lake Valley, but mountains are still covered in snow. April brings rain and snow storms, but the weather is much more mild. April is also a great month for Southern Utah Elopements.

MAY

May is marked by more greenery and more flowers in lower elevations! Canyons are starting to melt, but most are muddy and dead through May. Lilacs and poppy fields start to bloom, and orchards are covered in blossoms. I love May for intimate valley elopements - we can shoot in the desert and reserve flower fields/orchards for photos.

SUMMER

Summer in Utah brings a lot of dry heat to the desert, and a lot of greenery and flowers to the mountains! National Parks are most busy from May-September, so summer will have a lot of crowds in popular areas. The mountains have a lot of green meadows and wildflower fields in the summer, and while some are heavily trafficked, I can take you off the beaten path for a more private elopement.

Summer Elopement Activities: Hiking, Backpacking, Climbing, Swimming (alpine lakes hello!), Camping

What to Avoid in Summer: Southern Utah is very hot, very dry, and very busy during the summer. We also need to be conscious of flash floods in places like Zion. Canyons still have snow in early June, and some won’t be green until later in the season.

Best Places to Elope: Summer is a perfect time to elope in the mountains, sand dunes, and salt flats! Ski areas & mountain towns like Alta and Park City are nestled in beautiful green canyons that have so many trails to explore and so many cute places to celebrate afterwards!

JUNE

June is a safe time to plan on green canyons and still have slightly cooler temperatures! Some areas start to have wildflowers, but some are still covered in snow.

JULY

July means wildflower season! The mountains are at their peak at this point, and anyone looking to hike, backpack, camp, or do any other mountain activity will love Utah in July & August. July is HOT in southern Utah, but we can be creative with our times and locations.

AUGUST

August still is hot, but the mountains are still green and beautiful and perfect for any adventurous elopement explorers. School starts at the end of the month, and crowds start to die down in tourist areas.

AUTUMN

Fall in Utah is stunning - golden aspens cover the mountains and the weather is still warm, but much more mild than summer. Fall brings a lot of change to Northern Utah, and crowds die down as the season progresses in Southern Utah.

Fall Elopement Activities: Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Backpacking, Camping, Apple Picking

What to Avoid in Fall: Fall is honestly good for most Utah locations - crowds flock to the mountains during peak color, but we can easily avoid crowded areas and times. Moab and Zion still have busy weekends in October for hiking, but weekdays are perfect for Southern Utah during the fall.

Best Places to Elope: Everywhere!

SEPTEMBER

Most years September is still very summery. The end of the month brings color to the higher elevations, and fall leaves usually peak from the last week of September through early October.

OCTOBER

October brings more color and leaves down to lower elevations. The nights get chilly, which is perfect for cozier fall activities to celebrate! Mountain towns are so fun during this time of year as they gear up for the winter season. Snow may fall randomly, but doesn’t usually stick until later in November.

NOVEMBER

November is perfect for a Southern Utah Elopement - most parks are significantly less busy by this time. The mountains are pretty dead and are starting to have snow. Hikes are still accessible, but mountain roads start to close during November.

Ready to book your Elopement?