5 Tips for Eloping in Snow Canyon, Utah
Why Snow Canyon State Park?
Snow Canyon State Park is nestled in a little corner outside of St. George, Utah. It offers hiking, mountain biking and VIEWS. St. George’s claim to fame is Zion National Park, but with that come huge crowds and some logistic issues for having a wedding or elopement. While there are many beautiful places to get married in this area, Snow Canyon provides a happy medium of the structure of a park (accessibility for older guests, restroom facilities, etc) , without the overwhelming crowds often found in Zion. Planning an elopement can always feel a little overwhelming, but I’ve broken it down into five guidelines with lots of helpful links. If this information & photographs resonate with you for your wedding, reach out here!
Get a Permit
Most state and national parks require permits for weddings and elopements, and Snow Canyon State Park is no exception. They make the application process very straightforward on their website. Make sure that your wedding date is not one that they’ve blacked out because it is a high traffic day. Keep in mind if having a photographer/videographer, they have to go through a separate permitting process, so check with yours to make sure they’ve also obtained the proper permit! Click here to learn more about their permitting process.
Hire vendors
I just can’t stress this enough. Your vendors will likely spend more time with you on your wedding or elopement day than anyone else. A few tips on selecting vendors:
Do their values fit with yours? (sustainability, experiences over things, etc.)
Do you feel seen and heard by them? Both on their website and during your consultation.
Do you like them? (simple, but very important!)
Do their reviews reflect the kind of experience you would like to have with them?
I would suggest always having a consultation whether it’s in person or over the phone and thoroughly reading their reviews. Familiarize yourself with their work through their blog/website/social media. A few places to find vendors:
Referrals. Ask friends and family
Google search, Pinterest search, Instagram hashtag search
Wedding blogs: Junebug Weddings, Green Wedding Shoes, etc all have dedicated search engines for locating vendors
Vendors I Love
By Bloomers- They made the bouquet above. My brides always rave about working with them!
Shey Allen Films- Hiring a videographer can’t be hyped up enough. Especially for elopements, it gives you an opportunity to share the day with friends and family who were not there.
Emily Aitken Events- This girl is IT. You might think you don’t need a planner for an elopement, but she helps bring together every little detail so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
Consider Season & Weather
St. George gets HOT, and I mean sweltering in the summer. The end of October-Springtime is just about perfect. Factor in things like:
Season: temperature, rain likelihood, your favorite season
Day of the week: weekdays will offer more solitude. Holidays (including school spring breaks) are typically very crowded
Activities you’ll be doing: Are there certain things that you’ll want to include on your wedding day/trip that are seasonal?
Sunset time: The sun sets earlier as you get into late fall, factor this into how much daylight you’ll want on your day!
Click the link for detailed information on average weather conditions in St. George.
Book Accommodations
Have fun with this! Keep in mind if you’re having getting ready photos taken where you’re staying to pick somewhere that is in line with your style and has lots of light! If you are wanting to be close to the park, check out places in Ivins versus St. George. A few suggestions:
Red Mountain Resort- This spot (pictured above) is about a 5 minute drive from Snow Canyon State Park. It’s architecture is beautiful and is focused on giving their guests a relaxed experience. They also host small ceremonies if you’d prefer to get married there and go into the park for photos after. They also offer lots of activities to make your elopement planning easier!
Airbnbs- This is a great option, especially if you want to host a few close friends and family members with you. Below is a list of a few beautiful Airbnbs in the area that would make a great place to stay for your elopement!
Plan An Activity
Ask yourselves these questions:
What is our dream day together?
What are some of the most meaningful times we’ve spent together? What were we doing?
What are our favorite things: foods, drinks, pastimes?
Wedding days should be FUN. Set aside any stress you might feel and really think about how you two like to spend your time together. Visualize what a “perfect” day together looks like. Coffee on the porch? Canyoneering? Mid-afternoon whiskey shots? It is YOUR day. Even if you are planning a larger wedding, you can still fit these things into your plans. Also consider staying at a place that includes activities like Red Mountain Resort. A few things my couples have done in the Snow Canyon area:
Drink your favorite beer & watch the sun set
Go horseback riding
Go for a hike on the petrified dunes, or another pretty spot
EAT CAKE, make a backpacking dinner, incorporate your favorite food
For more Utah elopement and wedding planning tips, read here!
