Thinking about eloping in Utah? You needdd to consider Bryce Canyon National Park for your desert wedding or Utah elopement/Utah wedding! Here’s what I’m going to go through in this post about how to elope in Bryce Canyon:
First, let’s go through some FAQ’s about the national park and the logistics of the location itself.
Bryce Canyon is about 1.5 hours from Zion.
Bryce Canyon is approximately 2.5 hours away from the St. George Regional Airport.
Bryce Canyon is about 4.5 hours from SLC.
According to this article by US News,
“The best time to visit Bryce National Park is May through September. Not only does this period offer the warmest weather of the year, but it also yields plenty of ranger activities. October through April offers its own charms, too. There are fewer people, cooler temperatures, and the fall foliage and wildflowers can be stunning.
In the winter, the park is transformed by snow and visitors can go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. But remember: Because of its high elevation, the weather at Bryce Canyon in the fall, winter, and spring can be quite variable.
Bryce National Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but from October through May, some roads, campgrounds, and other visitor facilities are closed or operate on reduced hours. It’s a good idea to check the current conditions on the National Weather Service website before your visit.”
Address:
Bryce Canyon National Park
UT-63
Bryce, Utah 84764
If you’re flying in to get to Bryce Canyon, the closest large airports are in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
If you’re driving, here are the directions that the national park’s website gives:
“From the North:
Take I-15 south to UT-20 (exit 95). Travel east on UT-20 to US-89. Follow US-89 south to UT-12. Travel east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon National Park. The visitor center sits 1 mile inside the park boundary.
From the South through Zion National Park:Take I-15 north to UT-9 (exit 16). Follow UT-9 east through Zion National Park to US-89. Travel north on US-89 to UT-12. Go east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon National Park. The visitor center sits 1 mile inside the park boundary.
Take I-15 north to exit 59. Go east on 200 north, then south on Main Street to Center Street/UT-14. Travel east on UT-14 to US-89. Go north on US-89 to UT-12. Follow UT-12 east to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon National Park. The visitor center sits 1 mile inside the park boundary. This is a very scenic route during the summer months and early fall.
From the South through Bear (Dog) Valley:
Take I-15 north to UT-20 (exit 95). Go east on UT-20 to US-89. Follow US-89 south to UT-12. Travel east on UT-12 to UT-63. Take UT-63 south to Bryce Canyon National Park. The visitor center sits 1 mile inside the park boundary.
Public Transportation:
Public transportation to the park is not available.”
Bryce Canyon National Park is currently open to all visitors with precautions in place, including a mask mandate. The park’s shuttle is still running for visitors to use, just with limited capacity.
The weather at Bryce Canyon can be pretty variable because of its high elevation, and it obviously depends on what time of year you visit.
The national park’s website has plenty of information about weather, and you can always check out the National Weather Service’s forecast. Be sure to take a look at the forecast and plan ahead accordingly – but also be prepared for any kind of weather and for the unexpected.
Here are the requirements of getting married at Bryce Canyon, according to the park’s website for your desert wedding:
“To be married in Bryce Canyon National Park you must:
You need to make sure you obtain the correct permits and passes correctly when you plan your wedding at Bryce Canyon. We don’t want you to be trespassing or destroying land that’s well taken care of.
Here’s what you need to know about the Special Use Permit you’ll need to get:
Head to the park’s website to get the specific + to apply for your special use permit.
Bryce Canyon’s rock formations are truly unique to every other national park in Utah. You drive to the overview spots, and then hike into the canyon to see these amazing land formations, a perfect location for a desert wedding!
Bryce Canyon National Park also has such a different & unique color of rocks compared to all the other parks in Utah or Arizona. It’s more of a light, orangescicle color than a burnt orange.
Note to self: always wear hiking shoes when adventuring to these destinations for your desert wedding! We didn’t think our hike down was going to be as long, but to find these epic locations… we had to hike in further than we thought 🤣
Here’s a guide to the best hikes in Bryce Canyon for you to go on during your trip to the national park!
Now that I’ve gone through all the basic info, enjoy this beautiful gallery full of Bryce Canyon desert wedding inspiration! The boho fringe dress, the unique bouquet, and the beige/neutral color palette = a dreammmm at Bryce Canyon.
Host: The Shootout Society
Planning & Design: Britt Warnick Designs
Assistant planner: @aspfoxbwd
Florals: @mka___design
HMUA: @lexiharkerbeauty
Rentals: Alpine Event Co.
Dress: Off White Bride
Models: @pohtaetoe